Comments on: Introducing BonBonBar LLC

By: jamie

jamie — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:46:29 +0000

i love the name and i love the labels. while i can understand that by looking at the labels you are getting mixed reviews i think seeing the candies wrapped and in a store changes the whole show. the first time i walked into cooke’s and saw isabella’s cookies near the register, the cartoonish plain cookie logo and cutesy font didnt make me think “so childish for gourmet cookies”, instead i saw a bag of delicious looking cookies and that they were local, fresh, and home made. i think bonbonbar has the same essence, and having seen the bars side by side wrapped with the logo i think you’re in fine shape, as did the 15 other ppl who were devouring your goods and loving every bite.

i don’t want your labels to scream luxury. i want your labels to scream delicious, unique, and independent, and they do. if isabella can do it i know bonbonbar can too.

for what its worth i never once thought LA was Louisiana, but maybe its because im an LA person and socal central, i never ever think of Louisiana when i see LA, and i think local buyers are going to see LA and think LA over Louisiana in more situations than the other way around. but you do have room to say “HANDMADE IN SOCAL” OR “HANDMADE IN L.A.”

By: elarael

elarael — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:29:44 +0000

I used to work in health food stores when they were just tiny, family owned shops and most of the products were in ’start-up’ packaging, usually far, far from professionally designed. Eventually, the packaging would evolve, but the best ones always kept the same design look, just upgraded the packaging. Dr. Bronners soap and Bumble Bar come to mind.

I think yours looks great! If I am reading it right, it gives a very fresh/retro look that does have a bit of an upscale ‘hipster’ look. It’s got a bit of a Seattle vibe going for it, that way. That’s a good thing, design-wise. It is especially refreshing for a packaging addict like me to see a CHANGE of perspective from all the other artisan bars.

I wonder if the BonBonBar text should be black inside, (or gold), with the same outlines in order to make the graphics a tad bit sharper so as to stand out a bit more? Because the white text fill makes me think of marshmellow bars. Um, sorry. This might not be helping.

By: Tartelette

Tartelette — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 02:31:31 +0000

Nina, I wish I could offer some help…but one thing for sure, ad far as the designs go, I am glad I am not in your shoes. I love the idea of departing from the now common “mode” packaging a-la Martha Stewart, however I tend to agree with others about the cartoon/kid association for the adult candy bar. I would happily pay $5 for it though. Ok, so I am really no help at all…I am just impatiently waiting for an online shopping source of your bars…hehehe!!!

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:45:41 +0000

Your labels don’t scream “luxury” but I think you know that.

Try again with graphics and consider a cleaners look, like the Dean and Delucca chocolate bars.

You should also remind buyers what’s special about your bar:

Organic, small batches, farmer’s markets. Your candy bar label comes off as another Mars Company product.

By: Nina

Nina — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:22:26 +0000

Maltsense - “It won’t matter once they catch on!” YES! hehe

Thank you so much for your ideas. All the aspects of packaging are the bane of existence now… and that’s saying a lot. I’d rather spend more days waiting in drab government buildings for permits… but I’ll work it out.

By: maltsense

maltsense — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 03:56:44 +0000

Since the name is BonBonBar, (is that one word?) should the packaging suggest “French” in some way? The lady picture reminds me of the actress in “Chocolat”.

By: maltsense

maltsense — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:20:18 +0000

Yes, they should be in a more adult, sophisticated wrapper–not cartoons. Yes, LA is not Los Angeles to most people. ( “Handmade in Los Angeles” sounds nice — why shorten such a pretty name?)

Maybe the pictures could somehow hint at “serious foodie”– candy making equipment, (a shiny saucier or something copper? I’m not a cook!) some cream, etc. Or picture: red and white stripes with black lettering?
Lavender and white stripes with black lettering?
It won’t matter once they catch on!

By: Nina

Nina — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:34:22 +0000

Cybele - Oh dear… Well, I’ll see how it goes. Maybe “L.A.” will be used for the next printing. At least on the back, it says that it’s made in Los Angeles, CA, so there shouldn’t be total confusion.

By: cybele

cybele — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:01:17 +0000

I agree about the “handmade in LA” it makes me think of Louisiana (and I live in Los Angeles).

By: Nina

Nina — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:16:21 +0000

Rainey - Yeah, that would be cool, but right now, they’re packaged in cellophane so that you can see parts of the bar, so a life-sized photo on the wrapper would look like double vision. If I could have somehow package them in eco-friendly contemporary wrappers used by Mars and & Hershey, that would be something to try.

Staecie - Thanks for your input. Jordi Labanda is new to me. Her stuff is slightly more hipster, but I could see that. And yeah, I wish that original artwork would signify original and handmade… So, I hope the image catches people’s attention and draws them to read the wrapper.

Hope you like them!