Voting begins on brand for Helston (From Falmouth Packet)

Voting begins on brand for Helston

12:17pm Thursday 25th October 2012 in News By Emma Ferguson, News Editor

Voting on which brand should promote Helston around the world has begun.

The vote began on Tuesday and will be continue until Monday, November 5.

The six potential brand designs have been put together by Ki Design, based at Tresprison Business Park, as part of the Great Big Helston Branding Project.

This has already seen residents, shoppers and traders put forward words to sum up Helston, with the ideas discussed by focus groups in order to help shape the different brands. Inspiration included Flora Day and Helston’s architecture.

The result is six designs: Paving the Way, Celebration Star, Granite Strength, United Cross, Cultural Style and Cornerstone.

Members of the public can now cast their vote in 11 “ambassador” shops and businesses in the town centre, which will display all the images with details on the research and inspiration that produced them.

Votes can be made at Borlase Solicitors and the Coffee Bean in Coinagehall Street; Gillian’s Tubs, Sweet Pea, JC Williams, Fruit & Veg 4 U and Celebrations in Meneage Street; Andy’s Barbers and Clairz Hairdressers in Church Street; Loravon in Wendron Street; the Old Cattle Market at Coronation Park and Pasty Line on the Water-ma-Trout Industrial Estate.

Many of the ambassadors are championing a particular design, with John Wilkin of Borlase Solicitors saying: “We love Paving the Way. We want everyone to vote for that. It’s got a great feel to the design and really encapsulates the beauty of the town.”

However, Gillian’s Tubs, JC Williams and Pasty Line are rooting for Celebration Star, with Diane Kent from the pasty business saying: “I like the Celebration Star as it is bright and colourful and hopefully reflects Helston’s future.”

Others are remaining neutral. Debbie James from Fruit & Veg 4 U said: “We have our favourite but we are not saying as we want our customers to decide.”

Andy Perry from Andy’s and Clairz said: “The team have put a lot of work into this and I just really need to thank all the hundreds of people who fed into the process. What we have produced is great. It’s now down to Helston to decide.”

Rachel Jones, secretary of the Helston Business Improvement Partnership, which is leading the project, said: “We have been very pleased with the positive responses to the branding project’s final designs, and the debate that followed the initial release of the images indicates how much the local community cares about Helston.

“We have listened to feedback regarding the capitalisation of the ‘h’ in Helston and this will be amended once the final brand image has been chosen.”

The winning brand can be used by all businesses and community groups in the town in future advertising.

There will also be three “straplines” to choose from, to be included with the final chosen image. These are “Helston: Positive people, perfect place”, “Helston: The friendliest town in Cornwall” and “Helston: Completely Cornish.”