Author: Rebecca Tall Brown

Making a Splash: Brand Splash at Four Fin

Posted on February 16, 2023 by - Branding Insight, Business

Brand Splash
Brand Splash

Where brand is holding you back

If you run an early stage company, there are a few brand building milestones where “making do with what you have” limits your opportunities. While we don’t think you have to go A+ branding out of the gates, there’s a difference between a brand that’s holding your place and a brand that’s holding you back. We most noticeably see this brand gap disadvantage when a company is:

Pitching to peers, advisors, or potential customers who just aren’t “getting it”

  • You’re getting meetings but no committed interest
  • Advisors are asking you to “better tell” or “better show” the problem-solution and synthesize your unique USP

Needing a compelling brand as you enter a fundraising round

  • You have some early support but you need quicker “yesses” and better introductions
  • You feel that you’re not as distinct as you should be
  • Your deck is primarily about your technology / function and is seeking more depth

Craving a clearer brand prior to early go-to-market

  • You know that things need to be made simpler for media, early marketing efforts, and entry into larger audience groups
There are points along the journey where your solution needs to look as good as it is brilliant.

So we built Brand Splash: deep enough to provide understanding and credibility, but light enough to not hold up progress.

Check out our Brand Splash for Shift Thermal. See how these revolutionary A/C engineers made a splash.

When the full brand building experience is still premature, we’re here to craft the following alongside you.

Four Fin’s Brand Splash includes:

  • Brand Strategy
  • Website Content Strategy
  • Brand Identity Design
  • Custom-designed WordPress Website

We don’t skip needed steps or thoughtfulness, but we don’t overcomplicate it either. Our Brand Splash solution has allowed us to do all of the above in four months with a $20K investment.

We’ve always prioritized empowering our clients over churning out brands; in this nimble package, we distill the essentials of brand building, and chart a course with the tools and confidence it takes to reach the next level.

Who do you know that might want in on this? Let’s get the conversation started.

FINterview Series: Chiao Huang

Posted on August 30, 2022 by - Four Fin Update, Making Waves

What did you want to be growing up?

I was circling around between fashion, fine art, and design. But art was related for sure. 

Who do you look up to/ who is your role model? 

Definitely not Ariana Grande or some celebrities. I mean I love them, but people around me influence me the most. Surrounding myself around good people such as the Fins is one of the best methods I’ve found to improve myself. 

You’re a new Pantone color, what are you called? 

Cosmo Rhythm. Why? ‘Cuz no one knows what that is! Things don’t have to make sense all the time.

What do you like to do in your free time?  

I’m an adventurer. Also, I grew up in a scuba diving family so most things related to water grab my attention. Scuba/free diving, surfing. Besides that, plant shopping, coffee tasting, doing murals, and more. 

What’s your dream vacation?  

Diving with whales, dolphins, or any sea animal that’s bigger than humans. With everything included because a real dream vacation means no cares about money or all those logistic things. 

FINterview Series: Morgan Clark

Posted on April 26, 2022 by - Four Fin Update, Making Waves

Favorite thing about Four Fin?

The Fins! Insanely talented, down to earth good people, talk about a dream team!

What is your favorite food?

Fresh Mexican food – one of the many reasons I love living in San Diego!

What do you like to do in your free time?

Most weekends you can find me checking out a brewery with friends, flying home to wine country to see family, heading to dog beach with my puppy, Tucker, or at the ballpark for a Padres game!

Favorite Book (or Movie)?

Shoe Dog. I’ve played sports my entire life and Nike has always been a staple in that. Aside from my lifelong connection with Nike, I enjoyed reading the story behind the brand – guess I can thank “Just Do It” for fueling my love for branding!

FINterview Series: Rebecca Tall Brown

Posted on November 9, 2021 by - Four Fin Update, Making Waves

FINS_Square_Rebecca

What did you want to be growing up? 

I wanted to be President. My hand was perpetually raised in school, volunteering for anything that would get me out of my seat and into a new experience.

Favorite book or movie?

l always stop to watch Denzel’s portrayal of Frank Lucas in American Gangster. He built community and gave his family upward mobility which was all foiled by {spoiler alert} a full-length, $100k chinchilla coat.

Favorite thing about Four Fin?

Learning alongside other talented people who are also dedicated to great work – every time. The “get it right” culture prioritizes our clients needs. It energizes me daily.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Walking my sweet senior pups and catching stand-up comedy and live music with my husband, Erick. We went to the Sunset Bowl this autumn for our first live-show post Pandemic and it was magic.

FINterview Series: Aaron Van Fossen

Posted on August 5, 2021 by - Four Fin Update, Making Waves

FF_AVF_LinkedIn (1)
What is the most uncomfortable thing you have done? 

A cross-country Greyhound bus trip. Barely slept for days, narrowly missed being mugged, shared food with strangers, and used Google translate to make a new friend. Uncomfortable, but ultimately life-changing.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Lose my voice at live music shows. Live and die over the Green Bay Packers.

You’re a new Pantone color, what are you called?

Imperial Stout.

What is your dream vacation?

Japan. The food and the art. The gardens and parks. Super Nintendo World. Maybe tea with Hayao Miyazaki if he’s got time.

What is your favorite thing about Four Fin?

The great collection of people (and plants)

FINterview Series: BeiBei An

Posted on February 12, 2021 by - Making Waves

Get to know our digital designer, BeiBei An

What did you want to be growing up?

I told people I’d like to be an archaeologist as a kid because at the time I’d just learned the word, and I thought it was cool to say. (I said it with the most serious face an 8-year-old could give.) Now I think it’s not a bad choice to pursue since China, where I’m from originally, has lots of things laying underground. Later I started to watch Case Closed (a Japanese detective anime) and I wanted to be a detective. But it gave me the impression that I need to become a detective by the age of 18, otherwise, I won’t make it. So around 16, I knew it wasn’t going to happen for me.

What is your favorite thing about Four Fin?

Having autonomy here is big. I feel that I’m fully trusted and I’m free to explore and bring my creative ideas, all of which is accepted and encouraged by the team. I have space where I can make the decisions and truly own the work, and that is fully respected by everyone here. As a creative person, that’s something very valuable to have in the working environment. Four Fin’s growth mindset has also allowed me to grow into a direction that suits me the best.

You’re a new Pantone color, what are you called?

“50 shades of grey.” Cause my wardrobe is literally that. Somehow, whenever I went shopping, I ended up picking the color of grays, black and white. Recently I’m trying to add more hues to it, like orange and pink, but still with a certain amount of grays in them.

What is your dream vacation?

I have a group of really close friends from high school, but after graduation, we have been scattered all around the world: China, Japan, Thailand, UK, and the US. I really wish one day we can again gather and hang out on a tropical island for a week or two. Three of my friends have toddlers now and one of them just had her second baby, so I guess the dream will be pushed a little further out now!