A lot of Ink Tank’s time this past year has been dedicated to helping our clients through the changes the pandemic has wrought on their businesses, small and large.

With Thrive Fit, that meant flipping their personal training business entirely online, readying to reopen, closing again and communicating with members.

It’s been a challenge, but with careful planning and innovative strategies, they have not only survived but thrived. So, when the owner suggested taking advantage of the gym closure to brand and redo the space’s interior design, we could not have been more excited.

Thrive has built its business around the importance of a positive attitude –serious about workouts and outcomes and lighthearted in outlooks. The updated design introduces spots of vibrant colour that breathe life and energy into an otherwise calming environment. An inspirational quote reminds members not to take themselves too seriously and be proud of who they are and where they are in their fitness journeys. A photographic mural inhabits the back wall and is a subtle nudge to keep going. And the brand philosophy Ink Tank developed lays bare everything they believe and live by as a unique fitness studio model and a unique brand.

Blazing blue skies, brilliant sunshine and sweltering heat. It’s the height of summer, so our thoughts must be turned toward – ice melter?

Crazy, right? But par for the course for those of us in the branding and marketing business. We start thinking retail Christmas in July to have the packaging, point of sale and promotions ready to roll out in-store when fall turns the corner; digital and print campaigns and strategies planned well before that. In the case of some of our manufacturing and distribution clients, the balmy months of June through August have been all about ice melter.

At Ink Tank, we’ve been developing brand-name and private label ice melter packaging for over 30 years. That’s also just about the number of different ice melter brands we’ve created, along with multiple SKUs and all the sales and marketing tools to support them. Ice melter isn’t something most people think about –  except for the mad dash to Canadian Tire following the first snowfall or ice storm. But it’s there on the shelf when you need it – safety and liability insurance in a bag. In the case of commercial customers, its an automatic line item in their budgets.

So here we are, once again, feeling the cold when it’s hot outside. This summer, we’ve been redesigning some of our landmark brands. After years of healthy shelf life and sell-through, they were ready for a refresh. Current strategies, a new look and new private-label customers also called for additional SKUs and sizes, developing advertising to promote new green accreditation and producing exciting new sales tools for agencies and distributors across North America. The sales season starts in two weeks. Our client is ready!

It’s been fun, as always, but we’re happy to temporarily get out of the cold and enjoy the last throes of summer.

Ink Tank was around to announce the upcoming launch and opening of ML-Truck Equipment Ltd to stakeholders via Global Newswire and multiple industry publications. The business officially opened its doors early this year in Abbotsford BC as the authorized sales and service network for IAB cranes, Moffett Forklifts and Multilift Hooklifts in British Columbia.