Most businesses don’t intend to have inconsistent branding—it just happens over time. A new sign here, updated shirts there, a rushed banner order before an event. Before you know it, your brand is sending mixed signals.
Here are the most common signs your branding may be inconsistent—and how they show up across physical marketing materials.
1. Your Logo Isn’t Treated Like a System
If your logo appears differently on:
- Embroidered hats
- Screen printed shirts
- Vehicle wraps
- Business cards or banners
…it’s a problem.
We often see logos that are:
- Stretched to fit spaces
- Recolored to “work better” on certain items
- Outlined, shadowed, or simplified inconsistently
Your logo should have approved versions for different uses (full color, one color, embroidery-friendly), not improvised versions each time something is produced.
2. Your Colors Change Depending on the Material
That sharp blue on your business card shouldn’t turn purple on your banner or teal on your vehicle wrap.
Color inconsistency usually happens when:
- Files don’t include proper color codes
- Multiple vendors are used without brand standards
- Materials (vinyl, fabric, paper) aren’t considered during design
Professional branding accounts for how colors translate across print, apparel, signage, and vinyl, not just screens. Find a vendor who respects your brand and works together to ensure all your collateral matches, no matter the materials used.
3. Your Apparel Doesn’t Match Your Brand Personality
Your team is a walking billboard. If your branded apparel doesn’t reflect your brand, customers notice.
Examples:
- A clean, modern company wearing cluttered or outdated shirt designs
- A bold, high-energy brand using tiny logos and muted colors
- Different departments wear completely different styles
Screen printed and embroidered apparel should feel intentional—not like an afterthought. A great way to get creative with branded apparel is when you dive into sellable merchandise. When it comes to creating merchandise for customers rather than employees, you can play around with different ideas that build off of a solid branding scheme.
4. Your Signage and Vehicles Feel Like Different Companies
Your storefront sign is minimalist and modern, but your vehicle wrap is loud and busy. Or your truck looks polished, but your window decals feel DIY.
High-visibility branding like:
- Vehicle wraps
- Storefront signage
- Window graphics
Should be the most consistent, not the least. These are the touchpoints your customers will be most impacted by.
Consistency Starts With Awareness
Once you know what to look for, brand inconsistencies are easy to spot—and easier to fix when everything is produced with a clear plan.