MONROE - The Green County Branding Committee, an initiative started more than two years ago, is ready to roll out the county's new brand mark this spring.
The message? We are masters of our crafts, and "there's an art to it."
"(The brand) is not just about tourism," said Noreen Rueckert, Green County's tourism director and project manager for the branding effort. "It's for economic development, the quality of life, young professionals, businesses and communities, as well."
Rueckert has started putting together variations of the brand for communities and county departments.
It seems Green County, despite calling itself home to more master cheesemakers than anywhere else in the state, is not well-known for making cheese.
"Wisconsin is, but not Green County," Rueckert said. "That's probably because the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board does such a good job for the state."
Through grants and donations totaling $91,000, and with the work of a Nashville-based branding firm North Star Destination Strategies, the branding team conducted surveys in the county, state and region and discovered there is more to Green County than cheese.
It's about a "culture that accepts nothing less than the best - a way of life where everyone aspires to the highest levels of mastery," according to a brand introduction released by the committee.
The brand is targeting those who seek natural beauty, simplicity and craftsmanship. Articles coming out in future visitor guides will include feature the county's volunteers, foods and artfully-crafted products.
There is a rationale for the color, font, and logo used to create the new brand, noted Rueckert. Each aspect depicts a characteristic of not only the things they make, but also who the people are and how they liv their lives.
"People need to think of our Swiss heritage in a different way - beyond the costumes and yodeling. There is the precision in how we go about doing things, and that demonstrates mastery," Rueckert said.
Besides its cheesemaking and beer brewing, characteristics associated with the Swiss also include strength, innovation, family values, cleanliness, health and beauty - aspects the brand strives to incorporate.
Marketing the qualities of Green County will go beyond the visitors guide, Rueckert said. It's becoming a relocation guide and an information guide for businesses that will go out in packets from the chamber of commerce.
The message? We are masters of our crafts, and "there's an art to it."
"(The brand) is not just about tourism," said Noreen Rueckert, Green County's tourism director and project manager for the branding effort. "It's for economic development, the quality of life, young professionals, businesses and communities, as well."
Rueckert has started putting together variations of the brand for communities and county departments.
It seems Green County, despite calling itself home to more master cheesemakers than anywhere else in the state, is not well-known for making cheese.
"Wisconsin is, but not Green County," Rueckert said. "That's probably because the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board does such a good job for the state."
Through grants and donations totaling $91,000, and with the work of a Nashville-based branding firm North Star Destination Strategies, the branding team conducted surveys in the county, state and region and discovered there is more to Green County than cheese.
It's about a "culture that accepts nothing less than the best - a way of life where everyone aspires to the highest levels of mastery," according to a brand introduction released by the committee.
The brand is targeting those who seek natural beauty, simplicity and craftsmanship. Articles coming out in future visitor guides will include feature the county's volunteers, foods and artfully-crafted products.
There is a rationale for the color, font, and logo used to create the new brand, noted Rueckert. Each aspect depicts a characteristic of not only the things they make, but also who the people are and how they liv their lives.
"People need to think of our Swiss heritage in a different way - beyond the costumes and yodeling. There is the precision in how we go about doing things, and that demonstrates mastery," Rueckert said.
Besides its cheesemaking and beer brewing, characteristics associated with the Swiss also include strength, innovation, family values, cleanliness, health and beauty - aspects the brand strives to incorporate.
Marketing the qualities of Green County will go beyond the visitors guide, Rueckert said. It's becoming a relocation guide and an information guide for businesses that will go out in packets from the chamber of commerce.