This document discusses color psychology and recommendations for using different colors in business contexts. It provides information on how colors like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, white, black, gold, and silver can influence perceptions and elicit different emotional responses. The document recommends which types of businesses and products are best suited for each color based on their psychological effects and cultural associations.
2. Color Psychology
• 90% of an assessment for trying out a
product is based on color alone
• Color is the first thing a customer notices
about a company’s logo
• Most popular logo colors:
– Blue (33%)
– Red (29%)
– Black/Gray (28%)
– Yellow (13%)
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6. Red in a Business
• Best when used as an accent color
– Too much will overwhelm
• Encourages customers to take action & make a
purchase
• Elicits a response
– May be a positive or negative response
– Response is dependent on the customer
• Best used in businesses specializing in food & appetite,
energy, passion, or speed
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10. Orange
• Stimulates appetite & social conversation
• Lighter shades of Orange & Red are seen as more
feminine
• Gives impression of affordability
– Too much orange will come across as too cheap
• Good for restaurants & food outlets
– Important to the décor of a business
• Combined with blue, purple, or aubergine for a
contemporary / classy look
– Phoenix Suns
11. Orange in Business
• Apply sparingly as it is disliked in the Western World
• Suggests fun, affordability, reasonable quality, & adventure
• Invaluable color in restaurants, cafes, bistros, and diners
– Stimulates appetite & conversation
• Social color that is frequently used in hotels & resorts and on travel websites
• Sports teams pick orange a lot due to energy associated with it
• Orange appeals to the youth market
– Teens like its fun & affordability
– Kids see it in toys a lot
• Softer colors of orange such as peach are often used to represent upper
class businesses
– Example: Spas, Beauty Salons, Treatment Centers, Expensive Restaurants
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14. Gold in Business…
• High perceived value
• Promotes wisdom and wealth
• Products that use gold are seen as expensive /
exclusive
• Best when combined with dark red, dark blue, or
dark green
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17. Yellow in Business
• Effective if combined with other bright primary colors
– Combined with black will act as a warning
• Great color for children’s products
– Stimulates mind & creativity
• Helps keep people moving because most people don’t
like yellow for long periods of time
– Popular in fast food
• Good for leisure products
– Enhance the promotion of any fun and entertainment
business
18. Yellow in Business
• It is a good color to highlight but too much can cause
anxiety, especially with older people
– Subway & McDonalds remodeled
• Use in Point-of-Sale purchases
– Eyes follow yellow first
• Avoid using yellow on expensive items
– Men view it as cheap and unsophisticated
• Dirty versions of yellow have negative connotations
– Example: Mustard
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21. Green in Business
• Green is a good color for health & healing
• Promotes natural, safe, & organic products
– Environmentally friendly
• Suggests something new and fresh
– Motivates people to join social groups
– Helps people thing more clearly
• Dark green is good for money & financial institutes
• Lime Green suggests anticipation
• Olive Green is negative unless used to emphasize nature /
environment
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24. Blue in Business
• Blue is the most universally well-liked color in the world
– Safest to use
– Helps build customer loyalty
• Blue is best suited for the conservative, corporate world
– Trust, honesty, dependability are important
• Popular for companies dealing with air & water
– Airlines, Boating Companies, Air Conditioning, etc…
• Best if used for companies seeking one-on-one customer
relationships versus mass communication
– Insurance, accountants, banks, & other financial institutes
• Reduces appetite and slows heart rate
• Too much blue can encourage boredom, manipulation, or a rigid look
26. Turquoise in Business
• Good for businesses focusing on communication
– Teachers, trainers, public speakers, media communication, & computer
technology
– Aids in self-expression & clarity of thought
– Has an innovative side that goes well with sports teams
• Popular in health clinics & practitioners
– Balances emotions & calms spirits
• Good for products promoting water
– Pool companies, water filtration, water sports, etc..
• Often used in cleaning products as it reflects cleanliness without
being too sterile
• Too much Turquoise creates indecision
• Best if used with red, pink, magenta, or purple
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29. Purple in Business
• More suitable for products & websites relating to women
or children
– Younger men are starting to see appeal
– Kids like purple & bright colors
– Lighter shades appeal to women
• Craft items, antique stores, selling things like lace, etc..
• Academic institutes will frequently use a medium shade
of purple
– Inspire thought & achievement
• Portrays wealth, extravagance when combined with gold
– Gold is not a good color on websites
– Gold is effective on packaging & print material
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32. Pink in Business
• Pink is popular with charities & their marketing programs
– Relates to hope, compassion, warmth, and understanding
• Pink works well in businesses promoting women's products
– Beauty salons, fashion businesses, & cosmeticians
– Effective in candy stores & places selling sweet products
• Brighter pinks are popular amongst the younger market
– Promotes less expensive and trendy items
• Dusty pink is popular in businesses focusing on older
generations or sentimental services
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35. White in Business
• White is probably the best color to use as the
background color for websites
– Exceptions are yellow & pastels
– Helps clean up negative space
• Suggests simplicity, cleanliness, & safety
• Promotes hi-tech products, kitchen appliances, bathroom
items, infant, and health related products
• On its own white is viewed as cold and sterile
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38. Black in Business….
• Black is beneficial for companies selling luxury, elegance, &
sophistication
– High quality professional products
– Upper class car companies
• Black packaging is viewed as heavier & more expensive
– Creates classy, elegant look
• Good color to promote to wealthy teens
– Music companies
– Seen as cutting edge, trendy, sophisticated, & rebellious
• Can be seen as dramatic when combined with bright, rich, jewel
colors such as red, emerald, yellow, or orange
• Too much black is viewed as unfriendly and intimidating
– People think of salesmen wearing a black suit, black shirt, or black pants
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41. Silver in Business
• Reflects quality craftsmanship and artistry
• Beneficial for businesses promoting quality modern
appliances and equipment
• Appropriate for high-tech, innovative computer market &
scientific companies
• Doesn’t work well on websites
– Appears gray which is cold and impersonal
• A good complimentary color not primary color