February 14th, 2025 | by Mary Windham | This post may contain affiliate links
Every great business starts with a brand.
But how do you create a brand that truly represents your vision? Branding isn’t just about logos and colors—it’s about crafting an identity that people connect with.
In this post, I’m taking you behind the scenes of how I built The Thomas Manor’s brand—from designing the logo to creating a website that tells our story. Whether you're starting your own business or rebranding, you’ll get three actionable steps to build a brand that stands out.
Step #1: Determine Your Why
Before thinking about visuals, I had to get crystal clear on what The Thomas Manor represents. Branding isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating an identity that people connect with. It’s the story, the experience, and the emotion behind your business.
For me, The Thomas Manor is deeply personal.
I’m rebuilding my family home into a space that embodies leadership, transformation, and legacy. My family’s roots in Sandy Spring go back six to seven generations, and this history is a story of resilience, entrepreneurship, and community.
Sandy Spring was home to a thriving Black community that built businesses, created opportunities, and supported each other. The values of hard work, business ownership, and community uplift are woven into the fabric of this place. I knew The Thomas Manor had to embody that spirit.
One of the first things my brand strategy team and I did was define the core brand pillars:
The Four Pillars of The Thomas Manor
Legacy – Honoring our history while building something new. The Thomas Manor continues a tradition of Black excellence and entrepreneurship in Sandy Spring.
Leadership – Creating a space for growth, education, and transformation. Just like my ancestors built businesses to uplift the community, I want The Thomas Manor to help others grow and thrive.
Luxury with Purpose – Blending comfort with intentional experiences. This isn’t just about high-end aesthetics—it’s about fostering leadership and innovation while honoring history.
Nature & Sustainability – Respecting the land and ensuring sustainability in construction and operations.
Before you start designing your brand, ask yourself—what do you want people to feel when they see your business? What values do you stand for? Your brand isn’t just what you sell—it’s what you believe in. When that foundation is clear, everything else falls into place.
Step #2: Craft Your Brand Identity
With a strong foundation in place, it was time to bring The Thomas Manor to life visually. That meant designing a brand identity that reflects our history, values, and future aspirations.
The Meaning Behind Our Logo
Our logo isn’t just a symbol—it’s a story. At the heart of our brand identity is the Black Oak Tree, native to Montgomery County, where the Manor is located. This tree represents strength, longevity, and deep-rooted history—a perfect reflection of The Thomas Manor’s legacy. Trees symbolize life, growth, and connection, aligning with our mission to foster professional and personal development.
Choosing the Right Colors
We wanted our brand colors to feel luxurious yet grounded, which led us to deep greens and rich golds—colors that symbolize wealth, growth, and sophistication:
Deep Green represents nature, renewal, and prosperity—aligning with our sustainability pillar and the lush landscapes surrounding The Thomas Manor.
Rich Gold represents elegance, success, and warmth, reinforcing the premium experience we want to create.
Every element of our brand identity was designed with purpose—from the textures on our website to the bold typography and refined messaging. Everything embodies luxury with purpose.
Three Branding Tips for Your Business:
Your brand should tell a story. Every element—from your logo to your colors—should connect back to your mission.
Symbolism creates emotional connections. Choose imagery that represents your values and legacy.
Colors influence perception. Pick a color palette that aligns with the emotions you want your audience to feel.
Step #3: Building the Website
Your website is your digital storefront. It’s often the first impression people have of your brand, so it needs to communicate who you are, what you do, and why it matters—instantly.
When building The Thomas Manor’s website, we focused on:
✔ A compelling introduction – Clearly communicating our legacy, leadership, and luxury.
✔ Sharing our story – Highlighting The Thomas Manor’s six-generation legacy and its role in empowering entrepreneurs and leaders.
✔ Clear offerings – Showcasing mastermind sessions, business strategy consultations, and in-person experiences in a benefit-driven, easy-to-navigate way.
✔ Seamless contact options – Ensuring potential clients and partners can easily reach out.
✔ Lead Capture Section – Including an email signup option so visitors can stay connected with updates, events, and exclusive content.
Three Key Elements of a Strong Website:
Clarity – Make sure visitors understand who you are and what you offer within seconds.
Navigation – A clean, easy-to-use structure helps guide visitors where they need to go.
Lead Generation – Your website should help grow your audience—make it easy for people to stay connected.
Building a strong brand isn’t something you have to do alone. My brand strategy team played a key role in bringing The Thomas Manor to life, and we’re excited to offer this service to our clients.
The Benefits of Working with a Branding Team:
A fresh perspective – They can spot blind spots you might overlook.
Strategic guidance – Ensuring every part of your brand aligns with your mission.
A polished, professional look – Presenting your business in the best possible way.
If you're interested in booking a 1-hour strategy session with our business strategist, visit our website to schedule your session today!
Final Thoughts
Branding is the foundation of your business. I hope this post gave you clarity on how to start building yours. Let me know in the comments—what’s one thing you’ll apply to your own brand?
Stay tuned for next week’s post, where I’ll be sharing the behind-the-scenes process of building The Thomas Manor’s business plan. You won’t want to miss it!
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