Copy Style Guide
Welcome to our style guide, the key to clear and consistent content across channels. Our voice is friendly, personal, and straightforward—an integral part of our brand.
Under the Danica umbrella, we have five distinct brands, each with its unique voice and personality. This guide will help you maintain our overarching tone while allowing creative freedom to explore the nuances that make each brand special.
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Tone and Voice
- Our communication should strike a balance between professionalism and approachability, conveying expertise while also being down-to-earth and friendly.
- Adopt a knowledgeable tone that instills confidence in our products and service, while also remaining accessible and relatable to our audience of independent retailers and customers.
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Audience Persona
- Our primary audience comprises retailers in the housewares, gift, or lifestyle space who appreciate design and craft.
- Tailor communication to address the needs, interests, and challenges of retailers, providing valuable insights and solutions to help them succeed in their businesses.
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Communication Goals
- Build trust: Establish credibility and reliability through transparent and informative communication, demonstrating our commitment to quality products and excellent customer service.
- Sell products: Highlight the features, benefits, and unique selling points of our products in a compelling and persuasive manner, guiding retailers towards making informed purchasing decisions.
- Educate retailers: Provide comprehensive product information, usage tips, and merchandising ideas to empower retailers with the knowledge and resources they need to effectively showcase and sell our products in their stores.
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Visual Guidelines
- Adhere to our established brand guides, ensuring consistency in the use of logos, colors, and fonts across all written communication.
- Incorporate visual elements such as product images, graphics, and brand assets to enhance the visual appeal and effectiveness of our communication materials. If you have trouble located appropriate visual assets or have a specific request, please reach out to a member of our Graphics team for assistance.
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Content Structure
- Organize content in a clear and structured manner, making it easy for retailers to find relevant information and navigate our communication materials.
- Utilize a variety of formats, including product descriptions, catalogs, how-to guides, and case studies, to cater to different learning preferences and communication channels.
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Feedback and Approval Process
- Implement a feedback loop to gather input from internal stakeholders and external partners, ensuring that our communication materials meet the needs and expectations of our target audience.
- Establish a streamlined approval process to maintain consistency and quality in our corporate copy, while also allowing for agility and responsiveness to market changes and feedback.
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Mission Statement
We strive to be The Company You Keep
by providing design, product and
service with integrity. -
Company Description
Danica creates modern home and living decor products that deliver color, pattern, and thoughtful design. Brimming with vitality, each collection is composed with quality, function and joy top of mind.
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Our Story
Danica is a market leader in houseware, giftware, and home furnishing design. With five distinct brands under the Danica umbrella, we offer an engaging and dynamic range of products. Family-owned with a global reach, we’ve evolved from our roots as a source of classic kitchen textiles in North America in the 1960s.
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Our Values
Danica exemplifies its values of integrity, creativity, and inclusiveness by giving back to our community, both local and global, and striving to continually innovate and improve our sustainable business practices. We demonstrate responsible global citizenship, recognizing the interconnectedness of all communities and our shared environment.
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American Spelling
All Danica copy should use American spelling*.
Color, Humor
Incorrect: Colour, HumourFiber, Center
Incorrect: Fibre, CentreCatalog
Incorrect: CatalogueOrganize
Incorrect: OrganiseTraveler, Jewelry
Incorrect: Traveller, Jewellery*An exception to this is when we can target Canadian customers only, such as in an email going to a Canadian audience. In such cases, use Canadian spelling in copy.
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Brand Names
Use title case for the Danica brand names, with lower-case 'by', when applicable:
Now Designs by Danica
Danica Heirloom
Danica Studio
Danica Jubilee
Ecologie by Danica -
Use an Active Voice
Strive to use the active voice whenever possible rather than passive voice.
Example: Swedish Sponge Towels can be used to wipe pets' paws should be replaced with use a Swedish Sponge Towel to clean your pup's muddy paws after a rainy walk. This inserts the reader into the scenario and helps them picture themselves incorporating the product into their daily routine.
On a similar note, refer to products as "ours" and "these" whenever possible, as opposed to "the".
Example: "Our Foundation tabletop collection is a kitchen classic. These bowls and plates have a timeless appeal." vs "The Foundation tabletop collection is a kitchen classic. The bowls and plates have a timeless appeal."
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Commonly Used Terms
Dishtowel · Kitchen towel
Incorrect: Tea Towel, Dish TowelServeware
Incorrect: Serve WareSwedish Sponge Cloth
Incorrect: Swedish sponge cloth, Swedish dish cloth, Swedish dishcloth, Swedish DishclothBlock print
Incorrect: Block-print, Block Print (Title Case)Rustic
Incorrect: Boho -
Process-based Adjectives
Hyphenate adjectives that are process-based, such as hand-painted, hand-woven, block-printed, etc.
The exceptions to this are "handmade" and "handcrafted" which are written as one word
"Block print" as an adjective is two separate words, unhyphenated, in sentence case. However, "block-printed" would be hyphenated (e.g. "Block print dishtowel" vs. "These block-printed dishtowels are beautiful")
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Numbers
Spell out any number under ten (i.e. "sets of two" vs. "sets of 2").
Don't call out specific numbers when it comes to capacity in product copy (e.g. say a mug is "oversized" or "petite" rather than 20 oz or 8 oz, respectively)
Avoid using percentages in product copy (e.g. instead of writing that something is "100% cotton", we'd just say it's "cotton")
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Repetitive Phrases
Try to avoid generic descriptors like "unique" that don't really explain what is unique about the item (an exception is if you are saying, for example, that the hand-made nature of the product makes it so each piece is slightly unique). Alternative phrases include:
- Distinct (e.g. Distinct pattern, distinct finish, distinct craftsmanship)
- Each item has it's own character
- Each piece stands apart
- Each piece varies, which is part of the beauty
Watch out for overuse of the term "generously sized"
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Frequently-seen Errors
Double spaces:
Do not use double spaces after a period.Hyphens and dashes:
— / Em dash (Option + Shift + - on Mac): used to introduce (and emphasize) more detail at the end or middle of a sentence without using a colon or semicolon, or to emphasize a list already separated by commas.- E.g. I love kittens—who doesn’t?—but that doesn’t mean I want to adopt 50 of them.
- E.g. Multiple languages are spoken in Canada—English, French, and Native languages.
– / En dash (Option + - on Mac): Mainly used between two numbers to create a span.
- E.g. We worked in this office from 2009–2015
- E.g. You can find all of our aprons on pages 30–55
- E.g. Dates are valid between Monday–Friday
- / Hyphen: Used to connect two separate word elements to form a compound word.
- E.g. well-known artist
- E.g. editor-in-chief
- E.g. forty-eight
Comma Use:
Use Oxford commas. Do not use a comma befire conjunctions in compound constructions that are not compound sentences. Example:- Correct: "This conclusion applies to the United States and to the rest of the world."
- Incorrect: "This conclusion applies to the United States, and to the rest of the world."
Now Designs by Danica
Now Designs is our tribute to the tastes and textures that inspire us to explore, create and gather to share culinary experiences. From harvesting our own herbs, farmer’s market fresh finds to an al fresco feast, our collection offers high-quality kitchen and dining essentials that celebrate and support the joy of living well. With reimagined classic patterns and an abundance of colors and tones to appeal to every taste, Now Designs offers the perfect ingredients for you to express, enjoy and share your love for all things culinary.
New and now with a traditional touch. Kitchen and dining essentials for every taste.
New and now with a traditional touch. Kitchen and dining essentials for every taste.
Now Designs' voice is romantic and traditional with a technical angle. It's used to share design inspiration paired with functional product information.
Now Designs' voice is romantic and traditional with a technical angle. It's used to share design inspiration paired with functional product information.
A vintage-inspired reindeer fashions a festive red bow and antlers adorned with ornaments, birds and greenery. Pencil crayon textures add nostalgic charm.
Bold = Technical details
Italic = Romantic Language
Bold Italic = Traditional elements
A vintage-inspired reindeer fashions a festive red bow and antlers adorned with ornaments, birds and greenery. Pencil crayon textures add nostalgic charm.
Bold = Technical details
Italic = Romantic Language
Bold Italic = Traditional elements
Danica Heirloom
A deep passion for craftsmanship, handmade goods, ethical production, and uncompromising quality compelled us to create Heirloom. We take inspiration from the quality of cherished items that last generations, and from our intertwined global community of artists who make, create, and share the products that bring us together. Created with earth tones, jewel palettes, and a love of travel, Heirloom encompasses a spirit of global citizenship and well-traveled design. Travel the globe and redefine home decor with Heirloom.
A collection of eclectic patterns, must-feel textures and inviting palettes
A collection of eclectic patterns, must-feel textures and inviting palettes
Heirloom's voice is classic, detail-oriented and beautiful. It focuses on telling a story in a vibrant, lyrical tone.
Heirloom's voice is classic, detail-oriented and beautiful. It focuses on telling a story in a vibrant, lyrical tone.
Cool marble paired with wood makes a sophisticated presentation of cheese, charcuterie, breads, olives and salts. Natural colors and veining add to the unique quality of each piece.
Bold = Storytelling
Italic = Lyrical tone
Bold & Italic = Detail oriented
Cool marble paired with wood makes a sophisticated presentation of cheese, charcuterie, breads, olives and salts. Natural colors and veining add to the unique quality of each piece.
Bold = Storytelling
Italic = Lyrical tone
Bold & Italic = Detail oriented
Danica Studio
Danica Studio was founded in 2009 in Vancouver: a city where ocean, forest, and islands converge against a mountainous backdrop. This unique setting – along with a healthy dose of wanderlust and imagination – sparks daily inspiration for our design team. Together, they collaborate on patterns and images that reflect a shared love of textiles, travel, and the beautiful city they call home. Their passion and creativity create the foundation from which our products come to life. We invite you to explore the bold, inviting, and ever-evolving world of Danica Studio.
A creative mix of bold, modern & inspired designs
A creative mix of bold, modern & inspired designs
Danica Studio's voice is sophisticated and straight-forward with a poetic touch.
Danica Studio's voice is sophisticated and straight-forward with a poetic touch.
Fans of feathers swoop and soar in a palette of ochre, navy and peach. Graceful lines come together in a playful pattern of cranes and clouds. Tassels and metallic gold details elevate this aerial assembly.
Bold = Straight-forward
Italic = Sophisticated
Bold & Italic = Poetic tone
Fans of feathers swoop and soar in a palette of ochre, navy and peach. Graceful lines come together in a playful pattern of cranes and clouds. Tassels and metallic gold details elevate this aerial assembly.
Bold = Straight-forward
Italic = Sophisticated
Bold & Italic = Poetic tone
Danica Jubilee
For the young soul, the free spirit, the animal lover, or the one who simply appreciates a good laugh,
Danica Jubilee is the perfect companion. This joyful collection is a celebration of the simple things that bring color, vibrancy, and inspiration to our lives. From designs and motifs that celebrate watching your garden grow, touring your town by bike, to encouraging messages, Jubilee reminds us that we all have the power to cultivate kindness in our community and to make our world a better place. An eclectic collection that connects us all with heartfelt gift ideas and items for our homes - let Jubilee be the reason you smile today!
Vibrant gifts and goods that cultivate kindness and spark joy.
Vibrant gifts and goods that cultivate kindness and spark joy.
Jubilees' voice is playful and pun-forward. Use a light, conversational tone. Pretend you are speaking with someone face to face.
Jubilees' voice is playful and pun-forward. Use a light, conversational tone. Pretend you are speaking with someone face to face.
RAWR! From t-rex to pterodactyls, this dino-mite collection is
100% kid-approved, from the lunch room to the kitchen.
Bold = Playful language
Italic = Puns, word-play
RAWR! From t-rex to pterodactyls, this dino-mite collection is
100% kid-approved, from the lunch room to the kitchen.
Bold = Playful language
Italic = Puns, word-play
Ecologie by Danica
Ecologie is the natural result of our deep passion for environmental sustainability and creative design, bringing a little thoughtful beauty to your world. Authentically made in Sweden, our sponge cloths are equal parts stylish and effective. Turn one-time use paper towels and plastic into a thing of the past with Ecologie. Our beeswax wraps and bags offer an array of colors and patterns for reusable storage. Explore our collection and discover why sustainable living has never been so vibrant – or so fun!
Sustainable alternatives bring thoughtful beauty to the home
Sustainable alternatives bring thoughtful beauty to the home
Ecologie's voice is fun, positive, relatable, practical, and encouraging. It helps you make sustainability fun, easy, and part of your daily life.
Ecologie's voice is fun, positive, relatable, practical, and encouraging. It helps you make sustainability fun, easy, and part of your daily life.
A merchandise friendly educational sign highlights the benefits of Swedish Sponge Cloths and how they return full circle back to nature.
Bold = Earth Conscious
Italic = Informative
Bold & Italic = Friendly, joyful
A merchandise friendly educational sign highlights the benefits of Swedish Sponge Cloths and how they return full circle back to nature.
Bold = Earth Conscious
Italic = Informative
Bold & Italic = Friendly, joyful
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Focus on creating
Lead with what a person can add to their sustainability routine rather than what they're taking away.
Example: lead with say hello to your new best cleaning friend rather than say goodbye to paper towels.
We can still say "say goodbye to paper towels", but don't open a paragraph with it so we start with a positive rather than a negative, and also so we don't immediately call to mind single-use products
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Don't invoke guilt
Never shame customers for using single-use products (Gillian and I admitted we both still have paper towels on hand and use them for things like pet accidents and other gross tasks, etc). Instead, we want to gently encourage people to make small, sustainable swaps in their life by incorporating earth-friendly reusable products like our sponge cloths.
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Help and introduce
Language should focus on helping people build new habits by introducing sustainable products into their routines, one small, realistic step at a time.
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Highlight environmental and financial sustainability
We can invoke the affordability aspect as well as the sustainability aspects of Ecologie products – you don't have to purchase as many paper towels, and you'll probably end up reducing your chores due to not having to take out the trash so often with paper towels filling up your bin
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Keep it positive
Avoid any words/descriptors that bring to mind something unpleasant, even if it's in contrast to our product.
Example: don't refer to stinky, smelly, or slimy kitchen sponges - instead refer to a quick-drying, fresh, and ready to reuse sponge cloth
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Add value
We can share product tips and usage PSAs to make customers feel guided and supported in their sustainability journey.
Example: this is how to get the most out of your sponge cloth, etc.
- Nothing worse than trying to do the right thing by making a sustainable switch and then giving up and getting jaded because it doesn't work as well as the less sustainable option
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Get specific
We can get specific in our messaging to lean into relatability (and bring in a bit of cheekiness - not too much though).
Example: your Swedish Sponge Cloth makes breakfast a breeze by rounding up toaster crumbs and stray coffee grounds, leaving your countertops clean and ready for your next culinary adventure.
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Use an active voice
Strive to use the active voice whenever possible rather than passive voice.
Example: Swedish Sponge Towels can be used to wipe pets' paws should be replaced with use a Swedish Sponge Towel to clean your pup's muddy paws after a rainy walk. This inserts the reader into the scenario and helps them picture themselves incorporating the product into their daily routine.