When Henk sold his hotel, he wanted to do something completely different. He had had an idea for years and now it was time to make that dream come true. SYSO was able to help him make that visual and tangible and you don't have to ask us twice! We enjoyed working on Max & Mila and this is the result.
What is Max & Mila?
Max & Mila is a brand that focuses on creating an enchanting world for children of all ages, where they can be themselves and let their imagination run wild. The company operates under the name Max & Mila Media and specializes in producing decorative wall pictures with themes from fairy tales and children's songs. These products are enriched with the magical photography of Mause Photography and are combined with listening stories and songs that complement the visual experience.
Max & Mila's range consists not only of wall pictures, but also of games, a calendar and postcards, all containing the unique fairy tale and song themes. These products are designed to be durable and valuable, with the aim of creating beautiful, lasting memories for both children and their parents.
Known for its quality and creativity, the brand promises unique, inspiring items that encourage children to cherish every moment as an unforgettable memory. Max & Mila offers a rich source of inspiration for the creative and playful development of children.
Golden ticket
Henk opted for a Golden ticket and so we developed a brand new branding from scratch, we built the webshop with Shopify webshop and a short 1-on-1 coaching process followed.
Result
In this case we also thought about the name. It had to be easy to remember, feel personal and also a bit nostalgic. Henk was very clear about the symbol, he wanted something with an owl. We soon saw the logo in front of us, an owl taking a young owl under its wings, teaching life, but dynamic - not static. The black and white in the logo unconsciously looks a bit Jip & Janneke. The colors of the corporate identity have been deliberately chosen as primary, something that is often used in baby & toddler toys - but this color combination also matches perfectly with the beautiful Mause Photography plates.
At one branding project , we always look at the current market. What competitors are there and what do they do? It is important for a brand not to resemble its competitor. Through a brand master plan we identify the purpose, target group, mission, vision and core values and we then incorporate these into the new branding. That, in short, is how you give a love brand charge.
The Shopify webshop
The webshop is built with Shopify , a great SaaS e-commerce solution that grows with the company and is equipped with many automatic marketing options as standard. We opted for an extensive and flexible theme that could go in any direction. We kept the design calm and above all clear. The plates have been put into beautiful mockups, so that they appeal to the imagination of the potential customer.
We asked Henk from Max & Mila Media a few questions
When and why did you start your business?
I started with Max & Mila in September 2022. In June of that year I sold my hotel in Delft after 18.5 years. After the summer holidays I slowly started asking myself what I would like to do. It had to be something completely different from the hotel industry. Ultimately, I started looking for creative and educational products for young children and their educators. The form of an online shop seemed to me to be a good way to combine working with my family.
What do you think is the best product (category) from the range?
My personal favorite records are those of " Pinocchio " and " Enjoy your meal, enjoy your drink ". Based on these records I can always clearly explain to people what Max & Mila's records stand for. And.....I secretly think the album " Elephant in the Forest " is also very beautiful!
What made you decide to hire SYSO?
In my search for a new website to create, I came across Shopify. While searching further I came across SYSO. The total package they provide particularly appealed to me. Because I had worked in a completely different industry for years, I needed a party that could help me in various areas (establishing the brand, building the website and marketing and communication). SYSO has certainly lived up to my expectations.
What are you most happy with when it comes to the new branding and webshop?
The best part for me is the name and logo. Together with choosing the name, thinking about the logo was a fun part at the start of the entire process. It really felt like a process in which we worked together and achieved a great result. Mariko's cross over the brand name with 2 separate names that were connected by the & sign. Supplemented with my own choice of two "international" names that alliterate. For the logo, I came up with the proposal of the two owls that symbolize "wisdom and learning", but also "together". Mariko then managed to surprise me very positively with the dynamics of the two owls moving around each other instead of the usual owls sitting next to each other on a branch.
May we know what the future plans are?
We are currently still working on making the audio fairy tales that accompany the fairy tale records. Together with the video clips of the children's songs, which we already have, they can be a fun and educational part of a Max & Mila video and podcast channel. Ultimately, these digital products, together with a fairy tale and song book, could become a nice addition to the series of wall pictures that we have. In addition to the games, calendars and cards that we already have in our range, a Max & Mila app with games, songs and stories would complete it completely.
With this complete range, we hope to play an important role in connecting young children and their parents and fellow educators. Not only in children's rooms, but certainly also in childcare locations, we want to be present with our wall plaques to offer educators extras to connect with younger children, transfer knowledge and culture and enjoy the moment together.
Max & Mila's products give "educators" the opportunity to create beautiful memories together with the new generation that will last a lifetime. Playing together, learning together and enjoying beautiful things together adds something very valuable to childhood. Not only for the children themselves, but certainly also for the children's educators.
Would you recommend SYSO?
I would highly recommend SYSO! You notice that there is a lot of knowledge and experience in everything. This means that you are really taken along on the journey to a complete webshop that is rock solid. This also applies if you are looking to rebrand or even build a new brand from scratch!
Thank you Henk!
Thank you for your trust in SYSO and for the inspiring assignment to bring Max & Mila to life together. It was great fun working with you and making your vision visual and tangible. We are proud of what we have achieved together and admire the passion and dedication with which you have built Max & Mila. Your dream to create an enchanting world for children and their educators is inspiring! We wish you every success and much fun with this wonderful venture. We are confident that Max & Mila will win many hearts and create lasting memories for both children and their parents.
Happlify, your happy shopping guide
Such a beautiful shop should of course not be missing from the best happy shopping guide in the Netherlands and Belgium: Happlify! And so Max & Mila also got a nice spot.
Happlify is a fast-growing, high-quality shopping guide for women (30+ years) who are looking for a fresh and familiar place where they can get acquainted with fun, special and safe web shops. On the blog they will find inspiring articles about lifestyle, positivity, fun outings and recipes. Do you also want to become visible to a larger audience? You can find more information here: Happlify collaboration and advertising.
