Colour me Purple

On the face of it, Cadbury and Zoopla have little in common with Yahoo and Hallmark, and even less in common with us here at Purple. But there is one thing that brings us together – we’ve all successfully used purple as the foundation for company branding.

Do you feel secure and trusting when you see the colour blue? Or hungry or impulsive when you look at something red? It’s well known that colour has a powerful psychological effect on people’s emotions and decisions. In an appropriately titled study called Impact of Color in Marketing, researchers found that up to 90% of snap judgements made about brands are based on colour alone*. Many of the most recognisable brands in the world rely on colour for instant recognition. Colour, it seems, should be a primary consideration for your brand… 


So, why purple, I hear you ask?


Purple is one of the three secondary colours. As a combo of red and blue, it is neither warm nor cool yet simultaneously both. As the classic colour of nobility and kings, purple is commonly associated with quality, success and wisdom.  Both Cadbury and Hallmark use purple to denote the luxury and sophistication of their brand. However other brands use it to evoke power and wisdom – like Zoopla, ‘the smarter property tool’, and Yahoo, a powerful search engine. 

It’s a popular choice in creative industries as it’s stimulating to the eye and evokes curiosity.  We’ve taken it a step further. Purple doesn’t just represent our brand. It is our brand, from our name, our values to our Purple people. Imaginative, creative, wise and not content to blend in. If you want to join us in standing out from the crowd, contact us today.

Originally, the colour purple came from a dye made from the mucus glands of a tropical sea snail.


Roman emperors Julius Caesar and Augustus both decreed that only the Emperor could wear purple. When Nero became Emperor, wearing or even selling purple fabric became punishable by death.


Only one country has purple in its flag – Dominica, where the colour can be seen in the head and breast of the parrot in the middle.


Purple signifies wealth – perhaps that’s why it’s the colour of the highest denomination poker chip.


Prince’s legacy and love for all things purple will live on thanks to Pantone, who have created a custom hue in honour of the late singer.