Logo Review (disaster)

[ruler123]

Hello everyone thanks for looking at my post.
I am very new to illustrator and these are some of the things i made, but i think they are ... not that great.

I am basically looking for ideas whatsoever for a hardware store logo. Any ideas would be helpful or prototype designs with the store's name. I have been doing this for 4 days and i guess its the lack of imagination.

Thank you!

http://photos.yahoo.com/abbots123

Sorry for the yahoo photos the other pictures would not show up. I dont know why.

[webhost1]

The nut does not look like a nut. What kind of hardware do you sell? For that matter what products do you see? Might use some of them in the logo.

[ruler123]

well we sell the basic tools,
hammers, nuts, bolts, not appliances few power drills, electrical wires, the usual. no lumber though

Its more of a neighborhood hardware store, where residential people and contractors come.

[Eagle Imagery]

Hi

Is this to go on physical signage as well?...

I'd walk around the store and just look and take pictures of certain things that would represent a tool store. I would then take those pics into Illustrator and trace them out, play around a little bit. But, as for the logo you have displayed, I would take a pic of an actual nut and pull it into Illustrator and re-draw it. I actually like your set up..not sure about the choice of font but I definitely like the layout. Keep workin' on it and repost when you think it looks better!

[MarcieZoob]

I agree with Frankie on the graphic - play around with other tools, maybe something with more shape that will outline better.

The layout of the text is OK. The font might not reproduce well on other marketing pieces, however, plus it looks too "military" to me on first impression. Find a stronger, more masculine font that has the same weight.

[DIRTYDISCO]

looks a bit pusedo art deco and im wondering if that suits a hardware outlet something more techy might do the job

[JKomp]

I just dont get it - when i see your logo I should immediately get your brand, your image, your style. I can't personally get any of that from the current logo. Its certainly a solid foundation, but something to build on rather than present as a final version. Perhaps try integrating the nut and perhaps other tools into the font. Look at your logo and say 'whatif' - for each whatif sketch a logo. Dont try and integrate too many whatifs though, as that will make it too busy.