The story behind the name and logo

As promised, here’s where the name Selo comes from.

It’s actually the Portuguese word for “seal.” My parents have a villa in Portugal, and when I was growing up, almost every year we’d spend our holidays there. So when I was looking for a short, memorable name for the business, I found myself heading down the Portuguese route. Since we sell seals, it felt like the perfect fit — simple, meaningful, and a little nod to those family trips.

The logo came together in a similar way. Nearly everything we sell is circular — o-rings, bonded washers, copper washers, oil seals — so it made sense to build the brand mark out of circles.

And then there’s the colour scheme. That one came from my brother, Mark, who owns 20% of the business (I hold the other 80%). His love and passion for the McLaren F1 team shaped the bold orange-and-black palette you see today. Motorsport has always been in the background for both of us, so weaving it into the brand was a natural choice.

Put it all together, and you’ve got a name that ties back to family memories, a logo that reflects the products we sell, and a colour scheme rooted in something we’re both passionate about. In other words — Selo isn’t just another parts company. It’s ours.

If you missed it, you can go back and read Part 1: The origin story behind Selo: How a Quiet Spell at Work Turned Into a Business – Seal with Selo