Bumbershoot’s green efforts
I feel that so many companies that are going green today, use it for the PR and not for the actual purpose of going gree. Here’s an example from this weekends Bumbershoot festival in Seattle.
One of Bumbershoot’s largest advertising campaignes this year was how it was going to be such a green event. Here’s one line from their website, that was also plastered on many different posters around town:
We are pleased to announce a series of innovative and interactive strategies to make this year’s Bumbershoot the greenest ever!
Well from the looks and sounds of it, one of those strategies was not allowing water bottles into Memorial Stadium, the large concert stage used during the show. Maybe they’re using some “innovative” strategy here, but from the looks of it, it’s not that green.
[Crapolicious link] via Boing Boing
Another Seattle company getting into book sales…
No, not Amazon. Nope, not Starbucks. Nordstrom has announced that they will be selling and publish a children’s book this Christmas season. You know what? I think it will actually work.
Nordstrom has such a personal connection with most of its shoppers that the customers will trust their person shoppers recommendations. In contrast to Starbucks selling top sellers, this book will be exclusive for Nordstrom, which will also make it special for those Nordstrom moms that spend their days trying to find something to buy. On top of this, the stores will also be using characters from the book to help decorate this holiday season, bringing even more recognition to the book.
I know it’s just one book, and I don’t think it can grow much from that, but I think ONE, and only one, book is a great idea for Nordstrom to sell during the holiday season. Now it comes down to execution.
Interesting choice of music…
I was at the sad sad Mariners game tonight. KOMO 1000, one of the Mariners main sponsors ran a promo in between innings advertising a new online personality. Nothing big right? Well the background music for the promo was the instrumental version of Lady Sovereign’s hit song “Love Me or Hate Me.” The words weren’t being played, but for the people who know the song, you have to see some irony in choosing the song.
The main chorus to the song states:
Love me or hate me that is the question. If you love me then funk you. If you hate me then [something that is similar to funk] you.
Wow, I guess KOMO really doesn’t like people who don’t listen to their station.
Fall begins tomorrow…
At Starbucks at least. They will bringing back their annual very popular pumpkin spice lattes tomorrow morning. I can’t believe how early they are starting this, but I do know that it’s a very popular drink, that they try to keep around as long as possible without making it a staple drink.
If you want a real treat, try a grande chai with one pump of pumpkin spice in there. They usually won’t charge you extra for one pump, even if they do it’s worth it.
First Hawks game of the year.
I went to the Seahawks preseason game last night and had a great time. Seattle won, no Hawks were injured, and no starters looked horrible, that’s about all you can hope for in a preseason game.
It was fun to be back at Qwest and watching football in person. One thing that I was looking at, from a business side that had nothing to do with football, was how the new Jones Soda partnership would be working out. Something that I’ve never seen at a professional sports game before was sampling of the sodas that they sell inside the stadium. Jones does have a long way to go to make people comfortable buying their drinks as opposed to the well known sodas typically found in a stadium. I think it will take a little while for them to make people comfortable ordering a bright green, green apple soda, or a bright blue lemonade soda drink. I hope that it goes well for them and spreads to them earning more business outside of the stadium as well.
One unique observation that I heard at the game was, "They all taste like they would go well with alcohol, but not by themselves." Hmmm, another possibility for a partnership Jones?
Gotta love minor league baseball…
The Portland Beavers baseball team is feeling the heat of the Oregon State Beavers. Nothing official, but when you think of baseball in Oregon your first thought is the two time defending national champion Oregon State baseball team. When you think of a team named the Beavers that plays baseball, your first thought is the two time defending national champion Oregon State baseball team.
I guess the owner of the minor league team in Portland, named the Beavers is sick of this and is letting the fans vote on what the new name of the team should be. It’s been narrowed down to five and it appears the fans get to decide from there. Not a bad promotion, especially to help with always being confused with the amazing university to the south. Here’s the problem though, all the names are horrible.
- Portland Beavers (keep the same name)
- Portland Green Sox (because Portland is a bicycle friendly, flex car driving, energy saving, recycling-crazy, Ralph Nader-loving place [their words not mine, but they are true])
- Sockeyes (A tough name, a tough fish. Really. Is a sockeye that tough? Is it that tough of a name?)
- Thorns (Playing on the City of Roses thing here. Interesting that they also say “or like razor-sharpened cleats on Ty Cobb’s shoes as he slid into home.” Ty Cobb was one of the dirtiest players to have ever played the game, is that really what you want to associate your team with?)
- Wet Sox (Because obviously it rains alot in Portland and Sox is a traditional baseball name)
Wow, tough choices there. I love minor league baseball because the owners can try everything to create fan interest. Crazy promotions, give aways, contests, etc. The problem is, those usually last one night, not for years to come.
About Otis
I live in Seattle, Washington. I am passionate about working with and interacting with others. My work experience includes marketing, account management, and sales.
I am a huge sports fan who on top of cheering for my favorite teams (Go Beavs!) also appreciates coaching strategy, as well as the marketing behind teams, players, and events.
Personally, I enjoys exploring new cities and areas (particularly small towns) and getting outside and playing.