Priory Hospitality Group
The Priory Hospitality Group (http://www.thepriory.com) properties consist of the Priory Hotel a 24-room European-style boutique hotel on Pittsburgh's North Shore rated the best in Pittsburgh by Zagat Survey® (fifth edition); Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at the Priory (http://www.pittsburghsgrandhall.com) located adjacent to the hotel and situated in the former St. Mary’s German Catholic Church, which offers a breathtaking space for weddings, banquets, parties, charity events and gatherings of all types; and the award-winning Priory Fine Pastries (http://www.prioryfinepastries.com) custom bakery. In addition, it is a leader in the revitalization effort of the National Register District of Deutschtown. For several years, BrandMill has served as ...
Kennywood Park
Kennywood Park (http://www.kennywood.com) is western Pennsylvania’s largest provider of summer fun and a National Historic Landmark highly regarded as America's finest traditional amusement park. Kennywood is part of the Palace Entertainment (http://www.palaceentertainment.com) family of parks that hosts over 14 million visitors annually at five theme parks, two animal parks, 10 waterparks, and 21 family entertainment centers. Palace Entertainment is part of the Parques Reunidos family of parks. For many years, BrandMill has provided strategic marketing communications counsel to Kennywood Park in the areas of branding, targeted marketing (to moms, families and teens), public relations, media relations, media buying, email marketing, pricing, ...
Idlewild & SoakZone
Founded in 1878 as a simple picnic ground along the Ligonier Valley Rail Road, Idlewild & SoakZone (http://www.idlewild.com) is the oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania, third-oldest in America and is rated the second best kid’s park in the world by Amusement Today magazine (http://www.amusementtoday.com) and one of the top five family amusement parks in the world by the National Amusement Park Historical Association (http://www.napha.org/). Idlewild features seven fun theme areas such as SoakZone Waterpark, Story Book Forest and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Idlewild is part of the Palace Entertainment (http://www.palaceentertainment.com) family of parks that hosts over 14 million visitors ...
Honor Flight CAK
Since 2005, the Honor Flight Network (http://www.honorflight.org) has had one simple goal in mind, to safely transport America's veterans for free to Washington, D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices. Priority is given to World War II veterans – who are dying at a rate of 1,000 every day – and then Korean and Vietnam War veterans and so on. HFN presently has 71 hubs in 30 states and by the end of the 2009 flying season in November, it will have transported more than 42,000 veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam to ...
American Marketing Association
As president of the Pittsburgh American Marketing Association (http://www.amapittsburgh.org) for the 2007/08 season and members of the programming and communications teams, Stephen Wayhart led the 63 year old Chapter into the record books by building the largest membership of Pittsburgh marketing executives in its long history and achieved its highest increase in Revenue-to-Expense Ratio of 122+%! AMA Pittsburgh Chapter goals were met working under an aggressive "Raise the Marketing Bar" Mantra. The Chapter delivered more member value (3X the number of speakers than prior years), more innovative programming offerings such as Summertime Marketing Mixers, Fall and Spring Marketing Summits (Digital and ...
The Carlton Restaurant
Nationally recognized, The Carlton (http://www.thecarltonrestaurant.com) is Pittsburgh’s only DiRoNA (Distinguished Restaurant of North America) award winning restaurant is conveniently located in One BNY Mellon Center, in the heart of the Pittsburgh’s bustling business, hotel and cultural district. For 25 years, The Carlton has been consistently recognized as one of the very best restaurants in western Pennsylvania achieving numerous awards and commendations such as: - The “Overall Favorite Restaurant” by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette readers - A 14 time recipient of the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence Restaurateur of the Year by Pittsburgh Magazine, the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, and the International Geneva Association To better reflect The ...
Whiskey Rebellion II
We led the "Whiskey Rebellion II" marketing strategy and rebranding of the Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation (F.A.C.T.) (http://www.stopdrinktax.com) campaign to, "Axe the 10% Drink Tax" imposed by Allegheny County government on Pittsburgh area restaurants, taverns and banquet halls. We provided expert Web site, email marketing and analytics, Web 2.0 strategies and executions and Public Relations counsel which led to national media coverage by the Associated Press and Wall Street Journal and a ton of media coverage throughout the Pittsburgh region! Our award winning and record breaking marketing effort helped F.A.C.T. collect over 40,000 signatures (nearly 2X required) for a ballot vote of ...
Featured
Loving Pepsi’s Refresh Project
Looking forward to great game and loving Pepsi’s decision to pass on Super Bowl ads (waste) and lead with its “Refresh Everything” online marketing project. Two things I’m sure of about the Super Bowl. One – someone named Peyton/Payton – will win! Two – Pepsi’s campaign will be successful for them and similar types of brand initiatives that focus their... [Read more]
BrandMill Clients Win Big at Restaurant Gala
L-R - Kevin Joyce, Stephen Wayhart, John Graf I’m proud to announce that two BrandMill clients, John Graf of the Priory Hospitality Group and Kevin Joyce of The Carlton Restaurant both won two of the three most distinguished awards from the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association. John won the Wilmer S. Lapp Keystone Award and Kevin won Restaurateur of the Year! Our Winter White Wedding Campaign... [Read more]
Seven Ways to Reinvent Yourself
OK, we’re all about 1/12th of the way through 2010 and most of our good-natured resolutions for self improvement have been broken. Fortunately, here comes a welcome, timely motivational kick in the pants from one of my marketing mentors Seth Godin that highlights seven key levers you can use to reinvent yourself such as: Connect, Be generous, Make art , Acknowledge the lizard (helped me), Ship,... [Read more]
iWant, iNeed, iGotta
Pancakes in a can? I’m all in! What a simple brand promise – so easy and clear to understand. Think Reddi-Whip aerosol can, but think Pancakes – maybe think both at the same time (hint – writing this during dinnertime – and, I’m a little hungry)! Anyway, I plan to try NEW Batter Blaster this weekend, after eating up it’s marvelous marketing and unique story... [Read more]
A Butt Face Marketing Lesson
I just love this lawsuit kicked off by The North Face – an premium preppy outdoor apparel and gear company – vs. The South Butt – a skunk works operation run by a college kid. The North Face giant is suing the kid – Jimmy Winkelmann, a University of Missouri college student for trademark infringement, dilution and unfair competition. The logos and clothing are a bit similar. And,... [Read more]
The Kids Are Alright Part II
In an earlier post, I reported that it was great to see the Gen Y kids driving the tremendous outpouring of financial support for Haiti relief via texting. I’m happy to report that the American Red Cross “Text ‘Haiti’ to 90999″ campaign has raised $24 million to date. See the DMNews story here. Think about this campaign for a moment. It has achieved some amazing accomplishments... [Read more]
Stop Busting People’s Buttons
About 10 years ago, I made a huge change in a long time relationship. After about a 15 year relationship, I divorced my dry cleaner because they wouldn’t stop busting my buttons! Time and time again, when I’d button my shirt, the buttons – especially on the collar and sleeves – would crumble in my hands and seemingly disappear into thin air. Now, to be fair, my old dry cleaner... [Read more]
Marketing Lessons of Dr. King
Today is a special day of remembrance for me because I’ve admired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ever since I was a young boy. King’s life’s work was to create a formidable movement of change and progress on the issue of civil rights in America – which he most certainly accomplished. In fact, his legacy has expanded to encompass not only the advancement of civil rights, but human... [Read more]
The Kids Are Alright
If you think young people these days are inconsiderate, selfish, concerned with only themselves and wear their “pants on the ground“…think again. Soon after the devastating Haiti earthquake hit, @RedCross tweeted: “You can text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts in #haiti.” Kudos to the Red Cross marketing folks for being prepared (excellent... [Read more]
All Football Field Goals Aren’t Worth 3 Points
Did you ever wonder why all football field goals are worth three points or all touchdowns are worth six points? I have…and the more I think about it, the more outdated the tradition seems to me, and changing the values would make the game more exciting. Aren’t 50 yard field goals tougher to make than 20 yarders? Certainly they are, so why aren’t their values different? In gymnastics... [Read more]
Top Ten Consumer Trends for 2010
Back in June, 2009 I presented my Top Ten Consumer Trends for 2010 at Duquesne University’s 11th Annual Entrepreneur Growth Conference in Pittsburgh. I still believe these trends are on track, but I also believe in Pittsburgh-based Heinz Chairman and CEO William Johnson’s view that the he sees a long-lasting consumer shift to thrift and must carefully balance its business strategy in response. I’m... [Read more]
Panera Bread’s Success Keeps Rising
I loved reading this recent Time Magazine article about the raging success of Panera Bread company and its various reasons for success despite the tough economy. I’ve been a big fan since I walked into my first Panera store about 9 years ago. Panera stock is up 26% this year and is one of the top performing stocks of the decade with a huge 1,560.65% return! And, they’re rocking this year... [Read more]
You Miss 100 Percent of the Shots You Never Take
Hockey great Wayne Gretzky is credited with the quote, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” It’s a good quote to keep in mind as you enter the New Year – and I believe it rings true for all of us. In fact, this police sketch of a suspected murderer is a fine example. When you first look at this police sketch, you may think a three year old drew it, but an actual police... [Read more]
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