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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
Featured
Canonsburg’s Candy Man Frank Sarris
A local Pittsburgh area marketing hero of mine passed away earlier this week Frank Sarris, founder and owner of Sarris Candies of Canonsburg, PA. Here was a remarkable man who was dedicated to his business, community and family and did it all successfully and with class. We can all use a few more heroes like Frank Sarris. How do I know this? No…I never had the pleasure of meeting the man –... [Read more]
Dominos Calls Baby Ugly and Doubles Profits
As a brand marketing consultancy, people pay us to, “call their baby ugly” and discover profitable ways to make it more attractive. It’s not an easy thing to do, especially when the business owners or leaders you’re consulting with happen to be the ones who gave birth to the baby you’re critiquing. A few months ago, I caught the news and television commercials about how... [Read more]
11 Ways to Think Better
It seems to me that over the past few years, many of us have veered far away from sound thinking. Not just strategic thinking – simple common sense thinking too – and just about all other kinds of thinking in between. I’ve always been one to strive for better ways to use my noodle and to put it to good use. Certainly, I’ve had my share of blunders, but when I carefully analyze... [Read more]
Irish Asked to Boycott Denny’s
File this Blog post in your, “What were they thinking” folder! From very reliable and ticked off sources, I understand that Denny’s restaurants have been airing a disrespectful television commercial degrading the Irish by offering unlimited pancakes or fries in celebration of the ending of the Irish Famine. Mama Mia! If this is a joke, it’s not even close to being funny. The... [Read more]
Banned for Bad Tipping
When I caught this headline, “Banned for Bad Tipping” on CNN.com today, I just had to check it out since we do so much work for restaurants and the hospitality industry. View the story here: I’m not sure who is right here, but my gut says the customer. Even if the owner is correct when he says that his customer is not a good tipper, she still paid her bill for the basic food and... [Read more]
Best Site for Twitter Tools and Apps
Here’s the very best site for all things Twitter from oneforty. They list nearly 2,500 Twitter Tools and Apps. Thanks a million oneforty! Read More →
Pittsburgh’s New Innovative Giant Eagle
Twenty years or so ago, I had several conversations with marketing colleagues about how supermarket chains lacked creativity. The general experience was underwhelming and one that most people dreaded. During those years, I would take Cadillac, Oldsmobile and McDonald’s clients into Wegman’s supermarkets throughout western, New York to show them how great they were and to learn merchandising,... [Read more]
Social Media Mistakes by Tiger and Toyota
Typically, in times of crisis, most brands fail in their communications before the crisis explodes not during or after it happens. Then, long after the explosive facts are out, whatever a brand does to quell the unfortunate act never seems to be quite enough. And today, in this ever changing and rapidly growing Social Media Marketing environment we all live in you can get yourself into a whole bunch... [Read more]
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]
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