by thesavageway | Nov 18, 2015 | clean graffiti
Did you know that it’s only a 7-minute walk from Armada Skate Shop to Midwood Smokehouse in Plaza Midwood? This was one of the many walking facts that we learned while working on the Walk Your Neighborhood #WalkCLT initiative powered by OrthoCarolina & Sustain Charlotte.
#WalkCLT is a project created by Sustain Charlotte’s Transportation Choices Alliance & OrthoCarolina to promote the walkability of our Charlotte neighborhoods. Walking creates more vibrant streets, helps support local businesses, highlights unique neighborhood features & strengthens Charlotte as a whole. #WalkCLT brings the community together in a big way.
The first #WalkCLT event went down in Plaza Midwood. #thesavageway
#thesavagway was brought in to assist with the creation and promotion of this community event and well as executing Clean Graffiti to denote walking distances. Clean Graffiti was a natural medium to use as a wayfinding sign because it is a sustainable form of messaging – it’s just water.
Clean Graffiti was used as a wayfinding message along popular walking areas in the neighborhood. #thesavageway
It’s only 9 minutes to a good book! #WalkCLT helps promote walking in your neighborhood. #thesavageway
On Saturday, November 7, our team, Sustain Charlotte & OrthoCarolina threw a launch event for the #WalkCLT initiative. Residents & participants were encouraged to walk from their home (instead of driving) to the heart of the Plaza Midwood business district. The festivities included a free t-shirt upon checking-in at the Pizza Peel on Central Ave, a scavenger hunt for families, two and three-legged races, and some amazing deals from the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. Over 18 local restaurants, shops & businesses offered a special deal for participants. #thesavageway team was of course on hand to manage the social media for the event!
The Sustain Charlotte crew setting up for the #WalkCLT launch event.
Successful check-in for the inaugural #WalkCLT event. #thesavageway
Cruise Carts, another sustainable form of transportation, stopped by for the #WalkCLT launch. #thesavageway
Volunteers are all smiles at the #WalkCLT launch event. #thesavageway
Walk Your City Signs were also used as wayfinding signs for #WalkCLT. #thesavageway
This launch event was just the beginning of #WalkCLT, which has a larger vision to get all of Charlotte walking more often! OrthoCarolina has been a huge community supporter and is a key reason why this initiative took off!
In the words of Blair Primis, Vice-President of Marketing at OrthoCarolina, “OrthoCarolina is a committed community partner and we felt this initiative fell perfectly in line with our efforts to educate Charlotteans on living a healthy lifestyle.”
Stay tuned for the next #WalkCLT event coming to a neighborhood near you!
OrthoCarolina’s Blair Primis supporting #WalkCLT. #thesavageway
by thesavageway | Oct 26, 2015 | clean graffiti
Using Clean Graffiti for marathons and other running initiatives just makes sense. Companies are able to speak to their target market and give a nudge of encouragement directly to their target market – right underneath their running shoes! Recently, #thesavageway executed some Clean Graffiti for Novant Health’s Thunder Road Marathon to do just that.
Clean Graffiti by #thesavageway for Novant Health’s Thunder Road Marathon #RunCharlotte
Encouraging messages, including “Race Yourself,” “Life is a Marathon, Not a Sprint,” and “Keep Your Head Up,” were placed along the marathon route in order to encourage participants during the training period as well as race day!
“Thunder Road really is Charlotte’s marathon,” said Hannah Maschoff, Rock Star Designer at Moonlight Creative Group (the marketing agency behind Thunder Road). “And while we couldn’t be alongside every runner while they’re training, we wanted to use the streets as a way to remind runners the city of Charlotte is (literally) cheering them on. Running is often times more mental than physical. Almost anyone can run, it’s making the decision to get out and to keep going that’s hard. Simple reminders like this are great in a magazine are 1,000 times more impactful if they’re delivered when the runner actually needs it!”
Race Yourself Clean Graffiti for Thunder Road Marathon Charlotte. #thesavageway
“Charlotte has an awesome running community that ranges from social to serious,” continued Maschoff. “When building a campaign for Thunder Road, we wanted to find a way to reach these runners doing what the love – running. Clean graffiti was a great tool when our main efforts were grass roots.”
Runner along Charlotte streets with inspirational Clean Graffiti on the sidewalk. #thesavageway
Motivational Clean Graffiti messages on the sidewalk along the Thunder Road Charlotte route. #thesavageway
In fact, Thunder Road Marathon is having a fun social media contest surrounding the Clean Graffiti. Use #RunCharlotte whenever you find an encouraging message and be entered to win some sweet gifts.
From Charlotte’s Thunder Road Marathon Facebook:
“We can’t be with you on every training run, so we decided to do the next best thing. With help from MoonlightCreative Group and #thesavageway we’ve spread these inspirational pick-me-up’s throughout Charlotte. Snap a #shoeselfie next to one on your next run, post your pic to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #RunCharlotte, and be entered to win a $50 expo gift card for Official Merchandise. Winner will be drawn randomly on November 1.”
Charlotte’s Thunder Road Marathon uses Clean Graffiti for a social media contest. – #thesavageway
Thunder Road Marathon is in its 11th year in Charlotte and this year it takes place on November 14, 2015. The Novant Health Thunder Road Marathon also features a Half Marathon and 5K. All courses are certified. For more information, visit www.runcharlotte.com.
Now, go for a run, find some Clean Graffiti, post it to social media and tag #RunCharlotte #thesavageway.
by thesavageway | Oct 8, 2015 | clean graffiti
UNC Charlotte, which happens to be Torrie’s alma mater, has been introduced to Clean Graffiti in the past. OrthoCarolina ran a campaign during the inaugural Charlotte 49er Football season in 2013. Recently, #thesavageway had the opportunity to re-visit the campus for another Clean Graffiti initiative. We worked with The Edge University Walk to highlight the UNCC Alumni Tailgate Village – (The Alumni Tailgate Village is located directly across the street from Lot 19 at the corner of Cameron Blvd and Craver Road, near the tennis courts once you’re on campus).
Our reverse graffiti was to bring attention to the newly established Hauser Alumni Pavilion. We chose locations surrounding campus where people would be walking to the games as well as highly trafficked parking areas.
Clean Graffiti by #thesavageway for The Edge University Walk!
Clean Graffiti supporting the new UNC Charlotte Alumni Tailgate Village sponsored by The Edge University Walk. – #thesavageway
When you’re on campus for the Charlotte 49ers vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles Homecoming Game on Saturday, October 24, keep your eyes out for these Clean Graffiti spots! Take a picture and let us know by using the hashtag #49erAlumni & #thesavageway!
Clean Graffiti for UNC Charlotte, sponsored by The Edge University Walk. Photo Credit Amy Jolly. #thesavageway
Go 49ers!
by thesavageway | Sep 14, 2015 | clean graffiti
Clean Graffiti is a powerful tool. It has the ability to capture the attention of runners, walkers and passersby that your organization may not normally have the opportunity to reach. Here at #thesavageway, we have seen some of the best reactions to these sustainable messages when they are used on running routes and in areas where people are walking.
Recently, we had the opportunity to work with the Isabella Santos Foundation on a Clean Graffiti campaign for their 5K/10K Race for Kids Cancer coming up on September 26, 2015.
Clean Graffiti by #thesavageway for the Isabella Santos Foundation!
“We wanted to use Clean Graffiti for the grass roots exposure and brand identity,” said Rachel Wood, Director of Marketing for the Isabella Santos Foundation. “We wanted something that not many other races have done. Yes, traditional marketing is needed, but wanted something that would get a runner’s attention.”
Cancer Messed With the Wrong Kid Clean Graffiti for the Isabella Santos Foundation. – #thesavageway
Our Clean Graffiti was strategically placed along popular running routes around Charlotte. The message has a motivational message, website, date and an image of a sweet, running girl.
That running girl represents Isabella Santos – loving daughter, caring friend and cancer fighter. Read more on her story here.
Isabella Santos (photo courtesy of the Isabella Santos Foundation Facebook page).
Our Clean Graffiti interpretation of Isabella the running girl for the Isabella Santos Foundation.
“Our biggest fear in all of our fundraising and events is that the goal will move away from Isabella,” said Wood. With the Clean Graffiti, “we love that our running girl and our ‘Cancer Messed With The Wrong Kid’ message keeps Isabella in the front of our mind and keeps the #1 reason alive of why we keep fighting.”
We are very proud of our Clean Graffiti work for the Isabella Santos Foundation, however, we are even more honored that we had the opportunity to work with such a fantastic group of people fighting for such an amazing cause.
Isabella and her brother taking in a sweet moment.
The Isabella Santos Foundation was created in 2009 by two resilient parents who lost their little girl, Isabella, to Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. Though Isabella has lost her battle, the foundation continues to carry the torch and keep fighting cancer the way Isabella would have wanted. The Isabella Santos Foundation, a 501c3, raises money through a variety of events throughout the year and has raised over $700,000 for Neuroblastoma research in the past six years. Read more about where that money has gone here.
5K/10K Race for Kids Cancer September 26, 2015.
The 8th Annual 5K/10K Race For Kids Cancer is held September 26, 2015.
The next big push is for the 5K/10K Race for Kids Cancer on September 26. There is still time to register and make a difference! Last year, the 5K/10K raised approximately $300,000!
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, September 26, 2015
- 5K/10K and one-mile fun run
- Kids Zone for the little ones including games, face painting, slides, jump house, photo booth and more
- Raffle and Silent Auction with 150+ packages including beauty/spa packages, sporting events, date night outs, vacations, jewelry and more
- Kids Fun Run Warm Up with South Charlotte F3, a fun activity-filled warm up for the kids to teach them the importance of healthy activity and get them ready for their big race
- Emcee Woody & Wilcox of 106.5 and their truck and crew emc the event and play music. Molly Grantham is a co-emc and has a tent in the Kids Fun Zone.
- Fundraiser The money raised will go to support pediatric cancer research, Levine Childrens’ Hospital, Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, and Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Central & Western Carolinas.
- Register today
The Santos family shortly before Isabella lost her battle. This is why they fight. This is why they run. – #thesavageway
This has been one of our most meaningful Clean Graffiti campaigns to date. We didn’t personally know Isabella, but man did she greatly impact this world and the people around her! We’re taking a page out of her book and putting a smile on despite the craziness of life. Here’s to you Isabella – Cancer messed with the wrong kid!
by thesavageway | Sep 8, 2015 | clean graffiti
Last week was a big week for #thesavageway. We completed our first out-of-state job, and we are now officially taking on new Clean Graffiti clients in New York City!
THE CLIENT
Clarks USA is a global brand that originated in England in 1825. According to their website, Clarks is “…the world’s number one in everyday footwear – a global company designing, innovating, manufacturing and selling more than 50 million pairs of shoes every year.” Clarks is known for their timeless leather shoes including the Trigenic, the Wallabee and the Original Desert Boot.
In order to promote the 65th Anniversary of the Desert Boot release, Clarks decided to take on a new and innovative approach to spreading the word – Clean Graffiti.
Clarks USA Clean Graffiti in New York City by #thesavageway.
We (Paula & Torrie) worked in collaboration with the Clarks USA team on creating the NYC Clean Graffiti campaign. Concept and design were developed by Clarks to fit their well-established brand standards and locations and execution were in our team’s hands.
THE JOB
We were tasked to use our eco-friendly sidewalk messages to draw attention to the Clarks SoHo headquarters store, which is located at 547 Broadway. We scoured the streets surrounding the showroom (Lower East Side, NoHo, Greenwich Village, China Town, Little Italy, Nolita) and came up with 20 prime locations for the reverse graffiti spots.
#thesavageway Clean Graffiti for Clarks USA on the Lower East Side in NYC.
#thesavageway Clean Graffiti for Clarks USA sees some street traffic.
Torrie & Paula of #thesavageway pose with a Clean Graffiti spot in NYC.
Clarks USA Clean Graffiti in NYC – #thesavageway.
Clarks was a great example of a classic brand using a new advertising medium to speak to a younger, hip crowd. Through the use of slang language, hashtags and the medium itself, Clarks was able to speak to the fashion-forward generation.
GROWTH
We are stoked to be working with two great sales representatives, Morgan Jones & Evan Bethea, to bring NYC Clean Graffiti to life (stay tuned for full blog post). Our team is talented, hardworking and the reason we are able to expand to a new market so quickly!
#thesavageway hits the streets in NYC.
We are honored that we had the privilege to work with Clarks USA! It’s awesome (and refreshing) to see an international brand practicing what they preach and using sustainable practices in their marketing and business efforts. Kudos Clarks!
by thesavageway | Jul 21, 2015 | clean graffiti
There is nothing like an adventure. Last week, #thesavageway team hit the pavement in search of dirty sidewalks along the coast of North Carolina. Our sustainable messaging medium, Clean Graffiti, has been growing in the greater Charlotte market for three years now! (Check out some of our work.) We’ve also developed projects in Raleigh, NC, Concord, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, Huntersville, NC, Mooresville, NC and even New York City, NY. However, this particular job was the largest we’ve done from the back of an SUV (6 hours from home).
The Travelers:
Torrie Savage | Paula Bartlett | Alana Allen | Cailin McCoy
#thesavageway team on the Clean Graffiti Road trip. (L to R: Alana, Torrie, Paula, Cailin)
The Destinations:
Corolla, NC
Dare County, NC
Surf City, NC
The beautiful beaches of North Carolina. #thesavageway
We were hired by the marketing team of the North Carolina Department of Transportation to assist in spreading the message of their Watch For Me NC campaign. This initiative is all about bringing awareness to pedestrian and bicycle safety. Accidents happen everyday from drivers and walkers not paying attention to their surroundings. This statewide campaign is all about education and helping to prevent these accidents.
A screenshot from the WatchForMeNC.org website.
Clean Graffiti was incorporated into this initiative on a grass roots level in order to target the exact demographic being affected by these accidents; pedestrians. Utilizing data that identified the highest crash locations, we strategically placed warning messages along the popular beach towns of the Outer Banks, Kill Devil Hills, Duck and more!
Clean Graffiti for the NCDOT on the North Carolina Coast. #thesavageway
Clean Graffiti for the NCDOT on the North Carolina Coast in Dare County & Corolla, NC. #thesavageway
Watch for Cars! A Clean Graffiti initiative for the NCDOT on the North Carolina Coast. #thesavageway
Over the course of a week, #thesavageway executed 34 Clean Graffiti locations touting the messages “Watch Where You Cross” and “Watch For Cars.” The response from the locals was awesome. Multiple people approached us, first out of curiosity, but after seeing what the messages were, they applauded the NCDOT for taking this much-needed approach in preventing accidents and deaths.
Watch for Cars! A Clean Graffiti initiative for the NCDOT on the North Carolina Coast. #thesavageway
Watch Where You Cross! A Clean Graffiti initiative for the NCDOT on the North Carolina Coast. #thesavageway
This campaign is a perfect example of how a city/company can maximize the medium of Clean Graffiti. Through strategic placement and the right message, people will take notice and heed the call to action. With a clever saying or artistic design, a passerby will be more likely to snap a picture and create some third party content for the company. The fact that the NC DOT uses Clean Graffiti for a safety campaign is such a forward-thinking step – Kudos to this governmental department!
And just like that, our first big Clean Graffiti road trip is in the books! Here’s to many, many more!
The Newbie:
You may be wondering who the two new travelers were on this road trip. Well, you know Alana and now, meet Cailin McCoy. Cailin is our Regional Sales Representative for Clean Graffiti. Her focus is growing the Clean Graffiti branch of our company throughout North Carolina and the Southeastern Coast. Stay tuned for a full introduction to this beautiful, feisty and hardworking gal!
Meet Cailin McCoy – #thesavageway Regional Sales Representative.
by thesavageway | Jul 10, 2015 | clean graffiti
When we happen upon a company that is doing different things in the marketing world, we stop and look. In the case of OrthoCarolina, we stop and admire. It is hard to go around any corner in Charlotte and not see something that has been cleverly calculated and effectively executed by the OC team.
If you don’t know, OrthoCarolina is “one of the nation’s leading independent academic orthopedics practices serving North Carolina and the Southeast since 1922. They provide comprehensive musculoskeletal care including operative and non-operative care, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitative therapy. Widely known for musculoskeletal research and training, their physicians have specialized expertise in foot & ankle, hip & knee, shoulder & elbow, spine, sports medicine, hand, pediatric orthopedics, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. They have over 130 surgeons amongst 25 plus locations to conveniently serve our patients.”
The creative mind behind the clever marketing of OrthoCarolina is Blair Primis, Vice President of Marketing. Blair is a rare breed in the marketing world. He sees beyond the traditional and he is constantly blurring the lines of what a doctor’s office “should be.” You can see this nontraditional approach to the marketing of OrthoCarolina all over Crown Town, but specifically in their unique sponsorships & outdoor advertising campaigns.
- Sponsor of the NoDa Grand Prix – with signage at the location of the highest crashes.
- Purchased multiple Billboards in collaboration with Adams Outdoors Advertising (titled Broken) Watch this cool video.
- Sponsoring a Cruise Cart that provides FREE rides to Charlotteans on behalf of OrthoCarolina.
- Main supporter of the ever popular (and growing) NoDa Run Club – Clean Graffiti was used to help denote the route.
- Wraps any and every truck that he can – ever wonder what OrthoCarolina was delivering to the gas station? 🙂
OrthoCarolina sponsoring the NoDa Grand Prix. (photo credit NoDa Grand Prix)
“Broken” billboard campaign that OrthoCarolina did with Adams Outdoor Advertising.
OrthoCarolina sponsored Cruise Cart – giving a FREE ride by simply waving one down!
Clean Graffiti Campaign for the NoDa Brewing Run Club, which OrthoCarolina is the main sponsor.
Random trucks all over Charlotte are wrapped in the OrthoCarolina logo.
Here at #thesavageway, we’ve had the pleasure of knowing Blair for almost three years. He was the first one to see our idea of cleaning sidewalks (aka Clean Graffiti) and say YES, let’s make this happen! Clean Graffiti (a Clean Message on a Dirty Sidewalk) provided OrthoCarolina with a new opportunity that “pushes the line.” (Also, Blair’s motto). We’ve been able to hit the streets (pun intended) with a direct line to their potential market: runners, walkers, bikers, etc.
Clean Graffiti by #thesavageway for OrthoCarolina and the UNC Charlotte Inaugural Football Season.
Clean Graffiti by #thesavageway for OrthoCarolina and their 10K Classic.
OrthoCarolina is the Official Team Physicians of the Charlotte 49ers. Clean Graffiti by #thesavageway.
One of the cool things about Blair and our work with OrthoCarolina is the brainstorming process. We will come to the table with a slew of ideas, from huge-we-never-think-it-will-actually-happen ideas to simple brand recognition campaigns, and every single time Blair pushes us to the next level. He challenges what we think about our boundaries and pushes us to think even BIGGER!
Some of our favorite #thesavageway/OC Clean Graffiti campaigns over the past few years include “Running Messages” and “Watch Your Step.”
Watch Your Step Clean Graffiti campaign by #thesavageway for OrthoCarolina.
Inspirational Running Messages along popular running paths – Clean Graffiti by #thesavageway for OrthoCarolina.
Our latest campaign was for the Winston Salem and Kernersville market. Naturally, we wanted to take Clean Graffiti to the next level for Blair, so we commissioned a local artist, Matt Hooker of Hooker Media, to help us design something unique and original.
Behind Every Great Athlete is OrthoCarolina. This #thesavageway Clean Graffiti campaign in collaboration with local artist Matt Hooker.
OrthoCarolina is great at what they do – fixing broken bones. But they are also great at something that should be a priority for other companies – building community. Blair has done a superb job of building community by hiring local, small companies (like us), supporting charity events, helping organizations grow and being honest along the way.
We are grateful that we’ve been an OrthoCarolina partner for the past (almost) three years and we look forward to the fun, crazy, awesome things that Blair will have up his sleeve in the future.
Getting to know the man behind OrthoCarolina Marketing. #thesavageway hanging out with Blair Primis at Salud Beer Shop in 2013.
by thesavageway | May 6, 2015 | clean graffiti
It is not often that we have the opportunity to work with a global organization on a Clean Graffiti campaign. However, about two months ago, we were approached by Greenpeace to discuss using our eco-friendly medium for one of their solar campaigns, #IStand4Solar (and we were beyond excited).
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.
Our Clean Graffiti initiative was one piece of the #IStand4Solar story. You can read more about the complete campaign on the Greenpeace NC blog here. We were able to create a template that embodied the solar message, art and one that sparked engagement. Our interactive piece encouraged pedestrians to put their feet in the art and take a picture.
#IStand4Solar Clean Graffiti Campaign by #thesavageway for Greenpeace.
#IStand4Solar Clean Graffiti Campaign by #thesavageway for Greenpeace.
SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT
The social media interaction from the community has been awesome! Here are a few examples taken from Twitter & Instagram.
#IStand4Solar Clean Graffiti Social Media post from @WeLoveCLT – #thesavageway
#IStand4Solar Clean Graffiti Social Media post from @AndyGoh – #thesavageway
#IStand4Solar Clean Graffiti Social Media post from @ericjordanwoods – #thesavageway
#IStand4Solar Clean Graffiti Social Media post from @pilotcollective – #thesavageway
#IStand4Solar Clean Graffiti Social Media post from @kassierohrbach – #thesavageway
Working with Greenpeace on #IStand4Solar has been such an honor. We loved being part of this project and getting to see the reaction to this thought provoking Clean Graffiti message. Having the opportunity to collaborate with Greenpeace team members in DC, San Francisco and here in Charlotte was great experience! We hope to see this partnership grow across state lines and assist in spreading the solar message.
