by thesavageway | Dec 17, 2014 | services
2014. A year that brought many Happy moments and many challenging ones. Here at #thesavageway, we are beyond grateful to have made it another year in business and still remain passionate about what we are doing in this world.
At the end of each year, we like to take time to reflect on the moments that defined us, inspired us and that simply made us happy. Here is a look at a year in the life of #thesavageway:
#thesavageway Team Expanded!
At the beginning of 2014, Paula came on as a full time partner! This was a huge moment for the company and one that we had been working on for some time.
Other areas of growth in Charlotte include our residential Clean Graffiti division, Clean Graffiti Kids. However, our biggest move has to be our expansion to New York. Our sales team in NYC is bringing our sustainable medium of Clean Graffiti to the dirty (and perfect) streets up north!
We Met the “Steve Jobs” of Our Industry!
Torrie & Paula on a Skype session with Jim and Mike of Green Graffiti.
Never in a million years did we think we would meet our European competitor let alone become friends and partners with him! We traveled to Nashville, TN in June of this year to meet Jim Bowes, founder of Green Graffiti and crusader for all things sustainable media. Talk about eye opening and inspiring! Our future with Jim and his team is developing as we write this and we cannot wait to see how together we can make change!
We Won an Art Grant!
Queen City Soup Proposal.
Talking Dirt at Queen City Soup!
On a whim and some encouragement, we applied for Project Art Aid’s Queen City Soup micro grant. After a fairly hilarious skit in front of 200 people, we were awarded the grant for our Clean Graffiti project. The premise was to put down positive messages in high-risk areas of Charlotte in both English & in Spanish. Upon winning we decided to partner with Project LIFT as they were already established in West Charlotte and would allow a more direct impact in the community. Our project is ongoing with the West Charlotte High School IB Art students. Stay tuned for the finished project around March 2015.
We got to work with some pretty rad people…
As a small business, your clients are your bosses and we have to say that we have had some of the best. Huge shout out to this amazing bunch of clients, partners and friends that we’ve had the opportunity to work with this year!
28toLife, AIR – Aerial Fitness, Breathe, Bruks Bars, Carolina Textiles, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology, CPCC The Curious Advertising & Graphic Design Club, CrossFit 704, Cruise Carts, Crunch Bistro, Custom, Epic Apparel, FaceMounts, Flex + Fit, Four Sisters Boutique, Green Graffiti, Green Teacher Network, Idolize, Justin Driscoll Photography, Libretto’s Pizzeria, LiveUptownNow.com, MADabolic, Midtown Search, NoDa Brewing Company, NoDa Neighborhood, NoDa Brewing Run Club, OrthoCarolina, Pink Toast Ink, Playing for Others, Progressive Urban Real Estate, Project Art Aid, Project LIFT, Queen City Church of Christ, Ready at 7, Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte, Second Helping Charlotte, Stache House, Tech Talent South, TRi Yon Performance, UNC Charlotte PRSSA, Wine & Design Charlotte, Yelp Charlotte, YMCA of Greater Charlotte
We Fell BACK in Love with Coffee.
Delectables from The Daily Press.
If we didn’t love this sweet nectar of the gods before, the coffee scene in NoDa sure made us obsessed. We’ve always had a soft spot in our hearts for Smelly Cat Coffeehouse & Amelie’s French Bakery, but we were blessed with the opening of not one but three coffee shops this year. Ozpresso and Boquette Mountain Coffee became a staple for our client meetings. However the introduction of The Daily Press has to be our favorite. Their hand crafted treats bring a smile to our faces every time we sample them (hello fall favorite Piccadilly Fog). Needless to say there is no excuse to be tired in this neighborhood!
Networking Became Enjoyable Again!
The lovely Corri & Amy, creators of #InstaBeerUpCLT. Photo courtesy of @corriasmith Instagram.
We’ve all been there… a stuffy networking event that is more uncomfortable than meaningful. Well two pretty rad ladies decided that the Charlotte networking scene needed a shake up. Enter #InstaBeerUpCLT. Corri Smith & Amy Herman created a fun monthly event where social media followers could meet in real life! These networking socials bring together the movers and shakers of the social media world at different hot spots around town. Bravo ladies! Looking forward to the next one!
We also look forward to the 2015 development of the new Charlotte group, #WeLoveCLT. Bringing together awesome people to talk about making our city an even better place. YES!!! Stay tuned for more details here.
This is simply a snapshot of the monumental moments in the #thesavageway world. To us, a successful year is one where we get to work with people that we believe in and collaborate on projects that make a difference in the world. 2014 was fantastic and we look forward to 2015 with excitement, passion and possibility.
Cheers!
Paula & Torrie
by thesavageway | Nov 19, 2014 | clean graffiti
Update time! As you know, we were awarded Project Art Aid’s Queen City Soup art grant a few months ago for our Clean Graffiti project (YAY!). You can read more here but the basics of the project are that we are putting down positive, inspiring messages in lower income neighborhoods around Charlotte in both English & Spanish. Our goal is for the community to see how something as simple as cleaning can change someone’s perspective.
#thesavageway team at the Queen City Soup proposal night!
In all honesty this project was simply an idea at first. It was that project we’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t afford to do on our own. We had no idea that we would actually win and get to do our community art project. So after winning the grant we decided that it would be best to find a partner in the community that could help streamline our project. We wanted to find a way to make the biggest impact on these lower income neighborhoods and align ourselves with an existing mission. Enter West Charlotte High School and Project L.I.F.T!
Project L.I.F.T. Facebook Page
Project L.I.F.T (Leadership & Investment For Transformation) is a non-profit organization right here in Charlotte. They are seeking to transform the way students, who traditionally perform poorly in school, are educated in reading and math and culture using a unique approach to teaching and learning. Their work directly impacts nine schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System:
We’ve teamed up with the Art Director at West Charlotte High School, Beverly Smith, to incorporate her advanced art students in our QC Soup project. They will learn about sustainable media and what Clean Graffiti is all about. During several class talks, we will work with the students on the design process and guide them through the actual messaging that will speak to them. Students will also help select exact locations around the campus that could have the most impact. Through this project, these art students will put together presentations and present the final design ideas to the #thesavageway team. Then we will choose a winner and get the design into production. The execution of our QC Soup project will take place primarily around West Charlotte HS with a few locations in the community where students walk everyday. In addition, each Project L.I.F.T. School will also get a Clean Graffiti spot to tie the entire project together.
#thesavageway Queen City Soup Grant Proposal flyer.
We know that by partnering with a community member like Project L.I.F.T. we will have a more direct connection to these neighborhoods as well as creating a conversation with our project. When we embarked on this journey, we had no idea that we would be able to work with these West Charlotte students and have a chance to help boost their morale to and from school. It has been such a pleasant surprise. We are BEYOND excited at our direction! We will be sure to give continuous updates as things unfold! Stay tuned!
by thesavageway | Sep 18, 2014 | clean graffiti, services
Picture this. You’re running along your normal running path and you quickly approach that elusive runner’s wall that makes you want to stop and take a break. Then, all of a sudden you come across a message on the sidewalk that pushes you to finish the race.
“Today you will inspire someone. TRi-Yon Performance”
Clean Graffiti campaign targeting runners in the Charlotte area sponsored by TRi-Yon Performance.
This is the scenario that local Charlotte celebrity and WBTV news anchor, Brigida Mack, found herself in a few weeks ago as she was training for a road race.
Mack posted on her hugely popular Facebook and Instagram accounts a Clean Graffiti message sponsored by TRi Yon Performance, “Saw this on my run this morning & it def got me through the second half of my 10K! #wordstoliveby #Hot100 #weberunning”
Charlotte’s WBTV news anchor Brigida Mack spots Clean Graffiti on her run.
Clean Graffiti (also known as reverse graffiti) is an eco-friendly and green form of advertising. These branded, positive messages are strategically placed on dirty sidewalks and a clean message remains. Not only is this an innovative and creative way to get a business’ marketing initiatives out to the public in a place that you typically would not be able to have a logo or message, but there is no use of any harmful chemicals or sprays – It is just water!
TRi-Yon Performance and #thesavageway collaborated on this Clean Graffiti project to put down these inspirational running messages along popular running paths in Charlotte. The message was simple, “Today, you will inspire someone.”
“When you are training for a race, a lot of times you forget that what YOU are doing becomes an inspiration to others,” said Mack. “You are so focused on making it another mile, another day and eating clean that you forget the effect that your journey has on other people.”
Exercising is very much a mental activity, and that is exactly what trainer Jamey Yon was targeting when doing this Clean Graffiti campaign. He wanted his athletes to be surprised as they were on their normal running path. Clean Graffiti was an unexpected source of motivation to help push through to the finish line.
Mack agreed, “It was really cool to see! My first thought was how unique it was and once it settled in, it pushed me up the hill.”
The goal of this Clean Graffiti campaign was to give a little inspiration and positivity to Charlotte area athletes in an unexpected way. We would say it was a success! So the next time you are on your daily run, keep an eye out for that unexpected motivation from the sidewalks.
by thesavageway | Aug 4, 2014 | clean graffiti
#MADlifestyle : An individual who refuses to be a statist. The architect of his or hers own life. A goal seeker who creates his or her own path and one who chooses to do what they love.
When #thesavageway met with Brandon Cullen, owner of MADabolic, Inc, to talk Clean Graffiti, we saw firsthand what this #MADlifestyle was all about. We were invited to join the MAD trainers & gym members for a round of beers at local favorite Good Bottle Company. This group of athletes talked of their favorite workouts, places to shop, favorite farmers markets and more! This social hour is exactly what the gym is all about; connecting like-minded athletes and supporting locally owned businesses.
Beyond their unique approach to athletes, MADabolic has an amazing brand and their marketing is incredibly on point (way to go Pink Toast Ink!) When the conversation of Clean Graffiti came up, it seemed like a natural fit for this hip, community- conscious gym.
“I love everything about Clean Graffiti. Unique, professional and edgy, an exact parallel with our company MADabolic Inc,” said Cullen. “Everyday we strive to lead with innovative thinking in the competitive fitness market. I believe Clean Graffiti represents this exact mindset in the advertising world and consider this to be the perfect marriage.”
The image of the “MAD” woman can be seen around the SouthEnd area of town near the flagship location on South Boulevard.
It’s as if she is keeping a watchful eye on her athletes. Encouraging them on their #MADlifestyle journey. Watch out for the MADness around the Queen City and who knows, she may even start watching the streets of Lake Norman next!
Clean Graffiti is an eco-friendly and green form of advertising. These branded, positive messages are strategically placed on dirty sidewalks and a clean message remains. Not only is this an innovative and creative way to get a business’ marketing initiatives out to the public in a place that you typically would not be able to have a logo or message, but there is no use of any harmful chemicals or sprays – It is just water!
by thesavageway | Jul 1, 2014 | clean graffiti, services
How many people ever have the opportunity to meet the leader of their industry? The “Steve Jobs” of what they put their heart and soul into? Well #thesavageway had the opportunity to do just that this past weekend. We (Torrie & Paula) headed to Nashville, TN to meet the European “Godfather” of reverse graffiti, Jim Bowes.
Jim Bowes , Sustainable Advertising Pioneer, has been practicing natural media in the Netherlands and throughout Europe for over a decade with his company Green Graffiti. They offer a huge range of natural techniques including sand stamping, moss graffiti, milk paint, reverse graffiti and more!
When #thesavageway started doing Clean Graffiti over two and a half years ago, we did some research online to see if other people were doing this around the world. Sure enough it was an established art form in Europe . There were not many companies to be found, but one of the biggest and most active online was Green Graffiti. We would see Jim comment on articles and give his insight ANYTIME reverse graffiti came up in an online post. He was obviously knowledgeable and had a voice in this “green” movement. Seeing natural media from his perspective was very insightful from our location in Charlotte, NC.
Finally, after admiring his work from afar we decided that we were going to reach out. We said, “Screw it, let’s email him and see what happens.” Sure enough, he emailed back, we set up a Skype session and Jim started interacting on all of our social portals. We were blown away at how receptive he was to what were doing here in Charlotte.
Oddly enough, Jim, who is based in the Netherlands, was going to be in the States at the end of June – Nashville, TN to be exact. There was not even a question for us; we were about to take a road trip! We were going to meet the “Godfather.”
Road Trip.
7 hours outside of the Queen City, we get into the heart of Downtown Nashville and settle in for what was sure to be an experience. It felt a little strange to be in another state, meeting a person that we did not know nor did we ever think we would have the opportunity to meet. Imagine meeting Richard Branson or Bill Gates – that just doesn’t happen everyday. He lives and operates on the other side of the world! Regardless, we knew that we were there for a reason and that we were going to embrace whatever knowledge this man was about to drop on us.
The Meeting of the Minds.
We met in a suburb of Nashville called Franklin (think what Ballantyne is to Charlotte). The hustle and bustle of this little city during lunch rush did not stop us from grabbing a cold beer at a local brewery.
It must be noted that there’s never been an instance where three strangers were more excited to meet over beer and talk about a city’s dirt!
The conversation flowed really well. We talked dirt, concrete, city laws, billboard waste – the topics were endless. We discussed #thesavageway, Clean Graffiti, our experience and challenges and he did the same. It was nice to chat with someone who has walked in our shoes. Someone who sees Clean Graffiti as we see it – a HUGE asset!
It is not often in life that you are given an opportunity to sit down in a business conversation with a person who is not only a competitor but also a cheerleader. To sit face-to-face with a guy who BELIEVES in Clean Graffiti the way that we do was a pretty awesome feeling.
After the Dirt Settled.
We walked away from our meeting with the “Godfather” more confident and assured that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing in this life. We felt proud of our Clean Graffiti journey knowing he has gone through some of the same things and has come out stronger and more innovative in the end.
Jim brought up a fact that we have continued to reflect upon. He said, “It takes a brave soul to do what we do.”
We agree! Non-traditional marketing is not suited for everyone. It takes the right person for Clean Graffiti to succeed: it takes ethics, long term vision, a passion for sustainability, a little bit of risk taking, and most importantly gusto!
Who knows if we will see Jim again or what collaborative projects may be in our future – be we do know that we went to good ole Music City in order for our path to cross with the Godfather’s. That reason may not be perfectly clear just yet – but we do know that we will continue to live our lives with gusto until we figure it out!
