by thesavageway | Mar 5, 2026 | clean graffiti
Quick Summary:
- Companies across the country are using Clean Graffiti for healthcare initiative awareness.
- Clean Graffiti offers an affordable outdoor signage option in major cities where outdoor is either expensive or are limited in advertising opportunities.
- Details about campaigns with Novant Health, Atrium Health, OrthoCarolina, MetroHealth and Cleveland, OH Hospitals, Talkspace and the National Suicide Prevention 988 Hotline
Companies across the country are using Clean Graffiti for healthcare initiative awareness. Also known as “Reverse Graffiti,” Clean Graffiti brings brand awareness to important health messages. Companies/Organizations such as Novant Health, Atrium Health, OrthoCarolina, MetroHealth and Cleveland, OH Hospitals, Talkspace and the National Suicide Prevention 988 Hotline all used Clean Graffiti as a part of their marketing mix. These companies wanted to reach their target market in a completely new way.
Clean Graffiti offers an affordable outdoor signage option in major cities where outdoor is either expensive or are limited in advertising opportunities. Clean Graffiti is the perfect addition to a traditional media buy because we are able to directly target the customer with an untapped resource – the sidewalk. And best of all, it’s just water – no paint, no chemicals, just water.
WHO USES CLEAN GRAFFITI IN HEALTHCARE:
- Community Health & Outreach
- Behavioral Health / Psychology
- Communications & Community Engagement
- Violence Prevention & Safety Initiatives
- Breast Health Centers
- Primary Care & Preventative Medicine
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Public Health Initiatives
HOW IT WORKS:
The Savage Way team makes a contrast on the sidewalk by using high pressure water on top of a stencil. We leave behind a clean message on a dirty sidewalk using just water. Seriously it’s just water – no paint, no acid, no bleach, no epoxy…. just making a contrast in dirt. Does not damage sidewalks or infrastructure and naturally fades over time
EXAMPLES OF USE:
Atrium Health: The Savage Way has collaborated with the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department, Novant Health & Atrium Health to take action towards the prevention of gun violence. Our team was excited when we were presented with the opportunity to help bring a stop to gun violence in Mecklenburg County, and instantly wanted to be a part of the activism.
Not only is our Clean Graffiti eco-friendly, but it is also eye-catching and sheds a new light on how to creatively advertise for companies, community initiative, events and much more. We located target bus stops and schools within Mecklenburg County where gun violence is an ongoing issue. Our team placed 20 spots around West Charlotte & Northwestern Charlotte neighborhoods that had high foot-traffic and bystander interaction.
Novant Health: This initiative was created as part of Novant Health’s Breast Cancer and Mammogram Awareness Marketing Campaign. We worked directly with the internal marketing team to create over 200 sidewalk messages in tandem with their external efforts. Clean Graffiti was utilized to specifically target high-foot traffic areas in multiple cities where there is a Novant Health location. We placed these sidewalk ads in the North Carolina locations of Uptown Charlotte and surrounding neighborhoods, Ballantyne, Huntersville, University, Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Thomasville, Salisbury. We also hit the Virginia locations of Manassas and Culpepper. We focused on high visibility areas like pedestrian intersections, park entrances and near walking paths to restaurants. This eco-friendly medium was a great way to build awareness for Mammograms and breast health in the targeted areas.
OrthoCarolina: Over the years we have created a variety of campaigns for OrthoCarolina, the largest private network of doctors around. From positive running messages to free workouts, OrthoCarolina has always had community top of mind. However, our personal favorite campaign was the “Watch Your Step” initiative where we placed safety messages near broken or cracked sidewalks… all powered by OrthoCarolina.
MetroHealth and Cleveland, OH Hospitals: We worked with the staff at MetroHealth & University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH to create a campaign around the “Pop It To Block It” marketing campaign. It was a brilliant way to bring community awareness to the availability of Prep pills for HIV prevention.
Talkspace: Talkspace is an online mental health platform that makes it easy to talk to connect with a licensed therapist in a convenient & secure way from the comfort of your phone – whenever, wherever. They have simplified the approach to mental health, and we are here for it.
Together, we partnered on a Clean Graffiti campaign in two major US cities, Los Angeles, CA and Austin, TX. “Healing is a journey, every step counts.” @Talkspace. This simple, direct message on the sidewalk communicates to the public that mental health should be a priority and that anything that you are doing to heal is a step in a positive direction.
National Suicide Prevention 988 Hotline: We are honored to continue work with Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on this important Clean Graffiti campaign for the 988 Hotline for Suicide Prevention & Crisis Line. What a great way to remind people throughout the city that there is hope out there.
By simply calling or texting “988,” anyone can get help with social or family situations, depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, alcohol or drug use. You can also call if you just need someone to talk to. Mecklenburg County has resources available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s free, private, one-on-one help. We were able to sprinkle these health & community messages throughout the county. It is so important that everyone knows that this resource is available regardless or your location or economic status.
We love seeing Healthcare organizations embrace alternative marketing ideas. Clean Graffiti offers an awesome way to get their very important information dispersed to the public. We look forward to many more campaigns like these.
by thesavageway | May 5, 2014 | clean graffiti
This is Part Five in a five part series diving into Clean Graffiti in the Queen City. Clean Graffiti is a service that #thesavageway offers; it is a unique, green form of advertising available since 2012. With several clients in the books, it is time to reflect on the practice. This piece is about incorporating community events with Clean Graffiti.
“Take me out to the ball game,” Charlotteans can now yell this nostalgic summertime phrase from their Uptown offices and actually walk to an afternoon baseball game. The Charlotte Knights kicked off their Uptown residency on April 11 for the season home opener at BB&T Ballpark. This momentous occasion is huge for the Charlotte sports community and the city is buzzing with excitement as can be seen when individual tickets went on sale in March.
In a continuing effort to show support to the Charlotte community as well as showcase innovative, green thinking, OrthoCarolina, Official Team Physicians of the Charlotte Knights, activated a Clean Graffiti Campaign to help launch the inaugural season.
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!
In collaboration with the OrthoCarolina team, #thesavageway created branded messages and then strategically placed the Clean Graffiti spots around the BB&T Ballpark and neighboring streets advertising the Knights new home in the QC.
Once again, OrthoCarolina was able to utilize an innovative and eco-friendly advertising medium to celebrate a momentous occasion in the Charlotte community. Not only did Clean Graffiti offer a green, sign alternative, it also provided “talkability,” which is something that a marketer is always seeking. Utilizing a community supported event, like the opening of the Knights new stadium, with an advertising initiative like Clean Graffiti was the perfect tie in for forward-thinking OrthoCarolina.
Clean Message. Dirty Sidewalk.
#CleanGraffiti
About OrthoCarolina
As one of the nation’s leading orthopedic practices with offices across the Carolinas, OrthoCarolina is your destination for comprehensive orthopedic care. Leveraging our physicians’ expertise in the areas of foot and ankle, hand, hip and knee, shoulder and elbow, spine, sports medicine and pediatrics; and providing services that include physical therapy, MRI and post-surgical support; we can offer you a continuum of care unmatched in the region.
OrthoCarolina. You. Improved. Visit us at www.orthocarolina.com.
by thesavageway | Jan 16, 2014 | clean graffiti
This is Part Two in a Five part series diving into Clean Graffiti in the Queen City. Clean Graffiti is a service that #thesavageway offers; it is a unique, green form of advertising available since 2012. With several clients in the books, it is time to reflect on the practice. This piece is about the Eco-Friendly Aspect of Clean Graffiti.
“We’re going Green,” said every boss and every CEO across the nation in 2013. Environmentalism has become a hot topic for almost every business and industry (as it should) and Charlotte was no stranger to these initiatives.
The Charlotte Convention Center has an entire section dedicated to Green efforts within their facility. Members of several networking groups like the Charlotte Green Team and Green Drinks Charlotte meet every month to discuss how their respective businesses can become more eco-friendly. Needless-to-say, the Green movement is here to stay (Yay!)
Many companies are incorporating CSR or Corporate Social Responsibility into their business models in order to become a “Greener” business. What is CSR? Click here for more info. Methods include utilizing recyclable products, using renewable energy or simply educating customers on how to better reduce and reuse. However, there is also a need for eco-friendly advertising and marketing initiatives and that is where #thesavageway’s Clean Graffiti comes in.
Examples of other industry leaders utilizing Clean Graffiti.
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.
There are many reasons for a company (large or small) to utilize Clean Graffiti. Not only is this an innovative and creative way to get your marketing initiatives out to the public in a place that you typically would not be able to have a message, but there is no use of any harmful chemicals or sprays – It’s Just Water!
#thesavageway is very good at analyzing a company’s need and translating that message into a creative branded message in strategic locations across the city. When a company chooses to use this sustainable form of marketing, they are able to brand themselves as an eco-friendly business that uses CSR practices.
#thesavageway examples of Clean Graffiti promoting Corporate Social Responsibility.
Charlotte has already seen an influx of eco-friendly initiatives and businesses and it is only going to increase as time goes on. Clean Graffiti is #thesavageway’s contribution to the Green Movement!
by thesavageway | Dec 9, 2013 | clean graffiti
This is Part 1 in a 5 Part Series diving into Clean Graffiti in the Queen City. Clean Graffiti is a service that #thesavageway has been honing in on for some time now. Months of research, technique testing and market research led to the clean advertising method that is now in practice across Charlotte. With several clients in the books, it is time to reflect on the practice. This piece is about the longevity of Clean Graffiti.
Back up to October 2012, a new local brewpub geared towards the foodie was slated to open in the Historic Arts District of NoDa : Heist Brewery . The Heist team had been working tirelessly to open their doors since 2011. #thesavageway was already contracted as the marketing team to help get the brewery off the ground, running its Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, PR and Media Relations. The buzz could be heard around the city and there was a certain energy in the air. When grand opening week FINALLY arrived, it seemed like a natural fit to incorporate this new idea of Clean Graffiti.
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.
#thesavageway worked with Heist owner Kurt Hogan on where the placement of the messages would be; think directional signage leading to the new brewery, branded images throughout neighborhood streets and awareness in other neighborhoods.
Heist Brewery Clean Graffiti 2012
Heist Brewery Clean Graffiti 2013 (one year old)
Today is December 9, 2013. These messages were laid down over one year and 2 months ago. We will say that again – over 425 days ago! The longevity that these messages have is incredible. Not every spot will remain this long, average length is anywhere between 6 weeks and 8 months, it just depends on the environmental elements and foot traffic. From an advertising perspective, the average length of a newspaper ad or magazine ad is one week, one month at best. Clean Graffiti is an eco-friendly alternative that is clean, good for the environment and extremely cost effective in a conscientious way. It’s Just Water.
So as you are walking around the streets of NoDa this holiday season, keep an eye out for these Clean Graffiti messages – who knows, they may lead you to great beer!
