NC DOT Uses Clean Graffiti for Safety Campaign

NC DOT Uses Clean Graffiti for Safety Campaign

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)

#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

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.

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. #thesavageway

Clean Graffiti for the NCDOT on the North Carolina Coast in Dare County & Corolla, NC. #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

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 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

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.

Meet Cailin McCoy – #thesavageway Regional Sales Representative.

YMCA Takes on Sustainable Advertising

YMCA Takes on Sustainable Advertising

We have worked with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte on two Clean Graffiti campaigns within the past 6 months. They are true supporters of sustainability when it comes to advertising.

YMCA_logo

Corporate Social Responsibility
We love when companies put their money where their mouth is and actually practice Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Defined as a “Corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility for the company’s effects on the environment and impact on social welfare,” CSR is very important for companies these days.

When the YMCA chose to spend some of their marketing budget on Clean Graffiti, they in turn practiced CSR. Clean Graffiti is the process of cleaning a message onto a dirty sidewalk (it’s just water). They saw the benefits of using reverse graffiti to stand out from other outdoor advertising methods while being sustainable.

YMCA of Greater Charlotte uses Clean Graffiti for marketing campaign. #thesavageway

YMCA of Greater Charlotte uses Clean Graffiti for marketing campaign.

The first campaign the YMCA executed was on several of their campuses touting their “Stay & Play” initiative. The goal was to get YMCA members and passersby to realize that the YMCA offers dance, swimming, sports, tumbling and other programs beyond just a gym atmosphere. The participating campuses of the Greater Charlotte YMCA were the Johnston, Lake Norman and Stratford Richardson locations.

Social Media post from #thesavageway about YMCA of Greater Charlotte's Clean Graffiti campaign.

Social Media post from #thesavageway about YMCA of Greater Charlotte’s Clean Graffiti campaign.

Recently, another opportunity arose for the YMCA to take on sustainable advertising, the BB&T Corporate Cup 5K & Half-Marathon.

“The Corporate Cup is in its 36th year and the Race Planning Committee saw an opportunity to spice up how we communicate with something truly innovative compared to our other marketing vehicles,” said Center City Marketing Director for the YMCA, Brittany Durkin. “We saw how Clean Graffiti created a buzz between everyone (in person and online) and we wanted to try it specifically with our race.”

YMCA of Greater Charlotte Clean Graffiti for the BB&T Corporate Cup. #thesavageway

YMCA of Greater Charlotte Clean Graffiti for the BB&T Corporate Cup. #thesavageway

Clean Graffiti messages were placed around the race route and popular running areas to help promote the upcoming March 7 race.

#thesavageway did some Clean Graffiti for the YMCA Corporate Cup.

#thesavageway did some Clean Graffiti for the YMCA Corporate Cup.

More images of the Clean Graffiti the #thesavageway did for the YMCA Corporate Cup.

More images of the Clean Graffiti the #thesavageway did for the YMCA Corporate Cup.

More images of the Clean Graffiti the #thesavageway did for the YMCA Corporate Cup.

More images of the Clean Graffiti the #thesavageway did for the YMCA Corporate Cup.

The best part of it all is that the YMCA has chosen to expand their CSR by returning to the spots and cleaning them away after the race. That’s what we call full circle, sustainable marketing!

Click here for more information on Clean Graffiti.

Click here to sign up for the BB&T Corporate Cup.