SLUM SEEKS NEW SLOGAN … AGAIN
By Mande Wilkes
FITSNews – May 25, 2008 – Not unlike that goofy, uncoordinated kid trying to make the last spot on the JV basketball team, Columbia, S.C. is itching to be wanted. Specifically, the city is hoping to become a go-to destination for professional conventions, and Ric Luber of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism thinks that a snappy city slogan can make it happen.
Luber believes that Columbia has a chance to compete for convention planners’ attention, diverting their gaze from such pulsing hot spots as Birmingham, Alabama and Richmond, Virginia. Unfortunately, Columbia completely blows, and is having trouble coming up with the right words to disguise it. From The State:
“Where Friendliness Flows†(the latest slogan) took a year and half of effort managed by a steering committee of regional leaders … The new slogan will be the fourth in a decade.
“A Capital Place to Be†was the first of the four and is still emblazoned on most city equipment, such as garbage trucks and police cars. “It’s Happening Now†didn’t happen. “Where Friendliness Flows†is soon to be gone.
The Authority has once again hired homegrown ADCO to sex up its slogan, no small feat considering that this is Columbia we’re talking about and ADCO is in marketing, not miracles.
Of course in typical South Carolina fashion, the government is shelling out another $70,000 to the same firm that couldn’t come up with anything creative the last time around …
By annonymouse May 26, 2008 at 7:46 pm
maybe that douchebag should watch that portion of “Roger and Me” when the city of Flint tried to make itself over as a tourism and convention mecca.
By Jack R. May 27, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Columbia’s slogan should be “where coaching legends come to die and lazy homeless people come to live (for free).”
By Columbia, SC May 30, 2008 at 3:36 pm
In response to your blog post, I would like the opportunity to clear up some incorrect information you have posted here and common misconceptions.
The Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism is developing a marketing campaign to attract more conventions and visitors to Columbia. A slogan is only a portion of what this campaign will include. The campaign is a comprehensive marketing process that begins with branding and will be carried through with advertising and direct marketing. The campaign will be designed to strategically target the meeting planners, sports event planners and leisure travelers determined by the Authority to be candidates for the many amenities and products Columbia’s tourism community has to offer.
Our efforts are being funded by accommodations taxes generated and paid for by visitors who have come to our city. Accommodations taxes are collected for the purpose of funding tourism, which generates $1 billion in economic impact for the Columbia region each year. The travel and tourism industry saves the average local taxpaying family an estimated $690 a year in taxes. Our goal in conducting this new campaign is to increase this economic impact to our region.
We value your opinions and welcome your comments and feedback as we move through this process. Please fill out our online comment form at http://www.columbiacvb.com if you wish to share your thoughts with us, or you may email comments to webmaster@columbiaauthority.com with “Branding” in the subject line.
Thank you for your continued interest in this endeavor. Below is a list of facts relating to this matter, some of which are incorrect on your blog post.
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THE FACTS:
The Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism is developing a marketing campaign to attract more conventions and visitors to Columbia. To help in this endeavor, they have partnered with industry and community leaders and ADCO, a local strategic, creative and interactive agency.
- ADCO was not responsible for the last branding campaign or slogan. It was a company in Virginia.
- The new campaign is targeted to attract more conventions and visitors to Columbia.
- This effort is being funded by accommodations taxes generated and paid for by visitors who have come through our city.
- Tourism is a $1 billion industry for the Columbia region.
- The travel and tourism industry saves the average taxpaying family and estimated $690 a year in taxes.
- Our goal for this campaign is to increase this economic impact to our region