Archive for December, 2007

Holiday Field Trip

Friday, December 21st, 2007

Nothing rings in the Holidays like small arms fire. So today we had an impromptu lunch hour field trip to the shooting range. A year-end team building exercise of sort. Some footage from the heat of the moment…guns a blazin’. That’s RP in the superfly pink ear armor and fuzzy collar jacket. Don’t mess.

Topics: Athletic Pursuit, Fandango | 2 Comments »

Tops and Uprocks

Monday, December 17th, 2007

Special thanks to all who came out on Friday night for the 41st Annual Blue Ion Holiday Party. It was great seeing everyone and from the looks of things around the office today everything was kept well in-hand.

Stay tuned for additional photography/video from the bash…. In the meantime, we leave you with this candid shot of our Digital Marketing Director.

Topics: Athletic Pursuit, Party | 2 Comments »

T Online

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007



The New York Times Magazine just launched a companion website for their Style Magazine (called T). Having slogged through many, many magazine sites in our work for Garden & Gun, I’d say they’ve done a fine job of transferring the print experience to the web. The site is clean and uncluttered, with just a few, bold elements dominating any single screen (unlike most mag sites that shove everything in your face). The navigation is inviting and the flash-based content flows nicely. And they’ve included advertising in way that complements editorial and doesn’t interrupt the experience. In the end it succeeds as an equal companion to the pub, rather than a mirror of it.

Only complaint could be the readability of the article text. But the video and photographic content are the stars anyway…especially the interview with Natalie Portman.

There’s also a companion blog called The Moment, which, as you’d suspect, carries more timely contributions and dialogue.

Topics: Marketing & Advertising, Sweat & Tears | No Comments »

Introducing Blue Ion Stock Photography: Business Casual

Friday, December 7th, 2007

Inspired by istockphoto, we’re expanding the Blue Ion brand into stock photography creative and sales. We felt our combination of tech-savvy, beautiful employees, crack photographers, and inspiring office environment was a natural fit for this venture.

For a limited time only, our loyal blog readers can download and use the following images from our premier set.. “Business Casual.” Enjoy.. and your comments are welcome. We’re always looking to improve.

Topics: Amazing Stock Photography, Fandango, charleston sc web design | 4 Comments »

In A Z-Formation

Thursday, December 6th, 2007


We did it - 7 websites… in one year… for one client. Some might scoff at such a grand undertaking, but the folks at TBonz were willing to help us explore uncharted waters. We pulled it off with shared structures and programming, however the real stars of the show are the individual looks for each site.

The pièce de résistance in this medley is the TBonz Restaurant Group site, newly minted this week. You can reach all of the others direct from there as well.

For those too old (or young, as it may be), the good ol Urban Dictionary can help you out with the title.

Topics: Sweat & Tears | No Comments »

Taglines Losing Their Strength?

Monday, December 3rd, 2007

Nice article in last week’s Brandweek on the decreasing use and effectiveness of taglines in marketing today. They note that during the current holiday ad onslaught many big brands like Starbucks, Samsung, Converse, etc. are either using their lines sparingly or not at all. As for reasons, Brandweek points to short tenures of CMOs (and thus ad campaigns), splintered customer demographics, the proliferation of media channels and an increasing focus on lifestyle over unique selling propositions.

All good points..and in general they have become less important (and less effective) as tactical tools. You can also make a case that it’s just an issue of too many watered-down, boring campaigns flailing around out there. A really sharp idea and line might still move someone. But the key point is that today it’s all about doing things (experiences delivered through products, services, events, retail, web, etc.)….not saying things. And the true power is in the idea behind the brand rather than any tagline in front of it. Unless, of course, you have the guts to roll with something like “Blue Ion. Tomorrow’s Technology Today.”

Topics: Marketing & Advertising | No Comments »