It has all of the makings of the newest metropolis of Boston boondoggle – a sketchy scheme to boost income by promoting official merchandise like hats, hoodies and water bottles emblazoned with town seal and model to gullible vacationers and residents.
Who of their proper thoughts is clamoring for official Boston merch apart from the illustrious Metropolis Council and perhaps Mayor Michelle Wu, who may gain advantage politically from this system?
Nobody actually, however that hasn’t stopped town from continuing with a $100,000 taxpayer-funded pilot enterprise permitted by the free-spending council.
“When you fall in love with a city, you want to wear it on your chest, you want to put it on a hoodie, a cap, and carry it on your water bottle,” Councilor Sharon Durkan informed the Boston Globe in a optimistic puff piece.
This system is timed to begin with subsequent yr’s 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s well-known experience, which might be a very good place to begin for promoting t-shirts with a “Boston 250” brand.
Ellen Foord, Boston’s chief inventive officer, mentioned town has gotten Boston College college students to workshop concepts and advertising and marketing plans for this system.
To start with, Boston has a “chief creative officer?” Secondly, let’s hope the scholars don’t provide you with occasion concepts or consuming logos for town.
Town will then resolve which iconic names or symbols town desires to trademark, such because the blue letter “B” and town seal or perhaps a drawing of ghastly Boston Metropolis Corridor.
Town has lofty objectives of creating tens of tens of millions in added income from the branding program, which is extremely unrealistic on condition that a couple of different cities have tried this with out a lot success, besides iconic New York Metropolis.
The issue is that so as to make actual cash, town would wish to get logos and licensing rights to town seal and different official logos and spend tens of millions of {dollars} in authorized charges to dam counterfeit merch.
Though it’s a metropolis council thought first proposed by Councilor and Wu supporter Sharon Durkan, don’t be stunned if Wu tries to hijack it to place her smiling face and title on the enterprise, and assault President Trump. It’s additionally an opportunity to provide printing or merchandising offers to politically related or unionized enterprise supporters.
She might additionally attempt to trademark a few of her favourite quotes about Boston.
“Boston: the safest major city in the country” could be one she undoubtedly would attempt to license.
Or: “Boston Will Never Back Down.”
One other of her chestnuts: “In Boston, We Don’t Listen to Kings.”
And perhaps even for 2028, “Wu for President.”
However how about some different merch that shall be even hotter sellers? Sayings and slogans not essentially permitted by the Wu administration.
Akin to:
“Have a Blast at Mass and Cass!”
“Bike Lane Insane.”
“America’s Safest City…HaHa.”
“Most of our City Council hasn’t been Indicted”
“Boston: We’re not so Krafty.”
‘We Throw a Great Holiday Party and You’re Not Invited!”
“Boston: It’s Trump’s Fault.”
“I Heart Wutopia.”
“I’m from Boston, how about Wu?”
“Boston: Love it or Leave it, or just leave it.”
“One if by Land, Two if by ICE.”
“I Shoplifted this T-Shirt in Downtown Crossing.”
“Wake Up and Smell the Cannabis.”
“Boston: If Only We Could Tax the Rats.”
Now, these may be an actual money cow.
