|
|
Post by prototype on Mar 10, 2005 17:36:04 GMT -5
Thought I would start a new thread that was specifically dedicated to the Marketing/Advertising side of Liberty Athletics. This way I can answer any questions regarding this subject in one folder. I'm not sure if I will time to read on the different topics, and I'm sure there could be questions for me, regarding the current marketing efforts in multiple different topics. My name is Josh Oppenheimer and I'm owner of Prototype Advertising. We handle all Athletic Marketing at Liberty, which incubuses Design, Game Operations, Promotions, Sponsorship, Public Relations and Media Relations. I will do my best at replying to all questions, but be assured I will ignore any questions that I feel are insensitive, unrelated to Marketing/Advertising, or information that cannot be release at that particular time.
|
|
|
|
Post by HarrisburgFlame on Mar 10, 2005 17:46:20 GMT -5
Welcome. I'll try in get my thoughts together tonight and provide some feedback. That said - once more - great job on the logo. It was long overdue. I live in PA and I have gotten nothing but compliments on my Flames gear with the new logo. Additionally, it has raised questions and generated conversation about Liberty due to the logo's unique design.
I have experience with pharmaceutical promotional campaigns so I am very interested to speak with you regarding athletic branding!
|
|
|
|
Post by prototype on Mar 10, 2005 18:13:07 GMT -5
Thank You Harris! It's great to see Alumni get behind the program from all over the Nation. We hoped that would people would love the logo and be proud to wear it. I also want to say that I'm glad SCAR showed me this site. I think this will be a wonderful tool to find out were our fans stand on things and serve as a tool to get information out. Great Job to whoever started it and I will help get the word out.
I was playing in a Church league game a couple of weeks back and looked over and saw a young girl wearing a sweatshirt with the logo on it - thought she has to be in High School and it's nice to see the younger demographic here starting to get pride in her local University. And it was also nice, because about 6 months ago we sign our first licensing deal with Wal-Mart and K-Mart to carry gear with the logo on it - and I assumed she got it from there. ... But as I got closer and closer. (She must of thought I was some sort of pervert) I saw that the logo had Franklin County in the exact same place Liberty Flames was supposed to be. They completely ripped the new logo as there own. They’re the Eagles. Needless to say Jerry Jr. and I are working this situation out.
|
|
|
|
Post by HarrisburgFlame on Mar 10, 2005 18:24:00 GMT -5
Wow - you guys got Wal-Mart and KMart on contract - very nice job to say the least!
|
|
|
|
Post by prototype on Mar 10, 2005 18:27:23 GMT -5
Yes, People can say that they hate the logo (Not many people do), but Mal-Mart in the first time since 1971 bought a license to sell our logo becuase they thought it would sell. And it has - Sold almost $10,000 worth of items last month.
Then K-Mart and Sam's Club followed suit.
|
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Mar 10, 2005 19:23:49 GMT -5
hey, seeings as there is about 12 Walmarts near me, is there any chance this gear will make its way up the East Coast? Not a prayer, huh? probably regional?
|
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Mar 10, 2005 19:26:00 GMT -5
and to answer your question, its my understanding our new friend Mark Zainea came up w/ this site all by himself and got it rollin'.
we all owe him one!
|
|
|
|
Post by prototype on Mar 11, 2005 8:47:22 GMT -5
Where are you located? You are right, at this time they will only sell it locally. It will take us making a big splash nationally to get us nationally distributed. But, it's not impossible. You have to remember that Liberty does not stand on its own. Yes, we are fairly new in regards to Colleges, but we also televise every game in the Vines Center Nationwide, own two TV Stations, and fill a pretty unique niche - Biggest Baptist University in America (and still growing).
|
|
|
|
Post by Mark on Mar 11, 2005 9:47:45 GMT -5
Josh,
Thanks for diving right into the board and taking everyone's input. I just wanted to see if you have had any contact with a company called Steve and Barry's. I know they have a few locations in Virginia, and it seems that some sort of licensing agreement with them would give Liberty an opportunity to distribute merchandise and get their name out nationally. I know that our local store here in Michigan has had logo'd merchandise from schools like Buffalo St., Niagra, SUNY Bingamton, West Virginia State, RPI and a lot of other smaller schools from around the country. Might be worth looking into.
|
|
|
|
Post by prototype on Mar 11, 2005 10:01:18 GMT -5
Thank You Mark, I will look into them and see if I can make that happen. I have never heard of them, but always looking for more resources.
Thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by Mark on Mar 11, 2005 10:22:46 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by LUconn on Mar 11, 2005 10:55:30 GMT -5
Here are a few questions Josh:
Does LU have official colors of blue and red? If so what are they? I've always wondered this since I've noticed they've changed with logos.
How do you get our logo to the likes of yahoo cbssportsline.com etc. ESPN.com has it but all of the others seem to use our old one. Same with video games. I actually havent checked out March Madness '05 so I'm not sure if they have it.
Have you guys thought about selling the gear on the internet? I know a lot of people that ask where a website is that sells LU merchandise.
Thats all I can think of to ask right now. I'm excited you stopped by.
|
|
aLUmnus
Full Member
old school LU
Posts: 192
|
Post by aLUmnus on Mar 11, 2005 11:21:19 GMT -5
Suggestion for apparel:
Soccer jerseys are very popular and en vogue right now, whether it's for a European league, national teams, or colleges. I think LU soccer jerseys with the new logo somewhere on it would sell very well, and not to mention be very cool.
Of course, I know, as it's been mentioned before, it's hard to get apparel made because the big companies won't make our stuff yet.
And Prototype, we're glad your with us.
|
|
|
|
Post by prototype on Mar 11, 2005 13:44:09 GMT -5
Thanks guys for making me feel welcome. To answer your questions:
1) Does LU have official colors of blue and red? If so what are they? I've always wondered this since I've noticed they've changed with logos.
a) Yes, Pantone colors 187 Red and 288 Blue. This has always been their colors for athletics, we did introduce a darker blue though. We didn’t think it would be smart to completely change the color scheme – Liberty has established some brand recognition with those colors and to change all the uniforms at one time would have been VERY Expensive.
2) How do you get our logo to the likes of yahoo cbssportsline.com etc. ESPN.com has it but all of the others seem to use our old one. Same with video games. I actually haven’t checked out March Madness '05 so I'm not sure if they have it.
a) It is a very long process and will take some time. Our SID department has done a great job getting it out to the major players, but others will follow ESPN for the most part. The newer games ('05) should have the new logo on it. There is not one place you can send a new logo and everyone grabs it, it is something that just takes time.
3) Have you guys thought about selling the gear on the internet? I know a lot of people that ask where a website is that sells LU merchandise.
a) This is something that could be huge for Liberty. We are in the process of proposing a on-line store linked to libertyflames.com. Stay tuned.
4) Soccer jerseys are very popular and en vogue right now, whether it's for a European league, national teams, or colleges. I think LU soccer jerseys with the new logo somewhere on it would sell very well, and not to mention be very cool.
a) I agree with you, they would be cool. We have a hockey Jersey and a basketball jersey on sale right now. Wal-Mart will begin selling a Women's Football Jersey very soon and will be selling a football jersey, but right now we are re-designing them.
Watch the Flames tonight, they will be on FTN. Let's go Lady Flames!!! And yes - I know there will not be a big crowd - students are on Spring Break. Beach or following the Ladies to the Big Dance - what are these students thinking, The beach will be there every year. But I guess the Lady Flames will be too.
|
|
|
|
Post by HarrisburgFlame on Mar 11, 2005 14:26:18 GMT -5
Where can the out of towners get a basketball jersey? Another thing to consider is Flames gear for kids.
As for redesigning the football jerseys - will this be for the football team or just replicas for the public.
One other thought - auction off old game worn Flames gear at a fund raising function with proceeds going to athletics! Count me in!
|
|
|
|
Post by krh44 on Mar 11, 2005 22:18:02 GMT -5
Which Walmart? I haven't seen anything at the Walmart in Lynchburg. They do have the new logo on the March Madness 05.  |
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Mar 12, 2005 13:45:54 GMT -5
Where are you located? You are right, at this time they will only sell it locally... Suburban Philly- I know the Philly market is huge, you figure @ 1.5 million in the city (?)and anywhere from 400-800K ea in the 4 counties surrounding it in PA. Don't know about Jersey (except that it smells). |
|
|
|
Post by eddantes on Mar 12, 2005 20:56:57 GMT -5
You guys at Prototype are doing a great job, really. Of course, you also canned my friend Robbie, so I guess it's a wash.
Can't wait to get my hands on an LU basketball or baseball jersey, though.
|
|
|
|
Post by belcherboy on Mar 12, 2005 22:24:39 GMT -5
Please, oh please get your stuff to Steve and Barry's!!! I love that place (I have two in my area of Michigan). They carry so many smaller colleges that Liberty should easily be a welcomed addition.
By the way....where can I see the new logo?
|
|
|
|
Post by prototype on Mar 14, 2005 8:56:28 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by prototype on Mar 14, 2005 9:18:04 GMT -5
This is the old logo, before we made some midifications to the eye area. But just wanted to show some treatments we could use in the future, once the brand has been establish enough.  |
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Mar 14, 2005 9:35:49 GMT -5
stick w/ the red (or call us the canaries)
and Proto- checked the numbers as of the 2003 census, just about 3.85 million in the 5 county Philly metro area (Bucks, Mongomery, Chester, Delaware and Phila counties). Figure about that many on the Jersey side in a similar 30 mile radius or so, not incl Camden (who wants to?) and you have close to 5 or 6 mil.
|
|
|
|
Post by ATrain on Mar 20, 2005 18:27:29 GMT -5
Actually...I like the glossy orange...makes it look more like fire and we ARE the flames.
|
|
|
|
Post by prototype on Mar 24, 2005 12:35:54 GMT -5
You're right ATrain - It is emulated fire.
|
|
|
|
Post by Boilerflamer on Mar 24, 2005 14:44:18 GMT -5
I wouldn't mind having a shirt with the flame colored eagle and black lettering.
The blue lettering does give a canaryish feel.
|
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Mar 30, 2005 13:15:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by LUconn on Apr 1, 2005 13:56:57 GMT -5
Just a heads up prototype not that you may be able to do anything about it but, at espn.com our blue font in the logo is the same color as the background. It looks kinda funny. sports.espn.go.com/ncb/clubhouse?teamId=2335 |
|
|
|
Post by trbcer on Apr 9, 2005 21:42:42 GMT -5
Josh- I have a few comments and questions, and please don't take them the wrong way. I have been involved in graphic design for a few years, and it seems to me that LU has some issues with the new identity package. First off, while I like the new logo (especially compared to the old one...yech!), it seems very "corporate" and not particulaly in line with many contemporary athletics logos. The lack of negative space in the eagle head, in my opinion, is the primary reason for this. There are virtually no standards for how the logo can be presented on particular colors, so inevitably if it is printed on anything other than white, people just pick and choose. There should be consistency and there simply are no standards. I worked at the University of Arizona, and the trademarks and licensing section of the SID's office regulated the use of their marks very carefully. See: www.arizonaathletics.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1600&KEY=&SPID=535&SPSID=8541Cincinnati has a great description of how/when their logos can be displayed on particular colors www.uc.edu/branding/quickguide.pdfLU would be wise to do the same, lest everyone take the "liberty" of tweaking their own non-uniform version. I also think an athletics logo should be able to stand on its own without a wordmark included, and clearly, removing "Liberty" leaves a big hole in the the eagle. This, to me, is an issue. Why not develop an eagle head/tribal flame logo that could stand by itself? Regarding the wordmark, it is VERY plain. Why not a beveled edge, some type of modified serif (other than just the "L" and the "E")...something to make it look like a logo and not just a font? Regarding the font, I have noticed that other than the "original" version of the logo which says "flames," the font used for specific sports logos does not match. This maybe only bothers me, but if there are modified serifs in "Liberty," there should be modified serifs in "Football" or "Basketball," etc. too. How about some secondary logos, too? Just one logo that cannot be separated from the wordmark does not seem like much of an identity package to me. I know you guys worked with the Wizards re-design...they have NUMEROUS secondaries. What happened with LU? Again, I appreciate the effort, but it seems like it wouldn't take much to really lock down a clean identity package, but as it is, it is really all over the board and seems to lack the tidiness of many programs. |
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Apr 11, 2005 5:27:02 GMT -5
WOW. makes all my questions look pretty stupid
my guess is Proto (and I'm NOT speaking for them) will tell you they want to get to the place UC and Arizona are- but it takes time. This is a young school that until 15 years ago hasn't had a consistant name let alone a mascot, fight song, logo, or branding strategy.
Crawl before we walk type of thing? Just a shot, though
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Apr 11, 2005 22:33:24 GMT -5
trbcer --- You intelligently wrote many of the concerns I had as well. A secondary logo with no lettering would be more attractive on jerseys in my opinion.
I have always been a big proponent of the whole fire/flames concept as opposed to the eagle. But I guess I've always been a voice crying in the wilderness as far as that goes.
|
|
