Battle of Little Britain
ByHats off to Rupert for his spirited defense of the campaign for Little Britain in the comments section of yesterday’s post. I have to admit the campaign is a fun idea.
But I will still be sad if Rupert’s marketing company gets its way.
New York is one of the best cities in the world. If there really was a large, tight-knit British community living and working in a section of Greenwich Village, then I would love to see that marked by the city. But, as we all know, New York’s British community is spread far and wide.
Little Britain is a figment of an advertiser’s imagination. A quick look at Rupert’s company website reveals that his firm is a “non-advertising company” that specializes in “marketing that doesn’t feel like ‘marketing.’ ”
The company even uses the Little Britain campaign as a case study showing how it aims to turn Tea & Sympathy into “a nationally known brand.”
Well, Rupert’s certainly done a good job so far. Hopefully the campaign will fail but everyone will come away with something. Tea & Sympathy will be slightly better known. But more importantly, Greenwich Village will still be Greenwich Village.
7 Comments
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:04 am
But paul dearest on the version of your blog that I get over here you are sponsored by amongst others: Custom Poker Chips (who apparently make your site free), An NYC singles agency (with pictures, nudge nudge say no more) and a restaurant website. You are also in bed with Amazon who as we all know murder Penguins in Antartica and Azerbaijan.
I’ve got no problems with you contributing indirectly to organised crime – and no doubt narcotics offenses to boot – by spreading online gambling but don’t think you can go after this other chap who’s name I forget when he is afterall in gainfull employment.
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:25 am
I just looked at Rupert’s company website and everything you say is correct. I don’t like the idea of a neighborhood being born in this cynical kind of way either. May I change my position please?
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:42 am
I shall drop out of the Amazon affiliate program forthwith, Beau. Thanks for the warning. I had no idea.
Save the Azerbaijani penguins!
April 4th, 2007 at 8:36 am
I’m mounting a major project with Ryanair to have an exact replica of the Greenwich Observatory (London) built in Greenwhich Village (New York).
A laser mounted on the roof of the Greenwich observatory will be directed at its replica producing a visually stunning “bridge of Light effect” or b.o.l.e. This beam will act as a guide to pilots of air and sea vessels as they navigate their way across the Atlantic. We intend this “bridge of light” to become an international symbol of the friendship between the UK and the USA.
Who’s in?
April 10th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Pete,
The New York Times just sent me an article from 1902 that answers your point fairly emphatically. I can’t upload it here but you can read it at http://campaignforlittlebritain.com/blog/
My company’s involvement in the campaign is well documented, for instance it is actually on the campaigh web site and it has been written up by other local newspapers. I guess you missed this. Political campaign, spoof or otherwise, employs marketing company? Hardly a revelation.
A “figment of our imagination”? No, in the sense of it being something that tangibly exists. Yes, in the sense of our “take” on it.
I really hope the repetitive use of my name is just your writing style, I half suspect it’s an illustration of what I left England to get away from.
Cheers
Rupert
April 10th, 2007 at 9:37 am
p.s. have a nice vacation!
April 10th, 2007 at 10:28 am
and of course that should have been Paul! At least you got my name right 5 times.