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New & Noteworthy

Categorically Speaking

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Founded in 2008, ecopop is an idea farm that

lives at the intersection of ecology and pop

culture. We create, market, advise, and co-own

brands that make a positive global impact.

Noteworthy

Three Business Ideas That Are Good For Something, Like Changing The World.

January 2nd, 2012 | Posted By Chad Rea | Comments (0)

One of our favorite ad agencies, Mono, created an innovative campaign for Branson’s Virgin Unite to help put an end to homelessness.

“Do Whatever It Takes” is a website initiative that harnesses the power of wacky internet videos and combines it with charitable fundraising sites like FirstGiving. Anyone can make a pledge to do virtually anything, like drinking a gallon of milk in under an hour, for a set amount of money the individual determines, say $100. The online community then contributes to their fund and, if their goal is reached, the pledger does their “whatever” and the raised money gets donated to a homeless philanthropy.

Inspired.

We’d now like to triple dog dare you to think even broader than homelessness or even bigger than Virgin Unite. In fact, last year, ecopop had two similar ideas that could be stand-alone social ventures that anyone is welcome to do with or without us.
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Posted in: Advertising & branding   Lifestyle   Media   Noteworthy   Technology

From Adweek to IdeaMensch. A Three Year Evolution Of ecopop.

November 22nd, 2011 | Posted By Chad Rea | Comments (0)

There’s been a renewed interest in ecopop lately and I am both humbled and grateful. Thank you. A couple of recent product launches, speaking engagements, and interviews, including the one that appears on IdeaMensch.com today, has lead me to reflect on just how far ecopop has come since I shut down my brand communications agency, 86 the onions. (Bye 86 the onions, Hello ecopop! on Adland.tv)

Even before I 86ed my childhood dream of starting my own agency there were hints of ecopop already bubbling up. There was the agency-initiated homeless outreach campaign, ProjectHello.com, and the industry speaking engagement that followed. (Rea Promotes ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ by Adweek Staff on Adweek.com) There was the time we sent an intern on his bike 1,400 miles for a cup of coffee. (A Long Ride For A Cup of Coffee by Tim Nudd on Adweek.com) And there was even the time when we promoted reuse through a series of viral web films featuring an 89-year old DJ grandma. (Mountain Dew: elixir for the ages By Catharine P. Taylor on Adweek.com)
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Posted in: Advertising & branding   Media   Noteworthy

SHIFT 7 Presentation: How A Peanut Butter Cup Can Change The World.

November 18th, 2011 | Posted By Chad Rea | Comments (0)

This is a reading of the 5-minute slide presentation I gave at the SHIFT 7 event on 11/17/11, an event to inform, inspire and engage peers, clients and students about sustainable design thinking and practices. It’s basically the follow up to one of our earlier posts. Let’s keep the discussion going.

Click here to view video. 

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Posted in: Advertising & branding   Design   Fashion   Food & beverage   Health & beauty   Lifestyle   Media   Noteworthy

You’re Soaking In It: Don’t Act Green. Be Green. Act Pop.

January 28th, 2011 | Posted By Chad Rea | Comments (1)

Segregation is alive and well in the media and in the grocery store.

There are websites, magazines, TV shows, and even TV channels devoted to the eco lifestyle. And there are mainstream media outlets that devote special columns, issues, episodes, and entire weeks to green themes.

Similarly, there are retail stores that specialize in sustainable goods and there are others that might have a small section. In the grocery store, for example, green brands are often quarantined to the heath food aisle, or a specialty store altogether.

If you ask us, this is not the most efficient way to change the way people make and buy things. Instead all brands and branded content, ecological and not, must live side-by-side in order for consumers to compare and businesses to compete. And let’s not forget the importance of discovery and the element of surprise.
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Posted in: Advertising & branding   Design   Noteworthy

This Earth Day, Let’s Trash This Mutha.

January 1st, 2011 | Posted By Chad Rea | Comments (1)

Americans throw away 4.5 pounds of trash a day yet it doesn’t seem to bother anyone, partly because they don’t see the problem. It’s just another empty statistic.

Ever since the 70’s, when we saw that TV commercial with that Native American crying over all the litter we created, we’ve been a lot better at keeping America beautiful. We’ve become used to people picking up after us when we don’t pick up after ourselves. Everyone puts their waste in a trash receptacle, the garbage truck comes along and whisks it all off to a so-called bottomless pit, and then the problem is solved. Trash only becomes a problem when we have to look at it, smell it, or compete with those nasty little creatures that feast on it. After all, out of site, out of mind, right?
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Posted in: Lifestyle   Noteworthy

Mother Nature As Media.

December 30th, 2010 | Posted By Chad Rea | Comments (0)

As an advertiser, we’re constantly looking for new ways to reach consumers in a responsible way. Like many green marketers, we imagine this to be a reoccurring challenge: How does one promote themselves without leaving an ecological footprint on the planet?

Some constructive brands choose to advertise in magazines and on billboards and use other destructive media. Others have chosen to stop creating traditional marketing materials all together and put more effort into things like word-of-mouth, PR, or electronic formats. Then there are those who split the fence, using a combination of materials like recycled paper, even though these also take up additional resources as well as contain toxic remnants.

What you chose to do is your own personal choice. And, while some options are arguably better than others, everyone is still trying to figure this green thing out. We feel you.

We’ve collected a few innovative examples that will hopefully inspire you to think of more relevant solutions to your own communication objectives. Enjoy.

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Posted in: Media   Noteworthy

You Can Have Your Business Card Back.

December 28th, 2010 | Posted By Chad Rea | Comments (1)

A new business means new business cards. And even though our last business wasn’t exactly responsible, our business cards proved our innovation without having to say it. As the unconventional brand communications agency with the unconventional agency name of 86 the onions, we chose to have an unconventional business card. One that not only referenced the restaurant world our name came from, but one that had more than one use. They say you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, but given the success of our silly little moist towelette/business card, we beg to differ.
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Posted in: Design   Noteworthy