Recent studies indicate that the average life expectancy of firms in the S&P 500 is only 15 years. It is also well documented that most small businesses fail in the first five years in operation. So it’s fair to say that if an organization makes it past these milestones, it means something – and presents the perfect opportunity to share with key stakeholders and the media how and why a company has thrived, and the scope of its broader impact. In celebration of CooperKatz’s own 17th anniversary in May of this year, we thought we’d take a moment to reflect on the advantages of developing an anniversary program and revisit some of our favorite client campaigns.
Last week I had one of my best “only in New York” experiences to date: parading through Times Square with more than a dozen brand icons and mascots.
The parade included The Michelin Man, Colonel Sanders, Tony the Tiger, The Kool-Aid Man, French’s Mustard, the Vlasic Stork, the Crash Test Dummies, a Kia Hamster, Mr. Peanut, Smokey the Bear, McGruff the Crime Dog, The AOL Running Man and my favorite, CK client, Sparky the Fire Dog, the official “spokesdog” for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). All of these iconic characters made their way from the Times Center, through Times Square, to the Madison Avenue Walk of Fame. It was truly a sight to see. I even spotted a few jaded New Yorkers doing double takes.
This was the culmination of Advertising Week’s annual Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame public vote. It was exciting to have the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) official mascot Sparky the Fire Dog among this year’s nominees for favorite icon. Not only is Sparky celebrating his 60th birthday this year, but the Advertising Week event came just days before the kick-off of the NFPA’s annual public awareness campaign, Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15).