unofficial whatnot from Marlin
Local favorite Valentine’s Restaurant got a nice write-up in the Springfield News-Leader today.Well-deserved praise for a fantastic independent restaurant.
And we’re not just saying that because Marlin Account Executive Melissa Sunseri happens to be co-owner of the place with her husband, Joe. We’re saying that because we like our entrées shaped like love.
Exhibit A: The signature, heart-shaped Chicken Valentine.
Congrats again on the good press, Joe and Melissa.
Love this site, an effort by the Springfield-Greene County Library District and several organizations throughout the Ozarks to digitize Civil War-era documents from the region.
A bit of streetside homage near our hotel, downtown Music City, U.S.A.
A few Marlinites took to the road last week in style to visit our newest client, Wells’ Dairy, owner of the Blue Bunny® brand.
Agency prez Michael Stelzer had the brilliant idea of renting an RV for the nine-hour road trip, which meant everyone (except the poor soul driving the bouncy, swerving mess of aluminum, wood cabinets and old carpet) got to spread out and relax on the couch, work at the kitchen table and generally not sit in a cramped van for the marathon trip.
That’s our Erin!
Marlin Networker Erin Owens was caught on tape over the weekend, helping Ozarks Greenways clean up a bit of Mother Nature’s wrath. (What did we Missourians do that made you so angry, mother? Is it the meth? Just tell us!)
Erin’s volunteer time counts toward earning even more time to volunteer during work as part of Marlin’s Do Goodery program. Way to go, Erin!
See what we did there? Interning. Entering. Man, we’re funny.
Anyway, with all the recent promotions we began to find ourselves frighteningly short on interns. Who would get our coffee? Who would say “how high” when we asked them to jump? Who would carry us around in our sedan chairs?
We are proud to announce that Wells’ Dairy, the nation’s largest family-owned and managed dairy processor, has selected Marlin as their new foodservice agency.
Iowa-based Wells’ Dairy, owner of the Blue Bunny® brand, produces an extensive line of ice cream, ice cream novelties and frozen desserts. We are truly honored and excited for the opportunity. (And not just because they announced the good news by surprising us with a fully stocked freezer of Blue Bunny treats.)
Blue Bunny consumer marketing is handled by Barkley in Kansas City, MO. (Who also demonstrated incredible coolness by sending us a congratulatory lunch of KC-style barbecue. Thanks, B!)
One Marlin employee (we won’t say who, though they have a blog called Brian Collins Design) is making a bold fashion statement today. Mod short-sleeve shirt, cool dark shorts, and crocs with socks.
That’s right. Crocs. With. Socks.
According to the unnamed, “You know, I thought we were creative. I thought we could dress maybe a little differently. But, noooo. Apparently, you have to look just like everybody else.”
Bravo, anonymous fashion soldier. Storm the lines. Take the castle. Wear the socks.
Who would’ve thought the rats would look good in comparison?
Much as we enjoy the rollout of interesting new things to eat (sammies and torpedoes both rock) as well as any improvement to their overall store design and ordering process, we have to grudgingly point out that Quizno’s advertising still sucks.
Quizno’s creative went off the rails in 2000 with Cliff Freeman, when they decided a “bold, refreshing way” to sell food was to show people eating torn-up scraps of subs out of the trash and a dog’s mouth. Also, suckling a wolf’s teat.
Provocative, yes, and ridiculously funny at times. Which got attention. Which both agency and brand fell utterly in love with. Which produced nine more years (and counting) of creative that puts shock ahead of thoughtful brand building.
Cue the singing rats.
