Wednesday, March 26, 2014

What should North Carolina's new slogan be?

The N.C. Department of Commerce, in the midst of a massive overhaul of the way it markets the states to outside industry, wants your help in coming up with North Carolina's new 'brand.' The department is launching the Brand North Carolina project, which will be handled by UNC Chapel Hill's Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise.

I suppose it makes sense that the state is doing this, given the waves of negative national press North Carolina has received in the past year or so over everything from the Moral Mondays protests to tough new voter ID legislation to aggressive cuts in unemployment benefits to new abortion restrictions.

It includes two contests open to N.C. residents. One is a creative expression contest in which you use photography, poetry, song, dance, video or other artistic means to convey what N.C. means to you. According to a commerce department press release, submittals should represent the values, culture and community of North Carolina. (Don't laugh. The winner gets $2,000).

The second contest, according to the press release, is a "case competition" in which student teams will tackle marketing issues around the state's brand and compete with other teams to recommend the new 'brand positioning' for the state. The state is also recruiting "brand ambassadors" to help spread the word about the project. Feeling civic-minded? You can register as a possible ambassador here.

In the meantime, why don't we start throwing some ideas around? What do you think North Carolina's new slogan or brand should be?



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56 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 10:46 AM

    North Carolina, the state that doesn't care about the environment, education, or the people who live in it.

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  2. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 10:47 AM

    "North Carolina, the new South Carolina."

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  3. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 10:52 AM

    "Would Everyone From Upstate NY Please Move Down so Steve Benson Can Move Back Up And Get A Great Deal On A Big House With 8 Acres From A Desperate Seller? Thank You. Your Friend, North Carolina...*burp*..."

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  4. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 10:59 AM

    We're not as bad as Mississippi - yet.

    Or,

    We're not as bad as Mississippi, but give us two more years.

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  5. Reese from RockinghamMarch 26, 2014 at 11:15 AM

    "North Carolina: Home of Its Residents"

    "North Carolina: Easy Access to Other Locations"

    "North Carolina: Yeah? So?"

    Or we could just tweak the State Motto: Esse Quam Videri (To be, rather than to seem.)

    Just switch it around a little to: "To seem, rather than to be."

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  6. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 11:16 AM

    North Carolina: The antebellum state.

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  7. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 11:20 AM

    Certainly not "First in Flight, " one of the most idiotic slogans ever. If they cannot rid themselves of the corrupt political patronage on both sides of the aisle and adjust taxes so they are aligned with those in the rest of the south with whom we compete, try, "I'll Fly Away."

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  8. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 11:21 AM

    North Carolina: Marching backward to 1950.

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  9. CorneliaMarch 26, 2014 at 11:23 AM

    To anonymous at 10:47, looking at those BMW and Boeing jobs, many should wish we were. And to those who just love to make fun of Mississippi, just look at their demographics.

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  10. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 11:47 AM

    Can you someone tell me why NC is being compared to Mississippi? I'm confused.

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  11. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 11:53 AM

    North Carolina, home of great beer... at least until we're through poisoning the water.

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  12. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 11:55 AM

    I see the Democrat operative(s) are busy in the comment section today, as they are most everyday in the CO and N&0's Facebook comment sections.

    Anon 11:21, if marching back to 1950 means lowering the unemployment rate and managing our state's finances more responsibly, count me in. I'm glad we have a chief executive who is focused on working instead of filling out NCAA brackets.

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  13. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 12:03 PM

    If lowering the unemployement rate means restricting those who can claim unemployment then we should all drink your koolaid. Republicans are clueless.

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  14. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 12:28 PM

    North Carolina: Full of Malcontents since 1663

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  15. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 12:32 PM

    North Carolina: We got 99 problems, but a beach ain't one.

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  16. DaniMarch 26, 2014 at 1:20 PM

    North Carolina: First in Flight, Last in Everything Else.

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  17. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 1:32 PM

    North Carolina. Get out while you can.

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  18. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 1:33 PM

    North Carolina - Coal Ash Depository

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  19. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 1:37 PM

    You can't spell "FUN" without "North Carolina", except for the "FU".

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  20. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 1:43 PM

    This reminds me of an internet joke passed around some years ago: "The REAL Mottos of the 50 States."

    North Carolina's was:

    Tobacco is a Vegetable

    How about that, or:

    ~Jesus & BBQ
    ~Raleigh Uber Alles!
    ~We Like Coal Ash!
    ~Voting is For Old White Folks
    ~Our Sea Level Does What We Tell It To Do
    ~Land of Duke Energy
    ~No Nipples, Please! We're Baptist!
    ~Bless Your Heart Now Go to Jail
    ~Liars, Swindlers, & Preachers (well, maybe that one's a little repetitive...)
    ~Franklin is Fabulous!
    ~Don't Drink the Water!

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  21. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 1:44 PM

    North Carolina - Progressively, Un-progressive

    North Carolina - We welcome your nut jobs

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  22. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 2:00 PM

    ~We Put the Tar in Coal Ash!
    ~We Hate Our Cities (except Raleigh)
    ~We Really Hate Charlotte And We Mean It!
    ~Where Do Y'all Go To Church?
    ~We Hate Trains!
    ~We Hate Gays And We Mean It!


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  23. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 2:33 PM

    * Where Race, Creed, & Money Rule!
    * If It's Ain't Baptist, It's Crap!
    *

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  24. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 3:19 PM

    The Corrupt Mayor State

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  25. jon goldenMarch 26, 2014 at 3:49 PM

    North Carolina--Just a bunch of Ash Holes!

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  26. It must beMarch 26, 2014 at 3:53 PM

    North Carolina's NEW motto: Quid Pro Quo!

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  27. SkippyMarch 26, 2014 at 4:10 PM

    Home of Patrick Cannon... Oh by the way Duke Power for years has been run by Democrats, maybe we can use that one as well.

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  28. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 4:10 PM

    North Carolina...Well, *that* was fun while it lasted.

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  29. FestusMarch 26, 2014 at 4:11 PM

    North Carolina...wher edu-ca-shun 'n wut we pay dem teachurs simply don't matter nuttin'!!

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  30. RobMarch 26, 2014 at 4:30 PM

    North Carolina: Bribes accepted.

    North Carolina: What's in your wallet?

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  31. Hey, look what RobMarch 26, 2014 at 4:39 PM

    North Carolina: What's in your wallet?

    bwa

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  32. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 4:57 PM

    "The state for our people's", Dr Leake.
    "sold to the highest bidder"
    "Bribes, more than a way of life"
    "500 for the teachers, 20K for the mayors"
    "Dems, 100 years of corruption"

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  33. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 5:53 PM

    Mediocre is our motto

    So much potential so little effort

    We used to be the best

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  34. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 6:11 PM

    North Carolina: A Teachers Paradise

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  35. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 6:26 PM

    North Carolina: we're not Mississippi but we're trying.

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  36. ArchiguyMarch 26, 2014 at 7:30 PM

    North Carolina: Going backwards as fast as we can!

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  37. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 7:35 PM

    Based on current events with our mayor, how about "Eat your heart out, New Jersey"

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  38. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 7:45 PM

    This is a positive story about how we can engage our youth to best represent our state to others. When did this become a political story with negative overtones? Oh I see-paragraph 2.

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  39. WadeMarch 26, 2014 at 7:49 PM

    "North Carolina: Because we know the mortal enemy of environmentalists is the truth, so we aren't dumb enough to believe the environmentalist's lies about fracking and sea level rise."

    "North Carolina: First in Flight - TAKE THAT OHIO!"

    "The REAL Carolina - Deal with it South Carolina."

    "Heat, cold, tornadoes, hurricanes -- North Carolina, Bad Weather Variery Land."

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  40. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 8:22 PM

    North Carolina "we tax everything"

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  41. ShamashMarch 26, 2014 at 8:24 PM

    I look good in an orange necktie...

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  42. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 8:41 PM

    North Carolina...

    Are we in Alabama, yet?

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  43. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 8:43 PM

    We look GOOD in orange jumpsuits!

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  44. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 9:22 PM

    It should be "The Other Kakalacki."

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  45. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 9:24 PM

    North Carolina - the Republican Paradise

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  46. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 9:31 PM

    North Carolina We revel in our stupidity

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  47. AnonymousMarch 26, 2014 at 10:43 PM

    "Hey...we're close to Charleston"

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  48. Wade NicholsMarch 27, 2014 at 12:41 AM

    branding is a statement, verbal or visually, of an organization's values. As a once proud native son, all I can think of today is pile of animal waste.

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  49. Alpha Mike FoxtrotMarch 27, 2014 at 6:26 AM

    North Carolina--we have the best politicians Art Pope can buy.

    North Carolina--sponsored by the Art Pope family of companies. Turning North Carolina backward one politician at a time.

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  50. CPNS 2014March 28, 2014 at 2:06 AM

    Nice Info, succes for all

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  51. AnonymousMarch 30, 2014 at 6:46 AM

    Judging from what I've read so far, here's one.
    North Carolina - we have it all.

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  52. UnknownMarch 31, 2014 at 3:04 PM

    How about North Carolina- Naturally Wonderful
    or Wonderfully Natural come and play

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  53. AnonymousApril 22, 2014 at 12:26 PM

    NC should change their motto to "The Rip Van Winkle State". This is what it has been known as historically, because it seems to be asleep while progress passes it by.

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  54. AnonymousApril 26, 2014 at 11:37 AM

    Yall are hilarious! But I used to live in Charlotte long ago. Then Georgia, now Alabama. Appreciate what you have

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  55. SusanMay 6, 2014 at 1:52 PM

    I finally thought of one! THE BACON-WRAPPED STATE.

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  56. UnknownNovember 7, 2014 at 7:36 PM

    North Carolina has what you want

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