Project Description
We led the “Whiskey Rebellion II” marketing strategy and rebranding of the Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation (F.A.C.T.) (http://www.stopdrinktax.com) campaign to, “Axe the 10% Drink Tax” imposed by Allegheny County government on Pittsburgh area restaurants, taverns and banquet halls.
We provided expert Web site, email marketing and analytics, Web 2.0 strategies and executions and Public Relations counsel which led to national media coverage by the Associated Press and Wall Street Journal and a ton of media coverage throughout the Pittsburgh region!
Our award winning and record breaking marketing effort helped F.A.C.T. collect over 40,000 signatures (nearly 2X required) for a ballot vote of the people – the largest collection of Referendum signatures in Allegheny County history!
And, BrandMill won a first place Marketer of the Year Award in the Hospitality, Entertainment, Sports category from the Pittsburgh American Marketing Association plus three first place Renaissance Awards (Best Public Affairs Campaign, Best Press Kit and Best Poster) from the Pittsburgh Public Relations Society of America!
Press Coverage
GOP: DEMS SHOULD REIMBURSE TAXPAYERS IF LAW VIOLATED
8/23/08, Justin Vellucci, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
DRINK TAX REFERENDUM CHALLENGED
8/21/08, Bobby Kerlik, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
COUNCIL REAFFRIMS DRINK TAX REFERENDUM
8/20/08, Justin Vellucci, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
AROUND TOWN: ALLEGHENY ANGST — DAN AND JIM, MANO A MANO
8/19/08, Brian O’Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“INCREASED TAXES IN PENNSYLVANIA IGNITE ANOTHER WHISKEY REBELLION“
8/15/08, Clare Ansberry, The Wall street Journal
“RODDEY SUES OVER DRINK TAX SESSION”
8/15/08, Bobby Kerlil, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“RODDEY SUES COUNTY COUNCIL DEMS OVER PRIVATE MEETING”
8/15/08, The Associated Press
“DUELING DRINK TAX QUESTIONS UNDER REVIEW”
8/18/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“A REBUTTAL: DAN ONORATO DEFENDS HIS HIS RECORD”
8/17/08, Dan Onorato, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“‘EGRAHC!’ & OTHER BACKWARD ALLEGHENY POLITICS”
8/17/08, Colin McNickle, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“COUNTY COUNCIL DEMOCRATS CRY ‘POLITICS'”
8/16/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“DRINK TAX FOES DELIVER SIGNATURE”
8/6/08, Daniel Malloy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“DRINK TAX OPPONENTS DELIVER ON PETITIONS”
8/6/08, Justin Vellucci, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“GROUP SUBMITS SIGNATURES FOR DRINK TAX REFERENDUM”
8/5/08, Kym Gable, KDKA-TV
“PITTSBURGH WAITERS, WAITRESSES DELIVER ANTI-DRINK TAX PETITIONS”
8/5/08, Bob Mayo, WTAE-TV
“MAKE IT A DOUBLE: 2 DRINK TAX REFERENDA LIKELY”
8/5/08, Daniel Malloy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“ALLEGHENY EXEC OKS DRINK TAX REFERENDUM ON BALLOT”
8/4/08, Associated Press
“DRINK, PROPERTY TAXES MAY BE ON NOV. REFERENDUM”
7/30/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“DRINK TAX MAY INDUCE ELECTION HANGOVER”
7/30/08, Eric Heyl, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“VOTERS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO TAX BOOZE OR HOMES”
7/30/08, Justin Vellucci, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“ONOROATO WEIGHS IN ON COUNTY DRINK TAX REFERENDUM”
7/30/08, WTAE-TV
“DRINK TAX REFERENDA COULD CONF– USE VOTERS”
7/30/08, John Greiner, WTAE-TV
“ALLEGHENY COUNTY COUNCIL SENDS CONTROVERSIAL DRINK TAX TO VOTERS”
7/30/08, Tim Schooley, Pittsburgh Business Times
“COUNTY COUNCIL PASSES DRINK TAX QUESTION”
7/29/08, KDKA-TV
“DRINK TAX DEBATED AT COUNTY COUNCIL”
7/29/08, Kym Gable, KDKA-TV
“ONORATO DISCUSSES FATE OF COUNTY DRINK TAX”
7/21/08, Andy Sheehan, KDKA-TV
“ALLEGHENY BALLOT MAY HAVE TWO DRINK TAX REFERENDA”
7/15/08, WTAE-TV
“ALLEGHENY COUNTY MULLING ITS OWN DRINK TAX REFERENDUM”
7/15/08, The Associated Press
“INSIDE THE DRINK TAX OPPOSITION, A TRIO SEES ‘A GOOD SHOT'”
6/30/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“COUNTY TO DECIDE DRINK TAX REFERENDUM TUESDAY”
6/25/08, Justin Vellucci, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
‘WHISKEY REBELLION II’ TARGETS COUNTY’S DRINK TAX
6/18/08, Justin Vellucci, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
WHISKEY REBELLION
6/18/08, Gordon Loesch, WPXI-TV
PETITION WOULD FORCE COUNTY DRINK TAX TO BALLOT
6/18/08, WTAE-TV
GROUP LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO END DRINK TAX
6/17/08, Kym Gable, KDKA-TV
DRINK TAX BATTLE COULD SPILL INTO VOTING BOOTHS
6/17/08, Jon Delano, KDKA-TV
DRINK TAX OPPONENTS KICK OFF WHISKEY REBELLION
6/17/08, WPXI-TV
DRINK TAX MAKES PA COUNTY EXECUTIVE UNPOPULAR
6/15/08, Ramesh Santanam, Associated Press
BAR OWNERS CHALLENGE ONORATO DRINK TAX DEBATE
5/23/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NEW BATTLE BREWING OVER COUNTY’S DRINK TAX
5/22/08, Jon Delano, KDKA-TV
TAX REVOLT MAY BE SOBERING FOR ONORATO
5/19/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
10% DRINK TAX ANALYSIS: ALLEGHENY COUNTY COUNCIL FICTION VS. FACT
5/22/08, FACT Press Release
THE CONVERSATION WITH BILL TOLAND, KEVIN JOYCE AND CHUCK MCCULLOUGH
5/9/08, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
MANY CONTINUE EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE DRINK TAX
5/3/08, Karamagi Rujumba Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
ONORATO SAYS HE’LL GO TO MAT FOR DRINK TAX
5/2/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
ALLEGHENY COUNTY DRINK TAX OPPONENTS PLAN NEW CAMPAIGN
5/2/08, Tim Schooley, Pittsburgh Business Times
REDUCTION/REPEAL OF THE DRINK TAX REFORM OF COUNTY AUTHORITIES
5/2/08, Chuck McCullough, Allegheny County Council At-Large
DRINK TAX FOES STEP UP EFFORTS TO END LEVY
5/1/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
BAR OWNERS’ SUIT AGAINST DRINK TAX NOW A CLASS ACTION
4/30/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
OFF THE FLOOR IV: AFTER FRAZIER’S LOSS, ONORATO NEEDS A DRINK [TAX SOLUTION.]
4/22/08, Peter L. DeCoursey, Bureau Chief, Capitolwire
OPPONENTS OF DRINK TAX FORM PAC, PLAN TO TARGET COUNTY COUNCILWOMAN
4/15/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PAC TARGETS POLITICIANS WHO BACKED ALLEGHENY COUNTY DRINK TAX
4/15/08, The Associated Press
ALLEGHENY COUNTY DRINK TAX OPPONENTS SAY THEY HAVE PROOF LEVY HURTING BUSINESS
4/4/08, Tim Schooley, Pittsburgh Business Times
STATE, COUNTY EYE DRINK TAX ALTERNATIVES
03/13/08, Justin Vellucci, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
THE DRINK TAX REVISITED
3/11/08, John E. Graf and Tom Baron, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
STATE SELLS LESS ALCOHOL IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY
3/5/08, Justin Vellucci, Tribune Review
COPE FANS TREAT ONORATO LIKE A BROWNIE OR BUNGLE
2/29/08, Tom Barnes and Moriah Balingat, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
KDKA TV VIDEO – “BAR OWNERS RAISE MONEY TO FIGHT DRINK TAX
2/11/08, KDKA-TV
PITTSBURGH RESTAURANTS, BARS STILL TRYING TO BEAT DRINK TAX
2/11/08, Tribune Review
DRINK TAX HASN’T LOST BITTER TASTE
1/20/08, Dan Majors, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
ALLEGHENY COUNTY’S NEW TAXES: THE REST OF THE STORY
1/8/08, Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
DRINK TAX CAUSING HANGOVER,
12/10/07, Dan Majors, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PORT AUTHORITY’S BEER TAB,
12/10/07, Ralph Reiland, Tribune Review
TREASURER WRESTLING WITH LOGISTICS OF COLLECTING NEW LEVY,
12/10/07, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
TAXING FALLOUT AHEAD,
12/9/08, Colin McNickle, Tribune Review
1 MILLION DRINKS MUST BE POURED TO COLLECT NEW TAX
12/8/07, Justin Vellucci, Tribune Review
DRINK TAX STILL CONFOUNDING FOES,
12/7/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
DRINK TAX MAY SPUR MIGRATION,
12/6/08, Justin Vellucci, Tribune Review
FAWCETT: ASSESSMENT FLAWS FORCED DRINK TAX,
12/6/08, Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
COUNCIL PASSES 2 NEW TAXES; RESTAURATEURS FUME,
12/5/07, Justin Vellucci, Tribune Review
A DRINK TAX HANGOVER?
12/5/07, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY CHALLENGES COUNTY EXECUTIVE ONORATO: WHERE IS YOUR STUDY DAN?,
11/30/07, FACT Press Release
FOES RELEASE STUDY SAYING DRINK TAX WILL SOUR ECONOMY,
11/30/07, Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
ALLEGHENY TAX ALERT RADIO COMMERCIAL,
FACT Radio Commercial
ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE CALLED OUT FOR TAX STANCE,
11/26/07, Tim Schooley, Pittsburgh Business Times
PITTSBURGH DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCES POSITION ON DRINK TAX,
11/15/07, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Press Release
NORTH SHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DECRIES POSITION OF ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REGARDING PROPOSED TAX ON POURED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES,
11/12/07, North Side/North Shore Chamber of Commerce Press Release
WHISKEY REBELLION II,
10/25/07, Chris Young, City Paper
DIGGING A DEEPER HOLE,
10/22/07, Ralph Reiland, Tribune Review
NEW TAXES IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY – A TERRIBLE IDEA,
9/5/07, Jake Haulk, Tribune Review
