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, WT