QCM V Narragansett, TopShop v Bikes, Monocle v Agencies, Obama Deli

Quaker city Mercantile and Narragansett Beer

I am a BIG fan of QCM (even if I preferred the name Gyro). The company has published a series of books. It’s produced films. It has a brand of rum and T-Shirts, Sailor Jerry. And now the agency has taken a major stake in New England’s Narragansett Brewery. The agency is making beer now!

Obama Deli
The Obama Deli and Grocery will open for business shortly in Brooklyn, NY. From a branding perspective this is getting a lot of pedestrian attention. But maybe not the best. While shooting this photo, a gentleman passing by on the sidewalk said some in the neighborhood are already talking about a protest. The Obama brand was extended in a lot of clever ways (Shepard Fairey’s poster for instance) but there may actually be a limit.

TopShop Goes Bike Crazy

Over the weekend, Anglophiles everywhere took notice when Topshop rolled out their new bicycle club concept, parking a small fleet of blue beach cruisers (decked out with baskets and cupcake stickers) outside their flagship store and making them available for free daily rental to the public. In exchange for leaving a credit card and signing a liability waiver, would-be cyclists were granted access to a curated experience that included a bike, customized helmet, U-lock and map of Topshop-endorsed destinations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

Monocle x’s Brands (v Agencies?)

The latest issue of Monocle has at least 10 examples of sponsored content where the magazine editorial and publishing teams have worked with government boards, a property developer and