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Hipster Guerilla Advertising

Okay, post edited.

It appears I jumped to conclusions due to the American Apparel crap that has been happening in Blogtopia. Thereby I retract my initial cynicism and will re-promote these guys.

Turtle Tees are donating their entire month’s proceeds to the American Red Cross for Katrina victims. And if Mac knows and likes them, they’re a-okay by me.


16 thoughts on <strike>Hipster Guerilla Advertising</strike>

  1. Eh, badly done viral marketing done bad does so much more harm to the brand than good. It’s the good viral marketing that is scary – stealthy & influential, and you don’t even notice it.

  2. Just to show you cynical folks that Turtle Tees is NOT a slime-ball organization… read this http://turtle-tees.com/tale.html#press

    and also notice that one can choose to dontae directly to Red Cross from the Turtle Tees site if one chooses not to purchase anything.

    sorry you all are so disillusioned and bitter from folks that are scammers. Turtle Tees isn’t a scammer organization and they really do care. They are a small organization and came up with a way to donate to the cause. Don’t damn them before you know what you are talking about!

  3. Lauren [and your other commenters], I’d like to point out that I know both of the owners of Turtle Tees personally. I’ve purchased shirts from them and I lent them my “Proud Liberal” button to use on a tshirt. They are not slimeballs and they have not orchestrated those comments. I’m a little dismayed that they’ve been labelled scammers, especially since they’re doing nothing but trying to do something good.

    Maybe the comments really are satisfied customers, or maybe not. I don’t know. But what I do know is that this is unfair to them. Extremely unfair.

    I think I have a good enough reputation that I can be trusted on this.

  4. HOW DARE YOU BAD MOUTH TURTLE-TEES! I’m embarrassed for this blog, I really am. I am the owner. I specifically e-mailed Feministe to get the word out on our relief effort. I gave them Turtle-Tees’ website address to check us out to prove to them that we weren’t trying to do something sleazy. I wanted to get the word out for our fundraiser and this is the THANKS I GET?!!! We are 2 people. 2 PEOPLE, FOLKS!!! We go to gay pride events in a rented van and sell the shirts ourselves!!! Further, our business is part of the Buy Fresh/Buy Local campaign that’s nationwide. We did shirts for an organization that is going to be at Farm Aid, we do shirts for Habitat For Humanity for goddsakes!!! We belong to the Sustainable Business Network in Philly. An organization that is dedicated to thriving local economies. My friend just lost her house which she bought 3 months ago due to the Katrina catastrophe so, pardon me if I want to get the word out about raising money for the victims. I was excited the news of our campaign got on a total of 2 blogs!!! This is big time for us and I told my friends to check it out. Is it wrong that they left comments about how they like the tees? How dare you even get close to insinuating that a business like Turtle Tees, who runs their small 2,000 sq. ft. shop on windpower, uses soy-based cleaning supplies and does their all mighty best to buy American made tees (keeping my eye on Amer. App., by the way), offering them at $2 a piece less than the standard industry rate to, that we have anything but the best intentions. Shame on all the naysayers, shame on all of you who don’t do their homework first. It’s enough to break a young lesbian’s heart. Next time I will really think before I try to help. Thanks for the support.

  5. You know, Lauren, an apology goes along way. Thank you for yours. You may be in the minority, however. I understand, really…believe me, being passionate about your ideals and being leary of soul-less companies/corporations. I spent a large part of my twenties/thirties as an activist. Even followed The Dead. I’ll spare you the details for fear of sounding like an old Berkeleyite. Now, I’m pushing 40 and my ideals haven’t budged, I’m happy to say and I still pause and try to be part of the solution. I’m surrounded by other passionate folks and it is refreshing to meet young women who even bother with feminism. It has gotten such a bad rap for one reason or another. Stereotypical cartoons of what a feminist is or means. The best we can do is arm ourselves with facts and accurate information.

  6. I apologize as well, Sharon. I’ve seen so much crap from people claiming to be on our side that I’m too ready to believe the worst. I shouldn’t have taken that out on you.

  7. Is it wrong that they left comments about how they like the tees?

    Yes. Because they didn’t own up to their relationship to you, and because the comments were so obviously planted. Even if you’re a great org (which I’m not trying to question), that’s shady, dishonest and, uh, cheesy. You could be more direct and honest and keep it positive.

  8. It’s shady that friends of mine who HAVE bought, legitimitely, our t-shirts leave comments that they like our quality? That’s cheesy? That’s shady? No, “other Ryan”, that’s honest feedback and that’s supportive friends. They’re proud of us and what we do. Why don’t you keep your comments positive.

  9. “Sharon,” you might start by calming the fires of your flaming. Your confrontation is creating negative buzz for your cause – that’s all I meant by keeping it positive.

    I’ll continue to be critical of shitty marketing BS, even if it’s for a good company or a good cause. The how of things matters as much as the what sometimes. Small feel good t-shirt companies are a dime a dozen – as are worthy charities. Your planted commenters – however sincere – were deceptive for omitting their relationship to what they were so plainly promoting. A simple “my friend & her t-shirts kick ass” would be more powerful, effective and honest.

  10. just curious… is otherRyan a Marketing Pro — in the biz or maybe a Marketing Professor at a local university? If you are giving classes on great marketing skills maybe you should let us know here on this forum so everyone who is interested in what you have to say can hear it and anyone who isn’t does not have to be subjected to your overbearing criticisms, no matter how well-intended.

    harshness is as harshness does…

    I think this issue has had its day.. let’s all move on to something more important…shall we? I don’t know about anyone else, but some of the other issues posted on this blog today have held my interest more than this.

  11. oh, snap, you so called me out there Andrea. Same anonymous Andrea that was pimping the t-shirts? Pardon my overbearing criticisms, but I didn’t start with the sanctimonious incriminations. Deception sucks no matter the intent.

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