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Where have all the Creative-types gone?

By Ben Kakimoto

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Greater Seattle

October 21, 2006 10:36 AM

Vegas has "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas".

NYC is blessed with "I (heart) NY"

Hawaii is the "Islands of Aloha"

And (drum roll)...

Metronatural.

Huh? Say WA!

Metronatural (tm) is the new tourism slogan for the city of Seattle. After 16-months and $200,000 the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau came up with Metronatural. It's meant to convey a combination of a vibrant, urban city with the surrounding natural beauty of the Northwest.

Okaaay. Though, judging by reader responses in the online newspapers and tv reports, it's going to take some getting use to. But, at least it's a bit less puzzling compared to the slogan that it's replacing:

And, Seattle really used it: See-@-L

The State of Washington didn't fair much better with it's very short lived "Say WA" campaign which just bit the dust. That one never caught on.

In the end, it probably doesn't matter. Even with the See-@-L slogan, people still visited. Seattle is a jewel in its own right and doesn't need a catchy slogan for people to appreciate the natural beauty of the Northwest.

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Home Design

Alpharetta, GA

Home Design and Real Estate

Ben I've heard worse! Atlanta always has these short-lived campaigns. Who knows if they work or not, but it does bring in some national attention.

Oct 23, 2006 04:54 AM

Anonymous

Alexis Smoody

Interesting blog and the slogan...hmmmm we'll see if it catches on. It seems a little odd...it could catch on though.

Oct 23, 2006 08:28 AM

Jacqulyn Richey

Prominent Realty Group - Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas Real Estate

Ummmm...nice slogan. I just don't see it becoming a big catch phrase, at least in the way they want it to! -Charles

Oct 23, 2006 09:59 AM

Deb Hurt

Realty Pro Albuquerque - Albuquerque, NM

ABR, e-Pro,Green, TRC

Okay, I like it...but then I'm an EcoBroker so it makes perfect sense to me. Seattle is a great leader in lots of eco-friendly things, green roofs, people use public transit more there than a lot of other places---partly because they actually have it to use. Promoting the idea that you can have a "natural lifestyle which includes taking advantage of the area around the city while acknowledging efforts to curb greenhouse gases and global warming all the while remaining one of the most interesting and vibrant cities in the country is not a bad thing. By the way, you guys have some good coffee too!

Oct 23, 2006 01:23 PM

Toby Barnett

KW North Sound - Marysville, WA

I remember the "say WA" slogan and thoguht it was horrible, the < @ L one is not much better and my first impression for the new slogan is not promising.

What ever happened to "The Emerald City"? I love that one and I think speaks volumes about the Pacific Northwest than the others. What is the biggest city in WA coming too when the nicknames stick?

Oct 23, 2006 01:56 PM

Carol Williams

Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA

Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

We having quite an uproar in Wenatchee, WA right now about the new city signs that are going up to replace the "Apple Capital of the World" signs. You can read about it and follow links from here.

I can't believe people get paid to come up with this stuff. I could do better and I would charge less! I'd also get some public opinion before I implemented such campaigns.

Nov 13, 2006 05:43 AM

Doug Burke

Windermere Real Estate / Valley, Inc. - Spokane Valley, WA

Slogans are one of those things that you either love them or hate them. In Spokane, they recently came up with "Near Nature, Near Perfect" which isn't too bad in my opinion. We do rely very much on our natural surroundings here but a lot of people have questioned the "near perfect" aspect. So what are we, close to being perfect but not quite there yet? Or is perfect close by so you can visit it often?

Dec 05, 2006 05:21 AM

Where have all the Creative-types gone?

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