Plymouth, Wisconsin, was Positively Plymouth before Plymouth, Devon was
THE 'Positively Plymouth' campaign told us that although there are 51 places around the world called Plymouth, this one is the original.
But a small American town of just 8,500 people might question our claims to originality after it emerged that Plymouth, Wisconsin, also ran a 'Positively Plymouth' campaign last year.
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Their campaign, launched in June 2009, predates the high profile branding exercise paid for by the Plymouth City Development Company (PCDC) on this side of the Atlantic by almost a year.
Plymouth Wisconsin's campaign cost nothing to develop and was implemented for $1,000 — about £650 — paid for by two business sponsors.
Citizens were asked to devise witty slogans for their city and were then photographed holding a placard with their epithet. The pictures were printed in glossy black and white, framed and distributed to businesses across the city.
Debbie DeGroot, tourism specialist at Plymouth Chamber of Commerce in Wisconsin, said the chamber was given the idea by a member who had seen something similar when visiting Ely, Minnesota.
Mrs DeGroot said: "The whole idea is that people would walk into businesses and say 'what's this about?'
"It makes an impression and gives a buzz.
"It's not a money-maker. I've learned over the years that if you are doing something for the community you shouldn't expect to make money, but the positive feeling you generate is something dollars can't buy."
And the name Positively Plymouth?
"We just thought that up," Mrs DeGroot said. "We didn't pay a consultant $25,000, we just came up with it. Every year we come up with a theme."
She said Positively Plymouth was a particularly successful campaign, and sparked interest from other chambers across the USA who were interested in copying the model.
By contrast, PCDC proudly unveiled Positively Plymouth as the city's new brand identity in May, after hiring international brand consultants Lloyd Northover to develop the idea.
Jeremy Shaw, creative director at Lloyd Northover, said he had not heard of the campaign in Plymouth, Wisconsin.
He said: "Positively Plymouth [UK] was born through Plymothians. It was the engagement that drove us to put those two words together.
"They were never totally ownable. There are 51 Plymouths around the world; the chances are somebody would be using it. Maybe it would help if they all used it."
Matthew Cross, PCDC's director of marketing and inward investment, said: "Plymouth's new brand identity is about much more than two words and any suggestion that it is similar or in some way compromised by the title used for a collection of pictures on a small Wisconsin website is, quite frankly, ridiculous.
"Our Positively Plymouth campaign is unique in the way it brings together innovative design and images of our city to create a clear and distinctive marketing tool that can be used in a wide range of future promotional campaigns to boost the city's economy and create jobs.
"It is all about capturing the best of Plymouth, by Plymouth, and the wealth of positive feedback throughout our extensive consultation process is what led to the inclusion of the Positively Plymouth message within the brand."
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by Jan Nerland, Plymouth
Friday, August 20 2010, 6:31PM
“Plymouth City Development Company - the clue is in the name, people. So why was this lucrative contract not awarded to one of the excellent Plymouth agencies who I'm sure would have been a lot more diligent in their background research.
Let's hope any future quangos take this into account when purporting to represent the best interests of our city and its' business community.”
by A Supporter, Plymouth
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 9:08PM
“I am in support of the work the PCDC has completed - at least they have tried and at least there are people out there concerned for the future of our city. Anyone that thinks otherwise needs to take a look at the life they lead - are they Positively contributing to the well-being of our future generations?! I think not - those of you that have the time to add pointless ill-informed comments on a daily basis should take stock of what you are achieving for the greater good.
Well done all the PCDC team - Positively Plymouth should give couch potatoes something to feel proud about and we should all start shouting about the good and those who achieve or are trying to achieve more for our city! Negativity within the city is fueled to a disturbing degree and I suppose that rests with those who have too much time on their hands...
Enough said and the best of luck to all the PCDC team for the future.”
by sinta, plymouth
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 2:19AM
“This is my comment which is still published on Lord Northovers "forplymouth.com" website on the 12th march ...
"The problem with this beautiful maritime city is corruption. Under the Freedom of Information Act and Competition laws the corrupt cartel that squanders public revenues on meaningless websites such as these will one day be brought to account."
I made that comment because i knew that LordNorthover had used the wisconsin sites campaign.
Well done the Herald for having the guts to stand up for the people of Plymouth !!!”
by aqua, plymouth
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 1:40AM
“The directors of Lord Northover and everyone involved in the PCDC should repay all the £2.8 million of Plymouth Taxpayers money.
Lord Northover and the PCDC were either negligent in failing to check the authenticity of the slogan or were deliberately deceitful and ripped off us taxpayers particularly when one of our local jewellers website warned last September that our taxes were to be spent on "a second hand campaign" that belonged to the Wisconsin Chamber of commerce.
This money could have been used to save or create jobs in Plymouth. Its a scandal.”
by Hannah, Millbay
Monday, August 16 2010, 5:24PM
“'Positively Plymouth' sounds like a virus you don't want to catch. What happened to the previous Mackay-related branding about 'city with a past and a future', or 'city of the world/world in a city', or whatever it was. That was much classier and, let's face it, that's what Plymouth needs.”
by lorna, discovery bus
Monday, August 16 2010, 2:13PM
“Positively Plymouth is wrong there are more than 51 plymouth in the world . if you would like to know where they all are come and see us at the discovery bus”
by Scott, Plymouth
Monday, August 16 2010, 12:56PM
“LLoyd Northover's response, if we are to believe it, simply shows that they did not do full and proper research on this brand prior to selling it to the PCDC for, what I understand to be, £150,000. In my view a more honest reply would have been "Ok we plagiarised the idea, we tried to take the money and run but we got caught! "
Mathew Cross's response is "quite simply" arrogance in the extreme and in my view shows the contempt with which they hold for any one who would dare to criticise their works.
With £2.8M gone it is now time to hold a full public inquiry into this fiasco and the ones who are responsible to be held accountable”
by Minnie the Minx, Plymouth
Monday, August 16 2010, 11:39AM
“Positively Plymouth isn't the only second hand slogan - we have seen dotted around slogans "We are Moooving" with cows in the background. Look at Plymouth Wisconsin website again - you'll find that too!”
by Ivor Treloar, Plymouth
Monday, August 16 2010, 10:54AM
“The Home Park development looks to be very much about making money for the Holding company which own Plymouth Argyle.
Does Plymouth need another retail park, i think not and this will also have a knock on effect for other small businesses in the area going bust.
Student accomodation in what is an open Public Park green space location is certainly not an option to consider. There are plenty of areas close to the colleges and university for this option to be developed.
More intergration with the city council should have taken place to ensure any developement be linked to the Life Centre.
Remember it was the Council who sold land to the football club at a below value price. Is this now under the ownership of the Holding Company for them to do as they wish.
I understand the company wants to develop and finance the football club to make a profit.
Complete the stadium, bring in the players to win promotion this year and next year and the rewards will be high.”
by GINA, Island Australia
Monday, August 16 2010, 10:43AM
“Having lived in Wisconsin & not far from Plymouth, Devon... BRAND?
Who wants to live in a BRAND???
It's a city, a proud city & folk should be proud and happy to live there & not be afraid to celebrate it in all its diversity...
Plymouth the heart of where it's AT - wherever that may be!”