What a coincedence?
I have put this off for some time. I went back and forth, back and forth, wondering if I should blog about this or not. It made me feel defeated when I first saw it, then angry, then I laughed about it, now I just feel like whatever. So I am finally writing about it for two reasons. The first being Justin's intellectual property and the second being the number of customers we have had come in during the last few weeks asking us about it.
The situation: Several months ago, we had Justin do a new ad for us. We enjoyed it so much, that we decided to print it on a beer cozy. I gave them out to a few Stumptown employees (delivery drivers, repair people, etc.). A few months later, Stumptown releases their new coffee offerings pamplet. The first image is Half and Half's, the second is Stumptown's.
So what's the deal? A coincedence? Coffee and trucks with campers always go well together? Or a large company with deep pockets ripping off a small Mom and Pop stand?
We don't know...
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both images look a whole lot like some stickers and t-shirts that Bill Daniel made a couple years ago. if i can find one i'll scan it and post it. maybe everyone is ripping everyone else off, or maybe campers are just cool. remember a few years ago when everyone was using airlplanes in their designs? i always thought Peripheral Produce was the first to use images from airplane safety cards (we're talking pre '95) but then lots of people started incorporating them into various designs. maybe they were inspired, maybe i was ripped off, or maybe someone else just had the same idea and was even doing it before me. i don't know...
(i accidently hit post too early, that last sentence should read)
i don't know, that's the problem with using pop/iconic images in design. everything has a history.
Good point, Matt. I do remember when it was suddenly "airplanes everywhere", and before that, we had just opened and thought a little bird would make a cute logo...suddenly, I started seeing birds on everything.
It probably is a collective unconcious longing for the camper van era; I don't think that we got "ripped off." The bummer is spending a chunk of money on merchandise just to have it look like someone else's. In the end, it really is only a small number of people fall into the "half & half beer coozie/stumptown coffee catalog" overlap.
So get your coozie while we still have them!
don't you guys use stumptown coffee? why would they be out to "rip you off"? just curious
just a coincidence. we asked our printers to do the camper guide at he beginning of the summer. sorry for making you feel "ripped off". hadn't even seen your add until now.
This is why Portland is great: the hurt feelings and the apology all on one page! I'm totally going to buy a coozie. I just need to remember to do it.
Well, I will chime in on this late night little blog I posted. I would like to start by saying this is a blog about the day to day activities at the Half and Half. It is about our experiences - negative or positive. This particular blog was about customers coming in day after day asking me if we ripped off Stumptown or Stumptown ripped us off. It was about art and personal comments. Almost every time someone asked about it, I said it was a strange coincidence.
As for my feelings toward Stumptown. The Half and Half was one of Stumptown's original customers. We were the first to sell there coffee in downtown, now six years ago. After they opened up their downtown location, we lost many customers, but we continued to pour their coffee, educate those who have never heard of them, and posted their sign in our shop. From their delivery drivers, to their wharehouse workers, to their sales reps, I think they are a company of people who care about and love what they do and it shows in there quality of customer service. Plus, they are roasting some of the best coffees I have ever tasted. And I personally thank Duane for writing in on the subject.
This is our blog. If anything I was trying to comment on art copying art, copying art... And if I wrote an exciting blog that caused reactions, then I guess I did it well.
reminds me of this one! we're all friends, though we didnt know eachother at the time!!!!
http://www.urbanhonking.com/greatestband/archives/2004/05/san_frandisco_t.html
shhhh! don't you know saying anything in anyway about stumptown is anti-portland? this has been the best blog ever.