We, the Killers

All our actions carry consequences, even if it is the effect of the butterfly.
Some our actions, though, reward or harm directly.
One of them is throwing our garbage everywhere.
To the spot:


Think before you through!

Why new logo of Bulgaria as a tourist destination is just another propaganda flop?

This is a not from the kitchen, but just from its doorsteps. The Topic - yesterday the new logo for Bulgaria as a tourist destination was officially presented and it should represent the country in the next 10-15 years in its official tourism strategy.

When MEET (Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism) announced the public bid for "Development of a Brand Bulgaria strategy, development of product and regional brands and the introduction of integrated brand management" I was working at Publicis and dealing with public tenders. The company decided to participate in this contract and I personally prepared the proposal for the public bid. When we won the project Publicis and I parted and I did not work on this project, for which yesterday I thanked a lot to my former employer.

Here are the activities included in MEET’s  requirements for the project:

Phase 1 - Develop a brand strategy for the destination Bulgaria, consulting, analyzes and further studies

- Analysis of the results of market research conducted under Project 1 "Marketing research and evaluation of  the effectiveness of national marketing"Contract № BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008/001-1 OP "Regional Development" and further studies

- Legal analysis and creation of the concept of ownership of the products of the project as part of a more general system for integrated management of national, regional and product brands

- Developing a strategy for brand destination Bulgaria

- Consulting and promoting brand strategy "Bulgaria" in the tourism business, its associations and other interested

Phase 2: Develop creative proposals for a national brand and sub-brands, as well as a regional brand

- Presentation of the logo, slogan and character set of the destination brand of Bulgaria

- Development of product brands as sub-brands brand destination Bulgaria

- Developing a branding strategy of tourism development and production of at least one pilot regional tourism brand

Phase 3: Testing the proposed brand to internal and external markets

- Testing the national, regional product and brands at international and domestic markets

This is public information as well as the fact that the execution time of all this is 7 months. Given that the activities require the completion of part of the job before starting another (writing a strategy after analyzing the results of the survey, also while running a public consultations almost nothing can be done), the time was very "scarce". The price offered by us, was 1.4 million BGN, modest budget accounting the ones offered by other participants - over 2.5 million BGN (this information is also public).

An excerpt of the Consortium for Brand Bulgaria's proposal might explain the silence on the part of the Contractor on these details, instead of left to speculating in the press about finance, timing and resources:

"For the successful implementation of the project activities we plan to keep the following principles in their work:

· ... The Contractor will refrain from any public statements concerning the project or services without the advance written consent of the Contracting Authority, and ill refrain from engaging in any activity that runs counter to its obligations to the Employer under the contract. "

So, why do I think the logo is just another bullshit?

 - Because Ivo Marinov is an incompetent Minister and he presented the whole project as a book in pictures. His presentation yesterday claimed that the new logo would increase the flow of tourists ... Total nonsense, logos do not increase tourist flows, Mr. Marinov! Does not anyone read your official statements?

- Also according to Minister Ivo Marinov, the new logo would lead to twice as many tourists, but only 25% above revenues in the tourism industry. I.e. this logo will attract more poor tourists for an even cheaper tourism product? Pity then, for the efforts and money. Bulgaria is already known mainly as a cheap tourist destination and the idea of ​​the whole project was to demonstrate sustainable content of the destination on which to build its image for the next 10-15 years, not to score cheap points!

- The logo has it ALL, everyone can see this, it is like a bad fast food product - poached eggs, but with a plastic slice of Turkish tomatoes and blanched Romanian potatoes:

* The SAME rose is used by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (already discussed many times as plagiarism) and has some

*? mountains (Maybe this dark blue stain at the top) and

*? Sea (light blue stain below), for example, and it is marked with a parasol from the cheapish ones, not  a shell or a dolphin, but then you promote concrete jungles by the sea, right? What a change!

In this logo - Is there something authentic? Nope. Something specific? Neither. And something that challenges you to find it in Bulgaria? (The slogan is "Discover and share"). Well, it showed nothing particularly intriguing.

This usage of “all that comes around” in advertising circles is called "creative impotence" and lack of strategic thinking. It is further complemented by the font used, which is one of the most impersonal among the impersonal fonts. And Bulgaria is at least rich of specific fonts!

- Explanation of the choice of the logo was based on testing different creative proposals to potential audiences, based on likes. This is incredible! Testing such a logo should not be based on likes but on whether it best represents certain characteristics that we want to communicate. In this case we can only guess what was supposed to present the logo, but it is rather unlikely that it represented a wealth of content beyond the obvious. As I read the comments yesterday: "For me, this cartoon stirs strong associations of stylized eroticism Bulgarian beach style - boobs, female bottoms, peaches and roses under an umbrella ..." Just a cheap bottle of alcohol is missing from the picture. Is that what we like to say and it will be left with no comments?

"The definition of a country brand is as follows:

Brand of a country is the unique discernable sense based on overall emotional and irrational perception of the main assets of the destination: location, attractions, infrastructure, landscape, products, people, culture, history and politics.

Branding countries is a complex activity that aims to create that feeling, to strengthen or modify it if it is negative. "

Admiration for the fellow (former) colleagues who worked on the project. It was clear that whatever is done will be spitted on. I think they’ve worked hard but did not fulfill the task (perhaps a mountain of objective reasons for this, as always). Anyway, this project will stand great in your portfolio! Relax, at some point people will get used to it, and when it comes the time for a new logo, everyone will say, just as now: "The old one was better".

Let us celebrate the new tourism brand Bulgaria! 
In the meanwhile I will continue to discover and share what it actually stands for – the authentic side and not your side! This logo is a total nonsense – Bulgaria tourism could very well do without it. Its value is 0, not 1.4 million BGN. Millions remain only as money spent for an empty and cheap shell. Hopefully the strategy (that will clearly remain a big mystery), is worth at least more than 0. For example, the value of 1 BGN, just as Chinese merchandise.

Smile and have the greatest holidays :)

Just smile, keep on smiling :)




Smile will make you feel certain about the great way your life is going. You might have not felt this way till now but you will, with a smile.

Just love the smiling feeling of yourself, the sweet smell of cookies and the bitter smell of ginger - this is how your coziness smells like.











Words by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons and music by Charlie Chaplin 
Smile though your heart is aching 
Smile even though it's breaking 
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by 
If you smile through your fear and sorrow 
Smile and maybe tomorrow 
You'll see the sun come shining through for you 

Light up your face with gladness 
Hide every trace of sadness 
Although a tear may be ever so near 
That's the time you must keep on trying 
Smile, what's the use of crying? 
You'll find that life is still worthwhile 
If you just smile 

That's the time you must keep on trying 
Smile, what's the use of crying? 
You'll find that life is still worthwhile 
If you just smile

Bright up the day of someone else - just smile :) whatever!

Christmas Self Made

Loving or hating Christmas, everyone loves gifts. What to give for a present is one of the most often questions we ask in December.

While making my list this year, I have two main points:

       -          this is the last Christmas when my daughter still believes in Santa;

       -          everybody else from the list officially does not want a present (great help!).

This year I wanted to give only hand made gifts, from artisan shops or made by myself. Looking for ideas, I asked some friends what were the best gifts that they received at any point.

Have fun with the answers, also you can try to guess which of them came from women and which – from men. 

1: I think my best gift was a bike when I was little.

2: Presence. Someone who was not able to buy me a gift was able to come from afar to spend the holiday with me.

3: Handcuffs.

4: No special things to remeber. But my colleagues gave me once a drill, saying that this is the most deserved gift for the "Master". Perhaps they had it as a sample, but it was cool how they presented it.

5: My period every month?

6: The moment when my life fu*ked up. Now it looks like the best gift.

7: I have only received trivial presents. If it is considered a gift - we moved into the new house right on my birthday - that's it.

8: Photo session - best experience and best memories.

9: My colleagues gave me a training to an international level in the field where I work - a wonderful gift.

10: Box of notes, which read why I mean so much to someone.

11: Surprising trip – I didn’t know where we were going, for how long, what were we doing.

To one of these people I gave a paragliding jump, a week in Paris, etc. But he chose something else as his best present and this definitely made me decide on the hand-made stuff. It will involve me, as a gift-giver, much more, and occasionally will be much better remembered.

Since its still before Christmas, I will only give some examples of the gifts I am buying and making:

-          self made limoncello in a self-decorated bottle;

-          hand-made flower brooch from a Charity bazaar;

-          his favorite shirt (too worn out for wearing out) made into a book cover;

-          made by order personalized calendar;

-          The hardest was the gift to Nia – she wanted a “Winx doll and stuff”, so she will get her own Winx costume and a hand made Winx doll with the same costume.

-          And else, but still a secret.

 

:) This is a lot of work but some good dwarfs from hand made and artisan shops will help me.

Have a great Christmas with lots of nice gifts to remember!

Коледа в кутия

Тази година, 6та поред, димитровградската фондация «Подари усмивка» ще даде Коледни подаръци за децата, чиито семейства не могат да си позволят подаръци за Коледа.

А представяте ли си дете да не получи подарък за Коледа? Да, не е краят на света, и много деца ще получат такъв за първи път.

Веднъж и на мен ми се случи, не бях дете. Бях приготвила страхотна украса, страхотна Коледна вечеря, подаръци за всички под елхата. Само дето никой не се беше сетил да приготви подарък за мен. Наистина се почувствах все едно не съм слушала цяла година... А бях на 30.

Идеята е не много сложна – аз, ти, той, тя, то приготвяме кутии с подаръци. Кутиите, за да са еднакви, защото често отиват в семейства с по 3-7,8 деца, са стандартни кутии от обувки. Слагаме вътре нещата, които искаме – които можем да си позволим и тези, които бихме искали да подарим на едно без Коледа (ако не сме ние). Пакетираме кутията с шарени работи, като за прекрасен Коледен подарък J И хората от фондацията я занасят на тези, които имат нужда.

Можем да пожелаем нещо вътре с писмо. Можем да кажем кои сме и да си оставим адрес, за да може детето да ни отговори.

Е не е толкова сложно, де!

Досега Фондацията разпределяше кутии, получени от Европа и САЩ, но броят им намалява, а за съжаление броят на децата без коледни подаръци (особено в този край), не намалява.

Аз се радвам да направя подарък на някой, който не го очаква. Включих и джуджето, като тя веднага поиска да приложи там своя списък J

- барби с каляска

- куче и коте (живи)

И т.н.

ОК, тези неща не стават – против съм ярките пластмаси, а животните едва ли са нужни в семейство, което трудно се оправя със себе си.

Останаха малко по-практични неща – задължително:

- нещо задължително - играчка;

- нещо полезно – паста/честка за зъби, чорапи, ръкавици;

- нещо интересно – книжка, моливи, флумастри, боички;

- нещо вкусно – ние взехме готови неща, които иначе и за своите деца не купувам, защото не мога да направя вкусни домашни курабийки, които, пакетирани добре, ще са по-добрия избор;

- каквато друга глезотийка намерим J

Ще се съберем на 1ви декемри, събота, от 11 часа в Софо (ул. Искър 4), за да приготвим кутии за децата, с които работи Фондация «Подари усмивка». Мога да кажа, че ги познавам отдавна (от около 5-6 години) и наистина много се радвам на това което правят – превенция за изоставяне, подпомагане за социално включване, превенция на насилието. Всъщност, може би това не ви говори много – Наталия познава проблемите на тооолкова много семейства и институции, които имат нужда от подадена ръка и втора гледна точка...

На 1ви декември: ще пием чай, ще мажат малки и големи празнични опаковки на подаръците, които желаем да направим; ще ги оплектоваме по възраст и пол, ако не са окомплетковани; ще ги опишем, за да можем после да получим отчет за предадените кутии.

Би трябвало да е весело J Ще се радваме да ви видим! Ето и нашите кутии от днес:

Да се направи кутия с подаръци не е никак сложно, изисква се само желание да накараш едно детско личице да грейне и може би да си помислиш какво би искал да подариш на някое дете, което няма да получи друго за Коледа.

Ето и инструкции, ако имате нужда от тях:

1. КУТИЯ ЗА ОБУВКИ
Вземете празна кутия за обувки, стандартен размер, и я опаковайте с хартия за подаръци. Моля, опаковайте капака отделно.

2. МОМЧЕ ИЛИ МОМИЧЕ?
Определете дали подаръкът ще бъде за момче или за момиче и възрастовата група:
2-4 години, 5-9 години или 10-14 години.

Отбележете възрастта и пола на детето, за което се подготвили кутия, преди да я предадете.

3. НАПЪЛНЕТЕ КУТИЯТА С ПОДАРЪЦИ
Напълнете кутията с разнообразни подаръци, които ще зарадват детето.ИЗПОЛЗВАЙТЕ списъка с идеи за подаръци.

Идеи за подаръци

1.Играчки
Малки колички, топки, кукли, плюшени играчки, хармоника, йо-йо, въже за скачане,книжки, играчки,които издават звуци или светят (добавете комплект допълнителни батерии) и др.

2.Училищни материали
Химикали, моливи и острилка, флумастери, пастели, блокче за рисуване, тетрадка, калкулатор, книжки за оцветяване, линия, триъгълник, детска ножичка и др.

3.Лична хигиена
Четка за зъби, паста за зъби, подходящ сапун, гребен, несери,гъба за баня и др.

4.Други
Бонбони, близалки, дъвки, тениска, чорапи, шапка, шал, ръкавици, слънчеви очила,украса за празниците, ластици и фиби, часовник, фенерче (с допълнителни батерии) и др.

5.Лично послание
В отделен плик можете да сложите лично послание до детето и снимка на вас или на вашето семейство.
(Ако напишете името и адреса си, детето може да ви пише.)

4. ПРЕДАЙТЕ ГОТОВИЯ ПОДАРЪК
Сложете ластик около готовия подарък и го предайте

МОЛЯ НЕ СЛАГАЙТЕ В КУТИИТЕ:
Употребявани или повредени вещи; играчки свързани с война като ножове, пистолети, фигурки на войници; краткотрайни храни; течности и лосиони; лекарства и витамини; чупливи предмети; аерозолни кутии.


Ако нямате възможност да подготвите цяла кутия, може да купите нещо дребно и така да станете част от сглобяването на един подарък.

Приятели, за тези от вас, които не могат да направят кутии, могат да се включат и с парични средства, а ние ще закупим небходимите неща.

Ето и банковата сметка на фондацията:
Първа Инвестиционна Банка - Димитровград
IBAN: BG87FINV91501000061188
BIC: FINVBGSF
Фондация"Подари Усмивка", Наталия Делчева

Кутиите или дребните подаръчета за кутии ще се събират по няколко начина:

- в София – на 1ви декември от 11 до 15 часа в Сохо, на ул. Искър 4, ще подготвяме кутии;

- в офиса на Фондация "Подари усмивка" - гр. Димитровград, бул. "Г.С.Раковски" 16 /Бившият магазин Детмаг" , ет.1 офис 3. от 26.11.2012 г. до 14.12.2012 г.

Тел. за повече информация:

Димитровград 0885 77 97 42 - Наталия Делчева,

София: 0885 121 686 – Ива Белокапова

Повече за Фондацията: http://givesmile.ngobg.info/

Събитието в София: Сохо, 1ви декември, събота, 11-15 часа 

Out of school creativity

"If you’re not prepared to be wrong you will never come with anything original. And by the time they are prepared to be adults most kids have lost this capacity – they have become frightened to be wrong.

...We stigmatize mistakes. And we are now running national educational systems where mistakes are the worst thing you can make. And the result is that we are educating people out of their creative capacities."

One of my favourite TED talks, Ken Robinson is a great presenter - spare 20 mins to see, if you haven't.

Respect, Greenpeace!

I was watching today the start of Greenpeace campaign on announcing the Arctic a global sanctuary and a ban on oil drilling and industrial fishing. Check it out here: http://www.savethearctic.org/

Actually, I was watching it because I work as a PR for one of the large oil companies. And also, because I respect Greenpeace. At the end, because the campaign is perfect! From a professional point of view I don’t recall seeing such a great campaign – global, powered by social media, providing both questions and answers, with a perfect timing and working!






The idea of the campaign is to have 1,000,000 people signing a petition for saving the Arctic. 7 hours after the start of the campaign they have over 22,000 signatures.

Every time I went to the webpage there was a new material published. It will keep you interested and give you opportunities to share.  It also has 2 layers of information - the mass one and a link to give you more detail on the issue.

And I would love to see the polar bear around. Check the polar bear in Facebook :)  Cute one, isn't it!