Getting Social. Digitally.
Did you know that the new, fashionable, affordable and one-for-one eyewear boutique Warby Parker hit its first-year sales goal in 3 weeks? Neither did we, until we heard co-founder Neil Blumenthal discuss his wildly successful (and predominantly digital) company at Business Insider’s 2012 Social Commerce Summit this week in New York.
The aim of the conference was to expose and educate the 250 executives and experts in attendance about the burgeoning world of digital commerce and practical ways to stay ahead of the curve, covering a host of topics including consumer goods, fashion, daily deals, and the future of Facebook.
Top-notch speakers included entrepreneurs like Katia Beachamp, co-founder of Birchbox, and Jason Ross, co-founder of Jackthreads, who shared their start-up stories and tips on how to leverage social media (hello, Pinterest!) to get the word out.
LivingSocial CEO Tim O’Shaughnessy talked about the future of daily deals (they’re not going anywhere anytime soon), and Chris Bolte, VP of Walmart Labs, addressed the importance of both online and offline channels to drive the company’s continued growth.
To learn more about these innovative businesses and the Social Commerce Summit, have a gander at Business Insider’s session recaps and interviews.
02/09/2012 | Branding, Inspiration, New York, | No Comments
Wanted: Senior Art Director/Associate Creative Director
Green Team, a communications agency focused on sustainability and purpose branding, is in need of a creative leader. We’re looking for someone who can wear multiple hats, as you will not only be creating work from start to finish but also overseeing the creative vision as a whole. We’re a small, sharp team and everyone plays a crucial role, so we’re looking for someone with the confidence and experience to jump in feet first. Strong conceptual thinking, client presentation skills, drive, leadership, and candor are a must. The ideal candidate will have a strong mix of digital, print and branding experience.
Requirements:
• A killer portfolio.
• Experience managing projects from concept through completion, ensuring sound strategy and communications that are on brief.
• Initiate and stimulate creative ideas from all of those involved in the creative
process.
• Desire to lead,manage, train and mentor Art Directors, Designers and Interns.
• Intense need to learn new things — every day.
• Experience interacting with clients.
• Refined typographic and layout skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate with the account team to manage budgets and timelines.
• Strong visual/conceptual skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience.
Qualifications:
• Excellent knowledge of Adobe platforms.
• Formal design training at an accredited institution.
Position will be temp to perm; salary commensurate with experience; we’re looking to fill this position ASAP.
If this sounds like you, please, send your digital samples/links and resume to: erika@greenteamusa.com
Resumes received without example URLs and/or portfolios will not be accepted. No phone calls or agencies, please.
Looking forward to meeting you!
01/19/2012 | New York, News, Team, | No Comments
US-Australia Cultural Exchange
Rowan is up from Australia, spending a few days with his American counterparts, which has presented the opportunity for some interesting cultural exchanges.
On Sunday, Hank gave Rowan an insider’s tour of the Met Life Stadium parking lot, and introduced him to the uniquely American phenomenon of tailgating. Because they took the train to the stadium, Rowan and Hank were not, technically, tailgating. That did not stop them, however from taking in the sites sounds and malted beverages (“tinnies,” as Rowan would say) of the moment.
After a couple hours of documenting the proceedings and dodging the projectiles, it was time for the main event. Our lads bore witness to the New York Football Giants’ glorious trouncing of the lowly Atlanta Falcons. It was Rowan’s inaugural NFL experience, and he certainly got a full helping of the American version of the game and its surrounding craziness.
The next day it was Rowan’s turn. During a 13th Floor reception in his honor, Rowan produced a mysterious, white box. Inside were numerous variations on the uniquely Australian phenomenon, Vegemite. For those of you not familiar with Vegemite, it’s a dark, yeasty paste that suggests that, if worse came to worse, mankind could survive on a diet of tar.
The New York Green Teamers gamely dived into the Smith Vegemite Chips, Vegemite Cheesybite Snackabouts, Vegemite Cheesybite spread and the original Vegemite spread (in both glass jar and camper-friendly tube).
Cultural differences are, of course, part of life’s rich tapestry, and a reminder of why it’s so important to get out of town every now and then.
01/11/2012 | Australia, food, football, Giants, tailgating, tinnies, vegemite, | No Comments
What Would the Dalai Lama Do?
The new year is always a time of reflection and resolution (and of course dieting). In an effort to guide all of us into a collectively happy and healthy 2012, here are 20 ways to get good karma, from the master of all things karmic, the Dalai Lama:
- Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
- When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
- Follow the three R’s:
- Respect for self,
- Respect for others and
- Responsibility for all your actions.
- Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
- Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
- When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
- Spend some time alone every day.
- Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
- Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
- Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and
think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
- A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
- In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
- Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
- Be gentle with the earth.
- Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
- Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
- Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
- If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
- If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
01/05/2012 | Inspiration, New York, | No Comments
Take 5
Got five minutes? Check out IBM’s 5 in 5 – five technological innovations that, they predict, will have a significant effect on modern life within the next five years, ultimately “building a smarter planet.”
It’s a little hard to conceive of all five of these advances really happening on a large-scale level in just five years, but hey, we’re all for optimism, so here’s hoping…
12/21/2011 | Inspiration, New York, Sustainability, | No Comments
A Man’s Environment
In his article “The Greening of Men, Part 2,” which appeared in this week’s issue of Marketing: Green, Green Team VP of Brand Strategy Hank Stewart explains why being a man and being environmentally conscious should, naturally, go hand-in-hand.
It’s full of sex, beer and primal musings, and you can read it by clicking here
12/02/2011 | New York, Press, Sustainability, | No Comments
Wanted: Social Media/PR Intern
Green Team, a communications agency focused on sustainability and purpose branding, is in need of a social media/PR intern with great energy and excellent social media skills. Previous experience in PR, marketing and/or advertising is valuable, but not essential. We’re looking for a self-starter who believes in our mission and is willing to help spread the word about who we are and what we do. You’ll work closely with the new business and account teams to identify publicity opportunities, secure editorial and blog placements, leverage our brand via social media, and coordinate events.
As an intern, we’ll welcome you into our family and expect you to jump feet first into the deep end (of course, flotation devices will be readily available). You’ll be an integral member of the team and will be the lead on all PR initiatives. You’ll gain valuable agency experience and hopefully have fun too.
Why we’re a special place to work:
Green Team began in 1993 with one client and one dream: to use the power of communication so people, planet and business can all thrive. Today, we’re located smack in the middle of New York, with the Empire State Building out one window and the Flatiron out the other. We have global offices and our clients range from Fortune 100 Companies to non-profits, but that youthful hunger and energy remain a tangible part of our culture. We truly work, and live, with a sense of purpose.
Details:
• This is an unpaid internship, but offers reimbursement for lunch and subway transportation costs.
• Internship hours are 10AM to 5PM but this is flexible with your schedule.
• Interns should be able to commit to a minimum of two business days per week.
Requirements:
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Professional telephone demeanor.
• In-depth knowledge of and experience with blogging, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Strong research skills.
• Willingness to be flexible and learn new tasks quickly.
Interested? Email laurenm@greenteamusa.com
11/28/2011 | New York, News, | No Comments
Unhate: Love it?
Benetton’s new controversial campaign for the Unhate Foundation, in which they’ve photoshopped images of “feuding” world leaders kissing, is beautifully arresting. Quite simply, we’re loving Unhate.
Today, White House spokesman Eric Schultz condemned the campaign, “The White House has a longstanding policy disapproving of the use of the president’s name and likeness for commercial purposes.”
The shock value of the kiss aside, one can imagine what didn’t make it into White House statement but what may have been tossed around within their own walls: sure it’s easy for Benetton to say that world leaders need to love each other a bit more, but it’s not always as simple as kissing and making up. Take, for example, the ad showing Obama locking lips with Chavez. There’s a lot that needs to happen, policy-wise and politics-wise, before the US and Venezuela can be lovers. And as much as they’d like to see that happen, from the perspective of the White House (and the Vatican, and Israel, and the other nations whose leader is featured in an ad) the simplicity of that kiss may sort of over-simplify some complex issues.
What do you think? Check out the campaign here. You can even upload a kiss to the Kiss Wall and the system will pair you up with someone.
11/17/2011 | Branding, Inspiration, New York, | No Comments
What Are You Unlocking?
If you’re like most of us, it’s the door to our house, our office, our car, our gym locker…
And, of course, for Apple loyalists, our iPhone.
The fact that we’re even lucky enough to have all these various things to unlock is something that we take for granted. Heck, it’s practically a chore for us. Really, when will they finally come up with a way for our minds to automatically unlock all these things? Open says me!
But it’s this simple, mindless act of unlocking – swiping that index finger across the touch-screen – that serves as the concept behind Amnesty International’s latest iPhone and iPad campaign to promote awareness of human rights violations and recruit SMS-texting activists. Beautiful in its simplicity and chilling in its depiction of bondage, it’s no surprise that AdWeek featured the campaign as its ad of the day yesterday.
The free iPhone wallpapers are a powerful reminder of what we have, and what so many others are deprived of. When you consider the fact that a lot of us don’t even bother with an iPhone passcode (that’s how secure we feel! or perhaps how impatient we are?) it just makes you wonder: if we pool together all of our personal freedom, conceivably it shouldn’t be too hard to unlock some real change for those who need it, should it?
11/11/2011 | Featured, Inspiration, New York, Sustainability, | No Comments
Jeni: a Model of Social Responsibility
Literally. And figuratively.
Last weekend, Green Team’s Jeni Bauser donned some beautiful cashmere hats and gloves to help The Bootstrap Project promote its new batch of winter accessories. Hand-stitched in Nepal, each piece is initialed by the woman who made it, creating a visible and lasting connection between maker and wearer that’s indicative of this era of transparency in which we all live, work and, well, shop.
The Bootstrap Project gives artisans around the world a platform from which to sell their crafts, helping them pull themselves and their communities up and out of the cycle of poverty, by their own bootstraps (hence the name). As they say, it’s trade not aid.
We love this business model, and we think it’s always good to recognize and appreciate its distinct ability to create real change and growth. The much-lauded one-for-one model, made famous by TOMS and embraced by Awakening Consumers everywhere, is awesome in its simplicity, but it deals more with a problem than a solution. Consider the exponential power of the model employed by organizations such as The Bootstrap Project, which goes beyond simply giving to someone in need to empowering someone in need so that they can actually give to themselves. Sure, right now these artisans still need the consumption platform powered by the likes of The Bootstrap Project – and so, arguably, they’re not completely giving to themselves, yet – but they’re one step farther along the road to running their own independent business. And yes, perhaps they were wearing a pair of TOMS while they were knitting these cashmere hats.
Anyway, it’s easy to get behind The Bootstrap Project. And hey, with just two colors to choose from – charcoal and cream – it’s also easy to decide what you want. Forget the mass-produced, available in 10 colors, “paradox of choice” dilemma… you’re too good for that.
11/03/2011 | Inspiration, New York, Press, Sustainability, | 1 Comment
Getting Social. Digitally.
Did you know that the new, fashionable, affordable and one-for-one eyewear boutique Warby Parker hit its first-year sales goal in 3 weeks? Neither did we, until we heard co-founder Neil Blumenthal discuss his wildly successful (and predominantly digital) company at Business Insider’s 2012 Social Commerce Summit this week in New York.
The aim of the conference was to expose and educate the 250 executives and experts in attendance about the burgeoning world of digital commerce and practical ways to stay ahead of the curve, covering a host of topics including consumer goods, fashion, daily deals, and the future of Facebook.
Top-notch speakers included entrepreneurs like Katia Beachamp, co-founder of Birchbox, and Jason Ross, co-founder of Jackthreads, who shared their start-up stories and tips on how to leverage social media (hello, Pinterest!) to get the word out.
LivingSocial CEO Tim O’Shaughnessy talked about the future of daily deals (they’re not going anywhere anytime soon), and Chris Bolte, VP of Walmart Labs, addressed the importance of both online and offline channels to drive the company’s continued growth.
To learn more about these innovative businesses and the Social Commerce Summit, have a gander at Business Insider’s session recaps and interviews.
02/09/2012 | Branding, Inspiration, New York, | No Comments
Wanted: Senior Art Director/Associate Creative Director
Green Team, a communications agency focused on sustainability and purpose branding, is in need of a creative leader. We’re looking for someone who can wear multiple hats, as you will not only be creating work from start to finish but also overseeing the creative vision as a whole. We’re a small, sharp team and everyone plays a crucial role, so we’re looking for someone with the confidence and experience to jump in feet first. Strong conceptual thinking, client presentation skills, drive, leadership, and candor are a must. The ideal candidate will have a strong mix of digital, print and branding experience.
Requirements:
• A killer portfolio.
• Experience managing projects from concept through completion, ensuring sound strategy and communications that are on brief.
• Initiate and stimulate creative ideas from all of those involved in the creative
process.
• Desire to lead,manage, train and mentor Art Directors, Designers and Interns.
• Intense need to learn new things — every day.
• Experience interacting with clients.
• Refined typographic and layout skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate with the account team to manage budgets and timelines.
• Strong visual/conceptual skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience.
Qualifications:
• Excellent knowledge of Adobe platforms.
• Formal design training at an accredited institution.
Position will be temp to perm; salary commensurate with experience; we’re looking to fill this position ASAP.
If this sounds like you, please, send your digital samples/links and resume to: erika@greenteamusa.com
Resumes received without example URLs and/or portfolios will not be accepted. No phone calls or agencies, please.
Looking forward to meeting you!
01/19/2012 | New York, News, Team, | No Comments
US-Australia Cultural Exchange
Rowan is up from Australia, spending a few days with his American counterparts, which has presented the opportunity for some interesting cultural exchanges.
On Sunday, Hank gave Rowan an insider’s tour of the Met Life Stadium parking lot, and introduced him to the uniquely American phenomenon of tailgating. Because they took the train to the stadium, Rowan and Hank were not, technically, tailgating. That did not stop them, however from taking in the sites sounds and malted beverages (“tinnies,” as Rowan would say) of the moment.
After a couple hours of documenting the proceedings and dodging the projectiles, it was time for the main event. Our lads bore witness to the New York Football Giants’ glorious trouncing of the lowly Atlanta Falcons. It was Rowan’s inaugural NFL experience, and he certainly got a full helping of the American version of the game and its surrounding craziness.
The next day it was Rowan’s turn. During a 13th Floor reception in his honor, Rowan produced a mysterious, white box. Inside were numerous variations on the uniquely Australian phenomenon, Vegemite. For those of you not familiar with Vegemite, it’s a dark, yeasty paste that suggests that, if worse came to worse, mankind could survive on a diet of tar.
The New York Green Teamers gamely dived into the Smith Vegemite Chips, Vegemite Cheesybite Snackabouts, Vegemite Cheesybite spread and the original Vegemite spread (in both glass jar and camper-friendly tube).
Cultural differences are, of course, part of life’s rich tapestry, and a reminder of why it’s so important to get out of town every now and then.
01/11/2012 | Australia, food, football, Giants, tailgating, tinnies, vegemite, | No Comments
What Would the Dalai Lama Do?
The new year is always a time of reflection and resolution (and of course dieting). In an effort to guide all of us into a collectively happy and healthy 2012, here are 20 ways to get good karma, from the master of all things karmic, the Dalai Lama:
- Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
- When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
- Follow the three R’s:
- Respect for self,
- Respect for others and
- Responsibility for all your actions. - Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
- Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
- When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
- Spend some time alone every day.
- Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
- Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
- Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and
think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time. - A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
- In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
- Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
- Be gentle with the earth.
- Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
- Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
- Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
- If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
- If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
01/05/2012 | Inspiration, New York, | No Comments
Take 5
Got five minutes? Check out IBM’s 5 in 5 – five technological innovations that, they predict, will have a significant effect on modern life within the next five years, ultimately “building a smarter planet.”
It’s a little hard to conceive of all five of these advances really happening on a large-scale level in just five years, but hey, we’re all for optimism, so here’s hoping…
12/21/2011 | Inspiration, New York, Sustainability, | No Comments
A Man’s Environment
In his article “The Greening of Men, Part 2,” which appeared in this week’s issue of Marketing: Green, Green Team VP of Brand Strategy Hank Stewart explains why being a man and being environmentally conscious should, naturally, go hand-in-hand.
It’s full of sex, beer and primal musings, and you can read it by clicking here
12/02/2011 | New York, Press, Sustainability, | No Comments
Wanted: Social Media/PR Intern
Green Team, a communications agency focused on sustainability and purpose branding, is in need of a social media/PR intern with great energy and excellent social media skills. Previous experience in PR, marketing and/or advertising is valuable, but not essential. We’re looking for a self-starter who believes in our mission and is willing to help spread the word about who we are and what we do. You’ll work closely with the new business and account teams to identify publicity opportunities, secure editorial and blog placements, leverage our brand via social media, and coordinate events.
As an intern, we’ll welcome you into our family and expect you to jump feet first into the deep end (of course, flotation devices will be readily available). You’ll be an integral member of the team and will be the lead on all PR initiatives. You’ll gain valuable agency experience and hopefully have fun too.
Why we’re a special place to work:
Green Team began in 1993 with one client and one dream: to use the power of communication so people, planet and business can all thrive. Today, we’re located smack in the middle of New York, with the Empire State Building out one window and the Flatiron out the other. We have global offices and our clients range from Fortune 100 Companies to non-profits, but that youthful hunger and energy remain a tangible part of our culture. We truly work, and live, with a sense of purpose.
Details:
• This is an unpaid internship, but offers reimbursement for lunch and subway transportation costs.
• Internship hours are 10AM to 5PM but this is flexible with your schedule.
• Interns should be able to commit to a minimum of two business days per week.
Requirements:
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Professional telephone demeanor.
• In-depth knowledge of and experience with blogging, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Strong research skills.
• Willingness to be flexible and learn new tasks quickly.
Interested? Email laurenm@greenteamusa.com
11/28/2011 | New York, News, | No Comments
Unhate: Love it?
Benetton’s new controversial campaign for the Unhate Foundation, in which they’ve photoshopped images of “feuding” world leaders kissing, is beautifully arresting. Quite simply, we’re loving Unhate.
Today, White House spokesman Eric Schultz condemned the campaign, “The White House has a longstanding policy disapproving of the use of the president’s name and likeness for commercial purposes.”
The shock value of the kiss aside, one can imagine what didn’t make it into White House statement but what may have been tossed around within their own walls: sure it’s easy for Benetton to say that world leaders need to love each other a bit more, but it’s not always as simple as kissing and making up. Take, for example, the ad showing Obama locking lips with Chavez. There’s a lot that needs to happen, policy-wise and politics-wise, before the US and Venezuela can be lovers. And as much as they’d like to see that happen, from the perspective of the White House (and the Vatican, and Israel, and the other nations whose leader is featured in an ad) the simplicity of that kiss may sort of over-simplify some complex issues.
What do you think? Check out the campaign here. You can even upload a kiss to the Kiss Wall and the system will pair you up with someone.
11/17/2011 | Branding, Inspiration, New York, | No Comments
What Are You Unlocking?
If you’re like most of us, it’s the door to our house, our office, our car, our gym locker…
And, of course, for Apple loyalists, our iPhone.
The fact that we’re even lucky enough to have all these various things to unlock is something that we take for granted. Heck, it’s practically a chore for us. Really, when will they finally come up with a way for our minds to automatically unlock all these things? Open says me!
But it’s this simple, mindless act of unlocking – swiping that index finger across the touch-screen – that serves as the concept behind Amnesty International’s latest iPhone and iPad campaign to promote awareness of human rights violations and recruit SMS-texting activists. Beautiful in its simplicity and chilling in its depiction of bondage, it’s no surprise that AdWeek featured the campaign as its ad of the day yesterday.
The free iPhone wallpapers are a powerful reminder of what we have, and what so many others are deprived of. When you consider the fact that a lot of us don’t even bother with an iPhone passcode (that’s how secure we feel! or perhaps how impatient we are?) it just makes you wonder: if we pool together all of our personal freedom, conceivably it shouldn’t be too hard to unlock some real change for those who need it, should it?
11/11/2011 | Featured, Inspiration, New York, Sustainability, | No Comments
Jeni: a Model of Social Responsibility
Literally. And figuratively.
Last weekend, Green Team’s Jeni Bauser donned some beautiful cashmere hats and gloves to help The Bootstrap Project promote its new batch of winter accessories. Hand-stitched in Nepal, each piece is initialed by the woman who made it, creating a visible and lasting connection between maker and wearer that’s indicative of this era of transparency in which we all live, work and, well, shop.
The Bootstrap Project gives artisans around the world a platform from which to sell their crafts, helping them pull themselves and their communities up and out of the cycle of poverty, by their own bootstraps (hence the name). As they say, it’s trade not aid.
We love this business model, and we think it’s always good to recognize and appreciate its distinct ability to create real change and growth. The much-lauded one-for-one model, made famous by TOMS and embraced by Awakening Consumers everywhere, is awesome in its simplicity, but it deals more with a problem than a solution. Consider the exponential power of the model employed by organizations such as The Bootstrap Project, which goes beyond simply giving to someone in need to empowering someone in need so that they can actually give to themselves. Sure, right now these artisans still need the consumption platform powered by the likes of The Bootstrap Project – and so, arguably, they’re not completely giving to themselves, yet – but they’re one step farther along the road to running their own independent business. And yes, perhaps they were wearing a pair of TOMS while they were knitting these cashmere hats.
Anyway, it’s easy to get behind The Bootstrap Project. And hey, with just two colors to choose from – charcoal and cream – it’s also easy to decide what you want. Forget the mass-produced, available in 10 colors, “paradox of choice” dilemma… you’re too good for that.
11/03/2011 | Inspiration, New York, Press, Sustainability, | 1 Comment
green team speaks
From small to large venues, we’re constantly sharing our experience and vision with audiences around the world. Have us speak at your event.
the 13th floor
A space for expression and conversation, without the limitation of trying to be right. Coming soon.
