The wrapping paper is on it’s way to the recycling center, the tree has been de-ornamented and sits forlornly in front of the house, still strung with lights so cheap we will just buy new ones next year.

Santa (a.k.a. Mom & Dad, 2 sets of grandparents, and a few Aunts & Uncles too) was WAY too good to my daughter; this Christmas was "all princess, all the time." There were no less than 5 costume changes on Christmas morning. And the seven fluffy gowns with matching tiaras will be in heavy rotation in her dress-up repertoire for months to come.

And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a super New York Times article on the whole "Princess Craze" that is sweeping the planet. Here is a snippet:

"To call princesses a “trend” among girls is like calling Harry Potter a
book. Sales at Disney Consumer Products, which started the craze six
years ago by packaging nine of its female characters under one royal
rubric, have shot up to $3 billion, globally, this year, from $300
million in 2001. There are now more than 25,000 Disney Princess items.
“Princess,” as some Disney execs call it, is not only the
fastest-growing brand the company has ever created; they say it is on
its way to becoming the largest girls’ franchise on the planet."

My personal favorite from the article is:
"To ensure the sanctity of what Mooney called their individual
“mythologies,” the princesses never make eye contact when they’re
grouped: each stares off in a slightly different direction as if
unaware of the others’ presence."

What, if Cinderella and Aurora look each other in the eye they will spontaneously combust or something? Strange and interesting… and so Disney.

Read the full article entitled "What’s Wrong With Cinderella?" here  (may require registration/sign-in).

Yes, that’s Budda’s main man, Scot "Jimmy Page" Sier rocking out on YouTube. He snagged the #10 spot on YouTube’s music channel this week with this "Drum Stick on Guitar" performance. Proving once again that our clients ROCK! (Although I am not at all sure about the hat….?)

The curious can see our work for Scot’s company, Budda, here.

John Cook at the Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that Isilon’s IPO is the "best performer in years". From his "Venture blog":

"Isilon Systems skyrocketed in its stock
market debut Friday, with shares rising 77 percent in the best opening
performance for a technology IPO in more than six years… Isilon, which raised $108 million in a public offering that industry
watchers described as one of the hottest of the year. The stock closed
at $23.10, giving the money-losing company a market value of $1.4
billion.

"This is the best technology first day pop since 2000 without
question," said Paul Bard, a vice president at Renaissance Capital’s
IPOHome. The previous title holder: Santa Clara, Calif.-based
Transmeta, which had a first day gain of 115 percent in Nov. 2000." More here.

John’s article in the Post continued:

"The 246-person company, which helps customers such as Kodak, MySpace
and NBC manage their digital storage needs, raised $108 million through
the public sale of stock. It initially was looking to pull in about $80
million.

The sharp rise in the stock even surprised some Isilon executives
who had gathered on the New York trading floor of Morgan Stanley, the
company’s principal underwriter. As the "ISLN" ticker symbol flickered
across an electronic monitor, Isilon’s senior director of marketing,
Jay Wampold, said it "caused us to raise some eyebrows." Full article here.

Mortar watchers will note that Mortar launched the new brand for Isilon back in October.

You can see some of the work here (Website). And here (The Almost Awards). Isilon is our first debut on the public markets since we founded Mortar back in 2003.

PR Sr. Account Executive/Account Manager (part-time/contract ok)

It’s taken us nearly three years, but we’re now firmly on the map (in new digs on Maiden Lane). We’ve also attracted a great mix of clients who love our blend of brand consulting, PR, integrated marketing, and creative results. 

Now, we need a fiendishly clever Public Relations pro to keep pace with new accounts.

You’ll need 3-5 years experience in technology-based public relations, with at least 1-2 years agency work.  Additional experience B2B or B2C experience is a plus.  You’ll also need a killer book—heavy on media coverage that made a difference, great writing and creative, strategic programs.  Sense of humor g-o-o-d.

Most important is finding a self-starter with the right blend of media and client relations experience and superb organizational and writing skills.  New business development experience is a definite plus.

In addition to the obligatory coffee, skittles and beer, we’re offering something a little different. The chance to help build a new kind of agency. 

Send an email pitch along with your resume. Or call Mark: 415 772 9907 x 112.