On a day that celebrates that many splendored thing called love, it feels lustfully inappropriate to treat you to this anti-valentine. Outdoor clothing retailer Moosejaw Mountaineering has whipped up a permission slip that (if your significant other complies) gives you license to “snuggle, French, or fully do it” with someone else. The downside is it might trigger a wave of stormy breakups across the nation, but the upside is clever brand awareness. Nice job, Moosejaw. And Happy V Day to all you swingers out there.

Finally. Finally. FINALLY. Yes, it took us three years to finish, but here at Mortar we like to drag things out as long as possible to build up maximum excitement for their arrival. (And to drive Jojo up the wall. Girl does a mean sideways cartwheel.) We’re thinking about creating a supplementary site to our new site, called “What Life Was Like When We Started Our Website Redesign.” Swine flu was poised to decimate us all. Ricki Lake was running for president.* Michael Jackson was still alive (RIP, PYT). Alexa and Sylvie weren’t even born yet.**

But no more dwelling in the past. Be here now. Allow us to present The New Mortar Website. Cleaner, meaner, and glistening with bacon-y goodness.

Why bacon, you ask? It’s our way of communicating what Mortar’s goal has been all along – to change the conversation. Everyone else talks about ads. We prefer to talk about love. Love of bacon. And Miles Davis. And good conversation. Because when you talk to your customers like people, rather than customers, they tend to like you a lot more.

In fact, conversations are what drive our whole approach. The conversations your customers are having about your brand now, and the ones you want them to have in the future. So instead of starting with Flashy-Expensive-TV-Spot and working backwards, we start by identifying the right message. (Plus, walking backwards makes us dizzy.)

Today, we’re considered a rare breed of agency that does advertising, branding, research and PR all under one roof – but we don’t see any other way to do it. Maybe one day, our approach will be the norm. We can’t understand why it isn’t already.

Pray tell us what you think of our (extremely) late and great site. Direct all comments to Mr. Butz.

*Not really, but how would you remember? It was eons ago.

**Also not true, but those youthful complexions will fool you every time.

Mortar is proud – really proud – to announce the launch of Avinger’s new website.

Avinger is a medical device company devoted to developing innovative treatments for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) –  a very common, very nasty disease where your arteries clog up and cut off circulation to your limbs, heart and brain.  Most patients leave it untreated too long, which has a lot to do with why PAD is the leading cause of amputation in patients over 50, and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of amputations every year. Yes, we said “amputations.” As in – you leave the hospital with fewer limbs than you had when you entered. 
 Avinger believed there was a better way to fight PAD, so they created one. Let us show you what they’re up to:

Need a tissue? We understand completely.
We’re proud to be a part of Avinger’s amazing work, and pleased to see their shiny new website make its debut. We hope you never need their products – but it sure is nice to know Avinger is there if you do.

Speaking of dancing – other clients? The gauntlet has been thrown down. Right about the time the site launched, look what showed up at Mortar Global HQ.

Y’all just got served. It is on.

All we can say is, “It was our pleasure, Avinger.” (Well, that and “Somebody get a really big ice bucket.”)

There’s nothing scarier than walking into a room full of geniuses and asking for money. Well, almost nothing. Zombies are scary. Wolves are scary. Concepts born of too many vodka-pineapples are scary. But still, meeting with venture capitalists is scary. 

So why do most venture capital websites do nothing but talk about themselves? That’s not very friendly, is it? Not what a good host would do, right? These poor entrepreneurs are laying it all on the table. They’re presenting, defending and explaining more than a “venture.” It’s their baby. The thing that’s consumed their every waking moment – not to mention their bank accounts. So, when Bain Capital Ventures approached us about a new website, we suggested they put less emphasis on the “us” and more on the “you.” 

Yes, you. If you’re an entrepreneur with an earthshaking idea, that is. The refreshingly simple site is uncluttered, down-to-earth and friendly, all the way from the tone of voice to the typeface. The entrepreneur-focused Innovation Center provides an online toolkit to help startups get started—complete with how-to articles, local networking opportunities, and even weekly office hours hosted by Bain.

But enough about us. We’d love to know what you think.