FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- Media Contacts:
- qtags:
- Shannon Otermat, 832-746-2224
- sotermat@houston.rr.com
- Rip Curl:
- PJ Connell, 714-422-3600
- pconnell@ripcurl.com
Global Surf Brand Rip Curl Partners with qtags to Showcase Brand Campaign in the Heart of Manhattan
HOUSTON (Oct. 17, 2005)- qtags (www.qtags.com) today announced that global surfing
company Rip Curl (www.ripcurl.com) is showcasing its new "My Search" brand campaign for 2006 on a digital video
billboard in New York City's Time Square and the campaign features a qtags-powered promotion.
The giant 38 x 32 foot video screen features the call to action "Rip Curl, Follow Your Search," with instructions
to text "ripcurl" to the qtags short code: 78247. The participant is given access to a secret Rip Curl website
video vault (www.ripcurl.com/mme) where he or she can view an exciting teaser to Rip Curl's upcoming film about #3
world-rated surfer Mick Fanning.
"Rip Curl is proud to partner with qtags and showcase our brand in Times Square," said Adam Sharp, vice president
of sales and marketing for Rip Curl USA. "What better place to show the world that we are the ultimate surfing
company, that the search is a lifestyle we're proud of, and our days are about living it? We pride ourselves on
leadership and innovation, so the interactive technology that qtags has to offer is a great match for us as a brand."
The interactive ad, which begins Oct. 17, uses innovative digital display signage represented by Charter Digital Media.
"Charter Digital Media is proud to provide the pioneering interactive signage that will allow Rip Curl to reach the
mobile New York audience for the launch of its 2006 brand campaign," Terry Kollman, president and ceo, Charter Digital
Media. "Because of its inherent uniqueness and many benefits over traditional advertising, digital signage is going to
provide Rip Curl with immediate payback, including the ability to instantaneously launch and complete flexibility of content."
Sarah Darlington, vice president of business development for qtags, said the promotion is an ideal use of the qtags technology.
"Advertisers are extremely interested in measuring the impact of their media efforts, and qtags makes it possible while
offering complete anonymity to the texter, something critical to today's young consumer," she explained.
How the qtags service works
The name qtags is short for quick-tags because qtags are a way to quickly tag something you want to remember. Each qtag is
assigned a unique web-address and descriptive text reply. Advertisers display qtags on any existing print, online or broadcast
campaign. The ad's viewers or listeners use a mobile phone to text the qtag to 78247, a short-code that works with all major
United States and Canada carriers. The texter immediately receives the qtags' reply and web link, but does not receive any
further communication from the advertiser and does not end up on mailing lists. Advertisers can update the web link and
reply text anytime, real-time and have access to reporting showing volumes of texts, click-throughs and links forwarded to friends.
About Rip Curl
Rip Curl, based in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a company for surfers. With a brand presence in more than 50 countries worldwide
and four major international headquarter offices including USA, Australia, Europe and Brazil, Rip Curl continues to increase
its market share within the core board sports and youth lifestyle markets. Rip Curl is a Built for Riding brand and is a
leader in the multi-billion dollar surf/action sports industry that is so popular with today's youth.
Inspirational, irreverent, and real. The Search is a lifestyle and our days are about living it. Rip Curl - The Ultimate
Surfing Company.
About Charter Digital Media
Charter Digital Media (CDM) is a leading national sales representative with offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles
specializing in the digital-display marketing arena. CDM represents digital media networks and signage to advertisers and
advertising agencies, out-of-home buying services and promotion agencies. Charter Digital Media provides initial consultations
on content, network deployment and rate structures. CDM also assists in creating media kits and sales presentations. Charter
Digital Media represents national, regional and local networks in digital signage for mass audience, transit, shopping mall,
in-store and niche retail advertising.
About qtags
qtags are currently being used by some of the world's most well known brands, including HP, to offer consumers a unique way
to control advertising and to gain more information on the companies and advertisements that interest them. The company offers
the qtags service to non-profit organizations at no cost. The company currently offers qtags in the United States and Canada
and will be expanding to Australia, Latin America and Europe in early 2006. For more information on how this innovative marketing
concept works, visit the company blog at www.allaboutqtags.typepad.com or the company site at www.qtags.com.
The qtags Call-to-Action for this Rip Curl campaign is:
Rip Curl...Follow Your Search. See Mick Fanning, the fastest surfer in the world in action! Text: rip curl to 78247 | qtags