Trolling (Hook and Line) Mascot
afteryou
2013-01-26 16:45:07
The promotion thread got me thinking. I like the idea of a mascot to assist in the marketing of Alaskan troll caught (hook and line or whatever) salmon
I’m thinking something like a king salmon done up like Mr. Peanut only with a crown instead of a top hat and maybe a gaff instead of a cane.
What do you guys think? What would be the perfect mascot? I think like Mickey Mouse and Disney we could have a lot to gain with the use of cartoon character. So lets hear some ideas!
afteryou
2013-01-26 17:22:47
Hey, I just had a thought we could name it after Salty. Salty Salmon, what do you guys think? :o :shock: :lol:
Once and Future
2013-01-26 18:59:00
Mickey Mouse is a good mascot, but notice he isn't shaped like a fish. He's got a head and ears that the artist accented, plus the big shoes for balance. You do that with a fish, and it won't look much like a fish anymore.
And, the gaff is probably a little too graphic for your average grocery shopper.
I am a typical critic. I can find fault with your creations, but I can't create a better one of my own. We could still use a troll, though. Just would have to be a different trademark than what the Norwegian farmers were using.
A lot of fishermen look kinda like Elmer Fudd, don't they?
Once and Future
2013-01-26 19:02:53
Hey, you know what might be good? A stylized little boat. Kind of like the tug boats in children's books. It would subtly get the message across that this fish comes from a small boat fleet.
Salty
2013-01-26 19:29:32
[attachment=0]IMG_4689.JPG[/attachment]
Fuddish fisherman?
SilverT
2013-01-26 19:45:37
Mascot - One of the best ideas yet. I like the Salty Salmon, particularly from the standpoint that it tells a harvest location story, implies attitude (folks like attitude), and implies freshness without saying it. I even like it from the standpoint that it gives a gladiator some recognition. I like the small boat idea as well, but at the moment get more out of Salty Salmon. Perhaps a combination? I have a good friend that has produced some awesome fish logo's & T-shirts. Send me a PM if you want me to pursue it.
Something to think about: If it's purely an Alaskan mascot, 3 other states worth of trollers may have mascot envy, perhaps create and promote separate logos and dillute the message rather than strengthen it. If you develop a mascot that represents the core harvest & handling methods, you leverage your southern sister's and brother's opportunity in the form of contact with millions of people to promote your product, as well as their own.
Fantastic pic Salty :D
Thanks,
Lane
akfisher1978
2013-01-26 20:04:16
Remember Charlie the Tuna has worked for over 50 years! Troll caught Salmon are already bought by Markets, Fine Restaurants, and the few people who can afford to pay 18 dollars per lb for King Salmon. Most restaurants make more money with farm raised and your average person fro Texas, or Florida wont know the difference anyway! Think of it this way if you owned a restaurant in Chicago and could import Dorado from Panama for 4 dollars a pound or purchase more expensive Coho what are you going to do? You dont have economic interest in Alaska so you are going to make more money and buy that Dorado or buy farm raised! If trollers really want to better things here they need to start fighting against Farm Raised and Frankenfish!
squareface
2013-01-27 01:41:31
Hey, if somebody down in Ketchikan bumps into Ray "Troll", plant the seed and see what he comes up with, I'm sure it will get a few people's attention. His tee shirts are awesome!
Salty
2013-01-27 02:33:07
Now there is an idea, get a guy named Troll to help figure out a logo for troll salmon.
Once and Future
2013-01-27 03:13:58
If we put one of those old white troller caps on Elmer Fudd, and gave him a codpiece, would it be obvious he was a fisherman? :D
(Answer: Only if it was obvious the codpiece was a fake!)
Once and Future
2013-01-27 16:01:38
I may have killed off the discussion by getting a little too jokey. Actually, Ray Troll has a design that could have worked as a logo, but I don't presume we could afford the rights to it. It is called "Fisherman's Dream" and depicts a man hanging on to the back of an oversized salmon.
I myself could not draw a logo unless we wanted a stick man. I forgot about the Charlie Tuna logo which of course was used successfully.
Anyway, an artist who could create a logo would have an opinion on what the character should be. I wouldn't want to waste someone's time with a misunderstanding about creating a logo for us for a huge some of money, which we haven't got. But if anyone knows an artistic person who understands we're not stingy, just broke, they could have a discussion with them.
I suppose the classic solution is to run some sort of amateur contest, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that.
akfisher1978
2013-01-27 18:46:53
If you are serious about a Logo it is very simple, I did this for my Sportfishing business in Costa Rica years ago. You contact the Ringling School of Art in Florida and they will find students to make a great logo! Problem is how do you get people to label packages "troll" caught
Salty
2013-01-27 19:16:12
Cross Sound Marketing did a logo a few years ago. I can't remember who did it, but it was pretty neat.
I just looked at the SPC pages and they emphasize troll caught, their MSC label, and the Monterey Aquarium approval.
akfisher1978
2013-01-27 19:32:06
"Alaska Troll Caught" website for the FV Helen T had a logo that was kind of cool. Dont know if the web page is still up since he sold the boat! Probably designed by a local artist here in Juneau. Remember that your consumers are not looking at SPC or any other Cold Storage website. They are looking through the glass case at a Market. I dont know how much Troll Caught fish is actually frozen and Packaged though I could be wrong. I would think most of that fish comes from net fisheries.
Once and Future
2013-01-27 20:30:46
As far as how do we get people to want to label the fish as "hook and line" or "troll caught" - Lane touched on that. He pointed out no one would now sell Copper River product without labeling it so. We are talking about a superior product, and why wouldn't the seller want the customer to appreciate that?
There is a valid point that most of our fish probably goes restaurant trade, but I don't even know. And what about chum - won't some of that be going to groceries? I was thinking the logo would be placed on the package at the processor level. This would be reassuring to even the restaurateurs. But, we have to talk to the processors and see if they are willing to incorporate our logo into their logo, or pay someone to slap on stickers (which might freeze off). If the processors don't think this is a good idea, I would listen to them.
The college graphics department is a good idea. Do you make a modest donation to their program then? How did you pick Florida? Are there graphics schools on the Pacific coast that would be somewhat familiar with what the boats and fish look like?
akfisher1978
2013-01-27 20:36:03
I was born is Sarasota where the Ringling school of art is. I contacted them and they suggested putting a advertisment (free) on their pin up boards. Within a week I had like 25 people contact me and over a dozen scrthes done. I am sure that we could put a post on Craigs List here in Alaska and be swamped with young artist who would love to show off their skills!
Salty
2013-01-27 23:41:15
The last group I helped organize needed a logo and we asked our membership if they had any ideas. One of our members came through with a variety of suggestions and here is what they ended up with. My point being that someone reading this might have the skills to put a logo together.
[attachment=0]Chum Trollers logo.jpg[/attachment]
Salty
2013-01-27 23:50:28
I was just looking at some of the ideas that didn't get adopted. Pretty darn creative. I am not going to post them as they were not selected, belong to the group, not me, and this one is out in the wind. The process includes deciding
akfisher1978
2013-01-28 02:48:36
Just a thought but anyone ever think that Hook and Line, or Sustainable Salmon, Hand Caught or something along those lines? You can bet that a Mini-Van Mom from Boise, ID has no idea what "Troll Caught" is and can easily get confused with "Trawl Caught". You certainly couldnt explain VIA sticker what Troll Caught is but the other ideas might make more sense to someone down south.
salmon4u
2013-01-28 06:23:04
we need to do a youtube video that goes viral.. gangnam style.. dancing salmon, trolls ...Salty salmon...Ray Troll... love it : )
Thorne Isl.
2013-01-28 19:42:00
What a great thread.. Myself and my sweetheart Carla(who is a artist on POW island) have been having fun with the logo idea and came up with a hook and line type logo. Anyway here it is. Remember, it is just a thought to get this idea off and running, hopefully. Anybody else?
I would love to see some form of marketing about our troll caught salmon. It is time and there are some ways to target a majority of Americans without paying BIG $$$$$. With some donated time and help from us trollers, and a smaller amount of money, (maybe even grant money?)we could get this rolling soon. Any Ideas?
Meet, Salty Spoon.
From a hook and line, sustainable fishery in Southeast Alaska.
Salty
2013-01-28 21:22:21
I am still chuckling.
Abundance
2013-01-28 21:27:03
Huh. That looks really good. This just might end up going somewhere. I have no clue as how to go farther than speculation though. Have many people here worked with tourist trinkets? The Made In Alaska tags really help sell those things. There are certain requirements that must be met to qualify for the sticker. You have to be able to show that the products were assembled primarily instate. There should be some sort of authority that made sure that only the good product gets to carry the label. I am not sure who you would have to go to about this either. I am pretty sure that a lot of the processors wouldn't like to push the net fish down the foodchain to give us a break. Basically, how would we leverage them to better, separate care and packaging, unless we sell our own fish? I wish that I knew more about how SPC and other fisherman focused buyers felt about this sort of thing.
Salty
2013-01-28 23:21:09
One thing that is happening is that consumers are increasingly wanting to know which farm their particular product came from. I am wondering if we can set that up for our fish with a little tag/logo for each troll vessel. Direct marketing is an incredible amount of work and paper work. It is much easier for the consumer and fishermen to go through the processors that are set up for that. The problem is that the consumer can't tell which boat his fish came from then the way things are now. Buyers here in Sitka know there is a lot of difference from boat to boat or want to buy from someone they know. We should be facilitating that connection.
Kelper
2013-01-29 01:15:33
I caught/sold a big un this morning. Given I fish out of a 19' Skiff without a cabin and heater, it's January and snowing and blowing, and the general pain/suffering that it took to get that fish, I felt I had a good story to sell with my fish.
So when I sold it, I jokingly asked for $15 a pound, as it was only a few hours old, was only missing 3 scales, and had some big fillets which are rare this time of the year. They said "nope", 9 bucks. Well, I tried. Still the most expensive fish I've sold.
afteryou
2013-01-29 03:21:43
I don’t think we should confuse a logo with a mascot. I believe that a logo is every bit as important if not more so but a logo cannot do all that a lovable mascot can. Have you ever heard a child say “mommy will you buy me that plush logo.” Or how about “daddy can I watch some logos on TV.” In short child marketing. As a parent I can tell you that that little kid has some buying power. That kid is also our future, not a bad place to advertise especially when you’re promoting healthy food rather than cigarettes. :)
Here is what I think a mascot could bring to the trolling industry.
Plush toys $14.99 available on our new website :D
U-tube cartoons. How do you get a video to go viral? You are either going to need a pudgy Korean doin’ ride the pony :lol: or you are going to need a kitten falling into a bowl of milk. A cartoon has vastly more potential to go viral than would a boring documentary.
On the note of who should own this vast new plush toy empire, all of us. Some entity would need to hold the copyrights. A corporation shares divided evenly among all permit holders. I guess the shares would transfer with the card. Once something like this was established the moneymaking options would be near endless. We would have to put money into it for a while but I see no reason that it could not turn into an asset at some point or a least support itself with things like advertisements and the sale of cute little stuffed mascots. Perhaps we could lease plant capacity to deal with are own fish slap our own damn stickers on ‘em.
I don’t know what do you guy’s think?
afteryou
2013-01-29 04:02:28
I would love to see some form of marketing about our troll caught salmon. It is time and there are some ways to target a majority of Americans without paying BIG $$$$$. With some donated time and help from us trollers, and a smaller amount of money, (maybe even grant money?)we could get this rolling soon. Any Ideas?
Meet, Salty Spoon.
From a hook and line, sustainable fishery in Southeast Alaska.
Great job looks sharp :lol:
I was thinking about those tags that you put on your bags at the airport. You could put an explanation why a troll caught salmon is the best in the world on one side and the name of your vessel and date on the other side. I'm sure you could get them preprinted except for the date. You could put the tag on the lower jaw of the fish, just like the fish and game does at the processing plants. It wouldn't work on the ones that the plants fillet but would work on whole salmon. This would be a cheap and easy way to add to other marketing plans. The processing plants might even pay for them. I think they are required to try to keep track of which vessel the fish come from in case there is a problem of any kind.
afteryou
2013-01-29 04:27:08
our :x
Salty
2013-01-29 05:47:00
Salty
2013-01-29 05:54:45
http://www.duckumentary.com/home.htm
Great award winning documentary about geoducks including a bit on how the geoduck became a mascot and had a popular doll made. Somewhat related to this thread.
afteryou
2013-01-29 05:56:53
Just one question why is the logo spawn out red? :shock:
salmon4u
2013-01-29 08:17:03
hmmm.. Dr salmon? public health conscience is also a huge selling point/// eat now or pay later??? salmon looking Charlie Tuna character in dr garb?
salmon4u
2013-01-29 08:19:49
afteryou
2013-01-30 19:07:32
Why is it than when we get a good discussion going it craps out after a few days? :!:
Is it because there are only a few of us and we have said what we want to say? :cry:
Is it because we have no follow through and that’s why nothing ever changes? :oops:
Or is it just because some guys went out fishing? :D
Once and Future
2013-01-30 21:59:03
I think its because everybody has their own ideas (and rightfully so). But then it becomes like herding cats. How do you get a consensus and proceed?
That is why I decided to look into my particular interest on my own. I will check back later to submit a progress report and get a consensus "thumbs up" or "thumbs down". Then I can get pissed off at all of you and just go fishing. :)
JYDPDX
2013-01-30 22:11:11
It matters to you but you are not who it should matter to. This is why I have checked out of this whole conversation. We are fishermen. We do not know what the public wants nor are we marketers who work with graphic designers who understand what is appealing to consumers and understand techniques and strategies to changing the way their minds consider our salmon. In my humble opinion, our ideas for logos are lacking, including myself, not that I am offering any because I know what I am, neither artist nor marketing expert/professional. I intend no offense by this to anyone, just giving my opinion.
JYDPDX
2013-01-30 23:23:32
On another note, this message board is ripping with activity!!! especially compared to years past. Kudos to everyone for speaking up and contributing although I assume there is still a majority of "lurkers" who either dont want to touch these subjects or ???
Sitting in my hotel room in Mexico listening to some people out in the courtyard from portland, OR debating about the differences between salmon species. I just heard one of them say, "Copper River, thats the best". and "what's the difference between coho and chinook, is chinook better?"
No one ever knows how anything is caught or what the difference would be, net, troll, etc.
This isn't market research, this is personal experience. Although I feel like I have experienced many of these conversations and situations, I would probably still be astounded to find out what could be determined by researching our market with a organized comprehensive study and the types of strategic marketing activities that could benefit trollers.
elkiller
2013-01-31 00:24:55
latitudes
2013-01-31 02:05:40
As one who is looking at getting started in this industry, this topic is quite interesting. I currently own an independent retail pharmacy, and as such have seen similar struggles in that industry. In the case of pharmacy it is difficult to band together much because we are independents for a reason, and because anti-trust laws are thrown at us as a threat. In fishing the independence is probably even greater, but the anti-trust is likely less. From what I have seen so far, each state has it's own group, (ATA, WTA, etc), but the groups need to work together if things are to move forward. The appeal of troll caught fish is the small business aspect (helping the "little guy" out), and the superior quality. My limited perspective tells me that there are enough people, with enough money, that all of our troll caught kings and coho should end up as fine table fair somewhere. I have never seen a chum that was worth eating, but also have never caught one that was more than 1 mile from a river mouth. All of the pinks I have caught have ended up smoked and canned.
Where I'm going with this is that I'm not sure promoting troll caught chums and pinks is in line with promoting troll caught salmon as the best. Not to say that there isn't a need for them in the market, but if we are using premium quality as one of our separators, I'm not sure that those fish have a place on the plate as premium fillets. The thing to do is to get the state organizations together, form a joint group that then hires a marketing firm to come up with the sales plan, logo etc. In addition there needs to be grading standards for the fish that are given to the processors. If the fish make the grade, they are tagged as such, and the premium price will be paid. Some folks may not want to take the time and effort to get the premium grade for their fish, and that's their prerogative, they can also take the lower price. Not everyone will buy in at first, but hopefully those that hold back will see the light, and will join up later. It will cost some dough, and require time at meetings (which is FUN I know) but hopefully it will help the industry. I'm not sure where the pinks and chums fit in on this whole deal, but perhaps Salty can chime in and educate me. We should have a bunch of pinks in WA this year, and it would be nice to make some money on em. I'm now a part of WTA, and hopefully a boat owner in the next month or so. Count me in.
Joe Cammack, AKA Latitudes
afteryou
2013-01-31 02:49:55
Latitudes, You bring up a good point with the Pink and Chum. As someone who enjoys Humpy and Chum fishing I have been worried about them getting lost in all of this. I truly think that the those two are a big part of our future. LONG LIVE THE HUMPY ! :roll:
thebowlerfamily
2013-03-03 02:50:55
What about a line drawing of a troller fishing, perhaps coupled with a smiling animated salmon in the foreground with a fin towards it?
Salty
2013-03-03 06:53:17
[attachment=0]Tammy Lynn, pencil sketch.jpg[/attachment]
Here is your line drawing.
fveureka
2013-03-03 18:08:15
I finally watched the show that started this tread, on Create TV on America's Test Kitchen basically planting the seed that folks don't know where wild salmon has been and that it carries higher levels of pcb, and has less fat than Scottish farm raised salmon. No studies were referenced just some eastcoast fish mongers damming word pimping farm fish. Seems like we need a big push back and call folks out on this even legally. As for branding or a mascot, my thoughts are kind of like Charlie Tuna, but a King Salmon "King David" with a crown, gloves on, big W belt and boxer shorts a commercial showing him knock out a weakling farm fish salmon, say something like "only buy wild north pacific hook and line carefully caught in pristine waters, rich and healty in omega 3, unlike farmed fish". Be smart and strong, eat wild salmon......
thebowlerfamily
2013-03-04 03:11:57
[attachment=1]salty.png[/attachment]
Salty
2013-03-04 06:15:06
Cute,
I am thinking the name on the cap might be "Chinookie". "Tasty as a cookie, healthy as a .........?"
Fill in the blank.
JYDPDX
2013-03-04 14:28:42
I actually like Andrews rough idea and I hope you guys are having fun be marketers for a day. That said, we should fund a campaign and pay experts to do this stuff.
Salty
2013-03-04 17:35:14
Joe,
Yes, of course, we are having fun. And, the thing I learned from all that fishermen in the stores training, marketing fish, training on raising money, etc. is that there are people who are really really good at this stuff out there. I just talked to one of them the other day.
What we have, sorry west coast and Canadian readers, is an amazing brand recognition and consumer positive feeling with "Alaska wild salmon". Recent practices by Alaska's politicians are hurting it, but it is still strong.
Won't be here much this week. Will be at the NSRAA Board meeting working to improve troller's share of NSRAA harvest values. Millions of dollars on the table.
Eric
Abundance
2013-03-04 21:50:28
I wouldn't mind putting some of my money into a professional marketing campaign. I really don't know what an individual can accomplish, but it is good to see trollers thinking on the subject. It is true that Alaska sells, and people will be more likely to purchase something that they have heard good things about and can identify. It would be nice if any benefits that we ever come up with could be applied to Canadian and West coast fish though. They really are the same fish, often from the same rivers. I know that Canadian and Alaskan shrimp are sold together without a hitch.
SilverT
2013-03-06 02:37:30
Thanks for the efforts on the logo - it's looking good & thanks Abundance & JYPDX for your thoughts. Good points. Salty, thanks for all the time you dedicate working to put real, available dollars in troller's pockets. There's probably not much better use of time & effort for the benefit of trollers. Amazing brand recognition does exist for Alaskan fish and Alaskan fishermen & processors benefit from it. Generally, they benefit evenly from it regardless of how they harvest. It's good to see effort toward branding the harvest method. Thanks again bowlerfamily.
Lane
Klaneinak
2017-04-01 06:45:16
hello all,
I am looking for the status of the F/V Helen T. Is she still for sale? Pulled from the market? I used to deckhand on this boat for my uncle and curious to know her status.
Could you please help.
Klaneinak
2017-04-01 06:45:48
hello all,
I am looking for the status of the F/V Helen T. Is she still for sale? Pulled from the market? I used to deckhand on this boat for my uncle and curious to know her status.
Could you please help.
![http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/elkiller151/handcaught_zps2e2b55e3.jpg](http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/elkiller151/handcaught_zps2e2b55e3.jpg</LINK_TEXT></URL><e>"){kind=link}