At Millbrook Communications, we believe there is a creative solution to every advertising / marketing problem. Here’s a case study. In Baltimore, Mayor Kurt Schmoke faced a tough re-election campaign. Since the city comprises only 30-percent of the TV market, it was too expensive to throw money at on-air advertising.  The Mayor turned to Rich Hollander at Millbrook Communications.

Rich produced a series of Kurt Schmoke trading cards. Each card showed the incumbent mayor confronting various urban challenges – education, seniors, crime, recreation and more. The trading cards were not merely another print handout. They were part of a game. Voters who collected the full set of Mayor Schmoke cards won a dinner with the mayor at a downtown hotel. The execution of the political marketing concept was perfect. Before long thousands of Baltimore voters were exchanging and trading cards with their neighbors, coworkers and family. In all, 500 people collected the full set. Schmoke won the election.