Glasgow's miles better
Encyclopedia
Glasgow's Miles Better was a campaign to promote the city of Glasgow
as a tourist destination and as a location for industry. It was developed by Scottish advertising agency, Struthers Advertising, and featured the phrase "Glasgow's Miles Better" wrapped around the cartoon figure of Mr. Happy. It is regarded as one of the earliest and most successful attempts to rebrand a city in the world and received a number of domestic and international awards.
It was launched by the then Lord Provost of Glasgow Michael Kelly
in 1983. Glasgow had previously suffered from a reputation as a hard-drinking, gang-ridden, working-class town. The campaign focused on the cultural richness of the city, its environment (more parkland
per head of population than any other city in Europe), its mild climate and its suitability for enterprise. The result was a very significant change in the way Glasgow was viewed from the outside. The figure of Mr. Happy from the Mr. Men
children's books appeared on posters and badges alongside the slogan.
The catch-phrase is a famous example of a null comparative. The deliberate vagueness was certainly part of the success of the campaign.
In later phases of the campaign the catch-phrase was adapted in a number of ways, such as "Glasgow smiles better".
Edinburgh apparently responded to the campaign with a billboard and banner advertising campaign bearing the slogan, "Edinburgh: Count Me In".
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
as a tourist destination and as a location for industry. It was developed by Scottish advertising agency, Struthers Advertising, and featured the phrase "Glasgow's Miles Better" wrapped around the cartoon figure of Mr. Happy. It is regarded as one of the earliest and most successful attempts to rebrand a city in the world and received a number of domestic and international awards.
It was launched by the then Lord Provost of Glasgow Michael Kelly
Michael Kelly (Lord Provost)
Michael Kelly is a Scottish Labour politician and businessman. He held the position of Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1980 to 1984, and was Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1984 to 1987...
in 1983. Glasgow had previously suffered from a reputation as a hard-drinking, gang-ridden, working-class town. The campaign focused on the cultural richness of the city, its environment (more parkland
Parkland
Parkland or Parklands may refer to:* A park* Aspen parkland, a biome transitional between prairie and boreal forest * Landscaped parkland, a managed rural area associated with European country houses such as Longleat-Place names:United States...
per head of population than any other city in Europe), its mild climate and its suitability for enterprise. The result was a very significant change in the way Glasgow was viewed from the outside. The figure of Mr. Happy from the Mr. Men
Mr. Men
Mr. Men is a series of 49 children's books by Roger Hargreaves commencing in 1971. Two of these books were not published in English. The series features characters with names such as Mr. Tickle and Mr. Happy who have personalities based on their names...
children's books appeared on posters and badges alongside the slogan.
The catch-phrase is a famous example of a null comparative. The deliberate vagueness was certainly part of the success of the campaign.
In later phases of the campaign the catch-phrase was adapted in a number of ways, such as "Glasgow smiles better".
Edinburgh apparently responded to the campaign with a billboard and banner advertising campaign bearing the slogan, "Edinburgh: Count Me In".