For this year’s Silver Star campaign, we teamed up with Marke Dickson, Director of Sales and Marketing. Marke was previously the head of marketing over at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort (another BC-based resort and Hot Tomali client), and we were thrilled to get an opportunity to work with him. Again!

This year, Silver Star was looking for a competitive edge in the resort marketplace. To accomplish this, they came up with a great concept: every full-day lift pass and season pass would now provide access to all of the mountain’s major amenities, including skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating, nordic, and snowshoeing.

Our first execution was a print campaign consisting of 3D ice illustrations that visually convey all of the things available to do on the mountain, like skis, hockey skates, beer mugs, and snowboard boots — when grouped together these objects formed snowflake designs.

To support this messaging at the resort, we built a giant snowball to showcase all of these activities rolled up into one, huge ball of fun. The “snowball effect” conveys the endless opportunities available with the new Silver Star pass, and was supported by our campaign tagline: “One Pass. Endless Fun.”

Resort guests have been lining up to photograph themselves in front of this monolithic snowball for over three weeks already, and we’re hopeful that we’ll get a positive response from our application for a Guinness World record for this 12-foot tall, 18,000 kg snowball.

The campaign is supported with online advertising, radio, and TV advertising. For social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, Silver Star is using the hash tag #endlessfun to encourage engagement and audience involvement.

Welcome back Silver Star. Some things are even better the second time around.

So, instead of thinking of questions by myself that might sound lame, I thought it would be fun to get some of the Hot Tomali staff to ask me questions, so here we go:

Dave: What excites you about marketing?
C: The whole process of marketing. From meeting the client, hearing their goal, generating ideas/strategies to exceed the client’s goal.

Nicole: What’s your super hero power? And why did the chicken cross the road?
C: Mind or time control. I still don’t know why the chicken crossed the road. Shame on me. – AH! I Googled it: it’s to get to the other side.

Kyle: Are you a dog person or a cat person? When you looked in the mirror first thing this morning, what was the first thing you thought? Who would you really like to punch in the face?
C: Dog person. I used to have a black lab cross. I thought to myself, “I can’t see.” (I have poor eyes). I would really want to punch either Taylor Swift or Mayweather.

Alex: Do you like manga?
C: I am a major nerd. I love manga and anime.

Jeffery: What’s your darkest secret? (Nah, he was just kidding.) Who’s your favourite band/dj? What you do in your spare time? What is your favourite game, if you play any?
C: I dance/work out during my spare time. Favourite games to play: Street Fighter, Guilty Gear, Dead or Alive, Halo (no, I’m not violent at all). Here, let’s add Project Gotham/Mario Party so I don’t seem as violent. Love J Dilla.

Jan: Do you like beer?
C: I want to say I like beer to sound cool but I do love the occasional cold beer on a hot hot hot hot day!

Dav: I know you’re a petrol head and a hip hop mixtape fan, so if the possibilities were endless what would you do for a super car mash up? A Lamberarri? A Bugotus? A Pormer?
C: I’ve always wanted a lambo, love the lotus, and I am a fan of the VW R32 but it’s not too super unless you mod it like crazy. I really like the Ferrari Enzo… so… mm… enzo… labo… lotus… 32… Enzolambotus32… BOOM!

So that’s me in a nutshell.

Some tips and tricks for future Hot Tomali interns:

Be a go-getter. Don’t be afraid to tackle any projects that are thrown at you. Ask questions. Mistakes happen, but don’t be afraid of it; take it and learn from it. That’s the only way you’ll grow. You may or may not break a website, but when you do… expect the angry Scottish guy in the office chasing after you… (just kidding?).

I find internships to be all about discovery. Throughout your internship, take the time to get to know your co-workers, reflect on the tasks you have done, what you like, what you don’t like, and you will be one step closer to your future career goals.

Just kidding.

As the Mayans have reminded us, it is the season for giving. We have called East Van our home for over three years now and we felt that it was time for us to give back.

Instead of printing a card, couriering out gifts, or throwing a massive party, Hot Tomali staff will be handing out Save On Meats breakfast sandwich tokens to those most in need in Vancouver’s East Side over the Holiday Season.

So if you can’t reach us at the office, you’ll know where we are. Happy Holidays!

Nothing like the smell of building destruction in the morning to go with your coffee.

What would be your soundtrack while tearing down a building with heavy machinery?

After surveying the Hot Tomali team, here’s what we came up with. (Don’t judge us.)

Dav: Nothing like a steady beat to keep the destruction going.

Kyle: First,

Closely followed by:

Dave: First,

Followed by classical..

Jan: Something from these guys: https://soundcloud.com/destructek

Jeffrey: How about some Proto-Punk?

Carolyn: Yup, Guiles Theme!

Nicole: NO. Sephiroth’s One-Winged Angel! Wait… is my nerd showing?

Happy Thursday!

With categories ranging from Best Blog, Best Video Channel, Best Social Media in BC, and Must Follow of 2013, the judges will be choosing two finalists per category: student and company or individual. Finalists will be announced on January 5, 2013, with online voting beginning January 10 – February 21, 2013.

Thomas will be judging the Top 3 nominees of the online votes in each category, along side other social media powerhouses, @VancityBuzz, @Miss604, @DaveoHoots, @nikolas_digital, @skimmyz, and @pyrobooby. We are excited to be a part of this great event, and can’t wait to see who the Top 7 nominees for each category will be.

For more information, please visit the Social Media Awards website.