Logos = $ in New York City

City Ramps up its Efforts to Market its Logos & Brands to Corporations as a Way to Raise Funds

Nikes emblazoned with the FDNY logo?

Your morning cup of Starbucks dressed like a shiny yellow cab?

Maybe even designer handbags stamped with the blue “A” from the health department?

They’re all possibilities as the city ramps up its efforts to market city logos and brands to corporations as a way to raise funds.

“N.Y.C. is a brand wanted all around the world,” said Merideth Weber, a spokeswoman for the city Department of Small Business Services. “We’re trying to keep up with the changing tastes of consumers and retailers, and maximize revenue for the city.”

Currently, the city’s bureaucratic maze means it can take a company two years to get the rights to use one of the city’s popular logos.

Now, Mayor Bloomberg is proposing a new, streamlined system that would let the quasi-public tourism agency, NYC & Co., negotiate marketing deals in less than a month.

The change could lead to an explosion in new licensing deals that could range from NYPD Timex watches to New York’s Bravest Ford trucks.

The city is working on limitations to what types of companies would be allowed to buy the rights. So an N.Y.C.-themed Dunkin’ Donuts Coolatta may not be on the horizon given Mayor Bloomberg’s issues with sugary drinks.

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