If you can’t wait for WBTB’s July launch and would like to be one of the first to get your hands on one of these shirts, follow us on Instagram where you can find links to purchase for $30.00.

We’ve been wanting to give the finger to large corporations for a while now. Given the current state of the world, not to mention Wall Street, we can’t seem to wait any longer. We’ve got just the trick to make the masses take notice. We’re now looking for collaborators to make it rain big time. Think the run-and-gun, low budget, hidden video camera stylings of Punk’d or Trigger Happy TV but for social good. If you or someone you know is interested in making headlines, a few bucks, and a positive difference in the world, hit us up here.

Every once in a while, Facebook gets it right with targeted advertising. At first, we thought the Suggested Post was from a mobile app with a beautifully designed logo. And, being that we’re suckers for great design, we clicked on it. We were then transported to a simple website with a personal film for an even simpler idea that we wish we came up with. One that has the potential to start a global movement by building awareness for and change an increasing dangerous habit, and ultimately save lives.

If you were moved as much as we were by this inspiring idea, please share the link with your community. Let’s paint the world red, one thumbnail at a time.

Several months ago we were at the Renegade Craft Fair in Austin and stumbled upon Vessyl. We love, love their handmade bottles and tap handles. The artisan didn’t specify whether or not they were loving crafted for quality beer, but these truly unique bottles and taps spoke to us. And they said, “Beeeeeeer.”

Do not anger them. Get your very own here. 

“Being You Is All You Need To Be.” And quick. Because there are only 5 left.

The following is an ecopop venture that failed to pass our 90-day proof of concept phase in 2011, partly due to a rather difficult creative brief to crack. While we still believe this innovative concept has legs, they have fallen asleep for the time being. Please let us know if you’d like to help us wake them up.

SocioTones is the world’s first brand of charitable ringtones that not only sound good but also send a message and create conversation about socio, economic or environmental issues. And, in the process, provide charitable donations towards a particular cause.

It’s what making a positive difference in the world sounds like. And it’s the next evolution in popular social awareness badges, such as the red AIDS ribbon or the yellow Live Strong bracelet.

SocioTones has ringtones that represent general causes, such as homelessness and cancer, as well as specific philanthropic organizations, such as the World Wildlife Federation to (RED).

Ringtones can be downloaded for $1.99 at a number of popular ringtone websites, including iTunes, as well as through SocioTones.com, cell phone service providers, and philanthropic organizations.

A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the related charity of the purchaser’s choice or the organization specifically related to their custom ringtone.

At SocioTones.com, users can get the full story behind each ringtone and the cause that it benefits. That way, when a person’s phone rings and someone comments, “Hey, cool ringtone,” they can educate them on the cause and what they can do to help.

Here’s an example of a continuous play-style SocioTone created with Beacon Street Studios that could still be used to raise funds for an organization like Ban The Bag or Surfrider Foundation:

BogusBagsSocioTone

Here’s an example of a pulse-style ringtone created with Sasquatch Sound that was designed to build awareness for deforestation and a particular species of bird that is in danger as a direct result:

DeforestationSocioTone

If you’re interested in using these ringtones as a means for fundraising or would like us create new ones for your charitable organization, please give us a ring-a-ding-dong.

Mable was born out of the simple observation that some people, namely those working in creative industries, have way more magazines than space. Table tops and shelves become cluttered and nearby floorspace end up looking a lot like periodical stalagmites at a hoarders convention.

We set out to solve this problem by creating a modern table system that can both store and show off a large number of magazines while still providing a useable table top.

Made from sustainable bamboo, Mable a single table unit that can be added to, arranged, and used as a small to large coffee table or end table. The number of magazines used, as well as the magazine cover graphics, allow you to create and recreate its overall shape and personality every time an issue is added or removed.

Mable was slated to release in 2011. The furniture manufacturer, retailer, and distributor has since gone out of business. While we wait out her fate, you can catch us in our lobby reading a magazine on architecture.

What ever happened to the half shirt for men?

In the 70′s, half shirts were all the rage. As skinny and hairless preteens, we wore half shirts without ever giving a second thought to going out into public. Then again, this was before America became morbidly obese and our own metabolism decide to give up. (Or was it our will power?)

Today, like most “average” men, we wouldn’t be caught dead in a half shirt. We’d be too embarrassed. And we’d be ashamed that we’d let ourselves go this far. Instead, we’d prefer to buy the full shirt, a baggy one, leave it untucked, and try to fool everyone, including ourselves, that we don’t need to change our poor eating and exercise habits. Perhaps if we forced ourselves to bare it all, or at least half of it, we’d finally be motivated to do something about it.

Maybe Jenny Craig, Bally’s Total Fitness or personal trainers could get in on the action and include a free half shirt with their membership. Actually, make that two shirts. One that has “Before” printed on the front. And another that proudly says “After”.

Or, how about one with”12 pack” and another with “6 pack”.

“Say goodbye to this belly. I’m doing yoga now.”

And so on.

If everyone knew that those wearing the shirts weren’t trying to make a fashion statement but a statement that they were making a serious effort to get healthy, perhaps onlookers would be more likely to give words of encouragement instead of dirty looks.

Personal change doesn’t happen over night. It takes time and support from our peers. Why not explore the possibilities to speed up the process? You might just invent a profitable business out of creating positive change.

One of our favorite ad agencies, Mono, created an innovative campaign for Branson’s Virgin Unite to help put an end to homelessness.

“Do Whatever It Takes” is a website initiative that harnesses the power of wacky internet videos and combines it with charitable fundraising sites like FirstGiving. Anyone can make a pledge to do virtually anything, like drinking a gallon of milk in under an hour, for a set amount of money the individual determines, say $100. The online community then contributes to their fund and, if their goal is reached, the pledger does their “whatever” and the raised money gets donated to a homeless philanthropy.

Inspired.

We’d now like to triple dog dare you to think even broader than homelessness or even bigger than Virgin Unite. In fact, last year, ecopop had two similar ideas that could be stand-alone social ventures that anyone is welcome to do with or without us.

The first business venture we called “Good for Something Talent Thingy”. This concept is essentially the “Do Whatever It Takes” idea but centered around the cultural insight that everyone has a talent, let’s put them to good use, i.e. the charitable cause of your choice. Part America’s Got Talent meets fundraising Telethon but actually worth watching, the Good for Something Talent Thingy would be a series of highly entertaining local events that would be filmed for primetime television, as well as have a massive online content component. Contestants would submit their charitable act, such as “A drum solo for Darfur”, online. Those with the most votes or money raised would be invited to perform on TV and raise even more funds via mobile texting, for example. Using multiple mediums not only means more fundraising opportunities but it also gives us more time to engage in the emotional backstory behind our contestants and their charities–reality television gold.

Our second venture idea we’re reminded of is based on what we’ve named “competitive volunteerism”. People love to be competitive and people love to give back to their community. (Or, at least people love watching other people do these things.) Combining the two on a local and global level gives everyone a chance to challenge themselves to do more good than they’ve done previously, as well as compete to do more good than their neighbor. Competitive Volunteerism ups the ante and raises the bar on do-gooding. Because we could all do more good and give more back, faster. The online experience could be a lot like RecordSetter. You post a video of you doing something good for an individual, your community, or the world at large, and someone tries to beat it. Simple. The online community of voters would determine which global citizens the rest of us slackers should out do (good) as well as where your help is needed in the world. Don’t even get us started on the TV show possibilities.

Or something like that.

We love it when we learn about fresh ideas designed to solve a social problem. We love them even more when there isn’t a brand attached to them, unlike Pepsi Refresh, for example. Our hope is that other social entrepreneurs pick up on these campaign ideas and turn them into sustainable businesses with even greater impact. In other words, think about even more media outlets than just web, or better yet, think about a longterm social business venture instead of a short-lived campaign. And think about even more opportunities to give to more charitable organizations, ones that the community can choose from.

The world-changing ideas are out there and “Do Whatever It Takes” is proving to be a fun and successful solution on what I’m guessing was a relatively small marketing budget. Now imagine the impact an idea like this could have with proper seed capital and a team of dedicated creative problem-solvers, like the ones employed at forward-thinking ad agencies, working on only one social venture instead of focusing on the next great campaign for several clients.

Hmm, indeed.

Perhaps now is the time for you, for us, to all get together and step it up a notch. We’ll race you backwards for it.