Thirty-six years after Milton Glaser designed the “I LOVE NY” logo, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced its merchandise is available online. Accessible through www.ILoveNY.com, Shop I LOVE NY features a wide variety of logoed merchandise, such as T-shirts, baseball caps, pins, magnets, journals, mugs, totes and more.
“Decades after it was designed by Milton Glaser in 1977, the ‘I LOVE NY’ logo today is one of the most beloved and recognized symbols representing the Empire State in the world,” Cuomo said in a press release. “With the launch of this exciting new online store, we are taking our promotional efforts to the next level. […] As a proud New Yorker, I am particularly pleased to unveil the collection and share with others the best of what we have to offer.”
This move will further protect the state from counterfeit items, which it started to crack down on when it called on OpSec Security Inc., a global leader in brand protection solutions, and CMG Worldwide, a premier licensing company, to reduce “I LOVE NY” knock-off merchandise by adding hologram hang tags and labels on the official merchandise in 2009.
The collection features the classic “I LOVE NY,” “I LOVE NY LGBT” and limited edition “I LOVE NY” logos. For the limited edition variations, logos of various recreational activities and attractions found throughout the state of New York replace the heart found in the original logo.
“The launch of the ‘I LOVE NY’ online store expands New York State’s tourism footprint through merchandise,” Gavin Landry, executive director of Empire State Development’s Division of Tourism, which manages the brand, said.
The Collection also looped the NFL into its effort with an “I Buffalo NY” line, featuring the 1962 vintage Buffalo Bills logo to promote the football team that calls the second largest city in New York home.
“The Buffalo Bills management asked the league to be a part of the ‘I LOVE NY’ logo campaign and we thought it was a great way for Buffalo Bills fans to combine their love of the team and their affection for the great state of New York,” Leo Kane, the NFL’s senior vice president of consumer brands, said.
Could New York’s move prompt other states or municipalities to use promotional products to generate revenue?
