A sample of Frederick Douglass bicentennial products developed by Eastern National in partnership with the National Park Service. Photo: NPS
EN Partners with Frederick Douglass NHS to Produce Bicentennial Logo and Collection
February 2018 marks the 200th birthday of noted statesman and former slave Frederick Douglass. To help support Frederick Douglass National Historic Site’s year-long bicentennial celebration, Eastern National partnered with National Capital Parks-East to produce an official logo and cohesive product line that is being offered through the bicentennial year.
Frederick Douglass NHS staff worked closely with Eastern National’s Lee Pettey, assistant regional manager for the National Capital Region and Curt Clinefelter, graphic designer, to develop the special bicentennial logo. The collaboration yielded a simple yet appealing logo that has both a classic feel and trendy flair that will appeal to park visitors from a variety of backgrounds. Upon approval of the final logo design, the Eastern National team worked with Vince Vaise, chief of interpretation, to approve application of the logo to products for the park store.
Creation of the Frederick Douglass bicentennial collection presented an opportunity for Eastern National to implement new vendor management and supply chain strategies that are being established as part of the Strategic Plan. After the logo artwork was approved, Eastern National Product Development Manager Julianna Haviv took the lead on sourcing vendors who would be able to meet production needs. Centralizing the vendor management process made it possible for Eastern National to obtain proofs with custom packaging and interpretive text in a matter of days so that the entire collection could be presented to the park for approval at one time. This gave NPS staff at Frederick Douglass a better appreciation for how the products would work together as a group before placing orders.
Nick Miano, regional manager for Eastern National’s National Capital Region, reports that the feedback on the product has been extremely positive so far. The official Frederick Douglass bicentennial celebration kicked off at the park on February 17 and will continue through 2018 and early 2019.