As the Commonwealth of Massachusetts marks the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, we are throwing it back to an earlier celebration that marks an important milestone in our own history.
Back in 1975, a year before he founded Sundin Marketing, Roger Sundin worked with his father-in-law, Gerard Burke, and his brother-in-law, Jay Burke, at the G. Burke Agency in Boston. The Agency worked closely with the Co-operative Bank League at a time when savings account rates were regulated, leading banks to find other ways to attract new deposits, largely through the use of giveaways such as toasters, glassware and even jewelry.
As the Commonwealth geared up to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the American Revolution, the Agency conceived a unique giveaway to mark the occasion – a large commemorative platter. According to Burke family lore, the idea of a platter belonged to family matriarch, Grace, who noted that “every woman needs a big platter.” Even then they knew who was making the financial decisions in most families!
The Agency commissioned painter Arthur Manoogian to create a collage of Massachusetts landmarks and events from the start of the American Revolution, which was imprinted on large melamine platters – a new and “revolutionary” material in 1975. The meticulousness of the research done for the project is evident in the documentation included with each platter (remember, this was well before the internet made research easy).
During the Commonwealth’s celebrations, the platter was made available at all of the co-operative banks in Massachusetts to be given to anyone who made a deposit of $100 or more into a savings account. The campaign was also supported at the time by a statewide multimedia campaign financed by the League.
50 years later, we can personally attest to the power of this platter. Not only has it been a constant presence on the dining room tables of many in the Burke and Sundin families (including the one pictured, which is from Kristin’s house), but we have met those who count it amongst their family’s dearest possessions. Rumor is, it was also stolen off the mantel of one former bank president.
Not bad for an ad speciality that, according to Kristin’s Uncle Jay, cost $3.25.
