thisisjims
internet Summit, Bathroom Sponsorship

The Challenge

At large conferences, it’s easy for marketing messages to get lost in the noise. Chartreuse Moose, my design company at the time, was tasked with creating a sponsorship activation at the Internet Summit in Raleigh, NC that would be memorable, disruptive, and drive measurable engagement with attendees.

The Idea

We flipped the traditional event sponsorship model on its head by owning the most unexpected real estate in the venue: the bathrooms. Branded under the playful theme “Welcome to the Potty!”, we designed a full suite of humorous and thought-provoking signage.

  • Urinal and stall signs with quips like “Shake off boring marketing” and “Dump crappy content”

  • Wall graphics posing questions like “Which movie title best describes your bathroom experience today?”

  • Interactive digital engagement, including custom Snapchat geofilters, Twitter and Instagram hashtags (#ThinkOutsideTheStall)

The campaign was designed to make people laugh, spark conversations, and highlight the importance of creativity in marketing.

The Execution

Signs were placed above urinals, inside stalls, and throughout restrooms, ensuring attendees couldn’t miss the activation. Messaging tied bathroom humor to marketing insights, connecting everyday experiences with the need for bold, creative thinking. Hashtags and geofilters encouraged participants to take the experience beyond the bathroom and into the digital conversation.

The Results

The response was overwhelmingly positive, both in-person and online. Attendees enthusiastically shared photos, engaged on social media, and carried the conversation into the event.

  • Website performance:

    • 940% increase in users

    • 88% increase in sessions

    • 85% decrease in bounce rate

  • Twitter engagement:

    • 76% increase in impressions

    • 1,200% increase in mentions

    • 267% increase in new followers

Most importantly, the initiative led directly to multiple new client relationships for Chartreuse Moose, proving that when you dare to be different, bold creativity pays off.

The Takeaway

By rethinking overlooked spaces and leaning into humor, we demonstrated that even the most unconventional sponsorship can inspire engagement, conversation, and measurable business results. Sometimes the best way to stand out is to think outside the stall.