Keep Austin Weird is the slogan adopted by the Austin Independent Business Alliance to promote small businesses in Austin, Texas. The phrase arose from an offhand remark by Red Wassenich (a librarian at Austin Community College) in a phone call to a local radio station. He and his wife, Karen Pavelka, placed the slogan on bumper stickers, distributing them free to businesses in Austin. The slogan was later trademarked by Outhouse Designs and used...
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Keep Austin Weird is the slogan adopted by the Austin Independent Business Alliance to promote small businesses in Austin, Texas. The phrase arose from an offhand remark by Red Wassenich (a librarian at Austin Community College) in a phone call to a local radio station. He and his wife, Karen Pavelka, placed the slogan on bumper stickers, distributing them free to businesses in Austin. The slogan was later trademarked by Outhouse Designs and used to market T-shirts, hats, and mugs.
One interpretation of the slogan is as a reference to the many small businesses in Austin, which give the city its unique cultural identity.
Austin's message of support for local businesses has inspired similar movements in other cities, including Denton, Texas; Santa Cruz, California; Portland, Oregon; Tampa, Florida; Raleigh, North Carolina; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Louisville, Kentucky; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Missoula, Montana; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Arlington, Virginia; and Boulder...
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