Commonwealth Games: Bull creator delighted by scrapheap reprieve – BBC News

The public in Birmingham, UK, saved a 10-metre-high mechanical bull from being removed from the city centre. Public outcry was sparked when the bull, which was placed in Centenary Square to mark the Commonwealth Games, was scheduled to be removed and dismantled. Considering that the mechanised bull is essentially a promotional object, it’s exciting to see people rallying around to make sure that it stays visible in their city and daily lives.

Why are Brummies excited about a mechanical bull?

The bull is a much-loved symbol of Birmingham;
– The Bull Ring shopping district has been the site of a market since the 12th century.
– At the entrance to the Bull Ring market there’s a large bronze statue of a bull, much-photographed, petted and climbed on.
– “The Birmingham Bullets” is the name of the city’s basketball team.
– Lots of local bars and pubs are named “The Bull” or “The Bull’s Head”.
– 2022 was the first time Birmingham has hosted the Commonwealth Games, ‘Perry the Bull’ is the unique mascot for the 2022 event.

Semiotics reveals the hidden secrets of design and communication that help you replicate this success no matter where you are. In new book “Using Semiotics in Retail” you can read an exciting case study also set in Birmingham, in which Selfridges won people’s hearts with a similar bull made of jellybeans. In various semiotically impactful design decisions, including its shape, size and placement, the jellybean bull connected to people’s memories of their own lives in Birmingham as well as local history. Semiotics shows you how.

“Using Semiotics in Retail: Leverage consumer insight to engage shoppers and boost sales” is available worldwide from Amazon, publisher koganpage.com and all good bookstores.

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Market Research Society (MRS), Kogan Page Marketing & Communications, Lawes Consulting Ltd, Dr Rachel Lawes, Joe Lawes