Does this type of adveritsing really work?

[Jennasis]

And if so...on WHO?

Today I passed by not one, but TWO seperate businesses with people dressed in costumes, standing on the corner holding big signs for their business. One had a guy dressed as Uncle Sam and another had THREE people dressed like the Statue of Liberty. Both were tax preparer places. I understand that tax season is upon us, but you really trust your hard earned money to the place with the guy in the red,white, and blue tail coat, ZZ top beard and clown shoes, out front??

Pizza hut and Dominoes also have a kid standing out front with a sign advertising their pizza...all the time.

So when you see these types od "ads", do you think, "Wow, I could really go for a pizza", or "ya know I HAVE been meaning to let a chick in a statue of liberty costume prepare my taxes..."

 

[momrek06]

See, I have no clue if stuff like that works!!

Here in Southern California, soooooo many businesses have what is called SPINNERS...they stand on very busy street corners (where the traffic stops for lights) either dressed regular or in costumes spinning these placards that are generally shaped like a HUGE ARROW directing people to shop at their place of business. These placards are HUGE. They throw them up in the air and catch them.

I am thinking these people getting dressed up to advertise a business must make good money doing it standing out there ALL DAY LONG!



(We are new to SoCal coming from New England, I have never seen anything like this in Boston.)

 

[Handbag Lady]

Heck, if it would book my stages, I'd be out on the street wearing a sandwich board and spinning an arrow all day long in a crazy animal costume and yelling at cars.

I guess people do it to try and get business.

I know the spinner people make about $10 an hour plus a cash bonus (I've heard from $100-1000) if they are seen by a spotter doing silly tricks.

 

[NMAmy]

I keep seeing them around here advertising cash for gold. I feel so sorry for the folks out there--it's Michigan in FEBRUARY. With the economy the way it is here, I'm sure they're happy to have a job but it's so cold and I feel badly for them.

 

[surfergirl602]

They do the statue of liberty and some others here as well. It actually makes me avoid that area like the plague.

 

[TheZue]

Our Little Caesars used to be fairly out of the way and occasionally when I was driving home wondering what to do for dinner and saw the kid with the sandwich board it made me go get one. But I already like their pizza, it just reminded me it was an option more than anything.

 

[TriMom]

Ci Ci's Pizza has just added an interpretive dancer to the street corner. She wears a black unitard and does a strange mix of ballet/jazz with her giant Ci Ci's Pizza sign. I have yet to stop for lunch.

 

[Jennasis]

Our Little Caesars used to be fairly out of the way and occasionally when I was driving home wondering what to do for dinner and saw the kid with the sandwich board it made me go get one. But I already like their pizza, it just reminded me it was an option more than anything.

I'm...so sorry.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

we only get them for costume shops at Halloween, which I don't mind. I will think of shopping there.

we get a few here and there for pizza shops, but they don't change my mind on where I want to get my pizza!!!!

they must work if the place is willing to pay for it, but they don't persuade me and I don't understand how they would persuade that many people.

 

[TheZue]

I'm...so sorry.

Sadly it's more that it's generally cold enough and not too goopy to feed it to really inpatient little kids....and the fact it's only $5.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I keep seeing them around here advertising cash for gold. I feel so sorry for the folks out there--it's Michigan in FEBRUARY. With the economy the way it is here, I'm sure they're happy to have a job but it's so cold and I feel badly for them.

I feel the same way. They are out all winter long around here. I usually see the little ceasers ones. I can't imagine that they work, but my kids do get a kick out of the ones dressed in funny costumes.

 

[AprilShowers]

We have Liberty in our town too. I think it's a ridiculous way to get people's attention. I would rather build my business on reputation and good customer service.
That being said: EVERY TIME we pass one of those, DD says "why in the world are they standing out there all the time?" And I say "because it works! You looked, didn't you?"

Even though we KNOW there is a person dressed in a statue of liberty costume waving at passing cars, we look EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. That's what their purpose is. To attract attention to their business.

As to wether I think it's appropriate or not: Heck no! I hate that they use an emotional symbol of our countrys' freedom to promote their "cheap" tax service!! The people who dress up in my area ALWAYS look sloppy and not really at all like the Statue of Liberty.

 

[sunshine girl]

Yes, the advertising works ... the fact that you noticed both places AND determined what they were offering (tax prep) AND remembered and thought about them later in the day (even if just to say that you thought they were crazy) is big proof that this kind of advertising works.

A key initial measure of advertising effectiveness is "awareness" ... and you were definitely aware of those sign holders, the companies, and what they sell! Even if you knew about these companies before, thanks to the sign-holders the companies are now top-of-mind at least for a few hours of your day.

Maybe you aren't going to use their services, but you're more aware of them now and you know where they are. They'd like to have your business but top-of-mind awareness is the first big step!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes it works which is why they do it. Remember a lot of the sales will be later when someone needs something and the name of the place will jog their memory. Just like a commercial.

I passed 2 "statue of liberties" yesterday.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I don't know if this is a nation-wide chain, but we have a place here called Liberty Tax, and this time of year, they have people standing on street corners dressed as the Statue of Liberty!



The places always look empty, and all they seem to GET are honks!

 

[pixiewings71]

Sure it works, we forget that our Round Table has a GREAT buffet for dinner on Tuesday nights and if we see the spinner we are more likely/tempted to stop. DD and I saw the statue of liberty on our street corner, for the tax place that just opened in the strip mall by our house, it's very new so I assumed that's why they had the guy dressed as Lady Liberty, but maybe it was just for tax season.

 

[CathrynRose]

Thank you for asking what Ive thought for years....

Not too long ago, we got a nice healthy snow storm. I went to Starbucks, and as I was waiting for my drink I saw the Statue of Liberty, tromping on through the thick, sticky snow of the parking lot, carrying her torch and big old sign - and though the same thing.

 

[Silent1CB]

I saw a Statue of Liberty costume the other day. It made me notice a tax business I never noticed before. Those are businesses you ever really notice in my opinion. Like an office.

So, IF I was in the need of a tax office, it might help with getting noticed at least.

I do our own taxes though.

 

[dicar123]

I work for a fast food outlet. Corporate absolutely knows that having "mascot" out front X times per week for Y hours will translate into Z percentage increase in sales.

 

[MM27]

I guess the advertising doesn't work for me. When I drive by I think, 'what did that person do to piss off their boss that they were forced to stand out there in that costume'

We have a statue of liberty outside one of the accounting offices near me, but it's a fat guy with a beard. Lovely image right?