During brainstorm/ideation sessions, any thoughts that are off-topic, off-base, or need future follow-up get written down in a proverbial parking lot. Well, some marketing ideas are best left on parking lots in conference rooms -- not in parking lots of retail shopping centers. Case in point ... a Home Depot parking lot in Austin, TX.
Who are the ad creeps behind this ad creep? Parking Stripe Advertising are the creeps.
Whoa, that SUCKS. And just when you thought the ad creeps were running out of places to blast consumers with more ads, they come with another one.
This reminds me of the bathroom. For example, ever see advertisements above the urinal? Or below the urinal puck?
When will it stop?
Posted by: HELLO, my name is Scott | November 21, 2005 at 10:58 AM
Those strips won't last long. They'll look uglier when they start to discolor or peel off.
Not a nice way to treat a brand.
Posted by: Gabriel Salcido | November 21, 2005 at 03:15 PM
I remember the term "banner blindness" during the .com witlessness era. What do we call the indifference of people to urinal advertisements? And parking strip ads? More marketplace stimulus we will learn to ignore.
Posted by: Michael Wagner | November 22, 2005 at 12:00 AM
I think this is very creative. It's never been done before. They found a way to take 'unused' (or unleveraged) space and send a message. Just because it's a parking lot doesn't mean it can't be part of the way they reach their customers.
This non-traditional venue is no better or worse than:
- floor mat ads at the grocery store
- messages on the meal paper tray liner on an airplane
- a Valu-Pak coupon arriving in the mail
- Starbucks messages on the cup sleeve
- Safeway messages on the grocery bag
- Bank message in the monthly statement
Do I think striping the parking lot with ads is going to sell more credit cards? No.
But I can imagine the fun a business could have leaving messages for customers in the parking lot stripes...
You could...
- ...leave fortune cookie like messages
- ...make clever quips about the way people park
- ...make them useful by providing directions <-- Target | Best Buy -->
Posted by: Paul Williams | November 23, 2005 at 01:07 AM
Honestly, I like the idea. The strips would have to be replaced fairly frequently but I think it would get some second glaces. Not as bad as urinal advertising at all.
I think this would be most effective for the parking spaces nearest to the doors instead of all spaces.
Posted by: Tyler Eastman | November 27, 2005 at 11:50 PM
It's at least, unusual. It will get attention for a while. But, if you do as Paul suggests, use it as a way to connect with and entertain your customers - perhaps with a few ads thrown in - then it might just become remarkable.
Posted by: Darrin | November 29, 2005 at 09:18 AM
This type of advertising has merit however, Parking Stipe's product is far less than desirable. The "Stripes" look trashy after a few days and are very easy to remove by anyone walking by. A hazard to parking lot owners and for the advertiser..."Consider your image!"
Posted by: Peter | September 13, 2006 at 08:25 PM
I think it's a creative use of dead space.
-Darren
Posted by: Darren Davis | August 09, 2007 at 09:14 AM
Excellent idea! Nice use of otherwise unused space.
Not as effective in the winter.
In the summer I could practice burn-outs on the ads I don't like as a way of sending my message back to the advertisers.
It's win-win!
Posted by: Gary | April 01, 2008 at 08:23 PM
Nice way of using useless space :).
Posted by: Steve | July 21, 2008 at 11:45 PM