With all of the multitude of options available to today's advertiser, I find it hard to believe that placing an ad in plastic airport security bins will hold much of an attraction.
Why would any advertiser be interested in reaching a consumer who is not only probably in a bad mood but in a rush to get someplace? Besides, the consumer can't act on any message that the advertiser is giving them and probably will forget it once their plane lands.
Who is going to buy these ads? National advertisers can reach their audience more effectively through the Internet or television. Local advertisers probably wouldn't want to buy these ads either considering the huge numbers of people from outside their area that are in airports.
Rolodex, though, gave it a shot and placed its ads in bins at Los Angeles International Airport, according to USA Today. I doubt it did much to boost sales. Advertisers are always willing to give a new thing a shot at least once. The head of the company who provided the bins to LAX told the paper that "people have a heightened sense of awareness" at a checkpoint" making them more open to a message.
Give me a break.
The Transportation Security Administration is requiring that companies who buy the 12-inch by 17-inch supply the airport checkpoints with new bins, carts and stainless steel table, according to USA Today. The problem is that people who notice the ads may not notice pickpockets, according to airport security officials quoted by the paper.
--Jonathan Berr is editor of http://www.desperateinvestors.com.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-11-2007 @ 10:36AM
brad said...
AH,but you remembered it was Rolodex!! Mission accomplished(from an advertising viewpoint)so maybe its not so dumb after all??
1-11-2007 @ 10:39AM
Kevin said...
Have you ever noticed that in all major airports there are places to shop and eat? That would give places like Applebee's, Chili's, Starbuck's, Taco Bell, McDonald's, Coke, Pepsi, the WSJ & NYT along with a whole list of other companies a great spot to advertise their products while America waits for their delayed planes.
1-11-2007 @ 10:44AM
Jonathan Berr said...
I don't believe the fact that a customer remembers a stupid ad from a company is necessarily a great thing. Don't advertisers want people to like their brands?
People see lots of ads in airports when they shop and eat. Then, they are waiting for planes. They are in the rush at the security checkpoint. By the way, I didn't "notice" the Rolodex ad. USA Today reported it was there. Sorry, if I didn't make that point clear.