1. This week, some airlines have decided to collect extra revenue by allowing third party ads on their online boarding passes. This allows them to delay/avoid further fare increases. Why NOT have other ads on the bin-covers of the overhead racks? I remember busses used to have placard ads. Why NOT planes? Planes could use all that beige-gray “canvas area” for even more revenue. And, added color would contribute visual interest to liven up the ride.
2. While we are talking about air carriers, I recall a story from my economics professor regarding Playboy Magazine offering to supply magazines to (some) airlines. They were rebuffed. OK. But the lame excuse was that passengers might steal the magazines. Playboy, according to Professor Gerry, was even more interested since their ads would be carried away by their target demographic! Little old ladies and the blind would not be as likely to take the magazines. Now, there are perhaps more reasons to avoid Playboy on board but why NOT be thinking how other amenities can be added without cost? Why NOT get a stronger marketing and brand ambassador program at the airlines?
3. Why NOT sell naming rights to the planes’ exterior? Politicians and sports teams see the value and the air carriers seem to enjoy the extra value of being associated with a candidate…for President or for the Super Bowl. Why NOT?
4. It has been a hotly-debated issue for years. Gas pumps show how much of the cost of a gallon goes to various taxes. Some involved in the housing industry have wanted to post similar information about the fees, costs, set asides, etc. that contribute to the cost of housing. Some say it is inflammatory. But how have we done in tempering these costs? And, we have very sophisticated mechanisms (that I support) to mobilize housing stakeholders when new fees and costs are contemplated. Why NOT involve the consumer? I think the time has come to cancel the conspiracy of silence. If consumers knew what the fees were…and then learned that they did not necessarily result in a benefit to the new owners of this home, they might just take action. School fees are accelerating at a time when districts are disposing of their excess property. And, the fees paid on a home next door to a school do not guarantee that the kids will be able to attend this school! Why NOT tell the buyers that it’s not the sellers who are the sole cause of increasing shelter costs?
5. Supermarkets have ads on the floor of their aisles. Some young entrepreneurs in Los Angeles have made a business of pasting mylar-type ads on the white “canvas” of wall-to-wall appliances in coin-op Laundromats. Why NOT use a similar approach on parking structure interior walls?
6. KB Home had a Homer Simpson house, co-branding with Martha Stewart and Pokemon, and a home in the model complex that was branded by a major paint manufacturer (I THINK it was Sherwin Williams)…and then demonstrated several daring colors in the home. Why NOT learn from their marketing moxie and look for opportunities to co-brand more of the home-selling process?
7. Hard hats are required in many spots. Why NOT sell ad space to some major brand partners, Whirlpool, Bank of America, Mohawk Carpets, or Milgard Windows? Maybe that would discourage the graffiti we often see and instill some pride-of-partnership? Why NOT?
8. A detention basin in our community? A requirement? Why NOT turn it into a benefit? Call it a permanently-protected wildlife corridor. Why NOT post a sign identifying the birds, butterflies, and small animals that will use the water, the foliage and the separation from the (human) residential areas. Why NOT have a naturalist help with the description?
9. Why NOT eliminate Braille keys on drive-through ATM’s?
10. But why NOT have more crosswalks with audible guides for the visually-impaired?
11. Why wouldn’t homebuilders make a deal with local freight haulers to add mylar-wrap ads to the trailers as we already do with busses? Why NOT use that steel-gray canvas? If it works with busses…
12. Why is Lennar so passionate about wearing their name badges at the movies, the supermarket and the stadium? Why do others remain incognito? Why NOT show the same evangelical pride in their company, their colleagues and their product as does Lennar? Why NOT?
13. We see Michael, Kobe and other sports figures’ names used to “brand” footware, etc. Ducks’ goalie J. S. Giguere has a condominium residence named after him. Ford once co-branded an Explorer as the Eddie Bauer edition. Why NOT use sports or other celebs to co-brand, or identify a beverage, a cigar, a vehicle? Car sales are slow, but consumers follow the lead of celebrities. This could help.
14. My computer keyboard had several stickers installed before delivery to me….Bluetooth, Intel, Microsoft, etc. But NONE of them shows a website or a (toll free) telephone number so I can order more or ask for service of what I already have. Why NOT make it easy for me to contact a company with whom I already have SOME sort of relationship?
