This is just good problem solving. Higher gas prices + less people traveling by car, or as much = less people paying bridge tolls. Less people paying bride tolls = less income. How do they get more income WITHOUT raising tolls – sell ad space! Great for local businesses and great for the NYSBA!
The Post Office might want to look into this before the next postage increase or round of service cuts. Maybe the can sell big companies to have their logos as stamp art, or put company names and urls on envelopes as they run through automation as long as the urls dont conflict of course ie American Express wont want VISA info on their mailings. But if companies, marketers and direct mailers indicated the industry the mailing was for, the Post Office could potentially avoid that. Or better yet, if I am mailing something from FL to a NY zip code – offer the envelope space to a local business. I know, it’s an out there idea, but there MAY be something to it and anything to keep the postage from going up and mailings from going down is worth tossing out there.
Just When You Thought Ads Are Everywhere, Now Comes Toll-Gate Messages
Ever hear the term, “Hey, I got a bridge I can sell you?” Well, now its true.
The New York State Bridge Authority is selling ad space on the toll gates at its five bridge crossings in upstate New York. Yup, the big mechanical arm that comes down at every toll booth — and doesnt go back up until you pay the $1 or it recognizes your EZ-Pass reader — now features advertising. And local marketers are jumping at the chance.”This is so in your face advertising we couldnt pass it up. Its brilliant,” said Nancy Jubie, who co-owns the popular seasonal attraction Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses in Ulster Park, N.Y., just south of Kingston, with her husband Mike.
NYSBA operates five bridges that traverse the Hudson River in a 70-mile span between Hudson, N.Y. and suburban New York City. According to NYSBA figures for the year of 2009, the most recent year available, 58 million cars went over the five bridges combined. But the total has dropped in four of the last six years, including this year, forcing the Bridge Authority to come up with inventive ways to make up a loss of $450,000 in toll revenue.
“Were extremely pleased with the great response to the program,” Bridge Authority Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero said. “Between the economy and high gas prices, toll revenue has seen a steady decline for the past few years.”Better still, Mr. Ruggiero noted there has been little backlash from a public that is sometimes exasperated with the amount of advertising theyre hit with. “Most people who remark on the ads understand that we have an expensive job to do,” he said. “Using every resource to be innovative and work with the business community just makes sense.”
Continues at: Hey, Advertisers: New York Has a Bridge to Sell You | News – Advertising Age.
