Every station had them, every listener loved them. They were a sign of someone passionate about their station, someone who lived the lifestyle of the station. Why did bumper stickers start going away? Don't want to put sticky stuff on the car, or is it deeper than that. Poeple who still believe in things, passions, causes, put them on cars, STILL. Yet, no radio bumper stickers. Wonder why?!
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Remember Bumper Stckers
- Thread starter superset weekend
- Start date
superset weekend said:
Because eventually you have to give up that car for something new, and it's sad to see that that sticker is stuck on the car you're giving up.
A key chain on the other hand is forever...heck even the car air fresheners they hand out are forever, no matter who's car you drive!
I don't buy the car being turned in thing.I see bumper stickers about peoples causes and feeling all the time, they don't seem to care about when the car is turned in. I think it is becuase people do not have the PASSION to put these stickers on for radio.
superset weekend said:
There is a sudden passion, if radio stations could restore the "Win dough" sticker days.
;DHere's one.... WIN DOUGH Window stickers!
Not only do stickers show support for the station and can be used as contesting tools, they are also mini rolling billboards to remind someone who's not listening to that particular station to give them a listen.
I had a used '82 Monte Carlo that was held together by bumper stickers from a dozen stations, wire coat hangers, duct tape and a rubber bungicord. Funny thing, these days I wouldn't put a bumper sticker on my three year old Chevy. I even took the dealer license plate frames off it. I don't see them promoting my family's painting business for free, so if radio stations and car dealers want advertising and my endorsement, they can pay me for it. I know a lot of devout fans of radio stations who won't put a bumper sticker on their vehicles because they feel the same way. On top of that, they believe the stickers ruin the finish. There's some truth to this. Stickers made with cheap dye and bad adhesives will leave residue that can discolor and peel paint, especially on the new bumpers.
Some stations have gone to using static stickers that adhere to the inside of windows. These are much better, but still many older demos (like me) don't have much motivation to put a sticker on their vehicles these days. Of all the stations, I see 97 Rock, WBFO and WDCX stickers, though not very many. I see a lot of Sunoco gas stickers, however. Stickers are very expensive and stations have to buy lots in the tens of thousands to make the investment worthwhile. Used to be that smart stations sold the back of stickers to clients in order to help underwrite the expense. Clients don't seem too willing to do that these days.
Some stations have gone to using static stickers that adhere to the inside of windows. These are much better, but still many older demos (like me) don't have much motivation to put a sticker on their vehicles these days. Of all the stations, I see 97 Rock, WBFO and WDCX stickers, though not very many. I see a lot of Sunoco gas stickers, however. Stickers are very expensive and stations have to buy lots in the tens of thousands to make the investment worthwhile. Used to be that smart stations sold the back of stickers to clients in order to help underwrite the expense. Clients don't seem too willing to do that these days.
Wht do you think you see alot of Sunoco stickers on cars. From a GAS STATION. One guess!
Perhaps because they are regarded as NASCAR stickers first and Sunoco stickers second?
But back to radio... there was a time when I had one of those "static window stickers" on the inside window of my Geo Storm (speaking of "remember those") and, like the bumper stickers, it didn't come off either when it was time to trade in the car.
Radnowski's comment aligns with my initial thought... which also applies to my clothes... are you paying me to advertise you?
I'm also not going to excited by the promise "If we find you with your bumper sticker, you'll win a fabulous prize like a coupon for $1 off a gross of donuts at All Nite Donut Land"... Meaningful prizes might have led to more meaningful results.
I like my car dealer's service department a lot, so I don't mind carrying their license plate holder. But that's only on my car; the one on my wife's car is long gone.
But back to radio... there was a time when I had one of those "static window stickers" on the inside window of my Geo Storm (speaking of "remember those") and, like the bumper stickers, it didn't come off either when it was time to trade in the car.
Radnowski's comment aligns with my initial thought... which also applies to my clothes... are you paying me to advertise you?
I'm also not going to excited by the promise "If we find you with your bumper sticker, you'll win a fabulous prize like a coupon for $1 off a gross of donuts at All Nite Donut Land"... Meaningful prizes might have led to more meaningful results.
I like my car dealer's service department a lot, so I don't mind carrying their license plate holder. But that's only on my car; the one on my wife's car is long gone.
This is an easy one to answer in one word... BUDGET. I can tell you first hand that this is not on the top of any budget. Ever try to go to a GM and get a PO signed for bumper stickers. God forbid the station vehicle (if you have one) breaks down and you need that fixed. Forget it! Unless there is a client willing to pay for them and put a coupon/their logo on them, it will never happen. I can also tell you that there is nothing worse than showing up at station events and having to answer the "do you have a bumper sticker or t-shirts" question. Because you never have anything with a station logo on it anymore. It is all movie promo items and sponsor giveaways.
It is sad but today the promotions department and programming have to pick and choose what they want and try to find creative ways to get the items made. So usually the bumper stickers and key chains go away in favor of filling equipment needs, stations banners and sad to say, basic supplies.
It is sad but today the promotions department and programming have to pick and choose what they want and try to find creative ways to get the items made. So usually the bumper stickers and key chains go away in favor of filling equipment needs, stations banners and sad to say, basic supplies.
B
Bob1370
Guest
The bumper stickers were almost always tied to a cash giveaway in which a mobile spotter in a marked station car would spot a car with a sticker and pull the driver over to offer him/her cash on the spot. Or else, they'd relay back the driver's plate number for the jock to read over the air. In the latter case, you'd be told to call the station and claim your prize (or your entry for a big-ticket prize like a trip or a car) within a certain period of time; if you were listening and responded in time, you won.
I remember KB back in the fall of 1977 used to spot people with the "WKBW-Buffalo, a friendly place" bumper sticker; a young blonde woman we called the "money angel" drove around in a new '78 Buick with a magnetic station logo sign on each side (traded out from the Western NY Buick Dealers' Association) and gave away cash to folks who had their stickers prominently displayed. The cash winners, IIRC, were entered in a drawing at the end of the fall '77 Arbitron survey, and the winning name in the final draw won the Buick (with the station promotional logos removed).
Wonder what ever happened to Karen, the "money angel"?
I remember KB back in the fall of 1977 used to spot people with the "WKBW-Buffalo, a friendly place" bumper sticker; a young blonde woman we called the "money angel" drove around in a new '78 Buick with a magnetic station logo sign on each side (traded out from the Western NY Buick Dealers' Association) and gave away cash to folks who had their stickers prominently displayed. The cash winners, IIRC, were entered in a drawing at the end of the fall '77 Arbitron survey, and the winning name in the final draw won the Buick (with the station promotional logos removed).
Wonder what ever happened to Karen, the "money angel"?
Instead of bumper stickers I think that window decals would be a more suitable option.
These are all good comments folks. My underlying point is that the listener used to have a passion for radio, and those stickers many times did not represent cash giveaways. People just liked being aligned with their favorite radio station. It's that simple.
An earlier podt mentioned that people put Sunoco stickers becuase of Nascar. That is 100% true. They have a passion for it! We need to get that back in radio.
An earlier podt mentioned that people put Sunoco stickers becuase of Nascar. That is 100% true. They have a passion for it! We need to get that back in radio.
It'll Take More Than Bumper Stickers
Yeah, man, I really love that evening syndicated voice track on W___. I need me a bumper sticker to show how much I dig that station.
Yeah, man, I really love that evening syndicated voice track on W___. I need me a bumper sticker to show how much I dig that station.
Again, what is the solution, you are focusing on the negatives. We need to focus on how to make it better.
Focus?
Set, you're a newbie here. I believe that I've made the point several times in the past that live and local talent, with an opportunity to perform, is the best answer to most of the problems that radio faces at this point. Without "value added" entertainment, music alone isn't enough for radio to compete with on-demand technologies.
Bumper stickers are a symptom. The problem goes way deeper than that. No money invested in talent, no money invested in promotions, no money invested in production, even cutting of sales forces to "save" money. You're talking about bumper stickers, and you're telling me that "we need to focus on how to make it better"?
Perhaps you need to go back and read some of the posts on this board in the last year. You're way behind in the discussion, Set.
Set, you're a newbie here. I believe that I've made the point several times in the past that live and local talent, with an opportunity to perform, is the best answer to most of the problems that radio faces at this point. Without "value added" entertainment, music alone isn't enough for radio to compete with on-demand technologies.
Bumper stickers are a symptom. The problem goes way deeper than that. No money invested in talent, no money invested in promotions, no money invested in production, even cutting of sales forces to "save" money. You're talking about bumper stickers, and you're telling me that "we need to focus on how to make it better"?
Perhaps you need to go back and read some of the posts on this board in the last year. You're way behind in the discussion, Set.
J
JohnW
Guest
Litter Box
Going way back in time - I had a KB litter box on the back shelf of my '60 Chevy. Did anyone here have one?
Going way back in time - I had a KB litter box on the back shelf of my '60 Chevy. Did anyone here have one?
B
Bob1370
Guest
"I had a KB litter box on the back shelf of my '60 Chevy."
Litter boxes on the package shelf were a staple of a lot of CHR stations in that era. WBBF in Rochester passed out several generations of them...I remember, in 1965, making my dad put one on the back shelf of his '63 Buick LeSabre hardtop. Never got spotted for a prize.
Oh, well, it was a goner within a matter of weeks anyway, when he traded that car on a new convertible that didn't have a package shelf.
Litter boxes on the package shelf were a staple of a lot of CHR stations in that era. WBBF in Rochester passed out several generations of them...I remember, in 1965, making my dad put one on the back shelf of his '63 Buick LeSabre hardtop. Never got spotted for a prize.
Oh, well, it was a goner within a matter of weeks anyway, when he traded that car on a new convertible that didn't have a package shelf.
S
scooterodell
Guest
Litter box? Please tell me there's another definition for "litter box" than the place where I dump the kitty litter!
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