Homeless Branded as Living Advertisements
Jeremy Gutsche — November 5, 2005 — Special
References: bumvertising
I am still not sure if this is disgusting or charitable. I first heard about the concept when a NYC pizza parlour gave homeless people coats that had the pizza company's logo embroidered on the back. That made sense. But how far will it go? PokerFaceBook.com has been using the concept throughout L.A.
"Benjamin Rogovy, president and chief economist of Front Door Enterprises, developed this system after realizing the enormous potential in wasted homeless labor. Bums use a business model that takes advantage of high volume traffic, with the expectation that, on average, a certain number of people will donate to them in the form of cash, clothing, or food." - Bumvertising.com
Trend Themes
1. Homeless Advertising - Opportunity to leverage homeless individuals as living advertisements for brands, allowing for increased visibility and unique marketing strategies.
2. Socially Conscious Marketing - Trend of brands aligning themselves with social issues, such as homelessness, to create a positive brand image and resonate with socially conscious consumers.
3. Alternative Marketing Channels - Exploring unconventional methods of promoting products and services, such as utilizing homeless individuals as walking billboards, to capture consumer attention and disrupt traditional advertising.
Industry Implications
1. Marketing and Advertising - Disruptive innovation opportunity for marketing agencies to create campaigns that incorporate homeless individuals as a means of reaching target audiences in a unique and impactful way.
2. Clothing and Apparel - Potential for clothing brands to collaborate with homeless associations or initiatives to create branded clothing items that not only provide practical benefits but also raise awareness and support for the homeless community.
3. Social Impact Initiatives - Opportunity for businesses to develop partnerships or initiatives that address homelessness, leveraging their brand influence and resources to make a positive difference while also receiving brand recognition and loyalty.
6.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
