Great Advertising

I know this is intended to be a photo-blog in the sense that it shows off my more artistic photography and thoughts pertaining thereunto. However, I found something of particular interest that I wanted to blog about—and I took a picture of it, so it still counts as a photoblog!

Stashed around the pump at Sunoco the other day I noticed stickers with the oil mogul's signature red, yellow, and blue colors on them. So I picked one up and read the back. Turns out that anyone who puts this sticker on their car is automatically entered to win one of 12,000 prizes, those being $10.00 Sunoco gas cards. At $4.25+ per gallon, $10.00 will buy you about a shot-glass worth of gasoline (perhaps a little more than that!). But I digress. If you win one of those 12,000 prizes, you are automatically entered in the grand prize drawing: 5,000 gallons of Sunoco gasoline. Now that's impressive.

Oh, and how does just putting a sticker on your car automatically get you entered? Spotters at or near Sunoco stations have to spot your car and flag you down. Then you win a $10.00 gas card and are entered toward the grand prize.

But you know who I think the real winner is here? It's Sunoco. They're giving you the opportunity to win some free gas—but think about all the free advertising they're getting. Not to mention posting spotters at or near their stations—thus encouraging sticker holders to purchase Sunoco gasoline.

This is genius marketing and advertising. It gets the consumer directly involved, and has the potential to pay dividends in advertising and customer loyalty for Sunoco. Bottom line: the expenses of giving away free gasoline are more-than-likely offset by the returns Sunoco is able to gain.

Marketing and advertising like this is the kind of stuff that wins awards. It's fresh and outside-the-box thinking. I only wish I could put my name on a campaign, strategy, or concept like this.

That said, Sunoco has reeled me in...with gas costing what it does today, whether $10.00 or 5,000 gallons, I'm willing to give Sunoco a small space on my car in order for a shot at some free vitamin-G. By the way, the promotion ends August 31st, and you can bet, my sticker will be scraped off that same day—unless Sunoco makes me another offer that I can't refuse...

Check out more at www.gosunoco.com

Picking Up Where I Left Off...

First of all, I realize it has been a long time since I blogged here. I had even forgotten my login creds for this site and needed to have a little reminder sent (thank goodness for the "forgot your password?" link!!). In any case, even though I've missed all of 2008 thus far, I figure I'll share some recent pictures from the Fourth of July. This year I sat atop the sledding hill at Chestnut Ridge Park. The view from up there is incredible as it looks out over Lake Erie; Buffalo; and Niagara Falls, Canada. I saw many fireworks, all off in the distance, of course. Personally, I'd rather see one good fireworks show up close than watch many from afar. Something's missing without the signature in-your-face explosions (and ash raining down on you!!).

Anyway, while the masses of distant fireworks were somewhat entertaining, the best light show was the vibrant sunset over Lake Erie. Enjoy:

Buffalo; Ralph Wilson Stadium; and Niagara Falls, Canada (to the left)

And the fireworks begin...