Commentary

Your ad here? Soon enough...

  • by , August 12, 2007

Apparently, this whole “new media” thing is really catching on.

This is a pic I took with my BlackBerry (you know, that thing I’m addicted to?) in the nearest Starbucks to my apartment in New York City. (Of course, I could easily find three or four more without venturing more than 5 blocks, but that’s not the point.)

Plasma at the BUX

This, however, isn’t one of those annoying screens trying to sell you something. At least, not directly. The screen displays, much like a screen of an iPod, the title and artist of the song currently playing in the Starbucks store. It also shows the time elapsed, time remaining, and the cover art. To be honest, I’m still convinced the thing runs on iTunes.

Regardless, it’s visually appealing, and fits naturally into the environment Starbucks works so hard to create. It connects with the customer on a non-intrusive level, and contributes to the atmosphere of the “modern” coffeehouse.

So I’m taking bets: how long until we start seeing ads on these things? (Other than the indirect advertisement for the music playing, that is.)

5 comments about "Your ad here? Soon enough...".
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  1. Mike Patterson from WIP, Inc., August 20, 2007 at 10:55 a.m.

    Not too long at all, the ads will roll in...hopefully, however, they will be more integrated into the customer experience...

    Maybe make these touch screens where the customer can search for related music...or the nearest music store...or when the artist is playing their next concert.

    I am hoping we dont see the old "un technique" - grab the eyeball and then throw some other un-related, un-integrated content at us. Haven't we seen enough of that?

  2. David Shikiar, August 20, 2007 at 11:40 a.m.

    I am the founder of a company, called World Wide Arts Inc. We are creating an experience on flast screens that we believe consumers do want, Interesting, artistic content, with targeted relevant ad's. Most of our competitors are streaming news, sports weather etc. We are actually producing content that we think will get people's attention without annoying. That's are goal. We are using touch screens at booths in restaurants. The coffee house experience usually doesn't have the best seating options for that, with couches and movable tables and chairs, but we will do those installs if it makes sense.

  3. Sean Mulholland, August 20, 2007 at 1:58 p.m.

    I've seen those in a gas station in San Francisco. This isn't some fancy gas station either - it's practically in the ghetto - however the neighborhood is populated with much of the Digerati our Web2.0 city is famous for. Maybe that's why they picked that location.

    Sure, they're ads, but it's better than nothing when filling up a tank. For that alone I support it.

  4. Chris Lim from DDB Worldwide, August 20, 2007 at 8:26 p.m.

    Over in Asia, it's already happening. McDonalds in Singapore have got these and are advertising. There are also a couple of companies selling ads the same way although I don't remember who they are. Meanwhile in Thailand, there's a company touting 3D ads. How it works, I never had time to find out.

  5. Bryan Pocius, August 22, 2007 at 1:18 p.m.

    This IS an ad, no? I'm guessing they play Starbucks artists?

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