Slogans: Say What You Do
On the way to driving my daughter to high school, I passed a commercial van with the slogan: "If it’s in stock, we’ve got it". I didn’t think much of it until my daughter asked: "What does that mean?" I immediately said: "they have whatever you want as long as they have it. Get it?" "No." was the reply. Further attempts to explain were met with "whatever’s" and blank stares.
The van also had the company’s name (made illegible by the salty grime that we endure during New England winters) but there was no other evidence of its business. So even if I could understand the slogan, I really had no idea what the company does.
A Google search turned up bike, skateboard and gift shops; a tire store and a company that sells plastics, who all use this phrase on their web sites. But that’s OK because the contents of the web sites let me know exactly what businesses they are in.
Not so with the van.
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January 31st, 2008 at 9:14 am
Jeff — I thought I was the only one that read advertising on trucks and vans. Here are the mistakes I see: phone numbers without area codes, company names but no Website URL, slogans that cause you to ask, “What does that mean?”
January 31st, 2008 at 9:52 am
Thanks, Dianna. Those are great examples and they are usually for products and services that the everyday consumer needs - landscaping, snowplowing, roof leaks, etc.
Jeff
February 1st, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Jeff-
I LOVE reading what’s on commercial vehicles, salt and all. Phone numbers are a terrific lead source for local advertisers.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Beth-
I saw another one today - just a name and a slogan “we move the earth”. No web site, telephone number or description of the business. I assume it was some sort of landscaping company. But if I did want the earth moved, I have no idea how to contact them.
Jeff