Fun With Calculators

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It’s easy to get excited about the value proposition that comes with owning a mobile advertising vehicle. Playing with a calculator can generate some eye-popping numbers. Read More...

Spark Fall Road Show Tour Dates

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If you’ve ever wanted to get a look at a Spark truck up close, here’s your chance. Join Spark factory staff and local Spark representatives from your city as we demonstrate the latest in advertising vehicles. You’ll be able to see up close what makes Spark trucks an important and affordable part of any business, big or small. Watch the smooth scrolling ads, take a look at the cavernous cargo capacity, and see the attention to detail that makes Spark truck bodies stand out from the crowd. If a picture is worth a thousand words, seeing a new Spark body in person is priceless.

Follow the link for the calendar of dates and cities. Read More...

It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time

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One of the most visible benefits of Spark products is the ability to quickly and inexpensively change your company’s advertising message. For $135 per side, Spark owners can install new ads and graphics that completely transform the look of their truck. That’s a total investment of about $400 for new graphics on three sides. Compare that with the cost of wrapping a vehicle with your company’s logo and brand.

One of our Spark sales reps, Enrique Patino (Houston, TX), compares a wrapped truck to a tattoo. It may have seemed like a good idea when you had it applied, but one learns that you’d better really like the graphics, because there’s significant pain and expense involved if you ever want to remove either one. Read More...

Harness the Quality

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We like to answer the question, “How is the construction of Spark truck bodies different from other mobile advertising bodies?” It’s all about the details. Some of the details are hard to see in a picture online or in a brochure, but up close its evident that Spark goes to great lengths to make the bodies look more like something that comes from Toyota or Ford, and less like some of the advertising contraptions that one might find sold on Ebay.

Ordinary box truck bodies are covered with exposed bolts and rivets, and their body panels are joined with simple white caulk. No amount of shiny trim or diamond-plated panels can cover up that hand-fabricated look. Consider the exterior of a Spark Expo. Its body panels have gaps that are as tight as the gaps between Read More...

Damned Lies & Statistics

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Mark Twain said “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Recent Spark prospects report some information that ought to be filed in the “damned lies” folder.

Apparently, if one were to base their knowledge of Spark products on information provided by other companies specializing in DAV sales, they might believe that Spark bodies are built from plastic, manufactured in China, and Imported through the Middle East. Wow. We had no idea. They have no clue. Read More...

The Myth of Relationship Selling

Not more than ten hours after the last post about regulation, this article appeared in the Virginia Beach Pilot about their city's sign ordinance. There is a long running dispute between Elaine Cayton, owner of Admobile of Hampton Roads and about half of the Virginia Beach city council members. Cayton's business is one of the most responsible, well run, and civic minded mobile advertising companies that we are aware of. The people of Virginia Beach feel the same way, too, as the results of the Pilot's online poll tilt in favor of Admobile by about 2 to 1.

Take a moment to vote in the Virginia Beach Pilot's online poll, and post a comment to let them know your thoughts.

Read More...

Designing Great Mobile Ad Content

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Many Spark owners use Spark’s in-house printing services for their scrolling poster printing needs. The company has seen thousands of individual ads come through the system since 2002. As one might imagine, some ads have been really great, while many that would qualify for the advertising hall of shame.

Jump to the PDF document "Design Tips for Mobile Advertising Success" if you don't care to read all of today's post. Read More...

Bright Idea

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David Hoheisel, Spark Factory Rep from Columbus, Ohio, reminded us of a feature that almost every Expo owner gets for free.

90% of pickup trucks have a light over the back window that is used to illuminate the truck's pickup bed at night. Dave discovered the switch for that light on the dash of his Toyota Tundra / Expo 7 demo truck. When he turned it on, the light lit up the entire front of the Expo body. The Expo box is usually about 10 - 12 inches taller than the pickup cab, and with the flick of a switch, Hoheisel discovered that he could draw extra attention to the truck. He has taken advantage of that space by wrapping it with an ad for his business.

It's a great free feature that will give all Expo owners even more attention than they bargained for! Read More...

Public Rallies Around Mobile Ad Operator

h2hparade
David Hoheisel, Spark Factory Rep from Columbus, Ohio, reminded us of a feature that almost every Expo owner gets for free.

90% of pickup trucks have a light over the back window that is used to illuminate the truck's pickup bed at night. Dave discovered the switch for that light on the dash of his Toyota Tundra / Expo 7 demo truck. When he turned it on, the light lit up the entire front of the Expo body. The Expo box is usually about 10 - 12 inches taller than the pickup cab, and with the flick of a switch, Hoheisel discovered that he could draw extra attention to the truck. He has taken advantage of that space by wrapping it with an ad for his business.

It's a great free feature that will give all Expo owners even more attention than they bargained for! Read More...

Admobile Wins in VA Beach

h2hparade
David Hoheisel, Spark Factory Rep from Columbus, Ohio, reminded us of a feature that almost every Expo owner gets for free.

90% of pickup trucks have a light over the back window that is used to illuminate the truck's pickup bed at night. Dave discovered the switch for that light on the dash of his Toyota Tundra / Expo 7 demo truck. When he turned it on, the light lit up the entire front of the Expo body. The Expo box is usually about 10 - 12 inches taller than the pickup cab, and with the flick of a switch, Hoheisel discovered that he could draw extra attention to the truck. He has taken advantage of that space by wrapping it with an ad for his business.

It's a great free feature that will give all Expo owners even more attention than they bargained for! Read More...

Instantly Compelling Ads Anytime

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Today's email contained the usual barrage of guaranteed hot stock tips, home equity loan offers, and requests to chat with lonely Russian women. We almost missed a note from the Marketing Strategy Team of Grapevine, Texas. MST offers consulting services for business owners and offers advice on how to fine tune any business' advertising message to make it more effective. Read More...

Event-Focused Business Model

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Copyright © 2007 Spark Equipment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without permission

Many people experience the impact of mobile advertising for the first time at sporting events, conventions, or trade shows. Unlike some of the other dedicated advertising vehicle business models, using DAVs for short term events is a proven model with hundreds of available case studies that prove its effectiveness and value to clients.

While advertising agencies can be reluctant to include mobile advertising in their long term media plans for their best clients, they they are often comfortable recommending mobile media for a variety of short term event-base scenarios. If you’re considering purchasing one or more DAVs or MUVs (dual purpose marketing/utility vehicles) you should be prepared when prospective clients ask for information about using the trucks for event marketing. Read More...

Shared-Use Business Model

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Copyright © 2007 Spark Equipment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without permission

Many people experience the impact of mobile advertising for the first time at sporting events, conventions, or trade shows. Unlike some of the other dedicated advertising vehicle business models, using DAVs for short term events is a proven model with hundreds of available case studies that prove its effectiveness and value to clients.

While advertising agencies can be reluctant to include mobile advertising in their long term media plans for their best clients, they they are often comfortable recommending mobile media for a variety of short term event-base scenarios. If you’re considering purchasing one or more DAVs or MUVs (dual purpose marketing/utility vehicles) you should be prepared when prospective clients ask for information about using the trucks for event marketing. Read More...

Single-Client Business Model

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Copyright © 2007 Spark Equipment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without permission

Many people experience the impact of mobile advertising for the first time at sporting events, conventions, or trade shows. Unlike some of the other dedicated advertising vehicle business models, using DAVs for short term events is a proven model with hundreds of available case studies that prove its effectiveness and value to clients.

While advertising agencies can be reluctant to include mobile advertising in their long term media plans for their best clients, they they are often comfortable recommending mobile media for a variety of short term event-base scenarios. If you’re considering purchasing one or more DAVs or MUVs (dual purpose marketing/utility vehicles) you should be prepared when prospective clients ask for information about using the trucks for event marketing. Read More...

Business Model Article Series

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Copyright © 2007 Spark Equipment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without permission.

The first time you saw a multi-image DAV on the road, you may have been fascinated with the light-up, changing ads. The impression is so effective, that many motorists can recall the names of specific advertisers long after the DAV campaign ends. But for some, seeing a DAV represents the spark of a new business venture. You’re probably reading this blog because you’ve experienced that spark.

Building a Rolodex full of satisfied advertising clients is challenging under the best of conditions. But this post is not about building a thick portfolio of customers quickly. It’s about launching a profitable mobile advertising business with just one great client relationship. World domination comes later. Read More...

How to Get Run Out of Town

handshake
Copyright © 2007 Spark Equipment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without permission.

The first time you saw a multi-image DAV on the road, you may have been fascinated with the light-up, changing ads. The impression is so effective, that many motorists can recall the names of specific advertisers long after the DAV campaign ends. But for some, seeing a DAV represents the spark of a new business venture. You’re probably reading this blog because you’ve experienced that spark.

Building a Rolodex full of satisfied advertising clients is challenging under the best of conditions. But this post is not about building a thick portfolio of customers quickly. It’s about launching a profitable mobile advertising business with just one great client relationship. World domination comes later. Read More...

That Was Fast

Not more than ten hours after the last post about regulation, this article appeared in the Virginia Beach Pilot about their city's sign ordinance. There is a long running dispute between Elaine Cayton, owner of Admobile of Hampton Roads and about half of the Virginia Beach city council members. Cayton's business is one of the most responsible, well run, and civic minded mobile advertising companies that we are aware of. The people of Virginia Beach feel the same way, too, as the results of the Pilot's online poll tilt in favor of Admobile by about 2 to 1.

Take a moment to vote in the Virginia Beach Pilot's online poll, and post a comment to let them know your thoughts.

Read More...

DAV Regulation

Not more than ten hours after the last post about regulation, this article appeared in the Virginia Beach Pilot about their city's sign ordinance. There is a long running dispute between Elaine Cayton, owner of Admobile of Hampton Roads and about half of the Virginia Beach city council members. Cayton's business is one of the most responsible, well run, and civic minded mobile advertising companies that we are aware of. The people of Virginia Beach feel the same way, too, as the results of the Pilot's online poll tilt in favor of Admobile by about 2 to 1.

Take a moment to vote in the Virginia Beach Pilot's online poll, and post a comment to let them know your thoughts.

Read More...
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