Walking Advertisements

[jaxlore]

Ok I understand that in a down economy restaurants will try and do whatever it takes to get business, but seeing both the Larry’s Giant Sub guy with a big sign and the  Wendy’s Wendy out in five points during lunch is about almost as bad as a billboard. I haven’t seen any local eateries subscribing to this crap kudos to them for not sinking this low.

[Captain Zissou]

There's a Pizza place by my office that has someone out everyday.  The Larry's at Baymeadows & San Jose also has a person with a sign many days a week.

[ac]

It's a fine line.  I find this advertising much less offensive than signage stuck in a median and left to simply become trash, and it provides someone a job.  Win-win.

It's an old form of marketing, re-packaged.

[copperfiend]

Some Italian place near Beach/St Johns Bluff has a severely worn down homeless dude holding a sign for their restaurant. Because that makes me want to go there.

[fsujax]

i love it when they dress up in costume....Larry's Sub gorilla, Chik-Fil-A cow....etc. I think it's fun to see.

[Shwaz]

I've noticed this quite a bit more over that last couple of months. My guess is their business is down right and advertising is expensive... why not send some one out to the street corner during the slower parts of the day. The employee keeps their hours and the restaurant catch's some attention. Where's the problem?

[exnewsman]

The Larry's Giant Subs in 5 Points jsut recently re-opened under new management and after a renovation. So I'm sure they are trying to push up the colume a bit while still keeping costs down. It all seems fairly harmless. Of course the last thing drivers in 5 Points need is a distraction. They seem to have enough difficulty managing that intersection.

[fsu813]

it has to be one of the most demeaning jobs around.

i mean, if your a toliet cleaner, at least you do that in private.

these people have to stand outside, in all types of wheather, faking enthusiasm by smiling or waving thier hands. simply standing there requires you to swallow your pride, many look like they'd rather be dead.

[Shwaz]

it has to be one of the most demeaning jobs around.

i mean, if your a toliet cleaner, at least you do that in private.

these people have to stand outside, in all types of wheather, faking enthusiasm by smiling or waving thier hands. simply standing there requires you to swallow your pride, many look like they'd rather be dead.

So is drawing unemployment or using food stamps... at least they're working.

One of my first jobs was working at a deli. I had to put on a giant bagel, cartoon sized gloves and stand out on SanJose blvd.  It wasn't fun... loads of kids heading to the beach laughed at me...but I also cashed a weekly pay-check and bought my first car.

[BridgeTroll]

There is/was a kid advertising Whataburger on Normandy who while wearing headphones was clearly rocking to his favorite tunes... dancing, air guitar, arms and legs waving... it was hilarious.  He got peoples attention tho... horns beeping people waving back.  I am positive he genned up business... and collected a paycheck... and was having fun doing it!

What more can you ask for in a job??

[ac]

it has to be one of the most demeaning jobs around.

i mean, if your a toliet cleaner, at least you do that in private.

these people have to stand outside, in all types of wheather, faking enthusiasm by smiling or waving thier hands. simply standing there requires you to swallow your pride, many look like they'd rather be dead.

Maybe more people should work like this to get by until something better comes along, rather than being too good or overqualified and sitting on the couch.  Some people have no choice other than to sacrifice a modicum of dignity to make ends meet. Can't pay bills with one's sense of self-worth.

[Overstreet]

It is only demeaning if you let it get to you.

Remember,
Be fair and nice to everyone on the way up the corporate/societal  ladder.  You might meet them on the way down.

[urbanlibertarian]

Advertising is beautiful, man.

[blizz01]

What ever happened to the thong hot dog girl(s) that worked on Blanding in front of the old Home Depot/now Best Buy in the early nineties?  THAT worked!

[thekillingwax]

Last month or so, Larry's had an older gentleman who actually seemed happy to be out there waving at cars on Riverside. I passed him on my way into work that whole week and waved back every time. I think that's the right way to do it, find someone who doesn't mind doing it and doesn't seem to be out there just trying to score a quick buck for their next fix.