The big balloon, you can't avoid it

Spotted over Caulfield race course this morning, the Carlton Draught big balloon is out and about again.

Conveniently, there is two weeks left to register for the latest Carlton Draught competition, Drop the Bomb.

Maybe it has been in town for the Grand Prix/AFL launch, maybe it is in the air to promote the latest competition. Either way, the hot air balloon is a great way to get attention.

I remember in 2006, the Australian F1 GP launched a hot air balloon in the shape of an F1 car to gain attention during the Commonwealth Games. The hot air balloon is possibly one of the best tools in the ambush marketing tool-box.

What-ever the balloon is doing in the sky, it's always a fun sight (well, the world's largest beer at 8am in the morning may not be the *greatest* sight).

As an events promotional tool for sheer attention grabbing, it beats dancing girls, celebrity autograph signing, stunt cars, and all other manner of events promotions. It's big and it's there and you cannot avoid it!

Billboard usage (or lack thereof) in Melbourne CBD

As you can see above, this is a billboard for Will Smith's Seven Pounds film. It advertises, "In cinemas January 8". Why is this billboard still up?

As my previous post shows, billboards are still being used quite creatively, even in this market. But then again, in the belt-tightened economy groceries (an alcohol) are still doing well. Maybe beer is the exception to the general outdoor advertising trend.

Maybe outdoor advertising is feeling the pinch. You'd think a billboard near the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets would be a snap to sell.

But I have also noticed that the office tower at Melbourne Central is advertising three whole floors for rent. I don't think I've ever seen an vacancy advertisement on a building as popular as that.

Maybe the doomsayers are right, things will certainly be interesting in the CBD over the next 12 months.

Cascade gives a billboard back to nature

For the first time ever, a cross promotion with AlexofMelbourne, my poor second blog-child. I have been very tardy in updating my adventures in Melbourne, so in sorry attempt to give it some love I am giving it air-time in Love Number Two.

Here is a great billboard at St.Kilda Junction. Strangely, it was being erected on Friday evening.

This Cascade Green billboard had been erected a number of times in 2008 but this one in St.Kilda Junction is the biggest I have seen yet. Billboards, ever such a restrictive medium, rarely get loving such as this, so when they do it is refreshing to see and certainly catches the eye.

Let's just hope Melbourne gets some more rain over the coming weeks as I guess water restrictions will prevent Cascade from watering the plants!