3 ms·

> You've never bought some food from a street vendor? Or gone in a coffee shop and bought a bagel? Or made a photocopy after seeing a shop on the street? I've

> You've never bought some food from a street vendor? Or gone in a coffee shop and bought a bagel? Or made a photocopy after seeing a shop on the street? I've done all of those things, but never because of, or in a way that would have been altered by, the presence of advertising above said businesses.

ars 15y ago
So if you are looking to make copies, and you see a shop with just the name "Kinko's" above it you would know to go in there? Or starbucks? Those names don't in any way tell you what the business does. Without advertising above the shop you wouldn't have any idea what they sell. Look at those photos again - the only thing they have is the name, with no indication about what those shops sell or do. Should all small business have to advertise on TV until they have a household name?
- msbarnett 15y ago
  Kinkos doesn't need a sign above their store telling me it's a copy shop, nor does Tim Hortons need a billboard in the air above their local franchise telling me they sell coffee and donuts; they've successfully gotten that information to me in other mediums that are less visually intrusive upon my neighbourhood. But I frequent the Campus copy shop, not Kinkos, and their name "Campus Copy Shop" seems relatively unambiguous anyways. Small businesses need not be able to afford a TV presence to advertise; indeed, I do not know what your neighbourhood is like, but in mine most small businesses already cannot afford large billboard-like signage on their stores and already rely upon simple names on their store-fronts. Their primary and most effective tool is, and always will be, positive word-of-mouth.
  - ars 15y ago
    > they've successfully gotten that information to me in other mediums How nice for you - and even nicer for those places with large advertising budgets. But that is not the case for everyone. I don't need a huge billboard above a shop. But some ads that show what they do are quite helpful. > "Campus Copy Shop" So you suggest that all shops name themself as basically what they do? And what about a grocery store that has a copier? How would anyone find out about it unless they already go there? > Their primary and most effective tool is, and always will be, positive word-of-mouth. That's great when you live there, and an utter failure for visitors. If I'm walking down a Manhattan street and I want to make a copy I'm looking for a picture of a copier or a sign that says "Copies made here".
    - rapind 15y ago
      While I see your argument, I myself would enjoy a trip back in time where you would simply ask a local if they knew somewhere you could make a copy. There's no getting around the fact that socializing with the locals is inconvenient, but sometimes it can be a nice inconvenience. It has the added benefit that if your business pisses off the locals (crappy service perhaps) they'll probably recommend a competitor if there is one.
      - ars 15y ago
        You must live in a very small town where locals actually know that. If you asked me where to make a copy in my neighborhood (much less city) I would have no idea. Big stores don't really need much advertising - it's the small shops that need this, and it's exactly those smaller shops that would be less known to the locals.
        rapind 15y ago
        I challenge the assumption that most of us wouldn't know where to make a copy in their neighbourhood, if such a service was available within a reasonable distance. I live in Toronto, so not too small. I know my neighbourhood very well actually. If you bumped into me on the street I could tell you: 1) Where to make a copy (small independent office store nearby, but it's expensive, also where to find others). 2) Where to grab a coffee / baked goods with a recommendation of which one I prefer (none of them being Starbucks or a Tims). 3) Your options for Indian, Thai, Italian food, etc. 4) Grocery stores and the quality of their produce. 5) Local mechanics. 6) Parks. 7) Parking. And plenty of more specific shops. Most of these places are small independent shops. They really didn't need any signage since I've walked or driven past many of them multiple times. I've only lived in this specific neighbourhood for a year and a half. I've lived in the city for about 15 years. You may not know where to go to get a copy, but many of us do and not through any kind of superhuman effort either. Also, having the internet on my phone means I can quickly find most services I need in a specific neighbourhood when I'm feeling too shy to ask.
      - deleted 15y ago
        [deleted]
- emp_ 15y ago
  On the video posted on the top comment, you see "Xerox" on top of a shop, this is the brazilian for "Copy & Print", so this is still allowed somewhat.

ars 15y ago

So if you are looking to make copies, and you see a shop with just the name "Kinko's" above it you would know to go in there? Or starbucks? Those names don't in any way tell you what the business does. Without advertising above the shop you wouldn't have any idea what they sell. Look at those photos again - the only thing they have is the name, with no indication about what those shops sell or do. Should all small business have to advertise on TV until they have a household name?

msbarnett 15y ago
Kinkos doesn't need a sign above their store telling me it's a copy shop, nor does Tim Hortons need a billboard in the air above their local franchise telling me they sell coffee and donuts; they've successfully gotten that information to me in other mediums that are less visually intrusive upon my neighbourhood. But I frequent the Campus copy shop, not Kinkos, and their name "Campus Copy Shop" seems relatively unambiguous anyways. Small businesses need not be able to afford a TV presence to advertise; indeed, I do not know what your neighbourhood is like, but in mine most small businesses already cannot afford large billboard-like signage on their stores and already rely upon simple names on their store-fronts. Their primary and most effective tool is, and always will be, positive word-of-mouth.
- ars 15y ago
  > they've successfully gotten that information to me in other mediums How nice for you - and even nicer for those places with large advertising budgets. But that is not the case for everyone. I don't need a huge billboard above a shop. But some ads that show what they do are quite helpful. > "Campus Copy Shop" So you suggest that all shops name themself as basically what they do? And what about a grocery store that has a copier? How would anyone find out about it unless they already go there? > Their primary and most effective tool is, and always will be, positive word-of-mouth. That's great when you live there, and an utter failure for visitors. If I'm walking down a Manhattan street and I want to make a copy I'm looking for a picture of a copier or a sign that says "Copies made here".
  - rapind 15y ago
    While I see your argument, I myself would enjoy a trip back in time where you would simply ask a local if they knew somewhere you could make a copy. There's no getting around the fact that socializing with the locals is inconvenient, but sometimes it can be a nice inconvenience. It has the added benefit that if your business pisses off the locals (crappy service perhaps) they'll probably recommend a competitor if there is one.
    - ars 15y ago
      You must live in a very small town where locals actually know that. If you asked me where to make a copy in my neighborhood (much less city) I would have no idea. Big stores don't really need much advertising - it's the small shops that need this, and it's exactly those smaller shops that would be less known to the locals.
      - rapind 15y ago
        I challenge the assumption that most of us wouldn't know where to make a copy in their neighbourhood, if such a service was available within a reasonable distance. I live in Toronto, so not too small. I know my neighbourhood very well actually. If you bumped into me on the street I could tell you: 1) Where to make a copy (small independent office store nearby, but it's expensive, also where to find others). 2) Where to grab a coffee / baked goods with a recommendation of which one I prefer (none of them being Starbucks or a Tims). 3) Your options for Indian, Thai, Italian food, etc. 4) Grocery stores and the quality of their produce. 5) Local mechanics. 6) Parks. 7) Parking. And plenty of more specific shops. Most of these places are small independent shops. They really didn't need any signage since I've walked or driven past many of them multiple times. I've only lived in this specific neighbourhood for a year and a half. I've lived in the city for about 15 years. You may not know where to go to get a copy, but many of us do and not through any kind of superhuman effort either. Also, having the internet on my phone means I can quickly find most services I need in a specific neighbourhood when I'm feeling too shy to ask.
    - deleted 15y ago
      [deleted]
emp_ 15y ago
On the video posted on the top comment, you see "Xerox" on top of a shop, this is the brazilian for "Copy & Print", so this is still allowed somewhat.