The methods for marketing cars have changed dramatically over the past 120 years. It all began with very simple black and white adverts, produced soon after motor vehicles were invented. These days, we’re bombarded from all angles with slick videos, flashy print ads and more online content than we could ever possibly consume. The simple adverts in the early days were a sign of the times, emphasizing that cars were the ultimate luxury. The first ever car advert in 1898 featured the headline “Dispense with a horse” and simply sold the benefits of the Winton Motor Carriage. In 1912, Henry Ford said: “Ford advertising never attempts to be clever.” However, as the ’20s arrived and the adverts bec
With increasing uneasiness from brands and marketers about how much of their ad budget is virtually wasted thanks to online ad-blockers, bot-views and nearly hidden placements, one tech startup expects a return to the real and tangible. And it’s betting the roads are where it will happen. “When people discover the great new thing isn’t quite what they were promised, they return to what’s proven to work,” says James Heller, CEO of Wrapify, a new advertising platform that connects brands with drivers to create splashy on-vehicle ads. “Wrapify uses technology not just for its own sake, but to teach an old dog a new trick.” Wrapify, based in San Francisco and launched in July, takes an idea that
