Digital billboards: peeve, peril or perfect?

Among road trip games, one of our favorites is “spot the worst billboard.” Quick judgments abound on the use (usually overuse) of space, the message, the image, type size, everything. Scrutinizing bad billboards while driving can be hazardous. Now we face another possible danger: the digital billboard.

When I saw my first digital billboard, I thought, “Hmm…innovative and profitable.” I also thought, “Crap, I have to pass this everyday….tacky…distracting.” The Island Packet covered it today. The article raises the issue that these changing ads are a digital danger on the road, increasing risk of accidents. The billboard companies counter that the billboards can aid in emergencies: they’re an additional way to communicate to the public, for example, during hurricane evacuations.

So what’s my quick judgment on the digital billboard? I think it poses a danger to people’s lives. They take your eyes from where they need to be: on the road. When a client wants a billboard designed by us, it won’t go digital.

This sure sold me.

What would Michael Corleone do?

This is the official quote of the day here at the office. No squabbles. No sticky situations. Just a passing comment that’s made this Thursday extra special.

Happy 100th Birthday, Mr. George

If Publix Super Markets’ founder George Jenkins were alive, we’d be celebrating his 100th birthday this week. Take a look at the Sept. 29th article in the Lakeland, Fla., Ledger, which includes a Q&A with key members of the Publix family, who also are part of his own family.

Jenkins is lauded for his many innovations and the 77-year old grocery chain continues to thrive, but what hit me, as a customer, is the small-town feel and friendliness within the stores – a philosophy Jenkins instilled from the beginning – that is very much alive today.

Often, I feel that customer service is pretty much dead, but here’s a business that understands what you need to do to build loyalty among customers and among it’s own people. It’s what we were taught as little kids in school: treat others the way you want to be treated. Simple. But how often does that not happen?

We’ve never had the pleasure of meeting you, Mr. George, but we’d like to wish you a Happy Birthday from Big Gnome – a business that looks to your business as a model on how to treat its customers, partners and, well, anyone.