Or maybe really love Kat Von D.
Either way, this year at SEMA, the trade show for aftermarket automotive accessories, Dunlop Tires offered a free set of tires for anyone willing to get a Dunlop Tattoo. A real tattoo.
The promotion was so popular at SEMA that only about half the people who wanted to were able to get an appointment and brand themselves with the Dunlop logo in various forms (also available: tire treads).
You really have to be a Dunlop evangelist to get a tattoo of the brand, right?
Tattoos are more mainstream than ever with 40% of 24 – 29 year olds sporting ink. Dunlop clearly understands its target audience.
I have to count myself among those who have been needled, but I’m not sure there is anything I’m evangelistic enough about to do this. But apparently, there were plenty of takers. This is a really clever marketing strategy – it fits the venue (SEMA), the location (Vegas) and the audience.
For more, see Debra Mastaler’s post here.
This reminds me of those good ol’ GoldenPalace.com tattoo promos. At least these guys didn’t have to have the tattoos plastered on their faces, but I’m still not sure making someone a walking human billboard is the most tactful marketing tactic out there. Remember this? http://tinyurl.com/23pcmt
Oh yeah. I remember those. I guess these tattoos were slightly “cooler” and Dunlop has a following. Like I said, I think you have to know your audience – the SEMA crowd is pretty “alternative,” relative to most trade show crowds. And people get brand tattoos all the time – Taz (or any WB or Disney character for that matter), Harley Davidson, and even Microsoft’s Zune (http://www.engadgetmobile.com/media/2007/06/zune-tattoo.jpg).
I agree, not suited for all audiences or companies, but for the right fit, pretty clever.