Media

BILLBOARD SIGHTING OFF HENLEY BEACH

ADELAIDE: Inflatable Billboards Australasia (IBA) will begin trials this weekend on South Australian beaches of a new style of advertising for Australia - Inflatable Billboards. The first client to take advantage of the billboards is Adelaide Bank, whose branding will be seen in the waters off popular Henley Beach this weekend.

The inflatable billboard system has been a big success in North America over the past three years, attracting high profile advertisers including Disney, Nike, Budweiser, Red Bull and McDonalds. The billboards are used on the water, sand, grass, dirt and snow.

The beach system is a 36” by 14” standard billboard, towed behind a boat at low speeds - similar to mobile billboards on a trailer, banners pulled by aircraft or sky writing.

IBA is an Imagination Ventures Company and has entered into an exclusive agreement for the Asia Pacific region to roll out the concept and possibly even franchise the business of inflatable portable billboards.

John Stewart, Managing Director of IBA, said: “This is just one of those ideas that everyone says, why didn’t I think of that? It is so simple but the opportunity is enormous. In a very short time in Adelaide we could be selling portable media real estate in Hong Kong harbor and all over Asia. It is really a massive opportunity.

“Advertisers are always looking to find unique and innovative ways to communicate their messages. So far we have been inundated with enquires as word has leaked out. IBA is pleased to announce our very first client this weekend, Adelaide Bank.”

The American inventor of the system, Bill Barlow, said: “We are pleased to be partnered with proven entrepreneurs in the Asia Pacific region. It has come a long way from seeing a truck traveling along Pacific Coast Highway while I was fishing on my boat off the coast of Malibu, California. I could read the signage on the truck and I thought, if you could see it that clearly you must be able to build a floating billboard you could see from the beach. The inflatable billboard systems are now licensed around the world.”

IBA is also investigating how media dollars from ad sales on the systems could benefit not-for-profit organisations, creating reoccurring revenue streams with unique ideas. Imagination has delivered millions of dollars to South Australian charities including ongoing commitments to McGuiness McDermott Foundation and Surf Lifesaving SA. 

“We have approached not-for-profits including Surf Lifesaving SA (SLSA) with the concept about how these systems could realise real dollars. Imagine money coming from media sales on the beach being plowed back into fund surf lifesaving organizations. Now that is fundraising, so maybe in the future there is a way we can work together,” John said.