Reinventing the Wheels

At Ampolo, we are dedicated to seeing ideas translated into realities. So, inspired by this week’s video, we have sent the following letter to Ron Huberman, the newly installed chairman of the Chicago Transit Authority. We will let you know how he responds. In the meantime send us your ideas for other themed specialty cars. (Here’s one we didn’t include in the video: cars for religious prayer. If there were one for Catholics, that would really be mass transit!)

Dear Mr. Huberman:

Ampolo.com is a video website dedicated to new ideas for products, businesses, services, and ways to make the community a better place. This week we are featuring an idea for improving public transportation by creating specialty El cars that would attract additional riders (and thereby generate more revenues.) These cars might be devoted to sports (with secure televisions showing ESPN), movies (showing trailers), and even speed dating. You can view a brief video of this proposal at www.ampolo.com.

You have indicated that the CTA must come up with creative solutions to its current financial problems. We think specialty cars fit that bill. Ampolo and our viewers would be most interested to hear what you think of this proposal. We look forward to hearing from you.

(signed)

Ampolo.com
*************

At first glance this idea may seem off the wall. But consider the means to which companies now go to market their “brand” and push particular products. Corporations pay millions for the naming rights to sports arenas. 7-eleven has even gone so far as to pay the Chicago White Sox to move the start of their home games from 7:05 to…of course 7:11.

Product placement is increasingly common (and noticeable) in movies and on televisions shows. NBC’s The Office is particularly adept at finding opportunities to mention Staples and to show Hewlett-Packard computers. (Did you notice that I just placed NBC, Staples, and HP? I don’t have a deal with them, but it will be interesting to see if the Google ads on this blog now reflect their names.)

But I’m getting off the track. Given the realities of today’s market, why shouldn’t a transit system desperately in need of revenue make money off of one of its renewable assets: a captive, often bored audience. It’s win, win, win—for the system, the riders, and the entertainment providers.