Did you know the average consumer uses the public bathroom 3.2 times per evening while out on the town? Imagine the product/service retention that a viewer would have after being exposed to the exact same advertising 3.2 times in just a few hours. According to www.bathroomadvertising.com, this new spin on print advertising is becoming one of the fastest growing audience attention grabbing avenues the industry has seen yet. It’s 100 percent gender specific, catches 100 percent of the readers’ attention, and it’s the only place a person would choose to stand in line to read advertising. It’s also an opportunity to advertise a very personal product – most wouldn’t put a tampon ad on a billboard on Broadway Avenue, but would put it in the women’s restroom at Hooter’s, for example. Fortune Magazine says, “The ads reach the audience most coveted by advertisers: 21-35 year olds who like to go out and spend money. Restroom ads also allow companies to target a gender with 100 percent accuracy.” Stickers in the sink … TV’s in the mirrors … LCD screens on the automatic hand dryers … and the reading material hanging on the back of the stall doors and above the urinals. You might even see it on the tampon disposal box, toilet paper roll and soap dispensers. Automatic flush has led to automatic conversation with a poster, or even a perfume, cologne or air freshener scent automatically dispensed for your pleasure. One thing to think about is the subconscious psychological association that might occur. Some advertisements might create a negative connotation. Foul smell and dirty bathroom floor while reading about Charlie’s Limo Service? Not really sure how many prospects Charlie will hear from when they associate the smell of urine and dirty paper towels with his company’s logo. However, most of the time, viewers see the ads when out for a good time with friends or family … usually in a good mood and having a pleasant time. It’s a risk that most advertisers are willing to take. Here are some numbers that really paint the picture for advertisers looking for alternatives to new or current campaigns: • 84 percent recalled seeing specific advertisements in the washrooms. • 92 percent were able to name specific advertisers without prompting. • 88 percent recalled at least FOUR selling points in the ads surveyed. • 98 percent reacted positively or neutral to seeing ads in restroom facilities Next time you are out, take a good look at the type of advertising you are exposed to without even knowing it. It’s quite interesting and effective at the same time.