As the EU's restaurants, bars and clubs gradually become smoke-free, cigarette butts on the doorsteps of such establishments are an increasingly common sight. Belgium-based Ashvertising hopes to make the best of that bad habit with an outdoor device that combines an ashtray with a medium for advertising.
The company's Ashvertiser consists of a wall-mountable ashtray combined with a TV-sized colour screen above it for installation outside smoke-free venues. As smokers finish and extinguish their cigarettes, the screen displays world news, sports results and weather forecasts along with advertising spots. Mars, Nestlé, Proximus/Vodafone and Sara Lee have been among the early adopters of the Ashvertiser, which is now being used by numerous Brussels restaurants, Ashvertising says.
Given how many other places around the world also ban smoking—or will soon embrace that trend—the potential market for Ashvertising's devices spans the globe.
Website: www.ashvertising.com
Contact: vincent@ashvertising.com
Spotted by: Bjorn Verbrugghe
Whilst the idea is a novel one, it appears to be encouraging smokers to sustain their habit. At the moment cigarette breaks are often hurried affairs, with this being a good deterrent, in getting people to stop smoking. The introduction of this product may make it 'cool' to go out and have a quick fag. Do you think the customers and clients associated with the advertising companies who choose to work with this product would be happy to see that particular company promoting smoking?
I think to associate this idea with the promotion of smoking is a slightly extreme view. Luckily this idea wasn't around when Tobacco companies could advertise because otherwise they would be jumping all over this new advertising medium! What a way to reach your targets! However rather than promoting smoking it presents an opportunity for Government agencies to reach smokers with their anti-smoking messages/advertisements.. It depends upon what spin you take on it but it can be viewed as a more entertaining smoking venue. It will be a great place for chewing gum companies to advertise because something needs to be done about smokers breath... Terrible!
Louise, get over yourself. Some people enjoy smoking and have no intention to give up. I am one of those people, and I make no apologies. The presence of nothing more than an advertising gimmick will not have any bearing on whether some people choose to quit or continue smoking. How proposterous.
This medium works only at night. During the day, you can barely see the screen when it's sunny.
I agree with Louise to a certain extent. I thought it should be a quick affair to throw the ciggarette bud away. Who would actually stand there after throwing the bud just to watch news or some advertisement? I don't really think it is that attractive and efficient.
Nonsense, in my opinion Ashvertising is a smart concept and is focusing on a certain group in the market. The advantage is that this target group has and takes more time to watch longer or more commercials. Smoking a cigarette is not done in 15 seconds!
People are too much focused on the smoking issue, there are so many things bad for human, smoking is just one of them. Should we take out Digital Signage at McDonalds, do you have any idea how many people die of overweight leading to diabetes, heart disease, etc? Fast food is already a problem for very young kids and this will be a silent killer for the next coming years.
PS I’m a non smoker, never touched a cigarette!