Marion making move with digital billboard

Marion making move with digital billboard

City will promote near Bass Pro Pyramid

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion is going to drop its billboard near E& R Rigging and go with a digital board near the Pyramid.

The city has rented the billboard at the overpass for the past two years for $1,000 a month, but members of the Advertising and Promotions Committee believe they may be able to catch more traffic earlier and have more messages with the one across the river before the two interstates split off.

“I’m ready to try something different,” said Mayor Frank Fogleman. “The traffic count on I-55 north is about 30,0000 cars. But a significant portion is locals. And if we want to encourage somebody to stop, we’ve missed a bunch of them. So to move our message east and divide our messages up, to me is it worth trying.”

The city currently has four billboard promoting Marion with the “refuel, refresh, relax” message — the one at E& R Rigging, Stadium Boulevard in Jonesboro, B& G Outdoor in Blytheville, and the one at the Turrell exit.

Councilman David Bigger said he likes the message, but questioned whether the money would be better spent by trying to catch more traffic before I-55 and I-40 diverge.

“I like the concept of what you are trying to do — to say hey, stop here,” Bigger said. “But shouldn’t we be moving that further up so that they don’t stop in West Memphis? As they are coming through West Memphis there are so many places they can stop. I’d rather see a sign that tells them to drive a little further on I-55.”

Tracy Brick, director of member services and events for the Marion Chamber of Commerce, said the digital billboard by the Pyramid isn’t that expensive to rent and has the added advantage of being able to change the message on a daily basis.

“We talked about it once before,” Brick said. “It’s not that expensive. Your message isn’t continuous. I think it is like eight seconds. But that is a lot of traffic and you can change your message without any additional charge or having to get the drape changed.”

Brick said the city could also sublet the billboard by allowing local businesses to put messages on it as well.

“If Shake Shack wanted to have it for a week we could charge them for one week,” Brick said. “So if you can’t afford $12,000 a year to sign a contract, you might be able to afford $500 or something. That might be something we could offer to some of our businesses so they can get their message out there.”

Chamber President Mike Demster said the digital board could also be used to promote upcoming events like Esperanza Bonanza or local attractions.

“There is so much traffic through there,” Demster said. “You could do something

like ‘Sultana Disaster

Museum 12 minutes ahead.’” Bigger said the digital billboard

is a better value for

the money.

“I like the idea of the digital and being able to give so many messages,” Bigger said.

By Mark Randall