Digital Ads Help the Homeless
Advertising company Clear Channel owns more than 1K digital kiosks in Stockholm. Last year, they partnered with the city to promote social good. With help from nonprofits, Clear Channel identified 53 billboards in the city in close proximity to frequented homeless spots.
“It started with us asking, ‘How can we use our screens, our technology, and infrastructure to do something good?’” said David Klagsbrun, head of communications at Clear Channel Scandinavia. “…in the street, in the city centers, in the subway systems–-and that’s actually where this other group of people spends their whole lives. It’s where they reside.” When temperatures drop below 19°F, organizations open their doors as part of an agreement to support at-risk populations. Therefore, when gravely cold, these Clear Channel billboards play two ad loops, one displaying the nearest shelters and the other, a notice to volunteers to donate. Seems like Clear Channel is taking a page from What Happens in Vegas Stays on YouTube.
(Source: Fast Company)
Austin Population to Reach 1M
Austin, Texas’s current population resides at 981,035 and is expected to reach 1M by 2020. If so, Austin will be added to a list of 11 U.S. cities with populations reaching 1M, including Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston. As this particular 1M milestone is reachable, the city as a whole will experience a “rapidly falling share of total population growth in the five-county metro area” due to a higher cost of living, however, Austin still continues to be one of the fastest growing metros in the U.S. In November, the median price of a single-family home landed at $374,900, a 5% jump over the past year (the median home value in Texas is $191,900). In fact, there has been an influx of startups making Austin a home. The U.S. Army’s new Army Futures Command unit to Resideo (home tech company) to Apple’s new 133-acre campus are all making a move to set up a presence in Texas’ capital. Keep Austin Crowded?
(Source: Austin CultureMap)
Puppy Scams
Puppy scams are on the rise, especially since the holidays have come to a close and Santa has yet to deliver that Teacup Yorkie you already paid for. Experts believe 80% of sponsored advertising links for pets may be fraudulent. Where are these fraudulent links coming from? According to a study by BBB, most cases originate from Cameroon, West Africa. Apparently, thieves place polished ads online that lead to legitimate-looking sites with pictures of puppies. They then ask for an upfront payment from puppy lovers through Western Union and MoneyGram, which Cameroonians residing in the U.S. collect. One elaborate incident happened to Kanetria Hutcherson when searching for a puppy for her daughter. The scheme went as far as sending her emails that appeared to be from Delta Airlines, claiming she needed to send additional money for a special crate, food, and water. Hutcherson was unable to afford all the additional costs, so the “seller” threatened to call the FBI to charge her with animal abandonment if she didn’t comply. She wired an additional $240 after she was told the payment was refundable. Hutcherson uncovered the scam after calling Delta Airlines directly. You can find a list of reported pet scams here, or maybe this story will give you all the more reasons to adopt from local shelters.
(Source: Better Business Bureau)
