Bumvertising

Bumvertising is a form of informal employment in which a homeless person is paid to display advertising.

The Bumvertising website publicizing this form of advertising was launched in August 2005 by Benjamin Rogovy, a 22-year-old entrepreneur who hired homeless men in the U.S. city of Seattle, Washington, to carry signs with the URL of his poker player match-up site. [Cathy Sorbo. (August 20, 2005). “‘Bumvertising’ is a new take on a necessary evil.” "Seattle Post-Intelligencer." [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/saturdayspin/237300_sorbo20.html] —accessed August 30, 2005.]

In high traffic areas, such as intersections many beggars hold up a sign describing their plight but most people that pass by do not contribute to the beggar. To an advertiser this could be a valuable resource to reach a broader audience. The homeless person will usually carry the sign for a small amount of money or food for a rather low expense to the advertiser. The cost to get the beggar to hold the sign is much cheaper than paying minimum wage to a person wearing a sandwich board or costume.

Homeless advocates accuse Rogovy of exploiting the poor and take particular offense to the use of the word “bum” which is generally considered pejorative. [“Web-Entrepreneur Banks of Bum-Vertising: Homeless Advocates Say He’s Exploiting the Poor.” ABC News Original Report. [http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=1028240&page=1] —accessed August 30, 2005.] [Rowe, Claudia, [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/240452_bumvertising13.html "Bumvertising" stirs debate : Idea by young entrepreneur draws worldwide attention -- both positive and negative"] , Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Tuesday, September 13, 2005]

Rogovy was parodied during an interview by correspondent Dan Bakkedahl on the September 20, 2005 episode of "The Daily Show". [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUjJtpBa6w0 Daily Show Report on Bumvertising] ] Bumvertising has also received non-comedic coverage in blogs, newspapers, and television shows from around the world. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ITQp66B3a8 Komo 4 Report on Bumvertising] ] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yLBAXlyuXU Q13 Fox News Report on Bumvertising] ] It was most recently discussed by a panel of marketing experts on The Gruen Transfer, a popular Australian marketing show.

References

External links

* [http://www.bumvertising.com/ Bumvertising's Official Website]