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INDIANAPOLIS – Fumigations, with their brightly colored tarps covering homes and other large structures, are eye-catching events. Displaying a banner with company contact information on the tarped home serves as a “billboard” and is an effective way to help market a fumigator’s services to hundreds of potential customers. The winners of the third annual “Fumigation Banner Bonanza Contest”– sponsored by the Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC) and Dow AgroSciences, manufacturer of Vikane® gas fumigant – are taking advantage of this unique marketing opportunity.
This year’s first place prize was awarded to Specialty Termite, Inc., of Pleasanton, who received an honorable mention in last year’s contest. The company’s banner highlighted the corporate principles of honesty, loyalty and integrity, along with the company logo, which featured cartoon-like drawings of termites.
“Banners are an absolutely essential part of promoting our business – we use them at all of our fumigation jobs to help generate business leads and get our name out there," said Mark Kearns, president and owner of Specialty Termite. "When done correctly, banners can be the most cost effective advertising tool for businesses. This contest is a great way to encourage companies to really think about how to create the most effective banner and we are very proud that we took first place!”
Finishing in second place was Full House Exterminators of Arroyo Grande, with a banner depicting the company logo on a white background. Taking third was Bakersfield-based Clark Pest Control, whose banner featured the company logo and contact information surrounded by a colorful border.
Contest rules were easy to follow. Fumigation companies were asked to submit color photos of their banners, which were required to feature a distinguishable logo, the business name and phone number, and be visible to passers-by (e.g., 4 x 8 feet, 3 x 10 feet or 4 x 12 feet). Banners were judged on not only readability from a distance, but professionalism, visual impact and attractiveness. The first place winner received a $1,500 gift certificate, while second and third place finishers received $1,000 and $500 gift certificates, respectively.
“Fumigators only have a few seconds to catch the attention of people passing by, so their company banner needs to relay a clear and concise message very quickly,” says Drew Ratterman, Dow AgroSciences marketing manager for Vikane® gas fumigant. “We’re proud to support this contest each year as a way to help our fumigator partners build their businesses.”
Earning honorable mentions in this year’s contest were Holdsworth Pest Control, Solana Beach; Orange County Pest Control, Inc., Laguna Hills; and Sloan’s Exterminators, Ventura.
For more information about fumigation with Vikane gas fumigant, visit www.TermiteTenting.com.