Local startup uses apparel as a form of walking billboard space.
Chadwick Martin Bailey, a market research and consulting firm, has released the results of their recent poll regarding the way that people scan QR codes and it has led to some unique uses for the codes.
The survey involved the participation of almost 1,300 people regarding their scanning habits.
The poll found that 46 percent of the people who took part had scanned QR codes simply because they were “curious” about where it would lead. Jossle, a startup from Babson, Massachusetts, had its own curiosity piqued by this survey outcome, and it has now started a campaign that will help to make full use of this knowledge.
They saw QR codes as a unique opportunity for marketing in a new and interesting way.
This marketing program was based on the high interest in QR codes among college students. According to college junior, Eric Muli, “There’s this curiosity when you can scan the code to see where it will take you.” Making up the Jossle team, he and fellow juniors Daquan Oliver and Han Kim, in addition to Oluwarotimi Lademo, a sophomore, they are working to convert other college students into billboards that move about the campus. These students will be paid for their conversion into walking advertising.
For college students to be able to take advantage of this opportunity, they registered to become “Josslers”. They would then receive apparel and/or accessories – such as hoodies, t-shirts, backpacks, etc. – which can be worn. The apparel is obtained by Jossle by companies that are seeking the opportunity to target the college demographic.
Once the Josslers receive their apparel featuring QR codes from their campus reps, they simply wear it around and allow other students to scan the barcodes. Once the quick response codes are scanned, the smartphone user receives a promotion, and the Jossler obtains a certain amount of earning per completed scan.
According to Muli, the advertising companies and brands pay for both the apparel and the number of scans that they would like to receive from the QR codes on the apparel. Jossler then uses the campaign criteria to work with their New York suppliers in order to develop the right type and quantity of gear so that it can be distributed.