Kidnap victim on the tailgate: poor taste or good business?

[Art Mann]

WACO, TEXAS — A Texas sign company has lit a powderkeg of local controversy by creating a truck tailgate decal depicting a woman tied up in the back of a truck.

The image, modelled by one of Hornet Signs’ own employees and applied to another employee’s truck, looks so real that several concerned citizens called 911 to report a possible kidnapping, according to .

Hornet Signs owner, Brad Kolb (see video below), admits he was a little taken aback by reaction to the decal. He noted the company doesn’t “condone this by any means.”

Instead, he says, “it was more or less something we put out there” to see if it got noticed.

And yes, it got noticed. In a big way. But is get-attention-by-any-means a good business strategy?

The blowback has been pretty heated, with a Facebook page devoted to opinions on the shockingly lifelike decal garnering almost nothing but negative feedback.

Noted one woman: “Abduction or any violence against women is not funny or cute.”

 

[STU700]

Definitely poor taste but they got tons of free publicity out of it.

 

[BigBoner]

Tasteless and the knew it would create uproar from people. Just a shrewd way to advertise.

 

[TINY]

Have to agree with the lady.


Noted one woman: “Abduction or any violence against women is not funny or cute.”

 

[Cardinal Fang]

That's a sexist comment. Shouldn't she say “Abduction or any violence against person is not funny or cute.”

You're correct. However this owner did not select just any person. He selected a woman for the ad because that gets the most press or the most reaction.

 

[dreamblade]

As inappropriate as my sense of humour can be, I draw the line way before this. It's not just in poor taste, it's disgusting, glorification of abuse, and although there should not be any laws against this, I would punch the guy who thought this up.

 

[BEER]

Because being in Texas. It would not surprise me if someone takes their gun and shoot the truck that has the soldier with his pointing rifle.

 

[HOF]

:no:

 

[McGuinty]

Very poor taste.

 

[Lorenzo]

Haven't you all leaned that bad-sad news sells?.

 

[chokemychicken]

He's selling more wraps which proves it worked. Tasteless, maybe but brilliant and he does know how to wrap tailgates.

 

[Tourist]

I liked this one I saw a while ago.