one of our favorite shows to watch is American Pickers. if you've not seen it, the show is about 2 good ol' boys from Iowa who travel around the country looking to purchase ("pick") antiques, signs, Americana, and "rusty gold" for resale in their shops in LeClaire Iowa and Nashville Tennessee.
during each episode, we (the viewers) get to hear a little of their banter back and forth as they are driving in their van.
last night, I heard something in this banter that was new to me.... there are companies/employers out there who will pay bonuses to their employees for getting a tattoo of the company's logo.
I couldn't believe this, so I went digging out on the internet.
Sure enough!
"A New York-based real estate firm Rapid Realty has offered its 800 employees a 15% pay raise if they tattoo the company’s logo onto their bodies."
"So far, nearly 40 employees accepted the challenge."
Unbelievable!
I just can't imagine folks willing to do this. What if things go south and the employer changes jobs? Or, the company is purchased by another and changes names/logos? worse yet, what if the company goes under?
And, where does this tattoo have to be placed?
"There were apparently no size or location restrictions for the logo tattoos."
Hmmmmm, would an employer actually honor the deal if the employee got the logo on her left butt cheek? I presume that she'd have to prove it to claim the reward.... doesn't that open up a whole world of sexual harassment possibilities.... bearing your buns to the boss??
This whole thing seems very weird.
"The employees who have gotten inked get a lot of respect from the other agents with the amount of commitment that they have."
OK, really? Putting in longer hours or wrapping your car in vinyl advertising wouldn't accomplish the same thing?
I actually found another example....
Anytime Fitness pays for employees to be tattooed with its "running man" logo, and more than 1,200 have taken advantage of the offer.
1,200!!??!!?? That's cult-following level, isn't it?
yeesh!
Think how expansive this type of "branding" could get if Jimmy John's went for it:
I'm all about being a dedicated, company man.... but not a tattooed company man.
Out for now.....
Matt