These days, when we see a flashy new vehicle wrap on a car, we do not realize that many forms of outdoor advertising are relatively new. And, while vinyl wraps have come a long way in recent years, the lineage of outdoor advertising can be traced back to the earliest civilizations. In fact, to publicize treaties and laws, the Egyptians used tall stone obelisks thousands of years ago. Let’s take a closer look at the history of outdoor advertising.
The Early Years of Outdoor Advertising
With the handbill, the modern era of advertising was launched in 1450 when Johannes Gutenberg invented movable type printing. The illustrated poster followed in 1796 with the improvement of the lithographic process. To make sure exposure to posters were sustained, bill posters built their own structures in desirable locations where pedestrian and vehicular traffic was heaviest. The Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA), offered the following video if you want to go more in depth on the topic.
In the 1830s, billboards started to appear. Originally, American roadside advertising was limited to glued posters or painted signs local merchants put up on fences and walls to let people know their store up the road sold useful items, like rheumatism pills or horse blankets. By 1835, Jared Bell produced the first large format American poster of more than 50 square feet for a circus in New York.
The 1900s: The Rise of the Billboard
In America, a standardized billboard structure was established in 1900. This attracted big advertisers who could count on uniform billboard advertisements from coast to coast. By 1912, all major urban centers had billboards. As part of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, billboards were limited to industrial and commercial areas.
In the 1970s, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was commissioned by a group of billboard companies to figure out a way to paint bulletins by computer. This was the forerunner of the digital wide format printer commonly used today that can print directly onto vinyl.
Advertising from the 1990s to Today
Alternative media, billboards, digital place based screens, transit, and even street furniture are among the diverse range of advertising formats found today. In 1990, the vast majority of outdoor advertisers agreed to limit the placement of messages that market services and products that cannot be sold to minors. This was followed up later in the decade with a ban on ads for tobacco products.
By 2005, the first digital billboards began popping up. These soon became a mainstay along major highways in most cities. Also, in the past decade, major vinyl manufacturers, like 3M and Avery, started developing vinyl for use in vehicle wraps.
Vehicle Wraps Are King Today
Outdoor advertising with vehicle wraps in North Jersey is now the most effective way to get your message out there. Due to developments in the technology behind making wraps, they are now affordable for just about any business or individual. Our state of the art wide format digital printer will print any image you want with sharp, vibrant colors. And, our installation process will ensure it lasts for many years to come. In the end, you are reaching more people at a lower cost than any other form of advertising.
If you are ready to boost your outdoor advertising, contact The Sign Center for car wraps today!
