Here in Manhattan, I have seen so many commercials in the past year alone for Sonic, the fast food joint, that it would make sense to assume that there are Sonic locations in the area, right? Maybe not necessarily in NYC, but perhaps Jersey or Long Island. Nope. Not one. In fact, according to their website (sonicdrivein.com), there are no Sonic locations in the entire *Northeast.* I'd have to make a trip to the Virginias to find one. This bothers me because I've been hooked by the commercials. I am craving their food...the burgers, the breakfast burritos, the blue soda. I'm hoping that somebody who knows their food will tell me it sucks - that will make me feel at least a little better. There are about 20 states that don't have any Sonics - seems kind of stupid for a national ad campaign.
But not if they are planning on expanding to other markets its not. That means that once they expand farther north, there is already and established brand identity and you will almost have to try it out.
I went to Sonic's while I was on the road for work in Florida and Colorado, and I've been jonesing for one to open here. That and a Steak 'n Shake.
(edited by Grimis on 12.1.05 1016) Well, just as an attorney, as a human being, I would have thought that if there were recommendations that were so blatantly and flagrantly over the line in terms of torture, that you might have recognized them. I mean, it certainly appears to me that water boarding, with all its descriptions about drowning someone to that kind of a point, would come awfully close to getting over the border, and that you'd be able to at least say today, There were some that were recommended or suggested on that, but I certainly wouldn't have had a part of that, as a human being. - Senator Ted Kennedy, confirmation hearing of Alberto Gonzales, 1/7/2005
As someone who used to work for an advertising-monitoring company, let me jump in...
There are essentially three kinds of ads -- local, regional and national. Obviously, the bill goes up as your audience goes up.
Regional advertising is most often used by companies that own similar franchises that run under different names in different places. (I'm trying to think of a really good example. A few department store and supermarket chains come to mind.) The same commercial will run in different regions, with little if anything changed beyond the name of the store that's mentioned. Not all networks offer regional buys to advertisers in all programs.
Sonic, on the other hand, is Sonic everywhere. They're not in every state, but they're in more of them than they aren't. If Sonic has a choice between negotiating to buy time for a handful of identical commercials in various regions or simply making one purchase that'll cover their entire base, the simple approach is easier on the paperwork AND possibly more cost-effective.
Plus, as was noted, Sonic may look into expanding further north. We used to wonder "What the hell's a Quizno's?" around Philly for years, and now they're popping up around here like dandelions.
"...I'm sorry, I was wrong -- we cannot go back and make it that the Hawaiians killed Christ." -- Jennifer Giroux, professional wingnut
Originally posted by Matt TrackerIt sucks. Hot and Now was* MUCH better and cheaper by far.
*I say 'was' because I haven't seen one in the Carolina Upstate in years.
I'd have to disagree with that in every way possible.
Plus, Sonic is still around and, as far as I know, Hot and Now declared bankruptcy and folded the vast majority of their stores. I think there may still be a couple of independent stores bearing that name but I'm almost certain, read I'm too lazy right now in the limited time between classes to go look it up, that Hot and Now as a chain is gone and has been for a couple of years.
Tim
Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit. -- Erasmus
Hot n' Now started out as a Michigan chain, which was bought by PepsiCo in the days of the "double-drive-thru" craze, expanded quickly nationally, declared a failure, sold back to some Michigan dudes, and all the stores nationally closed (save for a bunch in Michigan and a couple in neighboring states.)
Sonic is awesome. Second best (to Wienerschnitzel) chili dogs that I know of, best popcorn chicken that I know of, decent burgers, and an absolutely obnoxious line of drinks. I pull through for a Rte 44 Strawberry Slush on the way to work in the morning at least once a week.
Plus, they'll customize anything you can think of if they have the ingredients on hand. I get them to make me a Chili Breakfast Toaster once in awhile (replacing the usual breakfast meat with chili.)
Although I too would like to have a Steak n Shake around here...
Speaking of smaller exposure chains going to national advertising, I noticed Jack in the Box was running ads on ESPN during the bowl games.
We've been getting the Sonic ads here as well, with no franchise in sight. I agree - they sound pretty yummy! Lukcily, we do now have some Steak N' Shakes popping up in the area. Man, their chili and their Oreo shakes are sublime!
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Originally posted by Matt TrackerIt sucks. Hot and Now was* MUCH better and cheaper by far.
*I say 'was' because I haven't seen one in the Carolina Upstate in years.
I would disagree also. I spent a year living in NC, between Raleigh and Fayetteville, and there was a Sonic about a half mile down the road from us. We ate there every now and then, and thought the food was better than average for a fast-food place. The whole drive-in thing adds to it also, not that I could possibly need more ketchup stains on my floor mats. I get the same cravings seeing those Sonic commercials, but even White Castle burgers look somewhat appealing on TV.
A lot of people don't realize what's really going on. They view life as a bunch of unconnected incidents and things. They don't realize that there's this, like, lattice of coincidence that lays on top of everything. Give you an example, show you what I mean: suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either. It's all part of a cosmic unconciousness.
We're bomabrded with Sonic commercials here in the L.A. area as well. I decided one day to see where the closest one was and the only one even remotely nearby was Anaheim, a good 45 minute drive away. The next closest location is in Bakersfield, where oddly enough there are THREE Sonics all within a few minutes of each other.
Originally posted by Mr Heel IISpeaking of smaller exposure chains going to national advertising, I noticed Jack in the Box was running ads on ESPN during the bowl games.
I saw those here in Florida, despite the nearest Jack in the Box restaurants being in Louisiana and South Carolina. I guess it's only a matter of time, and I'm dreading it. I grew up with Yack in the Box in California, and I couldn't stand it even as a kid. But something... KEPT... DRAGGING... ME... BACK. They'd change a burger, I'd go try it. They'd make taquitos, I'd eat them. A couple of kids would die from e. coli from Jack in the Box... eh, I think they have a new chicken sandwich. I felt like Portnoy from "Bloom County" dragging himself out of his house in the dead of night to get a "#@%&*! Boo Boo Burger." I don't think I ever enjoyed a thing I got from there, but I couldn't stop saying, "One more try." Guess what I'll say when they open a place in Tampa?
Of course, what kills me is that Jack in the Box will probably be here in 5 years, whereas I'll be about 60 before there's an In-N-Out Burger in Tampa... if they even get here by then. There's no freaking justice.
I feel your pain somewhat. Every now and then, I'll catch a Checkers ad, which are nowhere to be found here in Denver. But we have Good Times, which is similar (although their burgers taste like old lunch-room food). It's stupid, but I always get a kick out of travelling around and seeing the different fast food joints and TV ads. Whattaburger, Hot Dog on a Stick, Miami Subs, Steak n' Shake, etc.
I've always thought Denver was on the low-end of the food chain, so to speak. In 2000, Cingular ads were all over the place, and the service didn't arrive here until 2002. I had never heard of "IKEA" until it was featured on the "Amazing Race"...and I guess those are quite abundant. As a kid, I was haunted by Toys R' Us and Lionel Playworld ads, and those joints didn't arrive here until the mid to late 80's.
Originally posted by ZeruelThere are no Jack-in-the-box's, White Castle's, nor Sonic's in the DC area.
I actually got to a Jack-in-the-Box in El Paso, of all places.(How come I only get to try these places when I'm on the road for work?). It wasn't bad, but no different really than Hardee's/Carl's Jr.
Well, just as an attorney, as a human being, I would have thought that if there were recommendations that were so blatantly and flagrantly over the line in terms of torture, that you might have recognized them. I mean, it certainly appears to me that water boarding, with all its descriptions about drowning someone to that kind of a point, would come awfully close to getting over the border, and that you'd be able to at least say today, There were some that were recommended or suggested on that, but I certainly wouldn't have had a part of that, as a human being. - Senator Ted Kennedy, confirmation hearing of Alberto Gonzales, 1/7/2005