Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Meet the rolling QR code, by @AmeriSignGFX.
Photo credit: Chris Sherman
2011 has been the breakout year for QR codes in the U.S. I’ve seen their use increase greatly over the past three months and articles like this one make me think they’re here to stay for a while. After experimenting with the various shapes and size that QR codes can take, I never thought I’d see anything as interesting as this.
Chris Sherman, owner of AmeriSign & Graphics in Pewaukee, WI has taken QR code application to the next level with his newly-wrapped “@AmerScion”. To put it lightly, he’s made a rolling QR code that can be scanned at almost any angle. It’s as eye-catching as it is innovative, which should surprise no one that knows Chris or his business. Eye-catching and innovative are staples in every bit of work they do, and this vehicle wrap is no different.
Impromptu interview
After seeing the new @AmeriScion around town, I went to the source to get some additional details on this mobile marketing machine. Here’s a quick Q&A with Chris:
Q. Why create a rolling QR code?
Chris Sherman - I love to network and market my company. With the ability to actually change what the code points to, I thought this was the best way to combine the use of Facebook & Twitter by offering contests and give-a-ways for people who find the car, scan it and see what they get.
Q. What was the motivation behind it?
CS - I did some research and didn’t find anything like this out there, anywhere. I know there are vehicles with QR Codes on them, but none that are fully wrapped. This made me excited to be able to get out there first since I know this is so new and so many people are talking about it. Plus, it is so cool to be able to change the specials and content that the code points to depending on time of year, events we are attending etc…
Q. Where do you see QR code use going, both from the consumer and implementation side?
CS - I see limitless potential with the QR Code. When I am at the store and I see these on products that I am interested in, I scan it and it shows me videos, other products by the same manufacturer, more details on a specific product, the list goes on. Plus, being in the printing industry, I see even more opportunity for printing these on marketing materials.
This might be a topic for another post, but people are saying that social media may be the death of printing, but I see it differently. We have seen such an increase of clients wanting QR Codes printed on their marketing materials (along with Twitter & Facebook handles etc…), so it has actually increased sales.
Q. How has the updated @AmeriScion been received and how much use has the QR code gotten so far?
CS - Well, to say it simply, worldwide coverage. This has been out for less than a week, and there are blogs and articles in multiple countries about this car. Just amazing.
