Advertising Won't Work Here

A radio station saleswoman, hair pulled back, suit well tailored, portfolio carried with a PDA peeking out, walks in and greets the store owner with a firm handshake, and announces that she wants to talk about his advertising. She is polite and on his side. The shopkeep says there is no point. Advertising doesn't work. He tried it. It failed. We don't do ads here. She is sympathetic and points out the ways in which advertising does work. He is steadfast. He tried and failed. No more advertising here. End of story. The saleswoman, in an attempt to show the store owner another perspective, agrees to give him a free commercial. It will cost him nothing. He's intrigued. The word free holds some intrigue, sometimes. The spot will begin running tomorrow morning and will make the following offer: Everything in the store, Free. All service calls, Free. The businessman protests immediately. He'll be ruined. Hundreds, if not thousands of people will flock to his store and pick it clean. The radio lady wonders how this can be, because they have clearly established that advertising doesn't work. After some discussion, it is agreed that advertising does work, but the message has to be just right and delivered to the right audience at the right time.