gate marketing

This is the new jargon in marketing.Yes,you guessed right,and invented by me this instant.Saw a board outside a gate "do not park in front of the gate".Fairly common sight you would say.But then what is unusual is that it is a "sponsored gate".The new marketing gimmick in this part of the town.Sponsored by ICICI Lombard.With mushrooming vehicles and very little road space to park them(cannot park inside apartment complexes,they are overflowing),so the bungalow owners do not want any vehicle to be parked in front of their gate.So they spend precious money and time and effort in fixing it in a queer angle and with lettering done by an amateur roadside painter.
Now enter the company agent who wants to sell householders insurance policy and cleverly spots an opportunity for a win win situation.He checks up with his boss for a sales promo expenditure of 100 rupees and gets an sms asking him to go ahead.So springs a very well painted board and the owner is eating out of his hands.Our friendly neighbourhood salesman has of course told the prospect, he is putting up the board out of pure goodwill and he does not have to take a policy from him.Yeah,right,exactly 3 days later our friend has thrust a cheque for a policy to our salesman.
And when heard last the virus of this company's gate boards have spread.And the success of any venture is when there is largescale copying.so it is that we see several companies vying for "gate" space and eye contact space of customers.
Marketing strategists tell us that this is the most cost effective outdoor sales promotion invented by man so far.It costs 100 rupees, needs no maintenance and is at eyelevel and message reaches the target audience very effectively.
If this is not gate marketing i dont know gate marketing if i see one!