Have You Given Bumper Stickers the Bump?

Once upon a time, bumper stickers were the darlings of promotional merchandisers and advertising agencies everywhere.

Of course this was a long time before the advent of social media!

A BUMPER CROP OF BUMPER STICKERS

Bumper stickers were cheap and cheerful to manufacture in bulk, which meant they made an excellent "freebie" - and kids loved them! It’s quite likely that just as many bumper stickers ended up on school bags, lunch boxes, skateboards, desks and doors as they did on car bumper bars.

In the 1960's and 1970’s (that era when we embraced all things kitsch, tacky and gaudy), it didn’t matter if you drove a luxurious European car or an old heap. No car was complete without a sticker or two on their shiny metal bumper bar or even on the paintwork!

By the 1980’s, television and radio stations had decided to cash in on the promotional value of the ubiquitous bumper sticker, offering the chance to win prizes should your car be spotted out and about sporting their logo. There was just once catch: you had to tune into their station on a particular day at a particular time to find out if you were a lucky winner and phone them straight away – or hope that you had a friend or family member watching who could let you know!

Bumper stickers were also a great way to boast about your travels and holidays, without having to say a word. From Broken Hill to Broome, Cairns to Canberra, the more towns represented on your car (or caravan), the better.

From the products and brands we loved to the places we visited, we were stuck on our bumper stickers.

THE FASHION FADED

But times changed.

As a society we became more cynical, and no longer wanted to give these "ads" a free ride (excuse the pun).

It seems we are reluctant to ruin the look of our car now that shiny metal bumper bars have been replaced with plastic and polycarbonate versions, which are more likely to have the finish ruined by sticker adhesive.

Car window stickers became the next big thing and were more easily removed if tastes or owners changed. Hands up if you were one of the millions who succumbed to the lure of a baby on board, frangipanni, or family of stick figures?!

Like all fads, car window stickers had their time in the sun and have also faded.

What isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon however, is our desire to use our cars to express our style and our passions.

TODAY'S TRENDS

While personalised plates have been around for a long time, in recent years they have experienced a tremendous surge in popularity.

Being just a bit more pricey than the humble bumper sticker, a set of customised plates is a great way to add prestige to your car and express your personality. And unlike stickers, they don’t ruin the paintwork or the finish of your car.

Expensive they may be, but once you’ve made the initial investment, they can be kept and re-used on subsequent vehicles.

As to the next big trend in car accessories? It seems that only time will tell...

Janet Camilleri loves writing for the web. In addition to her work in content marketing, she also blogs as the Middle Aged Mama, about learning to fashion a new life now that her kids are grown.