Experiential Marketing

Did This Pigeon Poop on Your Car? Take 5 Helps Identify the Crappy Culprit

The fast-growing retailer plans to give away 60,000 car washes in its most significant marketing to date

take-5-official-pigeon-2023 — More than 60,000 drivers will get free car washes, courtesy of 'official pigeon.'Take 5 Car Wash

By T.L. Stanley

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There are 8 million pigeons in America, by some estimates, so identifying the one that left those disgusting droppings on your car would be all but impossible—until now.

A marketing stunt from a nascent car wash chain called Take 5 named an “official pigeon,” outfitted it with a GPS device and let nature run its course.

After digital tracking and on-the-ground legwork, captured in a cheeky documentary-style video, the brand turned the critter’s nasty trail of guano-covered vehicles into free car washes for thousands of drivers.

From independent agency Erich

T.L. Stanley

T.L. Stanley is a senior editor at Adweek, where she specializes in consumer trends, cannabis marketing, plant-based food products, pop culture and creativity.

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