I’m not exactly sure what one has to do to get this kind of free advertising in a major paper, but big props to the guys at Buc-ees for getting it done for themselves. I will say this, they’ve got an interesting story, and they certainly picked a good location in Luling, because it used to be fifty miles of basically nothing between Seguin and Flatonia. As the parent of preschoolers, believe me when I say that having more potty options on the highway, especially ones that are dependably clean, is a very nice thing. If they do for Madisonville and Wharton what they’ve done for Luling and Giddings, I’ll consider that a good thing.
One more item:
The flagship Buc-ee’s draws a vivid mix of big city and small town customers, and on weekends they come in droves. Busloads of soldiers and students poured in on a recent Sunday.
It seems to have special appeal for children and college students: “They all want a T-shirt — they all think it’s cool,” said Andrew Herman, a sixth-grade Kinkaid School teacher with his class.
Bumper stickers, too. I’ve seen a ton of them in the past year or two. You have to respect that kind of viral marketing capability.
Having taken 10 from Houston to Columbus (and then 71 to Austin) recently, let me tell you, they also have a crapload of paid advertising. Michael and I were counting: they have more signs than Natural Bridge Caverns!