A Back-to-school marketing idea.

• Position: New Products - AllDorm Inc. dry-erase boards - AngelPoints Enterprise Volunteer Solutions

If you have visited a college dormitory recently, you may have noticed the popularity of dry-erase message boards. Students attach these boards to the outside of their doors and use them to leave messages for one another.

Now, a company has developed a way for banks to advertise inside dormitories through the use of these dry-erase message boards.

AllDorm Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., is offering exclusive university sponsorships for financial institutions wishing to reach the collegiate market during the 2004-2005 school year. Through the program, a 24-inch by 17.5-inch dry-erase board is placed on the door of each dorm room prior to students moving in. A portion of each board is dedicated to a 4-inch by 17.5-inch color advertisement. The boards are provided to the colleges free of charge.

The board, known as the AllDorm Billboard, attaches to the door using an adherent that causes no damage to the paint or wood. Schools like the boards because their use eliminates the need to repair or repaint doors as a result of traditional dry-erase boards attached with tape, glue, nails or tacks.

Students use the boards many times daily to leave messages for social events, homework reminders, and to-do lists. AllDorm says the boards offer banks an opportunity to brand themselves and create a "direct response initiative" that are seen all-day, every day by each student walking down the dorm hallway.

Past and present board sponsors include such financial service providers as Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Wachovia and Wells Fargo. AllDorm is a national retailer of dorm-room products. For more information, access www.alldorm.com

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