Realtor Jim Shaffer Responds to Defaced Ads with Sense of Humor
(Crystal A. Proxmire, May 3, 2023)
Royal Oak, Ferndale, MI – Visitors to the Royal Oak and Ferndale area may recognize the smiling face of Jim Shaffer on billboards, building signs, bus stop benches, and other advertising venues (including Oakland County Times). Shaffer has been helping people with their real estate needs for over 15 years, and in that time he has, at times, seen some interesting alterations to his ads, usually done by a vandal with a magic marker.
But recently someone put googly eyes over a bench in Ferndale, giving Shaffer and Associates Marketing Director Jes Yeager the idea to poke some fun back.
“Last summer someone ‘vandalized’ our Ferndale bench at 9 Mile & Pinecrest by putting googly eyes on Jims face,” Yeager said. “It never fails that all of our benches in Ferndale eventually get messed with one way or another. So when we were brainstorming new bench designs for 2023 I thought why not beat them to it? As soon as I added those googly eyes to him digitally, I knew I was on to something! It was hilarious to all of us so we went with it!”
The newly designed bench is catching the eyes of passersby, and making the rounds on social media. The image is only on one bench – the one that seems the most targeted. It should be noted that defacing someone else’s property is a crime, and even vandalism done with humorous intentions does have a cost.
But for Shaffer and his team, humor has been a good way to deal with a situation that could otherwise be frustrating.
“This fits with Jim’s personality because we never take ourselves too seriously,” Yeager said. “One of core values is FUN and we let that show in our marketing as often as possible. Jim is also pretty self deprecating and let’s himself be poked fun at.”
Check out the bench for yourself on Northbound Woodward Avenue just south of East Cambourne. And if you want to see Jim’s smiling face without the mustache and wide-eyes, check out their website at www.SoldCallJim.com . Also check out the Oakland County Times Event Page, sponsored by Jim Shaffer and Associates. Also look for the company’s Sip and Sell seminars and Home Buyer Happy Hours held at local restaurants – another way Shaffer and his team make real estate fun!
