EVERY BUMPER STICKER writes a story.
So what’s the story with the bumper sticker on the right, spotted while waiting at a stoplight in Burnsville a year ago?
The grammar police in me wanted to correct this sentence: My car sucks my Mechanic is on speed dial!” to “My car sucks. My mechanic is on speed dial.”
But, hey, it’s just a bumper sticker, I considered, and opted to focus on the message. The humor clearly works.
As much as words draw my attention, the cat graphics prompted me to learn more about Turbo Tim’s Anything Automotive. What’s a cat got to do with an auto shop in Northeast Minneapolis?
A lot apparently. A black cat, Bibby Bobbie Bibster, according to Turbo’s website, has been a certified Shop Kitty since 2011 and has worked the waiting room for the past three-plus years loving up customers.
That explains the black cat.
There’s one more thing. Slap a Turbo bumper sticker on your vehicle and you’ll get 10 percent off your bill up to $50 for the life of the car.
Based on reviews, Turbo Tim’s seems a customer-friendly place with folks using words like “trustworthy, honest, reasonably priced” and more to describe their experiences.
I can’t personally vouch for the service, but have no reason to doubt the testimonials.
As for the marketing, I peg it as creative and memorable.
HAVE YOU NOTICED any especially creative bumper stickers?
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Um.. maybe the lack of a comma was on purpose? an awful thought! c
I hope not. And, yes, that is an awful thought.
Great Marketing and who does not love a shop cat or dog! I worked for an equipment company and Ms. Bee (busy as a bee) was our shop dog; black lab. Now there is Mister Riley who visits every month or so and he is a therapy dog for the healthcare company I work for; chocolate lab. I love checking out bumper stickers, but have not seen one that has really stuck out to me lately. Happy Day – Enjoy 🙂
I’m glad you mentioned that dogs are also used as therapy animals. I’ve read that some college campuses, where many students deal with depression and anxiety, use dogs.
Yes, usually around testing times – midterms, finals, etc. Do you know if your son has a therapy dog on campus? A good majority of wineries in California and Oregon have winery dogs that are working dogs around the winery as well as greeters and marketers for the winery. I am sure there are a few cats about as well doing their jobs.
Yes, Tufts has a therapy dog available to students. This past summer he accompanied a friend who walked a dog named Only. Oh, how I laughed at that name. I don’t know the story behind it. Interestingly enough, my son did not particularly like dogs, or cats, as a child. Now he likes both and would probably have a cat if he wasn’t a poor college student.
A dog named Only – ha! – love to hear the story on the name. Good for Tufts and I am sure there are many college students that miss their pets back at home too. Cats are pretty low maintenance – maybe some day he will adopt a cat and/or dog.
I expect some day he may get a cat.
I like funny bumper stickers and business signs. Not to many bumper stickers here but I remember a Dairy Queen just outside of Le Sueur, MN that said “The boss told me to change the sign, so I did” That was many years ago but I still remember it!
That would make me laugh, too.
Cute!!!
I thought so, too.
Love it. Any bumper sticker with a cat on it wins in my book.
I knew it would.
I had a Pontiac Grand Am and the only thing I remember about it was: It was a good-looking car that was expensive to repair..
And you probably never bought another Pontiac Grand Am.
I noticed the grammar right away!
Yes!