New outdoor format, Airscreen, comes to India

Today, brands are moving beyond conventional outdoor vehicles and trying innovative new formats to communicate their messages. With the outdoor industry growing sturdily in India, a number of new formats have been introduced by international media companies that see potential in this market.

Recently, German company Airscreen, which manufactures inflatable hoardings, made its way to India. Crossbow Innovative Advertising, a Delhi-based outdoor company, has bagged the exclusive distribution rights to Airscreen and Airframe, the two products of the company, Airscreen. Both products are made out of inflatable polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which can be moulded in the shape of a hoarding.

To start with, Crossbow Innovative Advertising has purchased 15 of Airscreen’s products and plans to add more as the company grows. A special blower is used to inflate both Airframe and Airscreen; once deflated, they can be transported anywhere quite easily.

Rajesh Suri, director, Crossbow Innovative Advertising, tells afaqs!, “We wanted to offer large format media, which was also aesthetically appealing, in the Indian market. There are times when companies do not have large projectors while conducting events. Airscreen is our answer to this problem. We will also rent out Airframes and Airscreens for sales driven campaigns. Both our products are high on mobility and this will work in favour of the brands that advertise on them.”

The product can also be used on landscapes and in open areas where people gather. The company will see its first campaign launch in India this month.

More than 40 countries, including the US, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, the UK and Australia, are already using Airscreen products. But will this product get a favourable response in India?

Christian Kremer, chief executive officer, Airscreen, sounds hopeful when he says, “We think that India could be a key market for us. We are sure that our products will soon get a good response from the OOH business in India.”

Monthly rentals for Airscreen products will start from Rs 25000 and go upto Rs 400000. A day's rent of an Airscreen for exhibition and event display will range between Rs 20000 and Rs 50000 approximately. All rentals will vary according to the size of the formats, locations and duration for which the products are rented.

Airscreen started off as a company that played movies at open air venues and made money from the stalls set up in the vicinity. Over time, it graduated to using this innovative technology as an outdoor advertising medium.