Celebrating 27 Years of Waterfront Advertising
When the clock strikes noon, it is time to raise the sails.
The captain hoists a six-story sailing billboard into position, and another day begins on the water. As the vessel catches the wind and glides along the shoreline, people wave, take photographs, and share the experience.
This year, Aaron Kiss and the Photo Sails fleet celebrate 27 years of helping leading brands extend their reach while creating memorable experiences for consumers.
Kiss pioneered the waterfront advertising category through a patented large format printing process that transformed ordinary sailboats into premium advertising platforms.
“Before Photo Sails, I operated a charter business and noticed that harbors were almost completely free of advertising, and they still are today,” said Kiss. “My life has always been on the water. I combined my passion with a high value marketing service. I am honored to have played a role in the stories of so many exceptional brands.”
Today, Photo Sails operates in 26 markets, flagship port cities include: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, San Diego, and Seattle. Sailing these highly populated coastlines allows campaigns to reach audiences far beyond those gathered directly along the waterfront.
Waterfront advertising remains one of the OOH industry’s hidden opportunities. It is where affluent consumers live, dine, vacation, and spend their leisure time. Millions of tourists also visit these destinations every year.
What truly differentiates the environment, however, is the audience’s mindset.
People at the water are relaxed. Instead of quickly passing an advertisement, they often watch a branded sail for more than a minute as it moves across the horizon. The experience feels less like traditional advertising and more like entertainment, resulting in stronger emotional connections, positive brand associations, and higher recall.
Many Photo Sails clients have continued their programs for multiple years, with some partnerships extending for 10 and even 20 years.
“An annual month-long activation allows a brand to become part of the landscape and part of the memories people create,” Kiss explained. “When someone returns to a waterfront destination year after year, your brand becomes part of that chapter in their life. In San Diego’s Mission Beach, for example, your campaign becomes part of the college experience for nearly 80,000 students. People celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and milestones at waterfront destinations. It is incredibly rewarding to watch people smile as we sail by.”
After 27 years, Photo Sails continues to prove that movement captures attention and that premium environments create lasting impressions.
Watch the 27 Years of Waterfront Advertising highlight reel: https://youtu.be/2TSiSFstav0
Photo Sails is a full service waterfront advertising agency that manages every detail, including branded sails and vessels, captains, campaign operations, VIP experiences, and hospitality, so brands can simply Own the Horizon.
PhotoSails.com
Photo Sails client Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc wine captured the attention of FIFA game attendees in Seattle this past July.