I will often be driving by one of the local car dealerships (or oil change places, or some other motor vehicle related service) and see those large blue or red inflatable firecrackers swaying in the wind. Sometimes I’ll see an inflatable King Kong or Godzilla, and sometimes I’ll see an inflatable dirigible suspended overhead one of these businesses. Maybe I’m the strange one, but not once have any of these attention-getters made me actually want to stop inside one of these places, especially when it comes to making a major purchase such as a car. As for other services like oil changes and dent repairs: I would go to any reputable place but only when necessary. So here’s my question: Does anybody actually stop and buy a car (or any other service for that matter) because he/she saw an inflatable firecracker or other such advertising tool on somebody’s business? Have any studies been done to show such gimmicks work? I’m assuming that they do because I’ve seen them for years, but I cannot think of one good reason to buy off a place simply because of giant inflatables. Any thoughts and/or facts here?
There was a car dealer in the Twin Cities a few years ago who took a LOT of flak from his competitors because he put out a radio ad that asked pretty much the same question, ending with “You know what? I’m not going to get a giant monkey.”
LOL! Good for him! But again I have to ask, What advertising agency thought that people would see giant inflatable monsters and firecrackers and say “Oh check that out! Let’s go buy a new car!” Where are Don Draper and Roger Sterling when we need them!?
I think something big indicates the presence. I noticed places near, but not next to the freeway will have huge tethered balloons, often resembling hot-air baloons, with the business name on them. For places far from the main thoroughfare of a city, this might be a good way to let motorists know they even exist, ie "Bob’s discount carpet emporium, located at [Unincorporated part of city containing entire city population of sex offenders] 
I think the fact that you noticed that there is a car dealership, an oil change place, or a dent repair shop underneath those inflatable things showed that they did their job. You know that they are there. You know how hard it and how much money it costs just for a business to have people know that they exist?
Sure, the tacky stuff might be weird to you, but it still can be effective. Lets say 1000 people driving by notice the oil change place because of the giant gorilla. Say 2 weeks later they get a 5 dollar off coupon in the mail from the same place and they will say- I know where this place is, it is on my way to work. I will give them a try. Or maybe they need an oil change and are thinking of a new place to take their car and remember that there is one they have not tried. That person can’t go to an oil change place that they don’t know exists.