As restaurants sought to enhance their customer experience, they turned to vintage Coca-Cola menu boards to capture the essence of this iconic brand. The 1970s were a golden age for American diners. Stainless steel counters, jukeboxes humming Fleetwood Mac, and families gathering around orange vinyl booths defined an era. But a quiet revolution was happening on the walls of these establishments, led by Coca-Cola. Enter the Marketeer Menu Boards, Coca-Cola’s mid-1970s innovation that promised versatility, style, and increased sales for restaurants of all sizes and transformed diner menus forever.
Table of Contents
- 1 Today’s Special: Versatile Menu Boards
- 2 The Shape of Things to Come
- 3 Customized Boards to Reflect Personality
- 4 Quick Promotions, Big Returns
- 5 Pictorial Inserts: Selling the Meal With the Drink
- 6 A Cultural Snapshot: Diners and Drive-Ins in the 1970s
- 7 Why the Mid-to-Late 1970s?
- 8 Legacy of the Marketeer Menu Boards
- 9 Final Reflection: Today’s Special Forever
- 10 Learn More About the Company Brand Featured in this Promotion
Today’s Special: Versatile Menu Boards
Coca-Cola’s trade catalog from the era proudly declared:
“Today’s Special: Versatile Menu Boards”
These were more than just static signs. Designed with interchangeable panels and crisp typography, they allowed restaurateurs to update menus daily, without needing a new board.
The Shape of Things to Come
Illustrations in the catalog showed families enjoying burgers and fries under gleaming white menu boards with prices like:
- Jumbo Burger – 90¢
- Cheeseburger – $1.10
- French Fries – 30¢
The Coca-Cola logo, in its bold red script, anchored every board, linking quality beverages to hearty meals.
Customized Boards to Reflect Personality
Themed frames gave eateries personality:
- 🐮 Cow-shaped boards for steakhouses
- 🏖️ Lighthouse motifs for coastal diners
- 🎓 Graduation caps for college cafés
- 🤠 Covered wagons for western BBQ joints
These designs weren’t just functional, they were marketing tools.
Quick Promotions, Big Returns
With tear-sheet boards and grease-pencil inserts, specials could be written and erased daily. A few of the combos featured:
- 🍗 Fried Chicken & Coke
- 🌮 Tacos & Coke
- 🍔 Patty Melt & Coke
Coca-Cola wasn’t just selling soda; they were selling higher margins and a branded experience.
Pictorial Inserts: Selling the Meal With the Drink
High-quality photo inserts showed:
- Golden fried chicken next to an ice-cold Coke.
- Pepperoni pizza paired with Coca-Cola.
- Burgers, fries, and paper Coke cups under bright diner lights.
These inserts helped even small diners look as professional as rising fast-food chains.
A Cultural Snapshot: Diners and Drive-Ins in the 1970s
Molded chairs, chrome soda fountains, paper hats, these visuals captured more than menus. They documented an era of community, affordability, and Americana, where a family meal out cost under $5.
Why the Mid-to-Late 1970s?
“Coke adds life” slogan debuted in 1976.
- TAB and Fanta branding mirror Coca-Cola’s 70s product lineup.
- Prices match pre-inflation dining costs.
- Soft watercolor illustrations echo 1970s advertising styles.
By 1982, digital menus and Diet Coke would usher in a new era. But in these pages, Coca-Cola reigned supreme.
Legacy of the Marketeer Menu Boards
Today, surviving examples of these boards are rare collectibles. Yet their influence lives on in digital menu systems and co-branded promotions worldwide.
Final Reflection: Today’s Special Forever
The Marketeer Menu Boards remind us of an age where even the simplest diner could feel modern, professional, and enticing, thanks to Coca-Cola.
“Today’s Special isn’t just on the plate, it’s on the wall, sparking cravings and sealing the deal with a Coca-Cola.”
Learn More About the Company Brand Featured in this Promotion
A new line of clocks was rolled out to bottlers in 1970 in the “Bottler Advertising Catalog.” This initiative marked a significant evolution in the way the brand engaged with its bottlers. It aimed not only to enhance the visibility of the brand but also to create a cohesive marketing strategy that encompassed various promotional materials.
Bottlers were offered four new types of clocks, which varied in design and purpose. These ranged from decorative clocks suitable for retail stores to functional clock units that could be displayed in menu boards. Each clock was uniquely designed to draw attention and was adorned with vibrant maroon and blue colors, all featuring the popular slogan, “Enjoy.” This slogan encapsulated the essence of the brand while promoting a sense of enjoyment associated with the beverages.
Table of Contents
Decorator Design Clocks
The clocks offered under the “Decorator Design” category included two distinct versions: the illuminated model (model number G805) and the non-illuminated version (model number G804). Both clocks showcased a captivating decorator design nestled within circles just below the clock face. They were beautifully complemented by the slogan, “Enjoy.” Manufactured by Neon Products of Lima, Ohio, these clocks were designed to enhance the aesthetic appeal of any venue they adorned.
The illuminated version, with its soft glow, was particularly popular in darkened environments such as bars and restaurants, where it could attractively highlight the branding. Both models were promoted as available for bottlers to use in their outlets starting April 15, 1970, providing an excellent opportunity for increased brand visibility.
Modular (Mod) Clocks
The next clock offering fell under the modular category, commonly referred to as the “mod” clock. This clock, with its bright and vibrant colors, featured a striking clock face adorned with the slogan “Enjoy” prominently displayed. Model number G810 was manufactured by Ingress-Plastene of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and was designed to appeal to a broad consumer base.
The clock’s unique modular construction allowed bottlers to customize its appearance, making it suitable for various settings, whether in retail environments or dining establishments. This versatility contributed to the clock’s popularity among bottlers, as it enabled them to promote the brand effectively while enhancing their store’s ambiance.
Custom Ledge Clock Faces
The final set of clocks introduced was the “Custom Ledge” clocks, ingeniously designed to fit seamlessly into custom ledge menu boards. These clocks came in two sizes, providing flexibility for various display options. The horizontal model (model number N841) and the upright model (model number N803) were crafted to accommodate promotional advertisements for the brand and others.
This design allowed for easy swapping of advertisements based on seasonal promotions or new product launches. This innovative approach not only supported the marketing efforts of bottlers but also ensured that the promotional displays remained fresh and engaging for customers. Both models emphasized the iconic maroon and blue colors and proudly displayed the slogan “Enjoy,” reinforcing brand identity effectively.
Price Index for the TAB Clocks
The Bottler Advertising Catalog provided bottlers with a detailed price index for the new clocks, effective February 10, 1972. The pricing structure was designed to make the clocks accessible to a broad range of bottlers. The non-illuminated decorator design clock was priced at a modest $7.25, while the illuminated version was not available during this period.
The modular (mod) clock was offered at $11.95 each, reflecting its unique design and manufacturing quality. However, it is important to note that the custom ledge clocks were not included in the offering for 1972, signaling a shift in promotional strategy as the brand adapted to changing market conditions and bottler needs.
Products Featured with the Sales Materials
The five new clocks introduced in 1970 included:
- A Neon Products G805 Decorator Design TAB Illuminated Clock (offered from April 15 of 1970 through at least early 1972)
- A Neon Products G804 Decorator Design TAB Non-Illuminated Clock (offered from April 15 of 1970 through 1972)
- An Ingress-Plastene G810 TAB Modular Illuminated Clock (offered from March 01 of 1970 through 1972)
- A N841 TAB Custom Ledge Clock Face (offered from 1970 through the end of 1971)
- A N803 TAB 19″ x 14″ Clock Face (offered from 1970 through the end of 1971)
Learn More About the Company Brand Featured in this Promotion
As a testament to the quality and design of these clocks, many bottlers reported increased customer interest and engagement in their locations. The clocks not only served a functional purpose but also enhanced the overall ambiance of the establishments where they were displayed.
For instance, restaurants that adopted illuminated clocks found that they became focal points in their décor, often leading to positive conversations among patrons about the brand. This engagement contributed to stronger brand loyalty and customer retention, showcasing the impact of effective advertising tools in the beverage industry.
Moreover, the marketing strategy surrounding these clocks emphasized the importance of brand visibility during a period when competition in the beverage market was intensifying. By providing these promotional tools, the brand not only supported its bottlers but also reinforced its brand message.
This encouraged customers to choose the product over competitors. This strategic alignment between bottlers and the brand exemplified effective collaboration in marketing initiatives.
In conclusion, the introduction of new clocks in 1970 represented a significant marketing effort aimed at enhancing brand visibility and supporting bottlers. The clocks, with their unique designs and effective slogan, played a crucial role in the overall promotional strategy.
As bottlers utilized these promotional clocks, they not only improved their own brand representation but also contributed to the legacy and growth of the brand in the beverage industry.
