New Business Takes Advertising "AllOver"

While it's a challenge for many businesses to stay afloat in the present economy, Bayport-Blue Point-based advertising company, AllOver Media, has been successfully navigating the choppy waters. 

Owned by B-BP natives Ryan Thorman and James Bonanno, AllOver Media Long Island is the new go-to local advertising franchise that has the power to catch a consumer's attention, forcing people to read what it has to say, according to the business partners.

AllOver’s parent company specializes in selling indoor, gas pump and ambient advertising, but Thorman and Bonanno’s year old Long Island franchise sticks to indoor advertising. AllOver places poster ads inside local businesses such as bars, restaurants, gyms and golf courses.

Thorman said the company’s main pitch is a captive audience. “We place our advertisements in restrooms of these establishments,” Thorman said. “We put them two feet in front of your face. It gives us the ability to force feed our message to the consumer.”

Thorman said acquiring venues is two-fold. AllOver will put its advertising in an establishment and in return, it makes another ad for that establishment to place in a non-competing business. For instance, an ad for a restaurant would be placed in a golf course or a gym.

Both owners agreed that AllOver is more effective than traditional advertising, which they said isn’t reaching as many people anymore. The rise in usage of new technology like the iPod, iPhone, DVR and online news sources supplies consumers with a way to avoid traditional advertising mediums such as TV, radio and newspapers.

Bonanno explained that AllOver’s ability to captivate consumers is one of the reasons he decided to buy into the franchise. He said he first discovered AllOver when he was living in Wilmington, N.C. and saw the same ads in his gym and every restaurant he went into.

“After learning how cost-effective and captive this was for advertisers, I saw a great way to help small businesses and communities advertise their message,” Bonanno said. “And at the same time help out restaurants, fitness clubs and similar venues. It was a win win-win for everyone.”

Currently, AllOver has advertisements in 65 local businesses, reaching as far west as Bay Shore and as far north as Port Jefferson. Some of the local clients include Blue Point Car Wash, , and .

Friends for nearly 16 years, Thorman and Bonanno are no strangers to the business. Thorman said he always wanted to work in sales and graduated from Lander University with a degree in marketing management. He previously worked for Madison Square Garden and the New York Jets in their sales departments.

Bonanno graduated University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a degree in finance, but worked in online marketing after college.

The owners agreed that AllOver gives them the ability to be their own boss, work from home and enjoy their job. “My favorite part of owning AllOver Media is being on my own clock and being out in the field everyday,” Bonanno said. “I enjoy meeting new people and this has allowed me to meet many people in the local communities.”

Thorman and Bonanno said they hope to continue expanding AllOver Media and finally cover all of Long Island. “The ultimate goal is to have hundreds of venues across Long Island with some larger regional advertising clients, as well as building up a digital network,” Bonanno said.