Advertisers go skin deep

Lisa Marloralready had two jobs when she decided to get into the advertising business — as a human billboard.

For $1,000, a company can have its message displayed for two weeks on the 36-year-old West Virginian’s forehead or stomach. She is among thousands of Americans who are offering parts of their bodies as advertising space to companies through temporary tattoos.

Ever since Andrew Fischer, a Web-page designer from Nebraska, received $37,375 in January to proudly wear SnoreStop’s red logo on his head, everybody from aircraft mechanics to real estate agents have been itching to stamp their flesh with ink.

“You only live once,” Miss Marlor said. “It’s time for a change.”

Miss Marlor decided to brand her body after taking a class about online auctions. She started thinking about different ways to market and stumbled across Advertiseyourbody.com.

The two-month-old company from Vancouver, Wash., connects advertisers with body parts.

Miss Marlor said she preferred a temporary tattoo on her belly or brow, but that she was willing to get a permanent mark on her arm, ankle or back.

Ideally, Miss Marlor wanted a tattoo that represented a weight-loss company, such as Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, because she was trying to drop a few pounds.

But in the end, she just craved ink.

“The more colorful the better,” she said.

Although her picture has been on Advertiseyourbody.com only for the past few weeks, she has received no offers.

The company has received more than 3,000 requests to tattoo everything from brows to breasts, but only about 10 people have contracted for tattoo advertisements.

“It may just be a dying fad,” said general manager Brandon Brice.

But he hopes not.

“We’re hoping that it’s going to take off,” Mr. Brice said. “In the future, companies are going to look at this as one of the more beneficial ways [to advertise]. You may see a truck drive by with an ad on the side. … You may see that ad. You may remember that ad. But when you see a tattoo on the cheek or forehead, it makes you stop to look.”

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