Now lining up our first Chesapeake-area locations

A Free Custom Ad Board, With a Specials Panel You Control

Platypus Automations is placing free custom sandwich boards in local restaurants and shops around Chesapeake. The top writes and erases so you post your own daily specials. The bottom carries six ad spots for local trades and service businesses. No cost to host it, no catch.

Free For the Host Dry-Erase Specials Panel 6 Local Advertiser Spots No Franchises, No Corporate Sign-Off

How It Works

We design, build, and deliver a custom 24"x36" board to your business at no cost. The top portion is a dry-erase panel, blank until you write on it, for your own daily or weekly specials. The bottom carries six printed ad tiles from local trades and professional businesses (real estate, plumbing, roofing, insurance, HVAC, junk removal, and similar) plus a small Platypus Automations footer.

It sits on a stand by your counter or entrance, wherever it gets the most eyes from people already walking through your door.

Why It's Free

The board pays for itself through the six advertiser spots, not through anything you pay. You get a piece of custom signage that's actually useful, not a static ad you're stuck looking at.

You Help Pick the Advertisers

Before your board goes up, we'll ask who you'd actually want to see featured on it, businesses you already use and trust. It's your board in your business, and we want the six names on it to be ones you're glad are there.

What We Ask in Return

A year with the board up. That's it, no fees, no revenue share, just keeping it visible so the advertisers on it (and the specials panel you're using) get the full run. Most hosts find it earns its spot in the first few weeks and never think about it again.

Where We Are Today

The board design is finalized and in production sourcing. We're currently identifying our first host location in the Chesapeake area and reaching out to founding advertisers.

If you're a host or an advertiser interested in being first, tell us below and we'll reach out directly.

Host a Board or Advertise on One

For Host Businesses

  • Free custom board, built and delivered, no cost to you
  • A dry-erase panel for your own specials, updated whenever you want
  • You help choose which local businesses appear on it
  • No franchise or corporate approval needed if you're independently owned
  • Just keep it up and visible for the year, that's the only ask

For Advertisers

  • A physical ad tile in a real, high-traffic local business
  • Seen by the same customers day after day, not scrolled past
  • A limited number of spots per board, six total
  • Founding advertiser spots available on our first boards
  • Pricing discussed directly, based on the specific location

Ad Board FAQ

What does hosting a board actually cost me?
Nothing. The board, the stand, and the design are provided at no cost to you. There's no revenue share and no fee for hosting.
Can I control what's on my board?
The top dry-erase panel is entirely yours to write on. For the six ad spots, we'll ask you who you'd want to see featured before your board is finalized.
What if I'm part of a franchise?
We're focused on independently owned businesses for now, since a franchise location typically needs corporate sign-off on any outside signage.
How much does an advertiser spot cost?
It depends on the specific host location and its foot traffic. We'll walk through pricing on a call once we know which board you're interested in.
How many boards exist right now?
None are placed yet. We're finishing design and sourcing on the first board and lining up our first host location and founding advertisers now.
Is this connected to Platypus Automations' other services?
Yes. Platypus Automations builds automation systems for local service businesses, missed-call response, review automation, and more. The ad board is a separate offer from the same company, aimed at building trust with local businesses in a different way.

The Board Is a Door Into the Rest of What We Do

Interested as a Host or an Advertiser?

Tell us which one you are and a bit about your business. We'll reach out directly to talk through next steps.

Or reach us directly:

(757) 717-2707

Available 9am–6pm EST, Monday–Friday