Company: Houck Transit Advertising
Markets: United States
Address: 1025 Tomlyn Avenue, Suite 100, Shoreview, MN 55126
Phone: 800-777-7290
Email: info@houckads.com
Advertising operates transit advertising programs with over 40 public transit systems in the Midwest and eastern United States. The company was started in 1919 by Leo Houck and is now owned and operated by his great grandson, Justin Houck, which makes it a fourth generation family owned company. Insider talked with Justin Houck about the company.
How did Houck enter the out of home advertising business?
My Great Grandfather and Great Uncle started in 1919 by placing advertising inside two buses that ran between Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. At that time and continuing through the 1950’s transit services were privately owned and multiple bus companies operated throughout the Twin Cities metro area and surrounding suburbs. They slowly expanded beyond the metro area and partnered with the transit systems to sell advertising on buses in Rochester, Mankato, and Duluth, MN. Through the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s we added a few new markets but mainly focused on serving the markets we had established decades earlier. In the mid 2000’s we began a more aggressive approach to expanding into new territories. In 2000 we were serving roughly 15 transit systems in four states and we are now partnered with 40 transit systems in 12 states throughout the country!
What’s new at the company over the past year?
2023 was another exciting year of growth for our team. We renewed all of our transit agreements as well as entered into two new transit partnerships in 2023. We secured agreements with Minnesota Valley Transit Authority as well as Cache Valley Transit District in Logan, UT to sell and manage their transit advertising programs. With the addition of those two markets we now operate transit advertising programs for over 40 public transit systems throughout the country.
What are your objectives for 2024?
We are always on the look out for new markets and territories to enter into while trying to consistently improve our processes and resources to better serve our advertising clients and transit partners. We have identified several markets that will be publishing RFPs this year that we will likely bid on. We are also launching several new internal systems that will enable our sales and operations teams to provide a better and more efficient experience for our clients.
What are some tips for running a multi-generation family owned business?
Be intentional in your planning and over communicate. We started planning and implementing the transition from 3rd to 4th generation over 10 years ago. Each year we would revisit and update our plan with all of the shareholders and leadership team. Family dynamics can always come into play but remembering that we are here to serve the team and the business helps keep everything in proper perspective.
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