Atlanta, GA - In a radical turn from conventional advertising methods, Atlanta area apartment complex Green Arbor Villas enlisted the aid of a puppy wielding man in a gorilla suit in an effort to bolster their sagging rentals.

Over the years, the management team at Green Arbor Villas has attempted to implement a number of marketing plans and incentives, none of which generated more than a tiny increase in renters.

"I believe that prospective renters want more than a free month of rent, free utilities or a free DVD player," says Jean Portlemeyer, on-site manager of Green Arbor Villas. "They can get those so called "perks" for renting anywhere in town," explains Portlemeyer, "even the Broad Street Rent-by-Week gives folks free water and sewer, and we know how non-luxury that place is."

In light of all of the tragedy that has taken place in recent times, what people really want is to laugh as they sign a binding long term contract with a wacky primate."

Some residents had their doubts. "After the Santa Claus and Uncle Sam advertising characters were arrested for indecent exposure, I wasn't sure that a man in a gorilla suit would be the marketing tool of choice, but after seeing him and realizing that there are no zippers on his costume that would allow easy self exposure, I think this is an about face in apartment rental marketing," says Tom Blanchard, Green Arbor Villas resident and AT&T long distance phone service marketer.

"Though I am an experienced marketing professional, these aren't the kind of aggressive techniques we learned in AT&T's 'Market to Make It' program, these are borderline revolutionary, and as a resident here I glad to feel like a part of it."

Other residents aren't so sure, "I just wanted a quiet, well-kept apartment complex, and now I have to drive past a wacky dog wielding gorilla jumping around like a fool", exclaims resident Selma Hardel. "What's next, public masturbation, flea picking and feces throwing? Surely there must be a better way to express the quality of Green Arbor Villas, like listing it in Apartment Shopper Magazine."

Portlemeyer's response is simple, "When Henry Ford suggested that one day, horseless carriages would carry folks throughout the country, people scoffed, but upon realizing the efficiency and success that automobile ownership would allow them, people accepted the dream as they surely will with this apartment advertising gorilla."

When asked if she was worried about her competition stealing her idea of "gorilla" tactics, Jean's response was simple. "I don't think that my colleague down at Shady Grove Luxury Apartments will be stealing my thunder anytime soon, I have rented every gorilla suit in the area, and they are locked up in the utility closet here. Call it unfair, but revolutionaries must protect their ideas."

Contributing Writer - TCOB (tcob@juno.com)