Texas Buc-ee’s Billboard Error(?) Creates New Word

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If you say Howdy to someone in Texas, you probably wouldn't get a second glance.  In fact, if you're on the Texas A&M campus, it's almost required!  According to the Texas A&M website:

“Howdy” is the official greeting of Texas A&M. Students greeting one another — and especially campus visitors — with a “howdy” has earned the university a reputation as the friendliest campus in the world. The origins of this tradition are unknown, but it is one that Aggies proudly continue. 

 

And if you're driving in or through Texas, you've probably made a stop at one of the most popular attractions in the south, and I don't mean Six Flags, but rather, Buc-ee's.  We've all seen the many Buc-ee's billboards on the way to Dallas or points west that tout their many wares like their "Wall of Beef Jerky," or the "Cleanest Bathrooms in America."

So when one driver spotted a billboard on I-35 between Dallas and Temple that said "You had me at Hodwy," it immediately brought up questions.  Was this intentional?  Surely someone in Texas couldn't accidentally mis-spell one of the most iconic words in Texas?

But whether it was intentional or not, Buc-ee's has decided to make the best of it.  That same family found out that the marketing geniuses at Buc-ee's has pretty much created a new word.  "Hodwy"  And are marketing their new creation with some cleverly created T-shirts.

The T-Shirt explains the meaing of the new word... "A Southern Way to blend the words "How did we" in order to talk qwicker."  (I also love that they say "See also Fixin' to" and "Jeet yet?")

Buc-ee's announced last January their plan to build a new location in Ruston, Louisiana.  The project is currently in the beginning stages of a six-month traffic study to determine where the new road and building will be placed.

So, it makes me wonder again... was the billboard intentional? Or an absolutely GENIUS marketing move?  Either way, I love how the folks at Buc-ee's run the company.