Why do businesses use Spanish billboards in Texas? (Houston, Dallas: restaurants, Vietnamese)

[Dopo]

First of all, my first language is Spanish.

But I have a hard time understanding what motivates a business such as Budweiser and many others to have billboards in Spanish in Texas' biggest cities instead of having them in English.

It's their money, and they can have their billboard in Chinese if they want to.
From a business point of view, I just have a hard time understanding it.
I understand the ones for Univision, Telemundo, Piolin, Raul Brindis y Pepito, etc.

[Austinite101]

Originally Posted by Dopo

First of all, my first language is Spanish.

But I have a hard time understanding what motivates a business such as Budweiser and many others to have billboards in Spanish in Texas' biggest cities instead of having them in English.

It's their money, and they can have their billboard in Chinese if they want to.
From a business point of view, I just have a hard time understanding it.
I understand the ones for Univision, Telemundo, Piolin, Raul Brindis y Pepito, etc.

Texas has one of the largest Spanish speaking populations in North America. Many of these Spanish speakers don't speak English well, if at all. From a business standpoint, I would see it as a potential market to be tapped. Hence, the Spanish signs.

[DanielWayne]

Lots of mod edit: immigrants speak Spanish, too. And in Houston you can find mod edit: immigrants that speak everything under the sun but English.

Ever notice the street signs in Houston's 2 Chinatowns? You'll find all kinds of non-'merican stuff there. When I have a craving for Vietnamese food, I try to grab an old Vietnamese co-worker of mine because he can read the menu at some of the local restaurants. Which weren't in English. Heck I grew up near the Louisiana border in a town with less than 30,000, and I knew lots of people that spoke French.

My first language would have been Spanish, but my family assimilated before I was born. Looks like everyone may have to 'assimilate' all over again with the inevitable demographics change. Fine by me. I enjoy learning new things.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by DanielWayne

Ever notice the street signs in Houston's 2 Chinatowns?.

I was there yesterday, so yes, I've seen them.

Maybe there's more people that don't know much English than I think there are.

[Bideshi]

The answer to this question should be obvious!

[annie_himself]

Because half of the people in Houston speak Spanish. Is this a serious thread?

[Cowboybootnut]

Originally Posted by Dopo

First of all, my first language is Spanish.

But I have a hard time understanding what motivates a business such as Budweiser and many others to have billboards in Spanish in Texas' biggest cities instead of having them in English.

It's their money, and they can have their billboard in Chinese if they want to.
From a business point of view, I just have a hard time understanding it.
I understand the ones for Univision, Telemundo, Piolin, Raul Brindis y Pepito, etc.

Same reason we have to press 1 for English.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Kind of an abstract question with a very obvious answer.

Because of all the major cities in Texas, only Austin and Fort Worth are not majority Latino. Houston and Dallas are both just under half Latino and San Antonio is about 2/3 Latino (even though most of them have been in Texas for generations).

According to the census, Houston has 1.75 million spanish speakers and DFW has 1.5 million spanish speakers. That would make for an excellent case for having billboards in Spanish.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by justme02

According to the census, Houston has 1.75 million spanish speakers and DFW has 1.5 million spanish speakers. That would make for an excellent case for having billboards in Spanish.

Ok, I didn't know that one (that it was that high)

[kenshi]

Originally Posted by justme02

Because of all the major cities in Texas, only Austin and Fort Worth are not majority Latino. Houston and Dallas are both just under half Latino and San Antonio is about 2/3 Latino (even though most of them have been in Texas for generations).

This is somewhat pedantic, but it has to be over half to be majority. I believe the term for being under half but outnumbering any other group is plurality.