The first overall advert to disfigure Southend Transport's fleet was on 358 in 1973 (advertising the Circus Tavern nightclub at Purfleet). An advertiser closer to home was Safeway Stores, whose new supermarket on the expanding Western Approaches estate was served by ST's extended 9A service. They also had stores on other ST routes, at Leigh Elms and in Hadleigh. The recent extension of the 9A is shown by the need for a paper destination sticker in 394's windscreen. The advert ran from October 1981 to February 1984.

Photo from the Peter Cackett collection, photographer unknown, taken Southend Central Bus Station