Unusual Marketing Ideas

Moving Forward Rentals · 04-22-2009, 09:10 PM

We at Moving Forward Rentals are constantly trying to think of new, innovative ways to market our Segway Rental and Tour Company. We try to interact with new and existing customers every way we can. Our business is seasonal as we are located in Sea Isle City, New Jersey (along the Jersey Shore). The majority of our clientele are vacationers that have always come to the shore for a family get away. New Families are discovering us every year and they seem to always come back.

Moving Forward Rentals utilizes customer mailing and emailing lists, print advertising, Internet advertising, and so on... I still feel we are missing something though. As we are in an area where competition is very low...

What other different, radical, catchy ways are you other Rental and Tour Companies marketing you businesses? We should push for a national "Segway Rental" campaign...as we all would look to capitalize on exposure and awareness! Let's create a Segway Groundswell! Any thoughts or ideas???

Lily Kerns · 04-22-2009, 09:19 PM

Are you targeting the elderly and disabled in any way? How about offering to do a demonstation at senior centers or retirement communities?

Moving Forward Rentals · 04-22-2009, 09:35 PM

No I haven't done enough "target" advertising. I think that you have a couple great ideas. We have several "active adult communities" that I think would be a perfect place to do demonstrations and tryouts.

Any other ideas??? What about the "National Segway Tours Campaign" either print, Internet, TV, radio, or combination of these??? We need to start working together more and view it as "us against the rest of things to do" and not against each other!

DarthSegVator · 04-23-2009, 08:57 AM

Note: Totally self-serving post...

How about offering a couple of units with a high LeanSeat for disabled or elderly customers that may have a difficult time standing for long periods without a break?

High LeanSeat on Gen 2 machine.

100_0965.jpg

High LeanSeat on Gen 1 machine.

IMG_3200.jpg

The LeanSeat can be used on either Gen 1 or Gen 2 machines. Installation and removal is only (3) three screws per side and can be done in minutes.

With the baby boomers beginning to turn 65 (at the rate of 12,000 per day) in the next couple of years, the market for providing options to people that have difficulty walking longer distances is enormous and a great service to provide and promote.

Try to identify reasons why someone that shows interest in your tour decides against taking one. Price or technophobia could be reasons. Weather or available time to do the tour as well. You may be surprised that some will indicate that they just don't think they can stand that long or will get too tired and not be able to complete the tour.

Then post/advertise your special offering on the appropriate websites.

Lily Kerns · 04-23-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moving Forward Rentals

No I haven't done enough "target" advertising. I think that you have a couple great ideas. We have several "active adult communities" that I think would be a perfect place to do demonstrations and tryouts.

Remember that "elderly" and "disabled" can be "active adults" too....<G> One will never know how a Segway fits a person's needs until they have a chance to try it out.

Bob.Kerns · 04-23-2009, 11:42 AM

Bring free demos to where people are, and have a little time to try it.

Avoid venues with alcohol, of course. but county fairs, green fairs, job fairs.

This might be especially good during the latter part of the off-season, when you may have more time (depending on what you do during the off-season).

Retirement and assisted living facilities would fall under this umbrella as well. But I'd go further, and offer local physical and occupational therapists, and others who work with seniors and the disabled free tours.

Make them fun, and make them education -- both for them and for you. If you have existing disabled customers, invite them to come along to demo. Try to learn how you can help them help customers who might potentially benefit from owning one.

Offer a no-risk trial -- if the Segway doesn't suit them and they can't complete the tour on the Segway, it's free. That's not just for the disabled and seniors -- that's also for people who are timid.

If you can bring your Segways to places where tourists frequent, you can offer free demo trials in advance of tour time, and maybe you can get people hooked into a paying tour. Usually tours are tucked away a bit out of the way (for cost reasons) and rely on flyers, which I don't think are nearly as effective as as people actually seeing them in operation, seeing other people on them, and trying them themselves.

I see some drawbacks -- distractions while watching the safety video and during instruction are issues you'd have to manage. You don't want to be right in the thick of things, but on the boundary of an area with lots of customers, and a quieter area to train, while still being visible.

SegNerd · 04-23-2009, 12:59 PM

Well, since you said unusual, different, radical, and catchy, I did have this one idea for something like this...

quade · 04-23-2009, 05:00 PM

OK, this is a LONG term plan and would take careful management, but I think it's the type of thing Segway Inc. should have been doing from the start.

Go down to your local skateboard park. Find a kid, maybe an attractive female, but in any case one with obvious riding skills. Hire the kid to work in your store. GIVE the kid a Segway and let the kid figure out interesting things to do with it. It will take time. Allow the kid to have free reign in their use of it other than pissing off your local business neighbors. Encourage the kid to figure out tricks that can be done on it. Give the kid a video camera and encourage the kid to post to YouTube.

YOU, the boss, have ZERO say in the kid's postings. Just let the kid be cool.

The "careful management" I talked about earlier would entail you finding the right kid to begin with and then trusting the kid while restraining yourself.

KSagal · 04-23-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quade

OK, this is a LONG term plan and would take careful management, but I think it's the type of thing Segway Inc. should have been doing from the start.

Go down to your local skateboard park. Find a kid, maybe an attractive female, but in any case one with obvious riding skills. Hire the kid to work in your store. GIVE the kid a Segway and let the kid figure out interesting things to do with it. It will take time. Allow the kid to have free reign in their use of it other than pissing off your local business neighbors. Encourage the kid to figure out tricks that can be done on it. Give the kid a video camera and encourage the kid to post to YouTube.

YOU, the boss, have ZERO say in the kid's postings. Just let the kid be cool.

The "careful management" I talked about earlier would entail you finding the right kid to begin with and then trusting the kid while restraining yourself.

While entrusting your future success with segways to a kid from the skatepark may work for some, others may choose to take responsibility for their future themselves...

I believe that this may work for a national campaign, like something from Inc., but a local dealer may not benefit from this as much as the segway community, as a whole, if it works.

Further, I have found thru life, that if you give a person something, they are far less likely to appreciate it, or value it. Because of this, this plan may have far more risk than benefit to a local dealer.

I do see some value is trying to make segways seem more cool, or more fashionable, or more exciting, and to make those images more available via U-tube and the like. That is a good idea. A dealer just needs to be careful how this is done to avoid a potential backlash...

quade · 04-23-2009, 05:37 PM

Obviously it's not the only thing he can do, so I don't think he'd be entrusting his future success on this and this alone. In fact, that would be a horrible idea.

It does seem to me that it should be part of an overall strategy though, at least by someone.

I don't think the Segway Inc. lawyers would let Segway Inc's marketing department do something like this though. Inc. seems bent on making the device seem as safe as possible; almost to the point of being boring. I understand that to a certain extent, but I think they've gone overboard.

04-22-2009, 09:10 PM	#1
Moving Forward Rentals New Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Servicing Sea Isle City, the South Jersey Shore, and Philadelphia Posts: 13	Unusual Marketing Ideas We at Moving Forward Rentals are constantly trying to think of new, innovative ways to market our Segway Rental and Tour Company. We try to interact with new and existing customers every way we can. Our business is seasonal as we are located in Sea Isle City, New Jersey (along the Jersey Shore). The majority of our clientele are vacationers that have always come to the shore for a family get away. New Families are discovering us every year and they seem to always come back. Moving Forward Rentals utilizes customer mailing and emailing lists, print advertising, Internet advertising, and so on... I still feel we are missing something though. As we are in an area where competition is very low... What other different, radical, catchy ways are you other Rental and Tour Companies marketing you businesses? We should push for a national "Segway Rental" campaign...as we all would look to capitalize on exposure and awareness! Let's create a Segway Groundswell! Any thoughts or ideas???

04-23-2009, 08:57 AM	#4
DarthSegVator Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 688	Offer High LeanSeat's Note: Totally self-serving post... How about offering a couple of units with a high LeanSeat for disabled or elderly customers that may have a difficult time standing for long periods without a break? High LeanSeat on Gen 2 machine. 100_0965.jpg High LeanSeat on Gen 1 machine. IMG_3200.jpg The LeanSeat can be used on either Gen 1 or Gen 2 machines. Installation and removal is only (3) three screws per side and can be done in minutes. With the baby boomers beginning to turn 65 (at the rate of 12,000 per day) in the next couple of years, the market for providing options to people that have difficulty walking longer distances is enormous and a great service to provide and promote. Try to identify reasons why someone that shows interest in your tour decides against taking one. Price or technophobia could be reasons. Weather or available time to do the tour as well. You may be surprised that some will indicate that they just don't think they can stand that long or will get too tired and not be able to complete the tour. Then post/advertise your special offering on the appropriate websites.

04-23-2009, 11:42 AM	#6
Bob.Kerns Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Marin County, CA Posts: 3,783	Bring free demos to where people are, and have a little time to try it. Avoid venues with alcohol, of course. but county fairs, green fairs, job fairs. This might be especially good during the latter part of the off-season, when you may have more time (depending on what you do during the off-season). Retirement and assisted living facilities would fall under this umbrella as well. But I'd go further, and offer local physical and occupational therapists, and others who work with seniors and the disabled free tours. Make them fun, and make them education -- both for them and for you. If you have existing disabled customers, invite them to come along to demo. Try to learn how you can help them help customers who might potentially benefit from owning one. Offer a no-risk trial -- if the Segway doesn't suit them and they can't complete the tour on the Segway, it's free. That's not just for the disabled and seniors -- that's also for people who are timid. If you can bring your Segways to places where tourists frequent, you can offer free demo trials in advance of tour time, and maybe you can get people hooked into a paying tour. Usually tours are tucked away a bit out of the way (for cost reasons) and rely on flyers, which I don't think are nearly as effective as as people actually seeing them in operation, seeing other people on them, and trying them themselves. I see some drawbacks -- distractions while watching the safety video and during instruction are issues you'd have to manage. You don't want to be right in the thick of things, but on the boundary of an area with lots of customers, and a quieter area to train, while still being visible. __________________ Bob Kerns: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Obviously, we can't have infinite voltage, or the universe would tear itself to shreds, and we wouldn't be discussing Segways.

04-23-2009, 05:00 PM	#8
quade Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Santa Ana, CA Posts: 1,335	OK, this is a LONG term plan and would take careful management, but I think it's the type of thing Segway Inc. should have been doing from the start. Go down to your local skateboard park. Find a kid, maybe an attractive female, but in any case one with obvious riding skills. Hire the kid to work in your store. GIVE the kid a Segway and let the kid figure out interesting things to do with it. It will take time. Allow the kid to have free reign in their use of it other than pissing off your local business neighbors. Encourage the kid to figure out tricks that can be done on it. Give the kid a video camera and encourage the kid to post to YouTube. YOU, the boss, have ZERO say in the kid's postings. Just let the kid be cool. The "careful management" I talked about earlier would entail you finding the right kid to begin with and then trusting the kid while restraining yourself. __________________ Harry Potter may fly a broomstick, but I ride a magic lawnmower.

04-23-2009, 05:37 PM	#10
quade Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Santa Ana, CA Posts: 1,335	Obviously it's not the only thing he can do, so I don't think he'd be entrusting his future success on this and this alone. In fact, that would be a horrible idea. It does seem to me that it should be part of an overall strategy though, at least by someone. I don't think the Segway Inc. lawyers would let Segway Inc's marketing department do something like this though. Inc. seems bent on making the device seem as safe as possible; almost to the point of being boring. I understand that to a certain extent, but I think they've gone overboard. __________________ Harry Potter may fly a broomstick, but I ride a magic lawnmower.

04-22-2009, 09:19 PM	#2
Lily Kerns Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: SW Missouri, near Springfield Posts: 875	Are you targeting the elderly and disabled in any way? How about offering to do a demonstation at senior centers or retirement communities?

04-22-2009, 09:35 PM	#3
Moving Forward Rentals New Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Servicing Sea Isle City, the South Jersey Shore, and Philadelphia Posts: 13	No I haven't done enough "target" advertising. I think that you have a couple great ideas. We have several "active adult communities" that I think would be a perfect place to do demonstrations and tryouts. Any other ideas??? What about the "National Segway Tours Campaign" either print, Internet, TV, radio, or combination of these??? We need to start working together more and view it as "us against the rest of things to do" and not against each other!

04-23-2009, 12:59 PM	#7
SegNerd Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Portland Posts: 672	Well, since you said unusual, different, radical, and catchy, I did have this one idea for something like this...

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