Marketing: Industrial Plant Employees

[Bois]

Now that you're all back from sunny FL and relaxed, I'd like to probe :eusa_thin your marketing experience. Has anyone been successfull in selling WSR to employees who work at light industrial plants? There are several such plants in my market area that employ 100+ employees based on the number of cars parked in their lots (i.e. RubberMaid, Ocean Spray, Ratheon, Food Processors, etc.). I've asked some for permission to walk their parking lots to place stick-um notes on vehicles that need repair only to be denied. :eusa_snoo (BTW, stick-um notes really don't work too well - no responses.) I've also requested that they post flyers in their employee break rooms (who knows if they actually do).

I once worked for a large company that had an employee activity committee. They raised funds through various means to support activities not sponsored by the company (summer cook-out). One such fund raiser was to have a mobile auto oil change outfit park in the lot for a day. A portion of the proceeds went to the committee.

Does anyone have any similar ideas?

Dale...

[maxryde]

Marketing in the situation you described can be good if you can do it in a way that dosn't raise any issues with the regular business proceedings. I just last week did the exact thing you are describing in the following manner.

A customer made an appointment for service at a local Mfg. plant for a chip repair. We prequallified the ins coverage prior to our arrival, went in and located the vehicle THEN went in to get keys and let the customer know we were there to do the work. When I introduced myself I discussed the procedure we have for dealing with the situation (repair work while the customer does THEIR job) I explained that we appreciate referrals and that since we we were there anyway etc..... The lady was receptive and coordial but SHE took no further action. (normal response) My brother who recently came to visit (work) was crusing the lot for other chips while I did my thing inside and found a few in the area of our appointed repair. On these vehicles we left a info packet and then we went to work.

Timing is important when approaching a situation like this so as to not disrupt the regular goings on and getting yourself booted off the property in the process. You also want to be there when the lunch crowd exits the building or as the work day ends so the folks who you left info for can see you and you work, if possable at the time you see them heading to a vehicle that you found damage on YOU can approach them about the "needed repair".

We do well when we plan correctly, you can approach the corperation about their fleet work after you finish and the folks who you just did work for are still talking about how well you did etc... I'm sure you get the jest and I know I've forgotten some other important aspects of this approach so anyone want to expound on the subject??? :~) Scott

[scratchy]

There are guys out there with mobile oil change businesses and this market is their bread and butter. I don't know exactly how they land the accounts but it is doable.