Marketing a new business

[Andy W]

Cheap sounds tacky, competative or so much percent cheaper than main dealer, if I get a customer moaning about my charges I just say "pay peanuts, you get monkeys".

 

[Dieselman]

Sounds silly but run a listing on ebay for a money off voucher.

Something like 20% off an A service labour or half price brake pad fitting labour or £10 diagnostic check or free summer motoring check over. Put a time limit on it to get the customer in now.

You may then finds faults that require attention, a bit like MOT tests.

Make the voucher a nominal price and use BiN with several items the same, that way you can regulate the value and hit more customers.

People never miss an offer even if it isn't really a bargain.

Use something that will not really cost you anything but gets customers to come to you rather than elsewhere.
Once they've been once they will return as long as you make it easy for them to.

Might be worth investigating radio advertising, it hits a wide audience locally, but costs more.

 

[Andy W]

Place an ad on www.findit.co.uk in the motoring sections under MB. The idea of flyers on MB's only is excellent, get some local kids to do it for next to nothing, the website idea is also good, a website can project an image of a much bigger company, I built mine myself on the cheap and it has served me well even though it could do with a rework now to make it more modern all singing all dancing, mine gives the impression of a bigger company but there is just little old me.

 

[Howard]

Sounds silly but run a listing on ebay for a money off voucher.

Something like 20% off an A service labour or half price brake pad fitting labour or £10 diagnostic check or free summer motoring check over. Put a time limit on it to get the customer in now.

You may then finds faults that require attention, a bit like MOT tests.

Make the voucher a nominal price and use BiN with several items the same, that way you can regulate the value and hit more customers.

People never miss an offer even if it isn't really a bargain.

Use something that will not really cost you anything but gets customers to come to you rather than elsewhere.
Once they've been once they will return as long as you make it easy for them to.

My Indy , Colin Ferns does that occasionally ....

 

[MangoMan]

Google Adwords.....

 

[BlackC55]

Thanks for the advice people.

 

[fuzzer]

How about an Ad on the side of an old MB van parked outside your local MB dealer?

Cheapest and most effective ad you can get for £160 a year road tax plus an MOT

 

[BlackC55]

How about an Ad on the side of an old MB van parked outside your local MB dealer?

Cheapest and most effective ad you can get for £160 a year road tax plus an MOT

My girlfriend works at the local dealer and she has a Smart all sign written with my company name.

It was recently in for warranty work and parked in the customer car park foe ALL to view. The BIG cheeses told her to remove it immediatly or else. She refused as she was a "customer" having work done on her car. Thought it was great!

 

[Kompressor_Dude]

I finish my marketing degree on Tuesday, so technically i'm not qualified to answer but a few ideas i would try would be:

Something really catchy for the advertising, one company put fake parking tickets onto cars they'd service and included vouchers inside - not necessarily the approach for your quality business but something similarly attention grabbing would increase the chances of someone acting on your flyer, or remembering you when their car eventually breaks down.

Internet is a HUGE part of it, get a quality looking website built and project the company in the way you want (pictures of the workshop while it's freshly painted, any particularly nice cars you work on etc.)

Some more direct marketing could be used for customers, maybe a loyalty offer when x number of services/£ spent/times visited have been made. Needs to be simple though, maybe prove you've been before for a small discount etc.

Open day is a great idea, as said. Could offer a small discount on any work booked in that day?

Have you approached any businesses locally? Companies with a corporate fleet or second hand forecourts/sales without workshops might offer a reasonable amount of repeat business?

Any mercedes newsletters or magazines might be worth advertising in too.

That's about it off the top of my head, good luck!

The best way to go is to just do a good job - word of mouth's free, travels fast and is highly trusted!

 

[Rose Chap]

Out of interest, do you work on Smarts? Could be another potential source of revenue?

 

[Kompressor_Dude]

Oh, and my car will be an advertisement of your work bits seem to be dropping off faster than i can save to have them put back on!

Feels like by the time you see it i'll just turn up on the bus holding a steering wheel

 

[BlackC55]

Out of interest, do you work on Smarts? Could be another potential source of revenue?

Yes I do. Had two in yesterday.

 

[Rose Chap]

Granted this is rather a sneaky and underhand technique, but there is nothing to stop you registering on all UK Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Smart forums asking the same question you have here.

Not only will you get more potentially useful advice, but the fact you're asking for tips marketing your business will, in effect, market your business.

 

[Benzowner]

I would say you are in a specialist field and imo Yellow Pages and Thompsons wont work. People who own MB's would tend to use the main dealers. However for those who buy second hand MB's where do they buy them? Certainly in Bristol, there is a company opposite the main MB dealer who sells a lot of slightly older MB's, 3years old plus, the ones the main dealer don't really want . I bought an MB from him a few years ago and he suggested who I should have it serviced with, a local indie and have used him ever since. So, get your name around the car sales who sell good quality s/h mercedes/smarts, they could provide an ongoing supply of work for you.

 

[polardesign]

Post your details, my 2002 C180 mercedes has afew problems and need some advice/work doing
I live in Gosport, but I am in Portsmouth all next week

Cheers

 

[BlackC55]

Post your details, my 2002 C180 mercedes has afew problems and need some advice/work doing
I live in Gosport, but I am in Portsmouth all next week

Cheers

PM sent

 

[Godot]

Errr contact the independent Solent TV (on line & on Sky broadcaster) maybe arrange a little feature ???

 

[BlackC55]

Mr Ian walker has suggested a radio ad. How much should I pay?

 

[MangoMan]

Forgive for saying this, but I'm a bit confused, I know, it doesn't take much, but anyway, reading this thread and the other one with reference to a GTG, I can't help noticing that, or rather the lack of, a Business Name or Address.

I have seen other garages recommended on here, so why not recommend yourself by at least telling people where and who to look for? ie: Address/Web address/Email?

I'm confused because the main objective of a Marketing Strategy is to let people know what you are called, (ok, Prestige Car Services. Which there are lots) what you do and where they can find or contact you.

Maybe I'm different, (which everyone here knows I am ), but I would take every chance to advertise.....

Ciao.

 

[television]

Forgive for saying this, but I'm a bit confused, I know, it doesn't take much, but anyway, reading this thread and the other one with reference to a GTG, I can't help noticing that, or rather the lack of, a Business Name or Address.

I have seen other garages recommended on here, so why not recommend yourself by at least telling people where and who to look for? ie: Address/Web address/Email?

I'm confused because the main objective of a Marketing Strategy is to let people know what you are called, (ok, Prestige Car Services. Which there are lots) what you do and where they can find or contact you.

Maybe I'm different, (which everyone here knows I am ), but I would take every chance to advertise.....

Ciao.

I agree 100% say more ,you are not pushing your self enough, please say more.