[Rhodes22-list] Re: fesh marketing input needed

[Robert Dilk]

   My thought is to have a GBI online sailing club with an annual fee.
   Benefits include all the free help we get from stan now. I would be
   happy to join in. T-shirts, hats and burgees extra.


   Bob Dilk

   S/V Knot Necessary


       ______________________________________________________________

     From:  "stan" <stan at rhodes22.com>
     Reply-To:  The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
     To:  "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
     Subject:  [Rhodes22-list] Re: fesh marketing input needed
     Date:  Wed, 17 Aug 2005 15:24:03 -0400
     >            Dear Rhodies
     >
     >
     >       General Boats has an issue we would like to bring up with
     List members.
     >
     >       It is an issue that a few of you have brought up on your
     own initiative off List.
     >
     >
     >
     >       Some of you have been concerned as to GBI's physical
     ending; a few have shown some interest in GBI's financial well
     being.   We have no plans at the moment for a physical end to the
     company and if management does disappear the business can probably
     be handled better by others.  However, with GB's 50th anniversary
     coming up, we want to start turning this into the profit making
     organization it was originally planned to be.   One of those needed
     steps is the subject of this collective e-mailing.
     >
     >
     >
     >       The recycling program was born during a recession when new
     boat sales ceased almost completely and all the companies that
     started when we did, were closed - some sold their names but none
     of the original companies were left.  Boats are made of oil.  Now,
     not only has the cost of the software (chemicals and fabrics) that
     gos into building a boat skyrocketed but, with a lower value for
     the dollar, the cost of boat hardware has gone up.  While we still
     have a backlog for new boat orders, it is the recycling boats that
     are the tail wagging the dog.  That tail is beginning to have its
     wagging dampened by the free meal offered through the List.
     >
     >
     >
     >       While GBI does not advertise directly, or have fancy
     literature, a tremendous investment is made in attracting sailboat
     buyers to choose a Rhodes: Boat Shows, demonstration sails, an
     indecent amount of money spent on a mailing package (like no other
     company does) for those showing a continued interest, visits to the
     plant (even the plant guest room and maid service is free) and
     endless investments in time to convince anyone considering a small
     sailboat, to make the Rhodes choice.
     >
     >
     >
     >       Many of you who have real jobs are innocent of
     understanding what the total actual real time cost is to GBI every
     time anyone manages to sell a Rhodes.  Elton almost committed his
     first murder one boat show day when one of you innocently stood in
     front of the display boat telling prospects he knows where they
     could buy Rhodes direct from owners wanting to sell their
     Rhodes.  Those of you who may have had some being-in-business
     experience have an inkling of the endless untold costs that accrue
     in making your product survive amongst aggressive competition.
     >
     >
     >
     >       Recently a Rhodie sold his boat - and sent us what was
     about a 5 % broker compensation, saying he realized how much
     investment we had made in making that sale possible.  We thought
     that, a la Practical Sailor, maybe the List should have its own
     "Where Credit Is Due" boxed feature and post his name.  While we
     spent considerably more than that, making that sale happen, we are
     very appreciative for the seller's thoughtful and empathetic
     contribution.
     >
     >
     >
     >
     >
     >       We do not own the List.   It is the members' domain.  Of
     course the List members do not spend any money on advertising the
     List location, or even that it exists.  We do feel the List has
     been an asset for GBI as well as a great therapeutic asset in
     allowing other subjects beyond boats.   But we wonder how many List
     members realize that almost the entire rest of the world is only
     aware of the existence of such a List because General Boats
     publishes the List's address in its own web site and in its
     literature and that General Boat's staff directs an endless stream
     of potential Rhodes buyers to the List's address; potential buyers
     who have become hot buyers as the result of GB efforts at boat
     shows and demonstration sails or tours through the plant or
     responses to e-mails and phone calls (both to the plant and to the
     house at night)..
     >
     >
     >
     >       We would like to propose something completely
     unconventional - something that many of you, at first blush will be
     against - but may, on second or third thought, come to agree
     with.  After all, the marketing times are a changing.
     >
     >
     >
     >       When you go to any "free or otherwise" internet program you
     push a button that says you agree to conditions.  Why can't the
     List have such a button that must be clicked for entry where the
     fine print says that, in recognition of the ongoing effort in time
     and labor and dollars that go into making resale of the Rhodes
     easier and higher priced than the competition, Rhodes owners agree
     to a modified 5% brokers fee to be paid when and if they sell their
     Rhodes.  It probably is not enforceable and the non-Rhodes type
     crowd will mostly ignore it.  But, like their politics or not, most
     Rhodies just automatically seem to be in a high class of their own
     and will opt for the right thing.
     >
     >
     >
     >       We are open to members input: everything from your saying,
     "Stop sending pre-sold prospects to the List and take the mention
     of the List existence off  the GB web site and mailings and go away
     and don't bother us ever again." to your suggesting that you, "
     have a better way to stop GB's growing pro bono bleeding".
     >
     >
     >
     >       If you got this far,  thanks
     >
     >
     >
     >       stan/gbi/ec
     >
     >
     >
     >
     >
     >
     >__________________________________________________
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