[Rhodes22-list] Re: fesh marketing input needed

[stan]

creative thinking -

stan/gbi

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Dilk" <robertdilk at hotmail.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 10:19 AM
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Re: fesh marketing input needed


> 
>   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
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >__________________________________________________
>     >Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> 
>