[Rhodes22-list] Re: fesh marketing input needed

[Russell Miller]

I support that.
----- 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