sjordan2

Why would you use rhinestones with cut facets? Are the 1:1 headlights like that?

Apparently so, and your suggestions were good ones.

This thread has taken an interesting turn that's kind of cool, finding out about everyone's stash and related neuroses. However, does anyone have any suggestions based on the original topic – namely, how to help kit companies grow their business?

Dick would be pushing 80 by now, so I doubt it. Bert still has a production company, but I'm not sure if he does any of the writing anymore. Their style has been copied so many times over the years, it's hard to tell if they did some spots or not, and they and other masters like Stan Freberg seemed to feed off each other, resulting in often similar approaches.

I am an advertising agency professional, having worked for clients large and small, from Exxon to the teeny local Knox Area Rescue Ministries. At my more recent, smaller agency, I worked on promotions for many clients; in regard to this discussion, notably for the individual boat builders of Brunswick Corporation (Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Laguna, Sea Pro, many others). As individual entities, NONE of those boat building companies was as large as someone like Revell, Tamiya or HobbyTown USA. What they have in common with modeling is: • A niche market that needs to be broadened. • An aging and dwindling customer base, plus, in recent times, low demand due to the economy (this second part is something that modeling could take advantage of, with more people spending less for recreation). Our whole company had a total staff of about 20 people in all disciplines working for a dozen clients every day. Nevertheless, we managed to marshal the manpower of just a few people to create and manage a huge number of promotions, both for the main brand and for their dealers. Each promotion involved the part-time work of about 8 people and outside vendors. In addition to our brand image and product introduction advertising, we produced special materials for limited-time promotions for each brand, including: • Advertising in all media, from print to direct mail, e-blasts, online banners, dealer posters, radio and whatever, each customized for individual dealers. • Event marketing, from weekend dealer demo days with boat tests, entertainment, food and drawings to major boat show displays and press conferences. These are the kind of things that the model industry could take advantage of if they had strong enough marketing departments and ad/PR agencies. Evidently, they do not. And, I repeat, you do not have to have huge budgets to do this kind of stuff, but you have to invest in marketing. These are short-term promotional approaches, and they definitely create a bump in sales. But ongoing, coordinated brand marketing is necessary to enlarge the customer base.

To quote myself from an earlier part of this thread: "One of the most important things for a brand to do, for an industry or any kind of enterprise, is to continually grow the business, and that requires a coordinated program of trying to stir up interest. You can't just sit back and say, "Well, we've penetrated the market as much as we're going to, so let's not do anything new." That's how businesses die." I've seen a lot of reasons here why things CAN'T be done, but not much that's constructive. Does anyone have any ideas about how to grow the hobby and support the manufacturers and retailers who make it possible? A photo contest is only one part of the possibilities, but that has a lot to do with photographic skills. One way that mature industries and companies do this is through new product introductions and line extensions, not just repackaging of older products, and that seems to be a challenge to the kit manufacturers. Maybe Art ot others with connections to the industry have a handle on the kind of research and development the companies do. Thoughts?

Dick Orkin had a radio commercial company with Bert Berdis, known as "Dick and Bert" and, later, "Dick Orkin's Radio Ranch." I still have 15 ips reel-to-reel demo reels of their work. They were the best in radio advertising humor.

One of the most important things for a brand to do, an industry or any kind of enterprise, is to continually grow the business, and that requires a coordinated program of trying to stir up interest. You can't just sit back and say, "Well, we've penetrated the market as much as we're going to, so let's not do anything new." That's how businesses die. Contests are probably a good idea IF they're backed by enough properly created and placed publicity to get the message to a broader audience than the hard-core modelers. (For example, getting a little exposure in local news. Could be an interesting story that not everyone knows much about.) Infomercials, properly placed website banner ads and online videos can help, and are far more cost-effective than concentrated print media placement, especially in a niche market like modeling. Takes an experienced marketing department & PR to pull it off, especially in multiple markets. Model kit company contests? Probably need to have rules that require all entrants to see what they can do with the sponsoring brand's kits (this is legally acceptable in this sort of contest). As alluded to by Art, I doubt that Revell would want to sponsor a contest that could be won by a Tamiya kit. Let's face it – automobile manufacturers don't take title sponsorship in races open to all marques. The Ford Daytona 500? Ain't gonna see it. The scope of the contest could include categories in which the manufacturer has a number of products in addition to cars, such as aircraft, armor, etc. National hobby shop brand sponsorship, such as HobbyTown USA? Probably makes more sense, since a variety of kit brands could be accommodated. Even though a majority of these stores may be independently owned, they still get the benefits of marketing support from the parent organization – same deal with the independently owned McDonald's stores, which still have franchise agreements to uphold. But individual store participation has to be voluntary, without any coercion, or it's illegal under antitrust laws. Jointly sponsored contests between a manufacturer and a national retail store? Could probably make the most of a promotional budget. Best of all, a strong national association with some relatively deep pockets would be the ideal sponsor. And, while this is not necessarily an obstacle for a large company, contests have a list of legal requirements that lawyers have to draw up (though nothing like random drawing sweepstakes have). One of them is pretty good: in the rules (required), you have to list the judging criteria, and age categories are recommended. It gets a bit complicated when you realize that a few different states have different laws on the subject. And Darin (you posted your message while I was writing this), I like your idea of a photo contest, but I worry about the quality of the photography and the ability of the judges to see all relevant detail.

You know, when you look at the split grille of the '53 Studebaker, it could be turned into an early 60s Alfa with other Euro cues.

I like the yellow on the C5 in the background.

Something really bad broke on the art car and it was retired. Haven't seen any details.

Thanks, Simón! Oddly, channelsurfing.com started off with a German or Dutch feed on Euro Sport, now it's changed to SPEED (much better picture). Go figure.

I hadn't seen this, but it sure beats anything they have now, even if it is a 4-door and an 8-year-old concept design. Several shots: http://www.acarshow.com/chgcpt.html

If you look at what's happening to this thread, we're getting the comments of superb builders who don't normally post here, plus information on other incredible artists. I think this is one of our best threads ever.

Looks like this could become the best build ever of this one.

Yayyy, Harry! You're my huckleberry.

In light of the enormous response to this controversy, Chevy has posted a link to an interview with their marketing director on their website. It's something of an exercise in generalities.

Well, you can certainly find a lot of materials, related magazines and inspiration in the model railroad section at some hobby shops (though I understand there aren't a lot of hobby shops in Australia).

There was a story on the TV news a few days ago about a professional golfer who only has the use of one arm, and travels around giving exhibitions where he makes almost impossible shots using unusual equipment. He uses a golf car like this. It's very inspiring to see people like him and you going ahead to make the most out of life.

It's a fun and interesting creative exercise, that's all.

This was an idea that came from an ad agency, whose job is mostly consumer communications, and there is nothing in any of this information that says it is only for internal, corporate use. No corporation can tell consumers what NOT to do – that's a stupid thought. But my point is that this idea can work over time to destroy consumer comfort with a struggling brand that's already shown how ignorant their management is. We need Chevy to survive, but this is another example of corporate stupidity, which we've seen enough of through the banking scandals, th BP thing, etc.

That's what I'm talking about. Real retro. 60s Dukes type, with styling cues from the rear quarter panel and aggressive nose. Or however you want to recreate it. The point is, Chrysler blew the styling and should never have called the latest model a Charger and someone needs to reinvigorate it for the 21st century.

Okay, all the manufacturers have spent the last few years coming up with some pretty decent retro versions of prior classics – Mustang, Camaro and Dodge Challenger (which looks to me like a retro Cuda). Others have no idea what they're doing, like the late, unlamented Pontiac GTO and a Dodge badge on a sedan that says Charger but really isn't. If you were the chief designer at Chrysler and didn't care about your future, what would you do with a REAL retro Dodge Charger, maybe with a V10 engine?

How did you find that example? I don't see any links or photos.

All of us can always call a Chevy whatever we want to call it (and I have a few choice words for my Chevy dealer's service department), but this turn of events, to me, means a huge corporate mistake where this suffering company is prepared to drive the consumer even further away from the brand. This has importance to me both as a Chevy Blazer & Corvette owner and as a marketing professional.