Marketing C-Dory Boats

Count us in. I had suggested this idea to Tom Latham several years ago as an effective, inexpensive way to promote these boats. I'm not a big fan of the PDF idea, because everyone has a different tolerance for print quality. A decent trifold on glossy stock doesn't have to be expensive per piece to produce, but a home printed sheet can potentially look less than professional. You know what they say about only getting one chance to make a good first impression.

I consider this to be guerella marketing, which can be very cost effective, especially compared to traditional print media advertising. One really neat idea that some printers offer is the "teeny-tiny brochure" - a three fold piece that folds to the size of standard business card. Room for about 9 images and a small bit of text. Easy to carry and store. And different enough from the standard 11x8.5" trifold so that it stands out. Less expensive per piece.

Good luck with this project. For a modest investment, you can have hundreds of enthusiastic "reps."

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
This would be a great way to market the boats. I live in the Northeast not many boats of this kind out this way. I have people gawking all the time coming and talking about the boat.
 
I think it's a great idea! I would love to have a brochure to go along with my usual sales pitch when someone stops to ask us about our boat.
 
Count the crew of the Viking Lady in - great idea and very cost effective for everyone - testimony from a satisfied customer is very hard to beat.
 
Jeff:

Count us in as well. We always get stopped and asked about the boat. Having factory materials on hand would be a great help. I think it a grand idea.

Jan & Stacy
C-Change
 
Same here Jeff. I'd be happy to carry around some brochures. Like Tom, I've given a few people rides on my boat who were interested and I'm sure than many of the other C-Brat's have too. So in addition to the brochures, you might consider other ways that us Brats can be help. Demo rides in areas where you don't have a dealer of when a deal doesn't have a boat in the water could be a great help. Many of us do that gratis already but if I were you, I might consider a more formal "C-Dory Ambassador" program in which owners sign up to provide demo rides if needed and the factory compensates them in some minimal way if a sale results. In many cases, people here wouldn't expect compensation but I think you could build a lot of goodwill and good marketing with fairly modest compensation (jackets, hats whatever). Just a thought.

In the words of Red Green - "We're all pulling for you".
 
I actually remember you pulling up to Langley in your Starcraft and taking a good look-see at Daydream too...

starcrafttom":tudgkmxg said:
It would be a good idea. I always have people stop me at the dock asking about the boat. And not just once in a while , but every time I stay at a dock someone will walk up and ask about how the boat handles and they try to peer in the windows. I always offer a tour of the inside and they are always amazed at the comforts we have in such a small boat. I compare the 22's with vw camper vans and people seem to understand that. You can see a light come on when you put it in those terms.
Several of these people later bought boats.

I have also given rides to 5 people over the years. 4 of those bought Cdorys later on. Some , Jim, bought new boats at the boat show after getting a ride from me when the factory would not give rides. I bought my boat after a ride with Roger, after the factory salesman stood me up for a ride. Susan wanted to kill the guy and I should have let here.

If you are going to do a flyer a page on the c-brats would be good idea.
Click to expand...
 
My boat may not be a C-Dory, but close enough. We are going to start the Great Loop tour this March, and handing out flyers would be a pleasure.


Scott,

BTW, we got our portholes from your supplier, had them installed, and they look great. It will make our tour much more pleasant. Thanks for your help.
 
I remember I was working the Miami boat show selling Rinker boats (back a few years ago)and I saw Jeff M and took a ride on a c-dory 22 and I remember getting a c-dory hat . My wife couldn't understand why I wanted a c-dory vs a new Rinker or Chapparrell that we were selling .She still doesn't get it ??

Anyway I think thats why c-dory started puting in vinyl interiior's so more wives would be interested

Count me in with your Marketing plan I get stopped almost every time we are out even though we are a CC-23 we still are in the Toland c-dory family

Cocoon what portholes are you talking about ?
 
Great idea! I understand Jim's reservations about a PDF file but would use that if available and then could print copies as needed, the file could be updated as required, etc. At any rate, I only had my boat in the water for one summer and was asked about it every time I docked somewhere and even by radio by some guys on a sailboat. Having material to share with contact info, web address, and marketing stuff would be nice.
 
Jeff,

Great idea! Put us down for a couple of dozen. I recently showed our boat to a gentleman we had encountered on a boat ramp in Coolin, ID. I pointed him to a local used TC and gave him info on the factory and local dealers. Haven't heard of any purchase but it wouldn't surprise me.

We are approached constantly at fuel stops, launch ramps, marinas and rest areas. If these folks could walk away with something in hand rather than trying to remember "c hyphen brats dot com" it would be beneficial to all involved.
 
I may be new to the C-Dory but have been watching them for years. I talk to a lot of people in my boating activities and would pass them out when asked about the Dory.
 
We used to hand out cards with a picture of our boat, an e-mail address and links to C-Brats, C-Dory sites. Quick and easy but brochures would be nice. I carry brochures for our current boat but would be happy to carry CD ones as well as they are great boats and we have many happy memories.

Merv
 
May I suggest a postcard and not a letter-size flyer? Easier to store on the boat or in the truck, and not as easily (psychologically) tossed by the recipient.

I would be willing to make a small donation in support of this project.

Warren
 
Jeff,

We also own a Casita molded fiberglass travel trailer. These small 17 foot trailers have the same utilitarian and compact philosophy as the boat and get the same type attention as C-Dorys, though perhaps not as often. The Casita folks don't have dealers and sell factory direct exclusively. They provide Casita owners with brochures and business cards and send the referring owner a couple hundred dollars for showing their trailer if a sale is made. We have "sold" several for them.

I think your idea is worth consideration. We would be happy to hand out the brochures and provide the names of the area dealers.

Harper
 
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