Posted by Todd Buckton on Fri, May 07, 2010
Today's View From The Cab comes to us from Leonard, Promotional Management Group driver and all around guru of things that sport wheels.
Leonard had recently been in Topeka, Kansas where he wrote: "Bad Weather! Got into the hospital just seconds before a big hail storm hit. Tornado warnings all around. What a day!". The truck was safe and sound, the client's delicate robotic surgical equipment was safe and it was just another successful healthcare mobile marketing event for PMG, home of the best drivers in the business.
But with crazy weather and another great stop under his belt, Leonard moved on to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Hot Springs Village has an interesting distinction: it's the largest gated community in the United States. With over 26,000 heavily wooded acres - which works out to just over 39 square miles - and about 8500 residents, it has full-time security staff at all entrances for complete peace of mind. 9 golf courses, 11 recreation lakes, 10 clay tennis courts, the sheer size boggles the mind. And you have to know somebody to get in.
Here's a shot of the truck Leonard took while he was there doing an event:
And another shot around a particularly sweet bend in the road:
Thanks to Leonard for another view of our great United States of America as we go from one end to the other helping our clients Drive The Brand Experience.
Posted by Todd Buckton on Fri, Mar 12, 2010
Interior, Double slide 53' transport for IT outsourcing provider
Here's where it gets fun: Take a plain white transport shell and turn it into a perfect environment to make your product or service stand out from the pack. Let the creatives at it and you'll see that truly your imagination is all that stands between your product and a custom space made to sell your product.
Interior, double slide 53' custom transport for country music entertainer tour
Exterior, Double slide 53' transport for athletic hall of fame
Interior, Double slide 53' transport for manned space travel
Exterior, Double slide 53' transport with attached inflatable dome to seat 100+ for political campaign
Interior, Double slide 53' transport for IT outsourcing provider
As you can see, if it can be imagined, it can be incorporated into a custom mobile environment. But it can also be produced and that's where the professionals come in: taking the designer's vision and bringing it to life. And that is not a job for the faint-hearted. Once these custom transports are built, they need to travel hundreds of thousands of miles each year, bringing your product directly to the people who want to buy. Like a rock concert, these environments get set up and struck scores of times over a 12 month period. So they have to be designed, built and run with longevity and durability in mind.
Here is an example of a mobile classroom that served to train both sales reps and to market to surgeons as well:
This execution has been particularly effective to introduce this revolutionary product into an anticipatory market.
Here is an example of another demo lab that teaches cardiac catheter techniques to surgical staff easily and effectively:
How about an aviation solution that creates the interior of a business-class jet for presale to the buying audience. This mobile environment traveled hundreds of thousands of miles and sold scores of these aircraft providing pre-sale interest and income before manufacture:
Finally, here's a retail environment that attracted tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts. They became willing brand advocates while they took test rides leading to sales and bought cool brand swag.
So there you have it. With the right vehicle for your product or service, customized to attract your target audience, bringing it to them can sell more product for you. That's how PMG helps you Drive Your Brand Experience.
Posted by Todd Buckton on Tue, Feb 23, 2010
Today's View from the Cab is from PMG Master Driver Dave who just finished a trip from California to Denver for the next leg of a mobile tour for a valued healthcare client. The photos he took are just west of the Vail pass. Dave said he just missed a huge storm that dumped lots of snow on Denver and the local ski areas.
Not only are these beautiful photos but they are a perfect way to show why mobile tours are a great way to get your product in front of people who want to buy. Multiple large scale gatherings like trade shows continue to fade in importance in the minds of decision makers. Decisions like increased travel costs, better online communication technology, inconvenience to attendees and a general desire to stay closer to home looms large with your core audience. That's why mobile tours are such a great way to break through the clutter. Take your product to where the decision makers are and make it easy for them to be bowled over by your incredible product. Make it easy for them to experience your product and you make it easy for them to buy your product.
Dave left Denver and is now in beautiful Minot, ND showcasing our client's product to prospects and customers who don't have to go far to be impressed by their offering. And at less than 100 miles to the Canadian border, the weather is lots worse in Minot than it is in Denver this time of year, but our client has made it easy for their prospects to experience an excellent product. We battled the elements. We brought it to them. Another great reason to use mobile tours to Drive The Brand Experience.
All photos by PMG Driver Dave Christenson
Posted by Todd Buckton on Fri, Feb 12, 2010
We've looked at the types of vehicles that are available for your mobile tour, now let's look at how these can transform into unique marketing spaces.
If we say that "you are only limited to your imagination" when it comes to customization, you might think that's an overused, hackneyed phrase. But when it comes to mobile event marketing, it's completely true. Once the transport is safely parked at the venue of your choice near your prospects and customers, that's when the fun begins. Set up for a transport can be anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days and these transports can become anything. Here's how they might start:
53' Single Slide Transport
This is referred to as a "single slide" transport. It's indicated as having stairs at the front and the rear of the slide out, but that choice is all yours. The doors can be put on the opposite side, the front, back, wherever it's right for the specific application. The slide allows the transport to get down the road and then opens up onsite to become a roomy, luxurious selling environment. Here's an example of a single slide:
A variation of this transport is the double slide:
53' Double Slide Transport
This transport will allow you to more than double the floor space of a straight 53' transport and give your product or service more than ample room to adequately market your product in a singular environment.
Another variation is a stage area instead of a slide. This makes the 53' transport a natural for live presentations to large audiences.
53' Single Slide/Single Stage Transport
Here's a couple of variations of that same stage concept. One is a retail operation:
This application allowed the manufacturer to sell high-margin accessories while showcasing their latest product offerings.
Here's another variation of the same type of transport. This time, the side opens up to reveal the full-size business jet fuselage. This display was used to presell a new business jet that was being developed and built. Incredibly effective, highly targeted and amazing ROI.
Now we have an idea of what is possible with custom transports. As we said up front, if you can imagine it you can have it. And just to prove our point, we'll leave you with a custom transport built in Australia that turns into...well you just have to see it to believe it. Brilliant. Expect to see the same concept soon here in the states.
Incredible perspective views of custom transports by Derrick Johnson
Sweet Australian Mobile Pub by Truckmania
All other cool photos by Promotional Management Group
Posted by Todd Buckton on Thu, Feb 04, 2010
65' Truck and Gooseneck Trailer Combo
This edition of "Which Mobile Tour Transport is Right for You?" concentrates on other transports beside the traditional 53'. The photo above is a great example of a gooseneck trailer, as the trailer attaches to the tractor through a single pivot point or a "gooseneck". Goosenecks allow for greater mobility and portability onsite as the tractor can be quickly detached. Also, they have a low floor height so greater ceiling height can be maintained. Weight can sometimes be an issue for goosenecks as opposed to traditional 53' transports if the tour has excessive weight requirements. Goosenecks come in any number of lengths from 16' up past 53' and have great customization potential. You might see these vehicles typically used for hauling race cars and horses.
Class "A" Recreational Vehicle
The next vehicle is one that is instantly recognizable: the motorhome. Long the province of John Madden and touring country western singers, these vehicles can serve well for a mobile tour. The Class "A" is the largest of the bunch, usually at 39' but up to 45' in length. They have plenty of opportunities for slideouts and customization so they can get roomy, but nowhere near the amount of room with a 53' transport. This is because so much of the overall length and height of the transport is taken up with the mechanics of the transport: engine, transmission, etc. Also, these are not designed with the long-haul in mind as maintenance and upkeep can become an issue. But, one interesting thing about these vehicles: they can be operated without a Commercial Driver's License, a great option for local and smaller tours.
30' Box Truck
Next on our list of vehicles is the box truck. These vehicles are the workhorses of the industry: they will go practically anywhere, run virtually forever and lend themselves to full customization for small tours or can serve as a chaser or secondary storage for a large tour. This unit does exactly that as part of a much larger tour. The same is true for the photo below. This tour used a 20' trailer towed by a Class "A" motorhome to follow a 53' custom double drop transport. Now THAT'S a mobile tour.
In our next chapter of "Which Mobile Tour Transport is Right for You?" we'll talk about the different ways that these vehicles can be customized to specifically meet the needs of your tour as you Drive Your Brand Experience.
Davenport Fire Department Photo by our friends at Featherlite
All other cool photos by Promotional Management Group
Posted by Todd Buckton on Fri, Jan 22, 2010
This entry into the RoadBlog Mobile Event Hall of Fame looks good, smells good and serves up great-tasting brats. That in itself is cause for admission into this Hall of Fame (see previous Hall of Fame entry), but the Johnsonville Big Taste Grill is an experiential delight.
With tongue placed firmly in brat-filled cheek, Johnsonville has stirred that primordial part of every male's brain that craves meat grilled over an open fire. A tanker truck converted into a giant grill that Johnsonville provides gratis for events (you buy the brats...). It's a grill disguised as a giant brand experience.
People take their pictures in front of it. It gets lots of press and it gets smiles wherever it goes. And wherever it goes there's a brat waiting.
What's not to like?
Happy guy with Blue Shirt photos by Ed Kohler on Flickr
Posted by Todd Buckton on Fri, Jan 15, 2010
Straight Frame 53' Transport
One of the best things about mobile event marketing is the amazing number of variables available. There are so many different types of transports it's difficult to keep track of them all. But you've come to the right place here at RoadBlog, because during this series, we'll tell you about all kinds of transports and all of the variations therein. And then we'll get into customization. When we're done, you'll be better prepared to Drive Your Brand Experience. You'll see that your imagination is the only limit to what can be done with a mobile tour. So let's get started.
The most common transport for mobile tours is the 53' transport. It is also the most common transport you see on the highways and byways of America. The Coke truck above is a typical 53' transport. It's called a straight frame because it's a straight box. Notice on the Coke photo how the box is above the wheels and straight. A typical straight frame transport is 53' long, 8.5' wide and 8' high, giving you around 450 square feet of floor space and about 3600 cubic feet of display space. Keep those numbers in mind, because it just gets bigger and better.
Single Drop 53' Transport
After the straight frame comes a single drop. We included a photo of a flatbed transport here because it more easily shows how the transport drops down below the level of the wheels allowing for a taller load. What that drop means for a custom transport is more cubic footage inside the display, and a taller ceiling height for your display and your prospects making for a more comfortable experience.
Double Drop 53' Transport
Now things start to get interesting for Driving The Brand Experience. Here is a double drop 53' transport. Notice how far the floor drops down compared to the single drop. And then compare it to the Coke truck at the top. Now imagine how we can start to create some excitement with a transport this size. The double drop transport without further modification is as big as it gets. But that further modification is exactly what we'll talk about in our next chapter of Which Mobile Tour Transport is Right for You?
Straight Frame Photo via Flickr by Rick
Single Drop Photo via Flickr by alltheengineer
Double Drop Photo by our friends at Featherlite
Posted by Todd Buckton on Fri, Jan 08, 2010
One of the reasons that clients stay with Promotional Management Group long-term is that we give them the tools they need to keep apprised of tour status. The PMG Event Management System™ (EMS™) provides complete control over all of our tours. From any web-enabled browser, approved users can see at a glance what is happening with their tours. Depending on the level of authority, users can add or delete events, verify/change the address of the venue, identify who the local contact is, what time the load-in is and when the event begins. We developed this proprietary application for our valued clients to make their lives easier, and give them peace of mind when juggling multiple events.
We think you’ll find that the EMS™ is the perfect tool to keep you informed and in touch with your coworkers, your customers and your brand. At PMG we know the EMS™ is just one more reason that we help you Drive Your Brand Experience.
Posted by Todd Buckton on Fri, Dec 18, 2009
RoadBlog is proud to announce our latest video promo. Check out the footage and imagine what your brand would look like splashed across the side of a 53' custom transport. Mobile tours are a great way for your brand to break through the clutter and get right to the people who are predisposed to buy your product. RoadBlog has clients who have seen their close rates increase over 400% with a mobile tour compared to promotion with traditional media. This is how PMG helps you Drive Your Brand Experience.
Are You Looking For Ways to Break Through The Clutter?
Find out how taking your brand on the road can return your investment quickly through increased sales. Click here to receive our free ebook on ROI for mobile tours.
Posted by Todd Buckton on Fri, Dec 11, 2009
We had a prospect who directs brand activity for a healthcare products company ask us recently about our ability to transport and manage tissue blocks or cadavers for mobile demo or training applications. The answer to the question was a resounding yes. Promotional Management Group's successful and careful experience with delicate equipment, samples and supplies spans over 10 years. There are very specific regulations regarding the transportation of medical samples. We know and follow those regulations to the letter. We take care of all of the details: rules, venue clearance (we've been to every major and minor medical facility in the country), transport, set up, staff, strike and off to the next venue. All you do is delight your prospects and convert them to customers and brand advocates.
Do you have a product that you'd like to demo for surgeons? Do you have a complicated process that is best seen live? Do you need to get in front of decision makers and influencers to help your product stand out? A mobile tour designed, built and run by an experienced, knowledgeable provider can bring positive results quickly and effectively.
Incredible medical illustration by Patrick J. Lynch
What Will Your Brand Look Like On The Road?
Another way we help you Drive Your Brand Experience is by showing you how your brand will benefit rolling down the roads of America. Just tell us your company name and your brand. We'll do the rest. Mobile event marketing is a cost effective way to get in front of your prospects and turn them into customers. Click here so we can show you how good your brand will look on a custom transport!