Hi, I am new to the forum and apologise if this isn’t in the right place, but I am trying to get some idea as to where the best locations and times are around the UK for a product launch.
As the product is aimed at fleet owners and operators I would like to ask you as a group if I were to hold a launch event in your region where it would have to be to tempt you to attend… the same goes for the best day and most suitable timing…
I am thinking of places such as Reading, Bristol, Northampton, Leeds etc…
Once again apologies for the first post being a question, but at least it’s a start!!
Or the Commercial Vehicle show in April at NEC Birmingham. Although it depnds if your product is for the entire market of operators or targeted at a set niche market of operators, i.e for Tipper/Bulk operators there’s the Tippex show in Harrogate which you could launch at. There’s also shows for chilled hauliers etc too.
Thanks for the prompt responses, I am looking at the various shows around the country, CV show is a little too close and budgets won’t stretch to that at the moment.
Other than the truck shows I am thinking of finding six to seven good locations where I can rent a venue and invite people to attend…
pabley:
Thanks for the prompt responses, I am looking at the various shows around the country, CV show is a little too close and budgets won’t stretch to that at the moment.
Other than the truck shows I am thinking of finding six to seven good locations where I can rent a venue and invite people to attend…
May be pointless to waste six or seven days, i.e getting set-up, your time/resources, travel, boooking fees etc. When you can target a place you know your market will be present at. Not too mention you may well struggle to get busy operators out to one of your venues.
A show like the CV, even if you bide your time will have hundreds of operators from Britains biggest to owner drivers, maybe it’s worth streching your budget to get a stand, that goes for Truckfest etc too as your considering. I don’t think the invatational concept would work out.
I think you’ll find it very difficult to get fleet managers and owners to go to an event for a product they know nothing about, regardless of how good the product you have is. time, travelling, cynicism and just lack of interest will put them off.
Plus there is the cost of the venue and advertising, setting up the launch refreshments at multiple locations.
You’d be better to try and get trade press interest in the product and maybe look at advertising in the various trade mags, also instead of expecting these people to come to you maybe you need to go and see them?
Thanks again for the feedback… At this time I think we will look at the regional events such as Truckfest etc…
I fully appreciate the effort of getting people to attend events, having launched products across the EMEA region, but the level of doubters in this market place would definitely make it a harder sell as an event.
We are visiting several operators at the moment, some are on trial with good results the issue we have is that we can’t shout about it.
Regarding press, we have tried to get different publications to look at this as it is a solution to something the market has been shouting about for years. To date we have had little or no response, if the press is anything like the IT sector you are lucky to get coverage unless there is a marketing campaign associated with it either in the same publication or later edition. But then I am just a cynic!
Why go it alone - can’t you piggy back on someone who is in the sector, well known and is looking for some value add?
Bit tough to offer any ideas not knowing the product but does it lend itself to a channel rather than direct - give away a bit more margin but get quick market penetration. Of course avoid exclusive deal unless its really lucrative, but sole reseller based on hitting targets is one route.
yes ex IT as well so can see your problem, this market is a little more interesting!!!
Good luck with launching anything transport related at the moment pabley, I’d have said road hauliers are having it pretty rough at the mo, it would have to be something fairly dramatic to get a hauliers cheque book out imho.
Getting them to leave there offices/yards & give up there time would be hard enough let alone making purchases from you, but as I say best of british & all that with your secret product…
Again thanks for the comments - all feedback and thoughts are most welcome.
We are beginning to build a network of resellers, this is something that I have done before and it always works well when the reseller is rewarded well, which in this case they are. The whole idea about the ‘roadshow’ was to help them in the first instance by generating interest and leads for them to follow up on.
We know that all operators at the moment are having a tough time and therefore are under no illusion that the chance of getting an order on something that they haven’t felt, touched or smelt for themselves is highly unlikely. This is why we are working on a trial basis for the first 30 days, after which they will see the value. The trial is paid for, but with an agreement in place that states if the trial does not perform as we have commited to the deposit will be refunded 100%.
The product is not a secret, I would really like to open up a discussion about the product and start talking about on here, but having used work related forums for many years I appreciate that the idea of promoting/selling/advertising a product or company is not acceptable as the forum needs to be maintained and managed and this can only be done by generating revenues from the above activities.
I am sure if you are at the regional shows you will see us, or hopefully we will get some press very soon off the back of the trials already taking place.