Auto Marketing Central!

Electric Car For The Massesl

2008-04-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

Norway's Think Global will begin selling its inexpensive, eco-friendly vehicles in the U.S. next year.

Norwegian automaker Think Global said Monday it planned to sell low-priced electric cars to the masses and will introduce its first models in the U.S. by the end of next year.

The battery-powered Think City will be able to travel up to 110 miles on a single charge, with a top speed of about 65 mph, the company said. It will be priced below $25,000.

Oslo-based Think said venture capital firms RockPort Capital Partners and Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers had made investments to fund its entry into the U.S. under the auspices of Think North America.

"This is not a toy," said Wilber James, RockPort managing partner. "This is a serious car that we expect to sell."

Think North America is likely to be based in Southern California, the investors said, and the cars it sells here will be assembled locally. The venture investors will own half of Think North America. In March, General Electric Co. invested $4 million in Think Global.

Although technology for electric cars has been advancing -- and consumer interest has been rising amid growing concern over gasoline prices and greenhouse gases -- few vehicles have come to market. Last month, San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla Motors began production of its Roadster, an electric vehicle that costs $100,000.

The Think City "is a mass-market vehicle," said Kleiner managing partner Ray Lane, dismissing comparisons to the Roadster. Tesla's car is being produced in relatively small numbers, with roughly 300 expected by the end of this year. "Our desire is to be selling 30-40-50,000 of these cars in a couple of years."

Think Chief Executive Jan-Olaf Willums said the company would bring test vehicles to the U.S. in the coming months.

The Think City runs on sodium batteries, but future versions could use lithium ion batteries, Willums said. The company is working with A123 Systems and EnerDel Inc., to develop the batteries, which would boost range and speed.

With most automakers focusing on hybrid technology, only a handful, including Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motor Co., have announced plans to produce all-electric cars. Mitsubishi's MiEV is set to go on sale in Japan next year.

Ford Motor Co. was the longtime owner of Think but sold it in 2003. It was purchased by Norweigan investors two years ago, and began selling cars in Norway this year, with sales in Sweden, Denmark and Britain expected this year. The company said its annual production capacity in Europe is 10,000 vehicles.

The Think City, a two-seater that can be fitted with two additional seats for children, has a mostly plastic exterior and is 95% recyclable. Willums said a convertible was in development. "Women want to buy it immediately," he said.

Automakers increasingly catering to women

2008-03-31T16:22:00.000-07:00

Today's women bring home the bacon and plan the family car purchases.

The automotive industry increasingly is catering to women with advertising, car designs and sales methods, according to a recent CNN story, which also said women bring in half or more of the income in U.S. households and control about 80 percent of household spending -- including car purchases.

When buying a car, women tend to spend more time in the purchasing process than men, seek more advice from an automotive authority than men and are willing to go to about three dealerships to find the right price and service.

Sales manager Josh Young of Lindquist Ford, Inc., Bettendorf, said a recent sale to a single woman definitely fit that profile. "She talked to her brother, her father, researched online and got a lot of good information on it."

Mr. Young said some women are driven to research their purchase because they're detail-oriented or skeptical.

"I think a lot of women who come in to a sales automotive store or dealership may be worried that they're going to be taken advantage of," he said. "They've heard horror stories."

No matter the gender, Mr. Young said sales staff try to determine the personality of a buyer and cater to their needs.

Jeff Helms, co-owner of Strieter Motor Co., Davenport, said women car buyers are no different than men car buyers. Both genders are just there to buy a car.

"A woman with children who's going to be hauling her family, vehicle safety is going to be real prevalent on her mind," Mr. Helms said. "I'm not sure from the same couple, that the dad wouldn't have that concern, also."

Likewise, he said young and single clients without kids probably are going to be interested in something sporty and practical.

"Whether male or female, there's a chance they'll be paying $4 a gallon this summer," he said. "I think priorities toward what is important in a car have more to do with individual situations than a gender."

Mr. Helms said women long have been a direct influence in the majority of car purchases.

However, women haven't expressed much interest in selling cars, he said. "Because of the long hours in this business in terms of nights and weekends, it's not a business a working mother can gravitate toward."

While they may not be interested in selling cars, women are in management, service and body-shop positions, typically Monday through Friday jobs, Mr. Helms said, adding that they also play a key role in vehicle manufacturing and design.

Edwards gets high marks for his post-victory backflip

2008-03-07T16:09:00.000-08:00

Suzanne Yoculan was preparing her No. 1-ranked University of Georgia women's gymnastics team for a weekend meet at Michigan when she received a phone call about a prospective recruit.

"Carl Edwards?" Yoculan asked. "What team does he play for?"

Roush Fenway Racing, the caller replied.

"Thought he was a football player," Yoculan responded.

No, Sprint Cup series, the caller said.

"I'm a Dale Jarrett-type person," Yoculan said with a laugh.

The conversation quickly turned to the signature backflip Edwards performs after a win, something we've seen often lately with victories in the past two events at California and Las Vegas that took him to first in the points before NASCAR hammered his team with a 100-point penalty on Wednesday.

Yoculan hadn't seen the backflip that Edwards does from the window of his No. 99 car, but she was sure it would be amateurish and predicted he threw his head back to gain momentum.

She changed her mind after a quick glance on YouTube.

"Actually, it was a pretty good flip," Yoculan admitted. "He lifts his arms up like he's supposed to do and checks off like he's supposed to do. And he does not throw his head back like a lot of amateurs do.

"He actually lifts and sets it pretty well. Then he circles his arms and grabs his shins, which is pretty correct technically. Everything is correct except for his legs are apart, which is called a cowboy position. But in terms of positioning of the way he does the flip, he's pretty good."

So the score from the judge from Georgia?

"I'd say a 9.35 if we were still grading on a 10-point scale," Yoculan said.

Kevin Mazeika, coach of the U.S. men's team that will compete in the Summer Olympics in Beijing, was equally impressed.

"I'd have to give him a pretty high degree of difficulty," he said. "After driving 500 miles, and to jump out of a car and do a backflip, it's really amazing in a lot of respects."

So the score from the U.S. Olympic team judge?

"I'd give him a 9.5," Mazeika said. "I'd say it's technically pretty sound."

D-D Breaux, a five-time SEC Coach of the Year for the LSU women's gymnastics program, was even more impressed that Edwards flips in a driver's uniform that is much heavier than the tights typically worn by gymnasts.

"It's amazing he gets that much amplitude for a guy in a fire-retardant suit," she said.

"Amplitude" is another word for lift in gymnastics, which is quite different from "downforce" in NASCAR.

So the score from the judge from LSU?

"He'd probably get a 9.6," Breaux said. "He's not sticking it and he's got some leg separation and his execution is not perfect, but I'd give him a 10 for his driving."

Edwards, pit crew mistakes aside, has been nearly perfect the past two weekends. He's led 150 out of 517 laps and clearly has been the class of the field in both races.

Were it not for the 100-point penalty NASCAR gave him after the lid to his oil tank was found missing following the win at Las Vegas, he would have a 21-point advantage over Kyle Busch instead of being in seventh place.

Now he comes to Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he swept both Cup races during his rookie season of 2005, where he finished second in the October race a year ago, where he has five top-7s in six Cup events.

Although the 28-year-old Edwards performed the flip at small tracks around his home in Columbia, Mo., and in the Truck Series, they didn't gain national notoriety until that spring weekend in 2005 at this 1.54-mile facility, when he also won the Nationwide Series.

"It's awesome to see," Mazeika said of the flip. "It's definitely got a place in the heart of the gymnastics folks."

In the beginning
Nancy Sterling looked out the back window of her house just in time to see her son, 7 or 8 at the time, come down hard on the frame of the trampoline.

"I swear I thought he'd broken both legs," she said with a laugh.

That was the first time Sterling recalled seeing Edwards do a backflip. She didn't think much of it at the time, and thought of it even less as he became a drummer in the school marching band and a guitarist in the jazz band.

"He never did gymnastics or anything like that," Sterling said.

Edwards didn't start to perfect the backflip until he was out of high school and working at a local shop that raced Trans-Ams. It was there he began working out with a crew member that practiced his gymnastic skills during lunch breaks.

After seeing Tyler Walker, then a Sprint Car star from California, perform the backflip after wins, Edwards decided to implement that into his routine at his home track, Capital Speedway.

"People loved it," Sterling said. "They went crazy."

Edwards didn't showcase the flip in NASCAR until the 11th race of the 2003 Truck Series season following a win at Kentucky Speedway. Sterling recalled how her husband gave a local photographer a heads-up that the flip might happen so he could be in position.

"The guy looked at him and said, 'Are you crazy?'" Sterling recalled. "But the guy ran out there and he was real happy that he did."

Edwards performed the flip two more times during a five-week stretch, and again after being named rookie of the year at the season-ending banquet, the last time Sterling recalls seeing him practice it.

"The only reason he practiced for the ceremony was because he had on a tuxedo and shoes that were pretty slippery," she said.

But the flip didn't truly gain notoriety until the weekend of March 18-19 in 2005. Edwards first wowed the Atlanta crowd when he leaped off the door of his Nationwide car after his first win in the series.

Twenty-four hours later, he did it again after edging Jimmie Johnson with a gutsy last-lap move on near-bald tires for his first Cup win. That started a funny exchange between Johnson and Tony Stewart in the postrace interview over whether Edwards was a driver or a ballet dancer.

"He's a race car driver, not a ballerina," Stewart said.

Replied Johnson, "He did a backflip on the frontstretch, though."

Said Stewart, "Yeah, but he didn't land on his toes doing it. … I'm not going to do a backflip. I don't care how many races I win."

Edwards did the backflip after four Cup wins in 2005. He finished tied with teammate Greg Biffle for second in the points standings, 35 behind Stewart.

The flip took a 52-race hiatus, at least in Cup, from the 34th race of 2005 through the 24th race of 2007. Edwards has been flipping out since then, winning three Cup events and four Nationwide events last season, the latter good enough to give him the series title.

He's won two of the first three Cup races this season to temporarily make fans forget the Hendrick Motorsports dominance of a year ago and the new Toyota power.

"There isn't anyone else that can do it as exciting and fun as him," said Walker, who last weekend returned to the Sprint Car series after nearly a year suspension by NASCAR for failing its drug-testing policy. "I don't believe there's anybody else in the sport that could do one.

"It's brought a lot of publicity for him and all of his sponsors. It's great for the fans. That's what it's all about, anyway, doing it for the fans so they get their money's worth."

Marketing tool?
Geoff Smith began seeing dollar signs after the 2005 Atlanta weekend. The president of Roush Fenway Racing could only imagine ways he could market the backflip with slogans such as "Win one for the Flipper."

Those thoughts occasionally still creep into his mind. For instance, he could sell Edwards to a laundry detergent sponsor with the slogan, "Carl flipped out over your soap suds."

"That might make a little money," Smith said. "It might make a lot."

But Edwards doesn't want to cheapen the act by making it part of a marketing campaign.

"He feels like it will dilute the moment for the race fans," Smith said. "So for the time being, the time to see Carl do a backflip is after he wins a race."

If Yoculan had her way, Edwards would add a full twist to his backflip. She insisted she could teach him in less than half a day.

"He could be the first athlete other than a gymnast to do a full backflip with a full twist," she said.

With the right training, Mazeika said Edwards possibly could have been Olympic material. He would be willing to try in exchange for equal seat time in Edwards' car.

"Not in time for Beijing," Mazeika said. "Maybe London [in 2012]."

Breaux laughed at the suggestion.

"Not at his age," she said. "I wouldn't want to take that on. Carl Edwards Jr., maybe."

But if Edwards were to give up driving for gymnastics, Breaux would start him off on the floor exercise.

Why? No particular reason.

"I'd just like to see him in tights," she said.

Tights aside, Breaux is glad Edwards has moved his backflips from the concrete to the grass infield to protect his knees. So are track presidents who don't want a liability suit for a cracked kneecap or torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Roush officials, concerned with the long-range health of their star, are happy as well.

"If he stays like he is, he probably could do it off doors for another 20 years," Breaux said. "As long as he doesn't fatten up and get a big belly, he'll be fine."

Many car owners aren't pursuing repair incentives in program to reduce smog

2008-02-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

A voluntary cash incentive created last April to get the owners of the highest-polluting Southern California cars to repair or scrap their vehicles has yet to catch on with the public.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District, which uses vans equipped with smog-sensing gear to randomly detect tailpipe emissions, has collected data on 1 million cars, pickups and SUVs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange counties.

It has mailed letters to the owners of the 7,000 worst polluters in that group -- vehicles that spew as much as 500 times the emissions of an average vehicle -- offering $500 to help pay for repairs. If a vehicle cannot be fixed, the smog district offers $1,000 to scrap the vehicle, or as much as $2,000 for low-income residents.

The district has collected emissions data on 1 million vehicles in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange counties. Owners of the worst polluters have been sent letters offering money to help pay for repairs or, in some cases, scrap their cars

Given that the average owner pays about $350 on repairs when a car fails a smog test, district spokesman Sam Atwood said, district officials thought the High Emitter Repair Or Scrap program was a good deal.

So far, only 100 to 200 vehicle owners have taken the deal.

At Mt. San Jacinto College, the only authorized repair station in Riverside County under the program, just two takers have brought in their cars, college spokeswoman Karin Marriott said by phone. Officials there hope to get more as the emissions-testing vans return to the county in the coming months.

"So far we have had a modest number of takers," Atwood said. "That's what we are looking at right now. How do we improve the program to make it more attractive to people?"

Considering Reasons

The $4 million pilot program, launched with a grant from the California Air Resources Board, will be evaluated when data is compiled at the end of next summer. The air quality district's 13-member governing board then will decide whether to renew and possibly modify the program.

"We have ransacked every kind of option and alternative we can identify" to combat air pollution, said Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, who serves on the board. "I guess this is another one where we're trying to encourage the owners of older vehicles to get them fixed up if they can."

He said the district may have to follow up with those who received the letters to find out why they didn't accept the offer.

"Maybe it's the letter, maybe what is being offered is too low, maybe people don't open it up, maybe they feel intimidated," he said by phone.

Regardless, he said, the district will have to weigh the volume of reduced emissions achieved by the program against its cost.

"What we're finding is that the smog check referees are not looking at what is the quick fix that would be required to simply get the vehicle to pass the smog check," he said. "They are looking at the root cause of the vehicle problems."

While some gross-polluting vehicles can be repaired for much less than $500, "there could be problems that take a whole engine or exhaust system and catalytic converter," says Steve Maser, manager of the Automobile Club's Automotive Research Center in Diamond Bar. "Those things can cost thousands of dollars."

'A Lot of Trepidation'

To get their $500 credit, motorists must take their vehicles to referees at inspection stations operated by the Foundation for Community Colleges, Atwood said. There are only two stations in the Inland area: at the college in San Jacinto and at Valley College in San Bernardino.

He said vehicle owners may be unwilling to drive some distance and then wait one or two hours for testing and diagnosis of repairs.

Atwood emphasized that the program is voluntary and insists that the district has no intention of sharing its smog readings with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

But Maser said those assurances may not be enough for car owners.

"I'm not sure how many people even trust that this is honest," he said. "I am not sure if people who have now tampered with their old cars want the government to see that. Or that they have cheated on their last smog check so they could pass. Now these remote sensors have caught them and they figure there's some trick to get them to bring their car in and they can charge them with cheating on that smog check."

"There is a lot of trepidation out there," Maser said.

MegaMeeting.com Video Conferencing Helps Auto Finance Company Meet More Often & Travel Less

2007-09-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

Before implementing MegaMeeting.com's browser based video and web conferencing software, Automatic Auto Finance (AAF) would have to ask all of their employees to shut down two hours early or open two hours late so they could travel 90+ miles to meet. According to Cody Miller, Multimedia Administrator, “We use MegaMeeting mainly for our multi-store meetings. We used to have meetings once a month because of the distance. Now, because of MegaMeeting, distance is no longer an issue and we are able to meet on a weekly basis. By meeting more often, it helps us keep our people on track and boost morale”.

In addition to conducting company and sales meetings, AAF currently uses MegaMeeting to perform product sales demonstrations to prospective clients, as well as for quality assurance and diagnosing issues with products.

Some of the benefits AAF receives from MegaMeeting's web and video conferencing services, include saving money (by lowering their gas expenses), saving time (by reducing travel) and increasing productivity (by allowing employees to spend less time on the road and more time in the office).

The specific features of MegaMeeting that AAF implements most often are the video conferencing capabilities that allow meeting attendees to see each other and the built-in audio (VoIP).

About MegaMeeting.com

MegaMeeting.com is a leading provider of 100% browser-based Video & Web Conferencing solutions, complete with real time audio and video capabilities. Being browser based and working on all major operating systems – Windows, Mac & Linux; MegaMeeting.com provides universal access without the need to download, install or configure software.

MegaMeeting.com web conferencing products and services include powerful collaboration tools that accommodate robust Video & Web Conferences, including advanced features such as desktop/application sharing, i.e. Word and Excel documents and PowerPoint presentations without the need to upload any files. MegaMeeting is ideal for multi-location web based meetings, virtual classrooms, employee trainings, product demonstrations, company orientation, customer support, product launches and much more.

For more information please visit MegaMeeting.com or call (952) 955-6346.

Larry Tyler, Total Advertising Marketing Solutions

2007-08-18T05:21:00.000-07:00

Larry Tyler, executive vice president of Total Advertising Marketing Solutions of Las Vegas, is a veteran at helping companies generate more traffic at their booths, sell more products and close more deals. For the past two years he has been one of the charter premier West Coast distributors of GUGO travel certificates, which allow companies to add value to their products in an enjoyable and positive way.

His company (www.tamslv.com) specializes in gaining a competitive edge by giving access to sought-after premiums for both off and online applications. A veteran of 15 years in the automotive industry, Tyler previously served as marketing director for several AutoNation stores in Las Vegas and has sold similar products in the past.

Tradeshow Lifestyles recently asked about the latest products in his industry.

Lifestyles: What's hot in incentive programs right now?

Larry Tyler: Get Up & Go Travel incentives (www.getupandgo.com). You have to give your prospects another reason to buy. It’s a better way to prompt prospects to take action, whether it’s to visit your showroom, open an account or buy a premium item. In addition to the high quality products and services you provide, it gives a compelling reason to act today.

Lifestyles: Why are incentive programs such an effective marketing tool?

LT: Which do you think is going to be more effective as a sales incentive, a coffee mug or a vacation? For the same price as a T-shirt or a restaurant voucher, you could be giving away a great vacation. Incentives with the highest perceived value are proven to yield the best results.

Lifestyles: What is the competitive advantage of your company?

LT: You’ll supercharge your marketing campaigns. You’re probably already using ads, mailings, a Web site and maybe even cold calling to generate leads and sales. Imagine if you could supercharge the effectiveness of each of these marketing efforts to increase sales. If you owned a NASCAR racecar and wanted it to have a chance of winning, you’d use the proper fuel, 110-octane leaded gasoline. The same is true with your marketing. You need the right fuel to make it perform.

Lifestyles: Most Get Up & Go programs require activation through the Internet. How does the system work?

LT: Customers have the option of activating their certificate by mail, online fax or phone. Once the certificate is activated, within five business days they’ll receive a confirmation letter from Wyndham Worldwide, the parent company, informing them that they have one year to travel. Wyndham Worldwide is one of the largest owners of resort lodging, including some of the most prestigious properties in the world. It offers individual consumers and business customers a broad array of hospitality products and services, as well as various accommodation alternatives and prices from a portfolio of world-renowned brands.

Lifestyles: What type of companies would benefit most from your service?

LT: All kinds of businesses are currently using our incentives, from Fortune 500 to “mom-and-pop” businesses. It just really depends on what you would like to accomplish. In the tradeshow arena, exhibitors use Get Up & Go to attract potential customers to their booth.

Lifestyles: What should an incentive buyer keep in mind when making a decision about which service to purchase?

LT: Are they easy to use? Stay away from programs that are hard to use. We use an “encourage redemption” model, while a lot of our competitors use a “breakage” model, where they make it hard for a consumer to travel. And being a Fortune 500 company does not hurt (N.Y S.E: WYN).

Lifestyles: As your company continues to grow, what programs will you be offering?

LT: We just launched Shop Till You Drop, which is a shopping rebate program that allows customers to receive rebates from brands such as Bass, Bed Bath & Beyond, Charlotte Russe and many more.

Happy Birthday, America!

2007-06-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

231 years ago...on July 4th, 1776
This great nation, the United States of America,
In a struggle for what was right and free,
Was proudly born...
May we celebrate that precious freedom
For which our forbears fought so bravely...
The freedom that is inherent
In the Stars and Stripes, our revered flag...
Celebrate Freedom
This Fourth of July!

Incentives Spice Up Sales Promotions

2007-06-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

Businesses looking to increase name recognition, sales and awareness should consider the Ultimate Incentives University to help them spice up their sales promotions and boost their customer base.

Clearwater, Fla. (PRWEB) June 12, 2007 -- Businesses looking to increase name recognition, sales and awareness should consider the Ultimate Incentives University to help them spice up their sales promotions and boost their customer base.

A recent study showed that a promotion executed strategically and correctly can not only increase retail traffic, but also build brand equity and drive up sales of products and services.

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.
"Every market is a competitive market these days," said John P. Stockhausen, CEO of GetawayIncentives.com and the founder of the Ultimate Incentives University. " Many times a company's products and price points are similar to their competition's, and they get forced into reducing prices to attract customers. By using http://www.ultimateincentivesuniversity.com [sales incentives, you can differentiate your offer from the pack without having to lower prices and compromise your profits."

There are a number of ways to implement incentives for both employees and customers. Three types of incentives include cash, merchandise and travel. Ultimate Incentives University adheres to the philosophy of high value/low cost awards. These are awards, like travel, that may only cost $100 to $200 but have a perceived value of $500 to $1000 or more. Many awards are priced under $100, yet still offer value in excess of $500.

"Cash incentives are good, but you're getting exactly the amount that you put in," said Stockhausen. "A high value/low cost non-cash award helps companies to maximize the effectiveness of their award budget. You'll get more bang for your buck."

Insight Financial used the "Fun Advantage," one of many travel awards offered by GetawayIncentives.com. They wanted to bring new awareness to their home equity loans with a program that also offered the quality of service they consistently brought to their members. Insight Financial awarded a trip with every new home equity line. Another reason they chose the "Fun Advantage" is it allowed the recipients to tailor the trip to their personal travel desires, because it offered 100 destination choices.

Original projections indicated the promotion would bring in 60 new home equity loans. Ultimately, more than 300 applications were received, with 227 home equity lines of credit being closed. Insight Financial reached 278 percent of their goal by offering vacation incentives with approved home equity loans.

Another company, Batteries & Bands, offered the "Get Up & Go" vacation incentive certificates as a gift with purchase. In most cases, the vacation incentive certificates helped their sales force take a customer from a $75 sale to a $125 sale in over 50 stores.

"The Get Up & Go program was our most successful promotion to date," said Ryan Lanier of Batteries & Bands. "Employees love the simplicity of it and customers feel that they are getting a good deal. I recommend the program to national retailers to really give their customers a little something extra."

For more information on how sales incentives can positively affect your business, or to see what incentives are available, visit UltimateIncentivesUniversity.com or GetawayIncentives.com.

About:
Getaway Incentives is a division of MDC Group Inc. MDC Group Inc. is a family-owned and operated company and has been providing consulting and solution services to businesses for over 12 years. The founding principle behind our business is Ephesians 6:7-8 KJV, "With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord."

Hotels offer incentives for travelers

2007-05-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

Summer deals include discounted rates, gasoline rebates! Hoteliers are rolling out deals for summer travel, with discounted rates, money off future stays, special perks and gasoline rebates.

Travelers can save $100 off a future stay when they book a weekend stay at Marriott and pay with a Visa card. Qualifying stays must be booked by July 31, for travel through Sept. 2 at participating Marriott properties in the U.S. and Canada. The offer is valid for stays at the Weekend Benchmark or Stay for Breakfast rate. Stays must include a Friday or Saturday night. Travelers will receive a Bonus Bucks coupon worth $100 toward weekend stays from Sept. 7 through Dec. 30. The coupon must be used with a two-night minimum stay. Use code V12 when booking. Contact: 1-877-627-7468; www .marriott.com.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is offering summer rates starting at $105 per night for travel through Sept. 3. In addition, guests who book rooms by June 30 with an American Express card will receive a $50 food and beverage credit. The minimum stay is two nights. The offer is valid for stays at participating hotels worldwide. Guests also can receive double airline miles with American, Alaska or Air Canada. Restrictions apply. Contact: 1-800-830-1411; www.fairmont .com/summer.

Stay three times this summer at participating Choice Hotels and earn enough points for a $50 gasoline gift card. Travel is valid June 1 through Aug. 16 for stays in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. The offer is available to members of the free Choice Privileges frequent-stay program. Members will receive 16,000 points after their third stay, which may then be redeemed for gas-station gift cards. Choice Hotels include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites or Suburban Extended Stay hotels. Contact: 1-877-424-6423; www.choicehotels.com.

AmeriSuites has special summer weekend rates starting at $99 per night, including breakfast, for Friday or Saturday night stays. Rates are valid for travel through Sept. 3. Guests must use rate code SRP when booking. Contact: 1-888-597-4273; www.amerisuites .com/SRP.

Participating hotels in Florida are offering special deals for travel through July 31. Receive a $50 gasoline credit, breakfast for two adults and a voucher for 25 percent off a future stay through Dec. 20. The minimum stay is two nights. Nightly rates vary by property and start at $79. See www.saveonflori datravel.com/endlesssummer.

Doubletree, with the National Arbor Day Foundation, is offering a gift backpack for kids 3 to 12. Kids will receive a canvas sling bag with binoculars, Hacky Sack and other gifts. The gifts will be available at participating U.S. and Canada hotels for stays through Sept. 3, or while supplies last. Contact: 1-800-222-8733; www.doubletree.com/ kidscarepak.

Participating Hyatt Hotels in Florida and the Middle Atlantic region are offering free breakfast for summer stays. The offer is valid for travel through either Sept. 4 for Mid-Atlantic hotels or Oct. 31 for Florida hotels. Guests will receive free breakfast for up to two adults and two kids 12 and younger. Contact: 1-800-233-1234; www.hyatt .com.

Get Your Free $250 Shopping Spree!

2007-05-13T09:27:00.001-07:00

Click Here!

What's New With Hybrids

2007-05-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

While getting a respectable 42 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, the Altima Hybrid spewed far fewer greenhouse gases -- the ones linked to climate change -- than a comparably powered gas-engine-only sedan would have.

Besides leaving a smaller carbon footprint, the Altima Hybrid, in the techno-speak of the emissions intelligentsia, is an Advanced Technology -- Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle. That means it releases almost no "evaporative" emissions -- the kind you get when gasoline evaporates and releases hydrocarbons, which react with sunlight to form smog.

More models
Okay, neither the Altima nor any other hybrid is totally guilt free, and maybe I should have ridden my bike to pay homage to planet Earth. The point is, hybrids are more environmentally friendly than any other mass-market alternative. Diesels still are struggling to meet emissions standards in a number of states. Ethanol is still too expensive to produce, and affordable plug-in-battery technology is still a few years away.

Hybrids are far more plentiful now than they were even a year ago. Toyota sold nearly 107,000 Priuses last year and expects to sell 150,000 in 2007, on top of projected sales of about 60,000 Camry hybrids and 60,000 other Toyota and Lexus hybrid models. Honda's Civic Hybrid is also selling well.

And more are on the way from other brands as carmakers sense the need to appease car buyers who want less pain at the pump and less impact on the environment.

In one of the first public mea culpas from a top automotive executive, Ford CEO Alan Mulally recently admitted that global warming is real and caused in part by auto emissions. "Being stewards of our environment," he said, "is the biggest agenda we have at Ford." Ford currently sells the Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrid SUVs, and it has plans to introduce a Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrid sedan.

Nissan is the latest carmaker to produce a hybrid. However, the company seems ambivalent about the technology: The Altima Hybrid is sold only in California and the seven states that follow California's emissions standards. Saturn is now churning out its Green Line Aura sedan and Vue SUV. And Chevy plans a Malibu sedan and Tahoe SUV hybrid later in the year.

Hybrid economics
What's held back many potential hybrid buyers is the price premium over comparable gas-engine sedans. Unless gasoline prices go a lot higher than they are now, you're not likely to earn back the premium you'd pay for a hybrid car with savings at the pump. When you compare the cost of a hybrid with its gas-engine doppelgänger, hybrids typically cost several thousand dollars more.

In 2006 Uncle Sam began offering more-generous tax breaks -- a dollar for dollar credit to your tax bill -- to hybrid buyers. Some states and local governments also offer incentives (including sales-tax breaks and solo driving in HOV lanes). When you add savings on gas to the federal credit and incentives, a couple of hybrid models -- notably the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid -- come close to paying back their premium, especially when you look at overall owner costs over five years. The Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima hybrids are the closest runners up.

Based on fuel economy, the federal tax break ranges from a one-time credit of $250 for the two-wheel-drive Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra -- which improve gas mileage only 10% to 15% -- to $3,000 for the 2wd 2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids. The Prius used to top the tax credit list, but Congress in its inscrutable wisdom limited the full credit for hybrids to the first 60,000 vehicles sold by a manufacturer.

In the phaseout of the break, credits for Toyota and Lexus hybrids have been halved and halved again. If you buy a Prius before October 1, 2007, you'll be eligible for a $787.50 credit. After that, you get nothing. For a complete list of credits, go to the Department of Energy's fueleconomy.gov Web site.

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Saturn With Pizzzazz

2007-01-13T21:07:00.000-08:00

The Saturn Aura, a midsize sedan with European styling, offers a choice of two engines: a 3.5-liter V-6 or a 3.6-liter V-6.

The package: Midsize, four-door, five-passenger, front-wheel-drive, V-6-powered sedan.

Highlights: New for 2007, this is Saturn's best sedan yet, giving the brand a solid entry in the highly competitive midsize segment. It has great styling, a well-designed interior and good performance, especially with the uplevel model.

Negatives: No four-cylinder model with a lower entry-level price for budget-minded consumers.

Engines: 3.5-liter V-6; 3.6-liter V-6.

Transmissions: Four-speed automatic; six-speed automatic.

Power/torque: 224 horsepower/220 foot-pounds (3.5-liter); 252 horsepower/251 foot-pounds (3.6-liter).

Length: 190.0 inches.

Curb weight: 3,528-3,647 pounds.

Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock.

Electronic stability control: Standard on XR model.

Side air bags: Front seat-mounted; side curtain for both rows.

Trunk capacity: 15.7 cubic feet.

EPA fuel economy: 20 miles per gallon city/30 highway (3.5-liter); 20/28 (3.6-liter).

Fuel capacity/type: 16.3 gallons/regular unleaded.

Major competitors: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Mazda 6, Mitsubishi Galant, Chrysler Sebring, Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan, Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Subaru Legacy, Pontiac G6, Volkswagen Passat.

Base price range: $20,345-$24,345 plus $650 freight.

Price as tested: $26,919, including freight and options (XR 3.6-liter).

On the Road rating: 9.4 (of a possible 10).

Prices shown are manufacturer's suggested retail; actual selling price may vary according to manufacturer and/or dealer rebates, discounts, incentives and market adjustments, if any.

And so it was with me for the all-new Saturn Aura midsize sedan.

The first time I saw it was from a distance at the 2006 Detroit auto show, and I was quite surprised to find, when I got closer, that it was a Saturn.

Until recently, you understand, Saturns really had no auras. They really weren't supposed to.

Introduced in 1990 as General Motors' answer to the popular Japanese econoboxes of the time, Saturns were no-nonsense, affordable, economical and practical cars for people who view cars as merely appliances of modern life.

Still, some Americans embraced them heartily for a while. But the brand didn't grow along with its customers. And its Japanese competitors kept getting better.

An attempt to sell a midsize sedan — the L-series — failed just a few years ago, and General Motors once even considered abandoning the brand.

But there were good lessons to be learned from the Saturn experiment. And the brand, despite its stagnation, still had a good name among a considerable number of U.S. consumers.

The pluses were: solid, dependable vehicles; a sales process that used reasonable fixed prices to eliminate the haggling that many consumers find unpleasant; and service after the sale rivaling that of luxury brands such as Lexus and Infiniti.

The big problem, though, was the product. Many of Saturn's original customers had moved on to bigger and better vehicles, not because they became disenchanted with the Saturn brand, but because their lifestyles evolved to where Saturn's limited range of vehicles no longer fit.

Today, though, GM is moving Saturn upscale, responding to the needs of today's middle-class consumers who expect style and performance in their cars.

Last year's introduction of the Saturn Sky two-seat roadster was one of the first clues that Saturn was moving in an exciting new direction.

This little car is so popular and in such short supply that some customers have been waiting six months or more to get one. And these customers aren't the same ones who buy practical econoboxes — they're auto enthusiasts, a quite particular group of consumers who wouldn't have considered a Saturn in the past.

Now we have the Aura, which arguably is the best midsize sedan on the market. Some of my colleagues obviously agree, as they voted it North American Car of the Year for 2007 at the Detroit auto show this past week.

Why is the Aura so good?

Because it takes all of the practical attributes that have made appliance cars such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry so popular, then adds a generous measure of pizzazz, something that has been rare in an affordable midsize family sedan, let alone a Saturn.

Pizzazz might not even be a strong enough word. The Aura, quite frankly, looks like a car that should cost thousands of dollars more — say, mid-$30,000s and up instead of the $20,995 where Aura prices begin.

Our test vehicle, the uplevel XR model (base price $24,995 with freight), even came with a leather interior package ($800) and other options but had a sticker totaling just $26,919 (with freight), quite a value compared with equally equipped competitors such as the Camry and Accord.

But even the entry XE model comes with a large list of standard equipment, giving consumers a very well-equipped vehicle for the under-$22,000 starting price.

That includes the base 3.5-liter V-6 engine, rated at 224 horsepower and 220 foot-pounds of torque, and a four-speed automatic transmission. Base models of most other midsize sedans come with a four-cylinder engine, which isn't offered in the Aura.

Coming later this year will be a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the Aura, using the same powertrain that comes in the Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid compact SUV.

In that system, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor provide nearly V-6 power but the fuel economy of a four-cylinder. To be called the Aura Green Line, it is expected to have 25 percent better fuel economy than the base Aura, which is 20 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway. The price will be just under $23,000.

The XR model we tested comes with a zippy 3.6-liter V-6 engine rated at 252 horsepower and 251 foot-pounds of torque.

It's connected to a six-speed automatic transmission, also a rarity in this class. The transmission comes with steering-wheel-mounted paddles for optional clutchless manual shifting. Fuel economy ratings are 20 city/28 highway.

This engine and transmission package, along with the sporty suspension, give the Aura the feel of a sport sedan, something quite new for a Saturn product.

Its European styling features some design elements that are common among several new Saturn products, such as the Sky and the new Outlook midsize crossover utility vehicle. These include headlights with what GM refers to as a "jewel-like" appearance, and a chrome grille bar.

Base models come with 17-inch wheels, but with the XR there are fancier 18-inch, polished, 14-spoke, cast-aluminum wheels, as well as performance tires.

Premium materials are used throughout the cockpit, and both the fit and finish are exceptional. This is another area where GM cars have been lacking, but there is nothing cheap or sloppy-looking about the Aura's interior.

The reclining front bucket seats are quite comfortable, and the rear bench seat is roomy enough for three people, with ample legroom.

On our test car, standard features included automatic climate control; a center console with dual storage bins and cup-holders; a driver-information center; power windows/mirrors/door locks with remote; steering wheel audio controls; auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass; eight-way power driver's seat; fog lights; heated outside mirrors; AM/FM/CD stereo with six-disc changer, auxiliary input jack and eight speakers; universal garage/gate opener; rear-seat audio controls with wireless headphones; tilt and telescopic steering column; stainless-steel exhaust with dual chrome exhaust tips; and remote vehicle starting.

Safety features abound on this vehicle. First, the XR model comes with GM's Stabilitrak electronic-stability control, but both models have front seat-mounted side air bags and a side-curtain air bag system for both rows of seats. The Aura also comes with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, a tire-pressure monitoring system, theft-deterrent system and daytime running lights.

Extras on our vehicle besides the leather package included power-adjustable pedals and a six-way power front passenger seat ($425); a four-panel panoramic power sunroof ($800); and XM satellite radio ($199), with three months of free service.

Other options include the GM OnStar vehicle communications/navigation system.

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2006-12-04T20:52:00.000-08:00

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2006-11-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

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Real business leads without physical booths or convention come-ons

2006-11-07T16:46:00.000-08:00

Setting up booths, shipping materials to a trade show site and trying to engage conventioneers to get them interested in your products may soon be a thing of the past.

Last week I shared my experience at the eComXpo said Larry Tyler of Total Advertising Marketing Solutions. And we're making sales to the leads. I have been to a lot of trade shows, and never walked away with 900 leads."

Tyler's company specializes in wholesaling customer incentive packages to online players such as Vonage and America Online. His products include a wide range of vacation trips from Get Up And Go.

Setting up booths, shipping materials to a trade show site and trying to engage conventioneers to get them interested in your products may soon be a thing of the past.

Last week I shared my experience at the eComXpo (www.ecomxpo.com) virtual trade show. This week I'll give you the perspective from a convention exhibitor, who is even more pleased with the results.

"I had a booth called Sales Incentives, and would you believe that we collected 900 qualified leads?" said Larry Tyler of Total Advertising Marketing Solutions (www.tamslv.com). "And we're making sales to the leads. I have been to a lot of trade shows, and never walked away with 900 leads."

Tyler's company specializes in wholesaling customer incentive packages to online players such as Vonage and America Online. His products include a wide range of vacation trips from Get Up And Go (www.getupandgo.com) and movie tickets from Fandango, used as customer rewards. Tyler also did the marketing for the eComXpo, which attracted more than 7,000 online attendees.

"This was the fourth eComXpo we did. They keep getting better and better," he said. "As I have been following up on the leads, the people I talk to are so nice. It's funny, When I do a regular trade show people run from you. They don't even want to come your way.

"You can go to bathroom and when you come back you don't know who has been to your booth, and they take all your stuff."

That's not the case with the virtual trade show, as exhibitors have access to the contact information of every booth visitor along with the number of visits and total time spent exploring the contents of the virtual booth.

"Out of the 902 visitors, I picked out 75 companies that were in the booth 10 minutes or longer. We had one guy visit the booth 12 times," these are the people we'll be calling," he said.

Virtual conventions aren't for everyone, Tyler said, but for a business like his that specializes in eCommerce, they are ideal.

"The key thing in order for this type of trade show to work is you have to have a product with an online delivery system and you have get clients. "We're not trying to replace the regular conventions. We think there's a place for them. But to make it more economical, the virtual conventions will increase the attendee rate," Tyler said. "At the end of the day you're not spending all that money to set up the booth and get there."

The virtual wave is spreading, as the VNU Business Media Incentive Show, usually held at the Javits Center in New York, is going virtual in 2007. "Our research shows that buyers have limited time to attend trade shows, and we now have the capability to bring the trade show to their desks," said Jackie Augustine, group publisher.

VNU cancels 2007 Incentive Show; replaces it with the Virtual Incentive Show

2006-10-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

New York-based VNU Business Media has cancelled the 2007 Incentive Show, scheduled to run May 1-2, 2007, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York, and will replace it with the Virtual Incentive Show, which will most likely include a virtual trade show and a series of webinars.

“Our research shows that buyers have limited time to attend trade shows, and we're excited to announce that we now have the capability to bring the trade show to their desks,” says Jackie Augustine, Group Publisher.

The Incentive Show, produced by VNU Expositions and presented by Incentive, Potentials and Sales & Marketing Management magazines, was founded 71 years ago in 1935. Buyers were able to preview new merchandise, travel destinations, rewards, gift certificates, debit cards and new products in the incentives marketplace.

VNU Business Media produces 70 annual events and conferences, 65 trade shows, 42 business publications and 17 directories in the entertainment, media, marketing, healthcare, retail, travel, professional performance and real estate and design industries.

eComXpo.com , The Online Virtual Trade Show For eCommerce Marketers!

2006-10-13T18:52:00.000-07:00

Sign up at eComXpo, the online virtual trade show for eCommerce Marketers, October 24-26, 2006. eComXpo features all the benefits of a top traditional tradeshow without the cost, travel or hassle associated with traditional events. Attendees and exhibitors will be able to interact with over 7,000 people via chat or email, attend educational presentations by top industry experts, visit over 300 booths in the exhibit hall and enter to win fantastic prizes.

The best part is that it can be done without leaving the comfort of your own home or office. To hear more about eComXpo.com, at our weekly Radio Broadcast, hear our weekly Radio Broadcast!

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2006-09-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

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2006-09-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

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