montanablur said:
The Cooper tires are a perfect example. Nwoods didn't go out and buy the tires because he thought they were absolutely the best choice. He bought them because he got a deal on them. "It was my intent to buy BFG AT's next, but I got a deal on the Coopers that I could not pass up. SO I will try them out." So do you want the guy that buys shit because he got a deal or the guy that buys shit because it is in his mind the best choice to make deal or not?
Sinhue, let?s suppose that you are a Canon guy. A decision you made years ago because you feel that Canon was the right tool for your business and best meet your needs at the time. Fast forward a few years. Now let?s say that your trusty old Canon is nearing the end of it?s useful life, and you?ve budgeted to buy a replacement Canon. Now, if Nikon offered you a free D3 to play with and share your thoughts compared to your Canon, would you do it?
To me, running with the Coopers on my truck is basically the same thing. I still have my tire budget set aside for an alternate tire should the Coopers prove unsatisfactory. But honestly, I am genuinely liking them better than my old Canon?er, Nitto's. I don?t need to buy the BFG?s because the Coopers I was given meet my needs quite capably.
Regarding Adam?s truck and sponsorships, I have some familiarity with the subject, and I am friend of Adam?s. He is a marketing guy to the core. That is his job, his passion, and his skill. He is good at it. Does he go overboard? Absolutely! That is what passion means. As a friend, I like to tease him about his marketing jargon and thought processes, but I can?t argue their effectiveness.
In reading your comments, it appears that you have a double standard, or perhaps vaguely defined or evolving standard regarding stickers on trucks. It?s okay for some circumstances, but not for others? If an expedition truck is sporting sponsor logos in exchange for support, it?s okay by you, because it?s a focused application and use of sponsorship?
OffRoving?s business model is to take new Rover owners off pavement to enjoy the capabilities of the vehicle. The type of people interested in this experience are admittedly completely opposite of your highly individualistic, adventurous personality. Not everyone can live your lifestyle, though many wish they could. This desire or wistful notion of ?grand adventure across the Serengeti? is what draws clients to OffRoving.com It?s what made them buy a Land Rover instead of a more urban Lexus or Mercedes. Adam cultivates that spark of adventure through OffRoving. His clients are people that find comfort knowing that the ?adventure? they are going to experience is gauged based on their capabilities. Adam?s business model is to expand people?s comfort zones, not shatter them.
Adam attracts corporate sponsors that tie into the demographic of his clients. His sponsors all relate specifically to his business in some way, and I can testify that he genuinely uses all the products that he allows as sponsors. His sponsors like the coverage they receive. They like the fact that a client with a six or seven figure income will see a clearly branded component on his truck or a product in use.
So in a sense, the exposure a sponsor receives on a one time expedition is similar to the exposure a sponsor receives each weekend Adam hosts an OffRoving event. It is a very focused exposure, and it has it?s purpose.
Please notice, not one negative comment was made about any individual, product, or lifestyle in this post.
