What the Heck!!!

[loudelectronics]

Why is Tige not in the new Wakeboard magazine????

[dgutz]

regarding recent boat buyers guides

In the current economic conditions, we have spent a lot of time assessing the necessary expenses of our marketing dollars. During this downturn we have chosen..............

^^ The formal version.

The truth is that right now we have to continue to be smart and effective in all areas of marketing. Our goal is to sell boats. In order to do this, we have to market our company and our product in the areas that will have the most impact and continue to generates the most leads. Leads = Boats Sales.

That being said, we chose to forgo advertising in the most recent issues of Waterski/Wakeboarding Mag. We feel that print media buyers guides are not the most valuable and effective source of boat information that they were in generations past. We are confident in our decision, as well as our presence and product validation online (including tigeowners). Our main focus is to promote our product in any and all areas that will continue to grow our brand. We have no intentions of ending our print media. We are not closing any doors. We are now back to our regular production schedule after an awesome holiday break (09 product launch was a big one!). And we are stoked about showing off the new product this boat show season. We have every intention to grow our presence in the market and let our boats do the talking!

To a great 2009! d

[larryueckert]

well said

[hoopykat]

Well...when ya put it like that....who can argue?

-Mike

[jwanck11]

That is interesting to see it agrees with the thinking of a few folks on this board.

[loudelectronics]

I think its like cheering for your favourite sports team. You like to read about them doing good. I was always taught to keep your friends close and enemies closer. If your key competitors put every model in the mag whether or not it is a wakeboarding boat or not, I would be doing the same. I would spend the 40k to be in the mag. Its cheap in the scheme of things. That is unless Tige has a good marketing scheme coming out. If not, seeing is believing.

[malarson]

I opened my wakeboarding today. The first thing I noticed was the absence of my beloved Tige. I understand the reasoning behind not placing the brand in the mag.
It makes me question the integrity of the magazine. If the mag really wanted to be impartial and unbiased they would include all major brands in an impartial & unbiased manner.
That said, not everyone can be consumer reports. Magazines need money to survive & the manufacturers with the deepest pockets get the most ink. Which explains the 13 Mastercrafts featured.
However...When I don't see my favorite brand in my favorite magazine I question if my favorite boat manufaturer is weathering this financial storm very well. and will it be here next year?
respectfully,
Mike

[Matt Garcia]

I think Tige got more buzz and talk by not being in the mag than if they were. Seems that a lot of online forums are talking about Tige and their non-existence in the mag.

[fleetpaint]

Matt; I agree!... could be good publicity! Gets people talking about Tige.

[da.bell]

^^^

I have noticed on WW that Tige has had their employee's posting on the forum more. Another marketing strategy that seems to be working.

[jwanck11]

Me too.

[mtnsmith]

I noticed that employees have posted too and commend them. I still really enjoyed Tony's invite to the dude for an expenses paid trip to Tige, what a tool for not taking advantage of that! I still would have liked to see a couple boats in the line-up, but understand the strategy tige is taking. I do also find it funny that there has been a fair amt of talk on who was not in the lineup. I wonder how much business is genereated by word of mouth versus advertising. I know my dealer has had success with word of mouth and I'm really not sure he advertises at all. I have e-mailed with a couple of customers and talked to potential buyers at the ski show numerous times. Maybe Tige should do a referral commission

[dogbert]

Well, in these economic times, you really have to stop an ask yourself can it be business as usual? I'm guessing there are lots of companies doing some serious soul searching to figure out what needs to change for them to not only survive, but thrive. Those that get it figured out, will emerge stronger than ever. Everyone's going to learn that you can never be too comfortable and you really need to consider change even when times are good. This is a lesson that GM never learned and is why they are doomed to fail, no matter how much money you throw at them.