Skoda marketing

[aslsw]

We went to Woden Plaza today and found a Skoda display inside one of the two courts. They have on display:

- blue Octavia RS wagon
- red Octabia wagin
- white Superb TDI wagon

I was impressed to see a display in a major shopping centre, particularly over the busy lunch period, with two people on hand, brochures out, doors open etc. I'm not sure how long they have been there for, and how much longer they will be there - back to work next week so I will duck down at lunchtime and have a look.

Have any other dealers done something with a similar profile?

[K1W1]

Generally those displays are done by the local dealer not the manufacturer. I have never seen one in a shopping centre that has been manufacturer initiated or manned.
Ask the people there who they represent.

[Inego]

I remember back around 2007/08 Jarvins had two VRs's in Westfield Burwood.

[CanberravRS]

We went to Woden Plaza today and found a Skoda display inside one of the two courts. They have on display:

- blue Octavia RS wagon
- red Octabia wagin
- white Superb TDI wagon

I was impressed to see a display in a major shopping centre, particularly over the busy lunch period, with two people on hand, brochures out, doors open etc. I'm not sure how long they have been there for, and how much longer they will be there - back to work next week so I will duck down at lunchtime and have a look.

Have any other dealers done something with a similar profile?

They had one in the Canberra Centre a few months back... seems a popular thing for the Euro brands to advertise in the Canberra Malls now.

[woofy]

If Fern Tree Gully Skoda had done that at Knox SC, instead of giving out the only RS demo car to the accountants daughter in place of customers, it might have worked in their favour. Instead people got to see the car that "will be available soon" sitting outside JB hifi with P plates and her and her bogan friends chowing down on KFC! No wonder they went down the toilet....

Anything would be a positive over the Great Wall crap that has been there a lot in the last few months...

[RSOK]

It's just nice to see someone (whether it be head office or a local dealer) take the initative and get the brand out there in the public arena! Let's face it, Skoda isn't quite where it could be in terms of public awareness and brand perception, so putting a few marquee vehicles out there and letting your average punter on the street take a little look-see at what's on offer is a great and cost-effective idea. I'll bet more than a few people who would otherwise have walked past a Skoda on the street will now have the brand in their minds after looking in or sitting in the vehicles at this display.

[aslsw]

I think it was the dealer.

I was just impressed as it gives people an opportunity to get up and close with a Skoda. It's one thing to see them on the road, but people have to be able to see inside, sit inside and feel the quality of them.

It also puts Skoda above the normal boring car ie. never see a Ford or Holden in the shopping malls.

[K1W1]

Anything would be a positive over the Great Wall crap that has been there a lot in the last few months...

Russell Maher and his partners in Ferntree Gully Nissan (who own FTG Great Wall as well) are by any measure you want to use the most successful Nissan franchise in Australia ever mainly for the reasons that they treat customers well and they get out and market themselves and their products and don't rely on the factory to do it for them. Not bad for a guy who started in the auto industry with no experience after selling advertising in the local free newspaper.

It also puts Skoda above the normal boring car ie. never see a Ford or Holden in the shopping malls.

You regularly see Fords and Holdens in Malls here in Victoria but they are generally HSV or FPV vehicles that are prizes in raffles. Knox Ford ran a huge display, a mini car show if you like at Knox Shopping Centre a few years ago. They certainly had plenty of lookers I'm not sure whether it resulted in sales.

Does anybody remember the 2009 Melbourne Motor Show? One lonely dirty, battered Scout (that Scout Around Australia one) on some rocks behind a barrier in the corner of the VW stand. When I asked about Skodas I was politely told to find a dealer in the phone book because the person i asked knew nothing about them.

[woofy]

Yep I realised they were also the NIssan guys, as they sometimes are there as well. My in laws bought their car from them due to someone saying they gave good deals to war vets, not sure if they got a great deal but they were happy regardless. Apparently their servicing is a bit pricey though, maybe they make it back up there.

I looked at the Skodas at the car show in 2008 and I swear last year as well, as I sat in a Superb sedan before they came out. Are you sure you weren't looking in the wrong place?

[BlackOctaviaRS]

Does anybody remember the 2009 Melbourne Motor Show? One lonely dirty, battered Scout (that Scout Around Australia one) on some rocks behind a barrier in the corner of the VW stand. When I asked about Skodas I was politely told to find a dealer in the phone book because the person i asked knew nothing about them.

I was at the Melbourne Motor Show in 2009 - they had more than a Scout there. There were a couple of Octavias, and a Superb sedan. I'll admit it wasn't the biggest display, but considering their range at the time they had all they needed. We asked a bit about the Octavia there and the guys weren't too bad.