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Client Projects
2015 ended strong, with record sales for Lohr Marketing & an overwhelming sense of experience and success.  But here we are in a new year, with new clients, and of course, all new projects. I wanted to briefly touch on some of the projects we are working on, as I know you may be able to utilize these same tactics in your own campaigns. zoey A very common issue I come across, is an automotive shop that is in dire need of an eCommerce store.  A way to sell their products online from their website, using a variety of payment options, and promote the brands that they have signed on to be dealers for.  TGA Performance from Colorado Springs, Colorado, signed on with us this month to take their shop to the next level and bring in that missing piece to the income puzzle, an online store.  TGA is currently setup on a Wix.com platform, which is alright for a very basic website, but would not work for what they wanted to achieve.  The decision was made after going over pricing and functionality, to switch to Zoey Commerce, a sub-company of Magento.  Magento costs tens of thousands of dollars to use their programming, so this is a cheaper option for the smaller companies.  Zoey comes with a hosting plan, unlimited products, bandwidth, storage, and an incredibly clean Admin panel to make setup a breeze.  I am working with their marketing coordinator to get the spreadsheets of the products they will be selling, getting things organized and ready to be uploaded.  TGA will be up and running, selling products, by the end of February.  Cost: Zoey Commerce is $80-$90/month.  GoDaddy: Domain, Email, Shared Calendar is about $70/2 Years. *If your budget is between $2000-$5000, this is a great option for you.  (Depending on your product lines.) When I was at the airport in Las Vegas, flying home after the SEMA Show 2015, I met Will Leaman while sitting in the terminal.  A benefit from talking to strangers, Will told me about his upcoming business launch of Rising Sun Legends, an automotive import company based out of Virginia, that specializes in Toyota Land Cruisers.  It was a new company, still in the idea stage, but we exchanged contact information for future partnership.  December rolled around, and Will reached out, ready to launch his online campaign, further than just using Ebay for sales.  I helped him purchase his domain name, SSL Certificate (Secure connection encryption) & hosting through GoDaddy, keeping billing in his name for simplicity.  The plan for his website was simple, create a template for his vehicle listings, using a modern & mobile responsive WordPress Theme that I would purchase and install for him.  The website would use a PayPal integration, so customers can put down payments on vehicles, similar to how Ebay would work after winning an auction.  This website will be complete by the end of February.  Cost: GoDaddy totaled to about $300. *If your budget is between $1500-3000, this is a simple option for you. NLA_LogoGareth Campbell, owner of Next Level Automotive & Garth Vader Motorsports, based out of Auburn, Washington, contacted me originally because he wanted to improve his search engine ranking.  After consult, we realized that a new website would be the best option for Gareth, knocking out multiple birds with one stone.  He was currently built on an “old school” HTML based template, which was outdated and difficult to update quickly.  Migrating to a WordPress platform, I installed his newly purchased, more modern theme & began rounding up all of his images and content to sort out a layout.  As you can imagine, it is tough to come up with enough content to fill in all the white space, so we will be combining both businesses onto one website.  It added some labor hours for me, but will look better in the end.  I will do a URL redirect, so a search for his motorsport team will direct users to his shop website. Cost: Approximately $1500-$2000. 2016-bg-mm-002Marc Miller is a professional driver – [Driver for Viper Exchange / Riley Motorsports (IMSA WeatherTech Series – GTD) & CJ Wilson Racing (IMSA Continental Tire Series – GS)] and had his website built on Joomla, a content management system (CMS) similar to WordPress.  The issue with Joomla is that if your version of their software becomes too old, your host could suspend your account because it is a security risk, which is exactly what happened to Marc.  So he came to Lohr Marketing, having us switch things over to the WordPress platform, and install a great looking “portfolio” type of theme.  With all the necessary social media plugins, and a new plugin I’m learning to love, called Embedly.  This program works similar to Facebook link & content sharing, all you need to do is put the link in your post, and Voila, its on your website looking great.  This feature will be great for Marc, since he is featured in many online publications for his racing, all he needs to do is paste the link to the article, and it will auto-generate.  Cost: Approximately $1500-$2000.  Timeline for completion, less than one month. There are so many programs available online to help your automotive based company generate income.  Whether you are a driver, shop, fabricator, or dealer, the sky is the limit; you just need to know your  options. Contact Tabitha Lohr today for a 1 on 1 consultation – Tabitha@lohrmarketing.com
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Events
Michigan Gumball Rally Overview Part 2. Event hosted by American Gumball Rally. Saturday August 22nd, 2015 After completing registration, competitors leave the Firekeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan at 9:30AM. michigan rally,road rally This particular Gumball event was a record breaker for attendance, with 107 entries! With most of the vehicles carrying two people, plus a couple dozen staff members & their cars, I was in automotive heaven cruising down the freeway with 240+ people who all had my similar passion.  Trying our hardest to obey all traffic laws, we took hundreds of “rolling pictures,” of our friends all enjoying the road.  NOTE: Competitors and staff are not in any way exempt from traffic laws.  You can receive tickets, be pulled over, you do not have a “get out of jail free card” just because you are traveling with American Gumball.

michigan rally,road rally,track event,subaru rally

michigan road rally,rally race, michigan racing After driving north about 150 miles, we all arrived at the check point in Reed City, Michigan.  Quick pit stop for food & gas was surprisingly easy, even with 100+ cars all getting fuel at once.  I’m sure this little town didn’t mind our massive caravan stopping by, the math will prove my point – Average fuel sale of $60 x 140 vehicles + our RedBull & beef jerky intake= A large amount of money for a town with a population of 2,400 people. From Reed City, we drove north another 60 miles to Kaleva, Michigan, home of the Northern Michigan Dragway!   Not only did this dragway host our entire fleet for most of that Saturday afternoon, but they sponsored this event by donating multiple free runs on their drag strip. dragway Saturday 3PM- Gumball continued north to Traverse City, Michigan, for the next check point at Culvers on Hwy 131.  I have family in this area, so they came to say Hi! Thank You Tom Tolles (Mechanix Team) for this excellent Holden Commodore backdrop. After everyone ordered some amazing ice cream & a quick dinner at Culver’s, we were on the road again to Mackinac City, to cross the Mackinac Bridge, and head to the Upper Peninsula for our next pit stop at the Raco Airstrip.  During this leg of the race, there was an optional route to go drive through the Tunnel of Trees, in the beautiful Harbor Springs area. Arriving at Raco, the scenery was just like a clip from “The Fast & the Furious.”  We pulled in at sunset, giving about an hour to do as many runs down the strip as possible; I believe the proper term is flashlight drags. 😉 9PM Saturday- Arrive at the Kewadin Casino & Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Judging by how packed their lobby was when we all were checking in, I’d say we took up most of their hotel rooms!  Thanks again Kewadin, for your hospitality! 8AM Sunday, August 23- Competitors leave Sault Ste Marie, and drive 260 miles south to the required check point, at the famous Tony’s Restaurant in Birch Run, Michigan.  And finally, after driving a total of (approximately) 660 miles from Start to Finish, competitors arrived at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan.  There was of course a car show out front, free pizza & beer, more socializing, and the Award Ceremony! My Overview: I can honestly say that this Gumball Rally event was one of the best weekends I’ve had in years.  I’ve been a competitor in numerous stage rally races, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, a spectator at drag races, oval dirt track events, and more.  American Gumball understands what we want to do with our vehicle – Enjoy it.  No matter how much power you have, what part of the country you’re from, what your sponsor potential is, you can still attend & have a great time.  There is a small amount of competition for those who want a faster time at the drag strip, but that isn’t what the focus is all about, that ‘pressure’ to win isn’t there.  The teams consisted of mother/daughter, father/son, best friends, parents with their children; the family acceptance was also refreshing for me, especially that I’m a mother myself.  Sometimes these road rallies, or automotive events in general, tend to not be as family friendly as you’d like them to be, and Gumball is not one of those. I encourage you to attend & here is how: American Gumball is a national company, currently hosting these road rallies in 12 states & adding more each year.  Go to their website: http://www.americangumballrally.com/  to find an event near you!  Invite your friends, carpool, make it happen! As I mentioned, the entry fee includes your hotel, and a couple other expenses, what other racing event does that?? There is also a cash prize for winning! David & Rhonda took home $3,000 for winning the Michigan Gumball, plus there were cash giveways at registration, as well as gift certificates, and more. American Gumball has a list of event sponsors to help make this all possible.  Though most of the Gumball competitors seek out sponsors for their vehicle, to help cover expenses, or maybe some spare parts.  Don’t hesitate to ask for a company to get involved, it is a great return on investment for them as well, from a marketing standpoint. To see the detailed information on statistics, click here. Thank You to all of the event sponsors! Firekeepers Casino Kewadin Casino Mechanix Auto of Jackson Culvers of Traverse City Twin Peaks Restaurant Northern Michigan Dragway TAG Tintz & Graphx US Wheel Exchange Ice 9 Group More information about the American Gumball Rally company: http://www.americangumballrally.com/ Tabitha Lohr is the owner of Lohr Marketing, a company specializing in automotive promotions. View her portfolio: http://www.lohrmarketing.com/portfolio/
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Events
Michigan Gumball Rally Overview Part 1 First of all, what is a “Gumball Rally?” As a professional Rally America CoDriver, I personally was not quite sure what to expect! I hear the word “Rally” and envision and intense, fast pace and chaotic event, that has very little time for socializing; until the afterparty. 😉 But truthfully, this Gumball race event was an absolute breeze in comparison to stage rally. Especially because speeding is NOT ENCOURAGED and will not help your chance of winning!  Teams will travel from checkpoint to checkpoint and pick one letter from the word “Gumball” upon check in at each place.  After all teams have completed their checkpoint cards, the event staff will draw point values for each letter at random, and repeat this process for each checkpoint.  Whoever has the most points wins cash money! The race is not about exact times, it is about your team reaching each checkpoint, and enjoying your vehicle & great friends along the way. In other words, it’s about cruising the open road for an entire weekend, with 100+ other people that are all there for the same reason you are-To have fun! Here is how it works: You register online in advance to reserve your spot, choosing your car number & allowing some time for your required sticker kit to arrive by mail. In this kit is a handful of decals representing the Gumball race event sponsors, and the official Gumball company logos for identification during the event.  You will be required to put all of the stickers from this kit on your race vehicle, to show appreciation (and advertising) for the event sponsors!  There are not rules as to what type of vehicle you enter with, as long as it is street legal.  Trucks, motorcycles, classic cars, pick your poison.  Your entry fee includes your hotel costs for 1 or 2 nights, parking, race track time, photography, entertainment, and entry to any checkpoint that may require a fee.  (Note: The entry fee & details of what it will include will vary.)

I attended the Michigan Gumball Rally on August 21st, 22nd, and 23rd.  Starting in the Detroit area, Friday the 21st was an ‘optional’ leg of the event, meaning it did not count towards the final points & your hotel cost was not covered by Gumball. Even with these stipulations, I was happy to see such a great attendance turnout for that day, of about 50 vehicles.  We all met Friday morning at Kart 2 Kart, a great indoor karting facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan.  Besides an excellent car show out front from 9-11AM, there were discounted karting sessions inside!

Saturday was the official Start from the beautiful Firekeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan. This hotel/casino was incredibly generous & supportive of this whole event! The Gumball organizers rented one of their banquet halls for the Friday night competitor meeting, and Firekeepers donated half of their parking lot to the event registration & car show Saturday morning. Did I mention free coffee and doughnuts?!     To Be Continued. . . Part 2 will cover the details of this great event, showcase the winners, and give more information on how you can get involved! Thank You to all of the event sponsors! Firekeepers Casino Kewadin Casino Mechanix Auto of Jackson Culvers of Traverse City Twin Peaks Restaurant Northern Michigan Dragway TAG Tintz & Graphx US Wheel Exchange Ice 9 Group More information about the American Gumball Rally company: http://www.americangumballrally.com/ Tabitha Lohr is the owner of Lohr Marketing, a company specializing in automotive promotions. View her portfolio: http://www.lohrmarketing.com/portfolio/
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