TVR on BBC1 News
Discussion
I switched on the TV just in time to catch the end of the piece. Ben was wittering on about how sales were still reasonable, while standing in front of the Tuscan production lines. Guessed that it was something to do with either how well or how badly specialist sportscar makers are doing.
It was a good piece, but I think TVR need to put PW in the hot seat sometimes. For example, they had the MD of Jenson interviewed, why couldnt they have PW for TVR instead of the Media Mogul, Senior Samuelson.
But then again, they would probably have to bleep every other word as soon as they possibly asked him about the German competition or heaven forbid the 'customers' ;o)
Cheeky comment about not starting by BS. Has he tried starting a tuscan in the depths of winter? My tuscan wrote father xmas a card asking for a heated garage for xmas and an electric blanket for xmas.
Ho Ho
Bless em! PR has never really been TVR's strongpoint has it?
Why produce two identically named cars (one for the race series then one as a roadcar)?
Why try to distance yourself from one of the most enthusiastic and well organised Car Clubs, who are fans of the marque?
etc.etc
Marcus
& Ocean Haze Griff 500
Oh and full marks to Ben for getting TVR featured, they could have chosen from AC, Morgan, Ascari etc...
Whilst I’m at it, who do you think got the Tuscan into the intro-sequence for BBC Top Gear? I guess you guys are all to young (or cynical) to remember how non-existent TVR promo was before Ben arrived.
quote:The Tuscan V8 that I had for 10 years was built in 1969, 18 years before the Tuscan race series was conceived, Digga. Seems like you can't keep a good name down...
Why produce two identically named cars (one for the race series then one as a roadcar)?
quote:Mark me down as cynical. I'm old enough (just) to remember the full-frontal naked TVR girls at the 1971 Motor Show, or Stuart 'It's a Knockout' Hall devoting 5 minutes of prime TV time in 1980 to the Tasmin, just prior to it's launch. Top Gear also did a 10 minute slot on TVR back in 1984, so the PR machine was not only in existance prior to Mr Samuelson's arrival, it was pretty effective then too.
I guess you guys are all to young (or cynical) to remember how non-existent TVR promo was before Ben arrived.
I'd say that something was effective when it's successful in producing a desired or intended result.
Sales of TVRs increased by about 25% in 1984/5. TVR's PR department at the time would claim that was due to effective marketing, others may say it was due to luck.
I'm sure Ben does a good job, otherwise Peter would not employ him. I was merely pointing out that Noel Palmer, Bryan Horner and James Pillar (Ben Samuelson's predecessors) all carried out their tasks reasonably effectively, in my opinion.
Of course TVR need BS as their PR man. Have you ever heard PW interviewed. Good MD he may be. Enthusiastic amateur racer he may be. Successful Entrepreneur he is. All round nice guy and general good egg he probably is too.
Mr Charisma and Public Persona he is not.
This is a man who would market sushi as "Cold Wet Raw Dead Fish".
At least BS can appear happy to be talking to the idiot journalist who knows less than nothing about their subject when required to.....
Some of (IMO) the best PR for TVR has just happened to them - pure luck.
Look at Swordfish, or the use of their cars in the massively popular Gran Turismo (GT) series of games for the Sony Playstation.
I spoke to PRW at the motorshow when the first GT game was launched. I asked who's idea it was, and was told that they'd been approached by the makers of GT. They do deserve some credit for granting licence to GT to use their cars though.
As far as BS goes, I for one wouldn't single him out for particular criticism, but I always get the impression that things PR wise could be better.
Marcus
& Ocean Haze Griff 500
Hi
Well I'm surprising even myself here but I have to stand up for BS.
I'm Marketing Manager for an American multinational automotive components company and can assure you that in marketing communications nothing happens by accident or luck!
Every word you see written about TVR has been set up and managed. The Swordfish film appearance was probably more as a result of swift response and action from TVR than the directors choice of vehicle - to them perhaps one exotic car is very much like another. Similarly news items are just as hard to stage manage effectively.
This idea that good cars sell themselves may have been true in the 60's but it isn't now. As for the "starting every morning" thing, if you wanted to try and address the ONLY criticism that anybody has of TVR how would you do it? You'd begin to introduce positive PR about reliability.
And we haven't even begun to start talking Motor Shows yet. We have a team of probably 20 people working full time for 3 months to get ready for Frankfurt and we are not even a car manufacturer!
Remember all this stuff is helping our residuals so all power to him. After I've bought my replacement Griff 500 naturally!
(Incidentally does anybody know of a straight 500 with bright exterior/dark interior/FTVRSH for sale at around £17.5k?)
As for the flaming Tuscan comment - yeah you're right, that's a really crappy thing to say. No defence there!
Cheers
Marco
Just a quick note about TVR on TV. On the 50 B'day of TVR, Top gear ran a special programme dedicated to TVR (yes a full half hour)- I have it on tape somewhere, starts off with a Grif 5 driving up the Blackpool sea front with 'The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony' playing in the background.
Tim.
Marco - nice piccie on your profile.
I work in Marketing and have spent a lot of time with the press. I agree with what you are saying, except for Swordfish - I believe the story in this case is that the director saw the car in a mag or similar and said "I want that car in my movie".
I want Ben's job!
Trefor/.
(coincidentally I have just been made redundant so if anyone needs a good IT Marketing Manager ...)
He maybe good at P.R, but from my dealings with "him" and TVR Blackpool as a paying customer ,not an EVO scribe, I still think he`s a total W***** and all the put up car mag reviews in the world won,t make me ever buy another TVR, and I think its that that counts.I was always told not to bite the hand that feeds you,...TVR and their dealers will be the loosers in the end ....not I.
Edited by CERBY on Thursday 30th August 21:31
Cerby
I don't doubt it what you say - some of the comments I've read on here that are attributed to him are, if accurate, just outrageous! What I don't understand is what is the marketing guy doing dealing with customer problems in the first place? That is a delicate, sensitive job and probably not one best left to somebody with 10 call waiting lights flashing on their phone.
Trefor - my car is sold now, you've just reminded me to update my profile. If I ever find a good Griff 500 I'll add a new pic!
Marco
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