They gave away shoes for test drives?

[Heraclid]

I just read that in what was shaping out to be an "off" year for them (2000), Isuzu had a promotion offering free Reeboks for anyone who test-drove an Isuzu SUV, using the Ironman sponsorhsip to pull it all together. And they had a nice brochure with a "silverprint" photo... anyone seen the pic or got a pic of it they can post? Apparently Isuzu gave an ad firm a meager budget and a bad set of pics to work from and told them they wanted to sell 500 VXs in 4 months, sight-unseen! And word is that 500 did... in 3 months.

[Dallas4u]

Couldn't they have picked a brand better than Reebok? Come on! Who buys Reeboks anymore?

I haven't had Reeboks since velcro and tight-rolls!

[JAFO]

I have a pair of compact binoculars with a black Isuzu case from an insentive to test drive a VX.

[Heraclid]

My Reeboks always held up better than my Nikes, actually. I've had cheaper shoes that are better than both, like my current waterproof Faded Glorys and Globes.

I don't know for sure but it could have been that Reebok was already an official sponsor for the Ironman competitiion along with Isuzu so they went with them on that basis.

Remember the old pump-up Reeboks? I liked SNL's spoof on it with the pump-up Thanksgiving turkey, if you've ever seen that. :-)

[AnalogVX]

I got a VX after a test drive.

[WyrreJ]

I got $14.5K in the bank for waiting to buy my VX!

[paultvx]

Just about any shoe lasts longer than Nikes. BTW, Nike owns Converse now. Addidas are the only shoes I've ever owned that lasts. Maybe that's why they haven't done as well as Nike?

Isuzu marketing strategy has always puzzled me. Hell, still does.

[Dallas4u]

Originally posted by Heraclid
Remember the old pump-up Reeboks? I liked SNL's spoof on it with the pump-up Thanksgiving turkey, if you've ever seen that. :-)

He... yeah, I DO remember it. Just puuuump it! Pretty funny.

I have to say, I have always been a big Air Max wearer. Within the last 4-5 years they HAVE been wearing out quicker. I bought some Shox off Nikes website a few years ago (custom made), and they are still going strong! I always wore Adidas when playing soccer, and (of course) they always lasted a couple seasons.

[Triathlete]

I have never liked Reebok or Nike...too much flash not enough performance (of course if they paid me multiple millions to wear them I'd think they were the greatest...if your reading this I need sponsorship! ). I wore Saucony for a long time...they last long but don't fit narrow feet well. Next I wore Adidas because they were the first to make a dedicated trail shoe...I run off road a lot...but the toe box never worked for me. I got a lot of missing toe nails from them. now I only wear New Balance. Great shoes that come in several widths for people like me with narrow feet and those with normal and wide feet. And they make a really great trail shoe!

[SGT.BATGUANO]

And NB's are made in America.

I think they also gave away computers with a purchase, at one time. Something like a DELL 300 Mhz Desktop.....WHOOT!

[Cyrk]

2000 Silver: American Isuzu Motors Inc.,
Ironman Promotion






Promoting multiple products in a single direct mail package is traditionally a disaster ready to happen. In this case, being given that mandate by Isuzu, WLC and M\S Database marketing combined efforts to find the perfect glue to both hold the campaign together...and catapult it to massive success. That "glue" was the Ironman triathalon, which Isuzu sponsors, along with Reebok, a sports shoe manufacturer who M|S approached for our gift-for-testdrive. This promotion led to incredible test drives in an 'off' year, plus huge conversion rates for test drive to vehicle sale.

[johnnyapollo]

Hey Dave,

Where did you find that?

-- John

[Cyrk]

John, Not mine... just pulled from a website...

[Triathlete]

That "glue" was the Ironman triathalon, which Isuzu sponsors,

Actually when Isuzu had their corporate shuffle in 2000 they ended their sponsorship deal with Ironman, buying out their contract and only partial sponsorship for the 2000 Ironman North America season.

[Heraclid]

I was on that same website a few weeks back... let's just say I may have more on that later. :-)