SteamWolf Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 As some of you know, my position at a leading engineering consultancy was made redundant two months ago. After the first two weeks of chasing up and catching up on jobs around the house, then the next week staring at my navel waiting for job applications to come to fruition, I decided enough was enough and dusted off my old shelf company and teamed up with another crew-member on the Redundancy Failboat. We pooled our capabilities and put together a basic marketing strategy and today we started door knocking local industry. We had been working on a thing called "Whole of Life Asset Management" where a client's site is audited against maintenance best practice and a score applied in a range of critical business areas, then recommendations offered on how to improve these gaps. We then implement whatever solution the client agreed on, rather than what every other consultant does which is to bugger off with a fist full of dollars. So we decided we don't need their stupid company, and our company would be much better and would have reasonable rates, alcohol, a casino and hookers. Then we decided against the reasonable rates. The interesting thing is that I have been driving my '82 SC around to potential client sites. No reason other than I like driving it and it goes with my sale-guy tie. Each place has seen the director or BDM want to talk to us, simply to have a bit of blahblah time about the car. The net result is that while we haven't drummed up any work on this first day of doing so, we have gained some excellent advice, and some real insight in how to approach potential clients with the methodology we have to offer. I don't think I'll ever get sick of owning a classic Porsche! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 I hope you have an appropriate matching 80's suit and tie oh and clipboard good to see it's off to a positive start though. when I drive mine to work all I get is crap from the guys in manufacturing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustJames Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 SteamWolf drumming up business 80's style...yesterdayBattery life: 8 hours...unless you intend using it to make a call.So...about the same as an iphone.Gotta love progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevMcRev Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 I know a guy who sells high end consultancy to businesses who has tested & measured conversion based on the car he turns up in, even down to different colours of the same car....He also did this with suits and ties. A black 911 turbo cab got the best results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Man Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 The guy who does the best job should be able to afford the best car!!! Unfortunately the tall poppy syndrome often cuts that guy down. I'm with Russ.................I drive my Hilux to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArthurK Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 The guy who does the best job should be able to afford the best car!!! Unfortunately the tall poppy syndrome often cuts that guy down. I'm with Russ.................I drive my Hilux to work. +1 Theo.............. Back when I got my 993 in '98 I had a number of clients come back with the usual comment of "We are paying you too much". I ended up buying a fridge to drive around as my business and livelyhood was worth too much at the time. It didnt help I was 27 at the time either........ Even though some people do appreciate "cars" they don't appreciate go getters......... Don't know what it is about people. Fast forward 15 years later, the same crap comes out of their mouth! Do yourself a favour SteamWolf and drive a car that is befitting your type of work. Especially if you are starting out fresh. But at the end of the day you need to do what makes you happy not prospective clients (as long as you are not cutting your nose off to spite your face ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB911 Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 When I was a builder I drove a car (Holden ute actually) that was purposely less expensive than what my subcontractors drove. It was always clean and sounded great with the 3 inch exhaust, but I found in the building game you get trusted far more. A mate drove a beautiful black new Audi, and everyone thought he was ripping them off, didn't last two years. I had a Brock commodore with an engine that cost me over $20k sitting in my garage, but it never went to work.Long winded way of saying +1 to Theo and Arthur Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastr Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 I'm with the other guys here : your conversation should be about closing the contract and not the car out the front. Depending on the industry there probably is some advantage in a better car - I'm sure the RE agents put most of their money into their cars to project a successful image with fixed price commissions in use. But if you're in a self-conscious industry then you'd have to be careful. A lot of people can make a lot of assumptions from your car. A clean and tidy rep mobile is often the best way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamWolf Posted 8April, 2013 Author Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 This may make more sense if the car in question is worth a squillion dollars, not my commodore-money SC. Not to mention my other option is a busted-arse mazda station hack. When I had a full time job, the SC would make a visit at work once every week or so. Not because I want to show off, but because I love driving it but didn't want uni students writing their name on it with a 20c coin. That's what the mazda is for. I just found it curious that having an interesting car (read; INTERESTING, not expensive) helped me get some interest in what we were doing, whereas they most likely would have not bothered to talk to me at all today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevMcRev Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 I agree with whats being said, to a point. It depends what you're selling and who to. If you want to be my financial adviser or business coach you'd better be driving a Porsche. I know i'll be paying good money for your services, but i also know you aren't all talk no results yourself. So it's the right car, but it's only of value in the right environment. In the wrong environment, YOU become the sales "tool" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevMcRev Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 What your employees think is a whole other thing too. There's a business near me where the boss drives a bright green Lambo Gallardo Spyder to work every day, which replaces the bright orange Lambo Gallardo Spyder he had for about a year, which replaces the bright yellow Lambo Gallardo Spyder he had for about a year before that. I've always wondered what his employees think of that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Man Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 It doesn't matter that your SC is Commodore money. It's still a Porsche and the majority of ignorants will associate Porsche with wealth, regardless of it's age and value. I could drive a HSV with the lot to work and most of my staff and clients would be impressed with the car and not question the value.I have a couple of client's who know I have a 911, and I make certain they understand that it is way off a new value car!!!!!!!!! I still get some unnecessary comments from a couple of people. They tend to forget the price they paid for their fully optioned Cruiser.SW, you are essentially seeing the SC as an "ice breaker" to open conversation. That's OK as long as they don't forget why you are there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArthurK Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 It doesn't matter that your SC is Commodore money. It's still a Porsche and the majority of ignorants will associate Porsche with wealth, regardless of it's age and value. I could drive a HSV with the lot to work and most of my staff and clients would be impressed with the car and not question the value.. Perception is 9/10ths unfortunately. It still has the Stuttgart badge............ SW do what is good for you but always be cautious, keeping in mind what you are trying to achieve in the long run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveT Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 If you need to talk to the MD then open the necessary doors with whatever tools you have available. In this case I believe that the Porsche would help. If you nee to talk to their Purchasing guy, maybe drive the Mazda. It's all about people's perceptions of you. And the 2 I mention have totally different reasons for thinking the way they do when presented with the same information. Horses for courses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugh Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 What your employees think is a whole other thing too. There's a business near me where the boss drives a bright green Lambo Gallardo Spyder to work every day, which replaces the bright orange Lambo Gallardo Spyder he had for about a year, which replaces the bright yellow Lambo Gallardo Spyder he had for about a year before that. I've always wondered what his employees think of that... Lets hope he doesn't have to 'put off' any employees for business not being good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveF Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 Steamwolf, regardless of what you drive, good luck with the new venture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugh Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 People are generally very judgemental, potential clients especially. I tend to notice how clean people's cars are as an indication of their character, for example a tradesman ute all clean and organised impresses me rather than someone with a $$$ BMW that has a years worth of brake dust on the rims.................."I hope they look after me better than they look after their expensive car" is the thought that runs through my head. I choose to drive a fiat 500 as the least pretentious car and always gets the conversation started! (I keep my porsche very quiet) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
withers Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 Good luck with your new venture Steamwolf Hughs quote: People are generally very judgemental, potential clients especially. I tend to notice how clean people's cars are as an indication of their character, for example a tradesman ute all clean and organised impresses me rather than someone with a $$$ BMW that has a years worth of brake dust on the rims.................."I hope they look after me better than they look after their expensive car" is the thought that runs through my head. I choose to drive a fiat 500 as the least pretentious car and always gets the conversation started! (I keep my porsche very quiet) I look at most people and think 'so wonder how much debt he's in to drive that' I'm a glass half empty type Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smule Posted 8April, 2013 Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 Problem is the majority of people are rather dull and have no real knowledge of cars, so they buy their new Sportivo Corolla with those fake paddle shift buttons on the steering wheel on the monthly drip for 35k and pay Ultra Tune an extra 100 dollars to have their windscreen fluid levels topped up and then have a cry when it comes time to replace their 14inch tyres and then think to themselves imagine what it would cost to service a Porsche. People price a car based on the badge especially with old 911's which really represented 1980's excesses and every child dream car on a poster in the bedroom and where really owned by well to do people with healthy cash flow.. modern day car finance was not as easy 20 years ago as it is today Sorry for the rant and apologies to any Corolla owners here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamWolf Posted 8April, 2013 Author Report Share Posted 8April, 2013 Good luck with your new venture Steamwolf Hughs quote: I look at most people and think 'so wonder how much debt he's in to drive that' I'm a glass half empty type Thanks very much. Me too. I have always had older cars because I refuse to buy them on credit, and have never seen the value of leasing. That is beginning to change, and certainly will if this venture works out. But until I regain an income, I am stuck with my ratty mazda and my joy to drive SC. Some of the comments on here have been quite interesting. I'm not a salesman nor do I wish to be. The whole point of this endeavour is to find consistent engineering consultancy work, not sell vacuum cleaners. Talking to directors, CEO's and BDM's means talking to some very switched-on savvy people. If I was selling steak knives, I would appreciate the advice of not driving my SC. It's just been a pleasant surprise that they have shown enough interest in the car for it to be a good ice breaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastr Posted 9April, 2013 Report Share Posted 9April, 2013 As someone who drives a BMW with a market value somewhere around a used vw polo, I can tell you that badge perception overrides everything else. I have had people tell me they coud never afford a car like mine, blissfully unaware of how much the thing is worth. However I keep the thing spotlessly clean at all times and I think the combination of clean+badge =expensive in most peoples minds. A porsche is the same thing, only more so. As other have said, if you're supposed to be helping with success, then a Porsche is probably a good help. In all other cases, it would be either neutral or negative, just because of where peoples heads are at after a decade or so of 'cars=evil environment destroyers' brainwashing. Even if the person involved knows it is all hogwash, some of the mud thrown sticks and you need to know your audience well. I never talk cars with work people. I won a 'gallardo for a day' as a door prize at a conference last year, and was offered the car or $1000 cash. When I took the car, people I knew were amazed and had no idea I would prefer to drive a lamborarri over a bunch of folding notes. Because I prefer to let business results do the talking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatSix Posted 9April, 2013 Report Share Posted 9April, 2013 Ok so my first question is what does this have to do with Justin Bieber (tags at the top)! If your dealing with business owners and CEO's I think they might enjoy seeing something other than the usual repmobiles. While I understand the stigma that comes with the badge, I dont think this is something high level management would be too concerned about. If anything there is a better chance of them knowing or being another P-car owner. Just ask yourself, what would Marty Kaan do??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutch-monkey Posted 9April, 2013 Report Share Posted 9April, 2013 As someone who drives a BMW with a market value somewhere around a used vw polo, I can tell you that badge perception overrides everything else. I have had people tell me they coud never afford a car like mine, blissfully unaware of how much the thing is worth. However I keep the thing spotlessly clean at all times and I think the combination of clean+badge =expensive in most peoples minds. i agree, i think anything classic with a prestigous badge on it gets that reaction, if anything, more so because a lot of those executive saloon type of cars look very samey to the layman- the classics stand out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
withers Posted 9April, 2013 Report Share Posted 9April, 2013 I'm the opposite Steamwolf.. most of my cars have been obtained using finance of varying degrees. Hitting a patch of work at the moment that is erm, well not fun... and I must say I'm rethinking being locked into any kind of additional financial stress. A lot to be said for having freedom. Good on you and enjoy that SC every day you can - life is short, play hard and have fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamWolf Posted 9April, 2013 Author Report Share Posted 9April, 2013 I don't disagree with borrowing to get a decent car at all, I just prefer to pay outright and recover financially as opposed to losing portion after portion of my income perpetually. Add it to all the other bills that life requires and it doesn't leave much. Also, as I have generally always done all my own maintenance owning an older car a bit further along the reliability curve hasn't been such a critical factor for me. This is changing as I spend my time elsewhere, but for the moment it works for me. (FWIW we took my co-consultant's car today; a 6 month old Octavia. Anecdotal evidence says this did not work that well for us as we have had no "hits" from physical site visits). Early days, but so far the response from industry has been positive. Also worth saying thanks to PFA for the support I have received so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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