ORIGINAL: 804
ORIGINAL: fliers1
ORIGINAL: tinner1
Hi James,
Don't fear posting anything on these forums. On these forums, as in life, not everyone is going to agree with you, so some will appose your viewpoint. As in life, consider the source and move on...As to the AMA and increasing the membership, it has been discussed many times on this and other forums, with basically the same result. There are people on both sides, with some more vocal than others. My opinion is like the old saying ''You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink''. The AMA will grow or decline in membership as it has through the years based on interest in ''modeling'' NOT on advertising. I truly believe you can't ''advertise'' an interest in modeling. It's something inside that comes from all kinds of life experiences. I grew up 1/4 mile from an airport so the bug was planted early. I sought out the AMA, the AMA didn't seek me, and I think that is true today. Advertising might gain a few people, but mostly it is a waste of a monetary resource of the AMA. The PPP program proved that quite well. That's my 2 cents worth, take it as you wish, but after being an AMA member for almost 50 years, I don't see any ''big'' changes on the horizon...
To everyone....
Have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving!
I'm almost inclined to agree with you considering literally millions of dollars that has been spent on advertising and yet AMA still sees a decline in membership.
One element has been missing. No one knows just how many hopeful modelers have prematurely dropped out when they were ''disappointed'' with club customer service. Oh yeah, the industry's necessary customer service ends once their customers find a club, that is if the industry advertises where the clubs are.
One has to know where the hobby shops, distributors, manufacturers, clubs, flight instructors and flying fields are. How do they that? Advertise.
fliers1
Fliers, am I correct that you own a hobby shop?
If so, do you advertise on tv, and if so, has it been profitable?
Do you, as a hobby shop owner, advertise in other places that would be considered ''not preaching to the choir''?
*Disregard if I am mistaking you for another that owns a shop.
Yes, I do own a hobby shop. No, I don't advertise on TV, but my club has been on local free cable TV several times. That did indeed help bring in new customers. Most if not all clubs could do the same, that is if they truely desire to increase their numbers. Our local cable reaches approximately a radius of 50 miles, a million people, more or less and like I said, it was free.
What I do is a standing offer of fly before you buy. I will let anyone fly my trainers and helicopters, even if they claim to have no interest, cannot afford to buy or whatever reason they can come up with to avoid my offer. I depend mostly on word of mouth, which has worked out pretty good for my business. We are the only hobby shop, among dozens in my area that sells RC airplanes and helicopters and the only one that offers the
public free RC flying experience.
We have a flying field 2 miles away. I insist that all customers who come in my shop, fly my aircraft.
Most times than not, that makes a sale. Many times, people who already have aircraft, but couldn't get any help from their clubs, come in once the word gets out.
fliers1