Let me give you this interesting scenario? Any feedback most welcome.

by smak

Posted: 14 years ago 12 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hi all

My freind posed a interesting question to me,not least because it is his last hope for saving himself from bankruptcy and repossesion.

Ok driven to edge of despair by not being able to find a good decent job whilst trying non-stop for last month, he is now virtually left with his last $350 in pocket.

As last ditch effort to save himself and his family of 2 kids, he has no option but to find a uinconventional job where he gets fast cash quickly rather than having to wait till end of month for tradiotional salary.

What does he do? He gets himself a job as Rickshaw driver paying small weekly rent and whatever he earns for customer rides, thats his own money.

But he hasn't had much success so far. for few weeks he is bing doing this he is averaging £75 per week when really he wanted to make £300 per week doing this job.

Now to test your skills, much appreciated if you guys could provide input as to how:

He could pull more customers to take his ride rather than opting for other riders?

What pchycology he should adopt to get cutsomers interested in his ride and actually hiring him?

What is the USP he can use to differentiate himself form other riders?

What upsell tactics he could apply once he does get a customer to take the ride?

How should he position hmself and his services so that it boost perception in customer minds?

Any feedback on any of the above would be most welcome for my desperate freind who is staring in the face of collapse.

Thanks

smak

#feedback #give #interesting #scenario

Daniel Scott 14 years ago

First off... although I Googled "Rickshaw"... I have no idea RE: The marketplace/what competitors are doing/any other stuff that's important.

Three hundred pounds a week sounds like a fair bit... although I'm not up on average UK wages. Is it even feasible to make this much as a Rickshaw driver?

How do clients select the driver? I expect it's like taxis... whoever is in the right place at the right time gets the fare. Whilst he could do things like have newspapers etc for his clients to read, give them coffee... I have no idea if that's feasible.

Is this a tourist thing? A mode of transport? What?

If you want help you're going to need to provide some info for those of us who live in places that don't have rickshaws. I've been to London and Bath but I"ve never seen one.

-Dan
- Thanks
- 2 replies
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Always looking for badass direct-response copywriters. PM me if we don't know each other and you're looking for work.
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- ryanmberg 14 years ago
  
  I would say hang around touristy areas and night clubs... as a rickshaw ride seems like more of a novel experience than a way to get where you're going.
  
  I'm guessing winter is not the best time to be a rickshaw driver. A blanket and hot beverage might counteract this to a point. But rickshaws don't seem to have the same charm as say, a horse drawn carriage, that would attract cold weather business. Might be a good time to cut his losses and find a more lucrative opportunity.
  
  Ryan
  
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  2 replies
  
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  MarkAndrews IMCopywriting 14 years ago
  
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  smak 14 years ago
  
  Hi Mark
  
  Good ol' London town.
  
  Thanks
  
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  MarkAndrews IMCopywriting 14 years ago
  
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  MarkAndrews IMCopywriting 14 years ago
  
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  smak 14 years ago
  
  Hi Mark
  
  Hahaha thats very funny mate.
  
  Brilloiant creative minds never need to see a poor day.
  
  But I don' think his rickshaw company allows him this and also advertising is disallowed.
  
  smak
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  MarkAndrews IMCopywriting 14 years ago
  
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  MarkAndrews IMCopywriting 14 years ago
  
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  smak 14 years ago
  
  how about about 'Bonk about boats'
  
  Thanks
  
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  Jill Carpenter 14 years ago
  
  No advertising, but how about some kind of netting for privacy where the riders can look out but others can not see in. Like a limo. Then add a little wet bar in the back, some soft disco lights, and music.
  
  Could he put a disco ball on the top?
  
  Oh! they do these really cool light up spokes here. Not glow in the dark, but actual lights that snap on to the spokes, and say a message when you are peddling. The message can change too. So He could call himself "the cool ride" or whatever.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
  
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  beninewie 14 years ago
  
  "You've joined the mile high club, now join the Big Ben Club!"
  
  I can see this working
  
  Thanks
  
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  Jill Carpenter 14 years ago
  
  Does his vehicle look like the one above? Could he sell advertising - IE a sign or something on there that might suggest a local restaurant?
  
  I agree with the blanket idea, and perhaps a thermos of hot chocolate available on request.
  
  Is there music on these things - IE a boom box connected?
  
  Hmm, interesting challenge.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  Signature
  
  "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
  
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  smak 14 years ago
  
  Avenue Girl,
  
  This is sharp thinking on your part.
  
  You have made some valid points that are spot on.
  
  Thanks
  
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  beninewie 14 years ago
  
  Hmmm as previous posters have mentioned, it's a little hard to make suggestions not knowing the environment he's working in.
  
  I lived in London for a while last year and it always looked like a bit of a tough sell to get a customer for the richshaw drivers.
  
  Assuming he's working in a similar environment (London, round Leicester Square) this is what I would suggest:
  
  1. Don't look desperate! Sounds like a tough situation he's got himself in and that can come across in his voice/manner around customers. If you look/feel desperate people can smell it a mile away and tend to avoid. Hard not to be when you're backs against the wall but you've gotta try.
  
  2. Focus on a niche within this market. Seemed to me that there were two kinds of customers for this type of thing:
  1. People looking to get somewhere in a different way, usually after a night out, usually pretty fsnickered (drunk), looking for a laugh.
  
  2. People looking for a fun way to see the city. Tourists in other words.
  
  Maybe focus on the tourists and have a speal about the area he's driving them through. Give them maps, point out interesting stuff, have funny stories about historical things that have happened in the area.
  
  People love a fun experience so he needs to get that across at the start. Upsells could be extended tours or specialised tours, like a ghost tour or shopping tour.
  
  I think his USP should be fun, interesting tours. Most of the guys I saw doing this looked like they were too busy looking for the next fair to focus too much on the people they had, it was all about speed and turnover.
  
  I say buck that trend and go for fun, interest and over-delivering. He can charge more, if he's fun enough maybe he can drum up a bit of media interest. Also with a good rep he could partner with some of the other tourist companies in the area.
  
  Anyways just a couple of ideas, good luck to him
  
  Cheers,
  Ben
  
  Thanks
  
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- Ross Bowring 14 years ago
  
  If your guy is allowed to decorate his Rickshaw, then he should give his a theme. Tastefully adorn it with plastic red roses... (oxymoron, I know) call it a "romance rickshaw", or a "gondola on wheels" and focus on picking up couples.
  
  That way he's always got 2 paying customers in the back...
  
  He's got the serendipity value of giving a Guy or a Girl a chance to initiate a romantic moment on the spur of the mo...
  
  If he's got a cup holder, he could decorate it with silver foil and keep a selection of single stemmed roses. Draw the couples attention to it and the guy will feel compelled to buy one for his girl.
  
  And he should dress smart. Shirt and tie. Tux, even. With bicycle clips of course.
  
  Hope this helps.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  smak 14 years ago
  
  That's very good points Ross.
  
  Doing very good here guys.
  
  Thanks
  
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Let me give you this interesting scenario? Any feedback most welcome.

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