Merchandise - whaddyawant?

How about reflective saftey flags ie;for arials , sand flags or just for show at camp sites who knowns you my be camping next door to a member and not know it .Peter York 4x4

wheel covers...stick with black

mouse mats...forget them

stubby holders......yes, as you said they are a great talking point, especially around the camp fire.

Hats....yep, good.

shirts....if you are only wanting to stock one size then there could be problems, and i wouldn't want to buy a shirt over the net anyway.

Hi Michelle,

I like the idea of a flag. Get it on a red reflective background (is there such a thing?) so we can use them in the dunes.

Stickers - Like them but hubby won't have them on the car :-(
Stubbie Holders - Yep, great talking point around the campfire
Caps - Definitely
Shirts - I'd buy one if it was a polo shirt or blue bush shirt with embroidered logo. Appreciate the size dilemma. I'd stick with L & XL and when you put them in the shop, perhaps include actual measurements (say from armpit to armpit) so customers can guage the size.
Spare Wheel covers - definitely stick with black!

Another idea...what about "map envelopes" with your logo. We use a homemade vinyl satchel big enough to carry several maps, our free camping guide, a notebook and pen.

"ExplorOz Team Truck"...I think "ExplorOz Team" is a bit classier. With that and your logo plastered all over it everyone will know who you are. Of course, this means you'll probably never get any peace from people recognising you, LOL.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

1. Shirts are a pain. Always problems in sizing and different manufacturers in the same size are usually different. ie XL in one size is XXL in another. Also I work in the 4wd industries a lot of my customers are bigger than XL what about them. Need to go to at least XXL or XXXl

2. Stick with Black on the wheel cover. White by the the time red dust has engrained itself will look terrible.

3. You can get flat stubby holders. They are made from wetsuit material and velcro up the seam to form the cylinder and from memory they were about the same price to have made.

4. Not sure about "Exploroz Ttruck" but I think the logo could do with a spruce up.

1. are shirts too difficult buying over the internet with sizing?

I think maybe Iron-on's or even patches are easier for YOU to keep, having to have a supply of shirts, adn then with the fitting of shirts these days, its too hard to get it right. I wouldnt bother in that sense. Shirts are good advertising, but they are a serious pain in the freckle for those supplying and having to resend due to wrong sizes...


2. wheel covers will feature our circular logo and available for sale and also used as competition giveaway

Problem with these as I see it is cost, and the different sizes of tires now, The new Prado comes with 17in rims from what I hear, and I run 33's or 35's so no normal tire cover fits. Others will face the same thing. You will need different sizes to supply everyone interested. and then the cost comes into it :(

3. should we bother with the stubby holders?
WITHOUT DOUBT!

4. should we bother with the mouse mats?
No. No use to you out in the bush.

5. the cap was excellent
YES. Also Beenies for the snow weather!!!

6. First Aid Kits.
Everyone Needs one, and one made by people who hit the bush, Great Idea!

7. Flags.
The style for desert trips, also can be put up at Camp at the end of the day.

8. Stickers.
Heaps of MT rear Windows out there!

9. Seat Covers. With Logo

10. Dash Mats. With Logo

11. Travel Blankets. With Logo

Also remember theres people here not into 4wding, but motorcycling, caravanning, campers etc.. So thinking of things for them too!

There were lots more suggestions in the last Improvement thread we had!


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About the logo, I see nothing wrong with it, but its not bright, as in standing out colors. Maybe some new colors, and maybe bigga map of aussie, in the circle style with the URL in the middle as a circle.

How about a rear tyre cover that is double lined with a zipper at the top and a drain hole plus zipper at the bottom. This device can work as a temporary rubbish bin. Throw all your rubbish in at the top in a garbag and when next at a stationery rubbish bin, remove the garbag. This keeps the smelly rubbish out of the cabin of your vehicle.
I have spoken to a number of canvas manufacturers at 4x4 shows about this but no one has taken it up so far. Put the ExploreOz logo on and you are on your way to your first million!!! Just throw 10% my way for the idea!! :-)
Cheers, Willem
Never a dull moment

Michelle, the sticker is fine. I won't put one on the Fourby but the one I received with membership went on the camper trailer. But one is enough.

Caps are always good and folk will always buy them, especially if they are good quality. I have several, as do most folk I know, but would purchase another (never can have too many) to promote something I'm interested in.

Forget the mouse pad. I have half a dozen or so promotional ones and still use the one I got with the computer 10 years ago.

The "flat" neoprene rubber stubby holder mentioned above is a goer (keeper). I have one. It works well, despite not having a "bottom". I'm actually looking for a couple more - needed them on the last trip.

Everyones comments about the shirt are relevant and cober the issues, but I'd still like an ExplorOz shirt. The idea above about a patch is good, but go for a quality emproidered one that requires sewing on. You could always specify a prefered shirt colour/style and I'm sure the members would do their best to comply. A social golf club I was a member of did it this way and it was very successful.

A travel/pinic blanket.

A radiator blind/ground sheet.

Do a deal with one, or more, of the canvas seat cover manufacturers to put ExplorOz logos on for free for any member that orders through ExplorOz.

There's a plethora og bags (day packs, which are very cheap these days; in car garbage bags; map pockets; etc)

If I think of anything else I'll let you know. Hmmm, maybe I could use a few more stickers - on the roof rack perspex wind deflector (when I get a roof rack), on the sealed buckets I use for ropes and the like, on my tool box and recovery bag, ...

Oh, BTW, I agree with the others on the graphic - drop the "truck" bit. If you feel the need, I'd stick to what you've always called it - the ExplorOz Field Vehicle.

Also, re the comments on the logo - I like the basic design but you could "jazz" it up a little. Something that xould work, on a larger version such as that on the "truck", would be the inclusion of a few key places. For example, how about a graphical (even cartoonish) representation of Uluru in a deep orange, the Kimberlies, the Cape, the Simpson, etc. Or perhaps replicate the Trek Notes map that shows, in different colours the many treks (tracks) taken by the ExplorOz Team as they explored OZ (get it?)

That's all for now.

Michelle, it sounds like I'm not alone in preferring subtle displays of affiliation. As for personal adornment a small www.exploroz.com.au in white on the back of a black cap or the breast of a T shirt (or reefer jacket ;-)) would suffice. On the vehicle a small adhesive strip 2.5 cm high and 20 cm long with the same text, white on black, which could be affixed to the front or rear glass would be all that I would consider. I like the flag idea though.

Owsitgoin Michelle, plenty of ideas here to work on. There is a common thread of doo's and dont's that you get the general idea of what's wanted. I guess some of the things like shirts really depend on the size of the membership to make them worthwhile, if you can't move a lot of expensive goods in a hurry then you have a lot of capital tied up which is what sends business' broke. The KISS option seems dominant throughout the postings tonight anyhow.
Before going with any one idea clearly asses the market size.
I think your current logo is really great, it is distinctive, it says what it is without being too tricky, and importantly - it is known.
As for the signage, either under the "logo" or the words "ExplorOz" try looking at TEAM OFFICE or TRUCK OFFICE or ON SITE or
ON SITE OFFICE or MOBILE LAB or HOME or ENDLESS EXPEDITION.
As for a shirt, to save all the colour, size, quality arguments (you can never please everyone) why not produce the logo as an embroided patch in say a large and small size (suggest 3 in & 6 in) or larger and sell these so that members can put them on the shirt of their choice, you might prefer to suggest a standard club colour.
That's my tuppence worth
Ciao

ANOTHER IDEA ; what about business card size flyers that members can carry and hand out to people they are talking to about the site , most peolpe seem to forget website names unless they are written down for them this could be in the form of a greating from exploroz team . Also I have a retail outlet in a tourest town and would be more than happy to stock flyers ,info on our counter Peter York 4x4

Caps, Keyrings, current stickers, flags and flat stubby holders. Maybe also windcreen/rear window strip stickers with the internet address only (reasonably small though) - can'y see a reason why you would want more than that

Me again! I like the logo as it is. Simple, effective and by now you have plenty of brand recognition associated with it.

Truckster's idea about beanies is a keeper. I'll have a cap AND a beanie please. And kid size beanies so my son can have one too! Then hubby'll want one since we've all got them...LOL.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

Hi again Michelle. You are responsible for keeping me awake half of last night thinking of things. One thing for sure, non of our ideas are going to make you millionaires.
Here's an idea thats simple (the KISS again) and based on the notion that "everone loves a bargain" and business is about "bums on seats". Members and members only to be issued with business cards or similar with the EOz logo and WWW and their member name printed thereon, say 50 or 100 per member I'm not sure on this point. The member uses this card to introduce himself to other campers and suggests they take the opportunity to log on and join as a member and if they do they will get a special introductory gift (besides the usuals) not available to usual new members. They have to be able to log in the name on the card to receive the gift. For the member who has introduced the largest number of new members at the end of a year gets a free annual subscription.
Imagine,the cards could become collectors items as they swap cards with other members during their wanderings, if your desperate.
Next idea, a get together somewhere sometime in this great wide land for members, an ExplorOzathon.
Next, sell a members flag say 6in x 12in that they could fly from the roof rack or bull bar or aerial, somewhere obvious so that we can spot members along the road and stop for a nag.
So much to do and so little time.

How about tent or camping products straight from the manufacturer? You sell Twine so let's sell other products.
Of course I would ask you to sell 30 second Oztents for my own personal gain but it's worth the try for the discount.
At the moment I can only locate them at one of the biggest 4x4 stores in Australia where I think they have a monopoly on them - or at least until the asian versions come in.
If they were cheaper they'd sell like hotcakes.
In regards to the other stuff I'd fork out for the black spare wheel cover and the dune flag with your emblem, oh, and the stubby holder...do you have one now? I'll have a look and grab one - when I win the next twine comp. Anyway bye for now.

Love the bush.
Chris

I'd buy a dune flag in a minute.

"ExplorOz Team Truck" sounds too American. Over there, they all refer to thjeir SUV's as Trucks. But I'm afraid that I'm not creative enough to come up with a reasonable suggestion.

How about "Exploroz Mobile Office"? (At least I warned you).

BTW, thought about wide-brimmed sun hats?

Hi Michelle,

I would go the beenie straight up with winter approaching.

Dune flag, yes. Would get one with the above.

Got a hundred stubbie holders, all freebies. Pack one or two of those in with the above.

Shirts? polo type. Could you set it up to order size and colour. Just a basic range of colours too. The earlier suggestion of a measurement from armpit to armpit for each particular size would be easiest as most people have a polo somewhere in their closet that they could measure thereby ensuring the correct size. In the order form have the colours with the check box alongside each one. If you can arrange to order it as it is ordered by us, at a price you like, then this saves you having to carry stock. I don't mind waiting a few days more to get my shirt if I'm confident it will fit when I get it. Of course, pricing may be an issue with a non-bulk order. Though with the promise of long term orders a good company would want your business and once the logo is set-up and entered into their programmed sewing machine, I assume it's just the punch of a button away.

Caps a keeper.

Savvas, excellent point mate. As I was reading through this thread I noted only caps, not the "slip, slop, slap" wide brimmed hat. I'm an "eggshell blonde" and need to keep the sun off the back of my head, neck and ears as well, not having any of that 'hair' stuff. :~)

I wouldn't bother with mouse mats, tyre covers, especially white.

SK

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Hopefully the merchandise wont be far away.Regards Michelle,
Spread the word - ExplorOz.com