How FORD Could/Should Market the FH,,,,

[csv8]

Polaris bought Indian motorcycles and redeveloped the bike.
Their advertising campaign ? " Indian the alternative American Motorcyle"
Maybe, Ford could/should advertise the FH, as :
FORD (in bold capitals) The Other AUSTRALIAN (in bold capitals) Large Car.
Picture of FH then... Be Suprised. or something along those lines.
or is it going to be like the EcoBoost and Ecolpi, just appear in showrooms?
Someone walks into the showroom and sees the FH ???
FORD really need to give their marketing dept a reboot...

[Bossxr8]

I'd actually be surprised if they even bothered advertising the 201X.

[Dave R]

I don't think marketing it as Australian will sway many people. Penny pinching is a stronger force than patriotism, so they'll need to be priced to move. If it was me in charge, I'd gut the range (ie, get rid of at least G6 & XT) and price them as low as possible. Try to start the range at $29990 and market from there. I wouldn't mind seeing an Ecoboost XR4 Turbo either- cheap and fuel efficient, it's worth a try.

[pottery beige]

I've read it on the internertz the internertz is the next big thing...

[cro142]

For whatever reason, Ford gave up on marketing years ago.

The cynical might say that it was part of the pressure from the US to shut down in Australia.

[turbodewd]

They cant do any worse than the tepid walking fingers rubbish campaign that launched the FG. it was embarassing. There was no energy or fun about the ad. It was awful. its as if it was designed by women, for women! I should know, I did an advertising degree at the Uni of Canb in 2000 and it was 66% chicks.

They need humor, patriotism and fun in the ad.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

They cant do any worse than the tepid walking fingers rubbish campaign that launched the FG. it was embarassing. There was no energy or fun about the ad. It was awful. its as if it was designed by women, for women! I should know, I did an advertising degree at the Uni of Canb in 2000 and it was 66% chicks.

They need humor, patriotism and fun in the ad.

I remember the first time they sat all us employees down and showed us those ads, and when it was finished everyone just went WTF and had no idea what the hell we had just seen lol.

Total fail.

[cro142]

Agreed.
Ford have consistently used extremely poor adverts over the past few years.

This lack of quality and effect really stands out when compared to the efforts of other first-tier companies - not just car makers.

I wonder if Ford employ an advertising agency, or are the adverts made in-house when the admin people have a few spare minutes??

[turbodewd]

Australia has some of the best ads in the world. We do funny and we do weird very well. We do all kinds of ads extremely well.

I have no doubt that if given free reign a local mob or 2 could conjure up an awesome ad campaign.

the problem will be the brief set by Ford Australia. If they give lameo orders then we will get a lameo ad. The FG ads were the worst Ive seen. I dont know what themes they were trying to communicate.

[danzvtil]

ford arent going to spend huge bucks advertising a vehicle that the buying public doesnt want.They are better off advertising their imported range to increase that volume and actually make money.
Several years ago ford stopped building falcons just to dump them in dealers holding yards to then only sell them at a huge discount, thats why there arent a lot of non XRs in dealer land you need to order them in.
I would love to see an epic falcon ad on tv, but those days of huge falcon sales and big advertising budgets are gone.

[Chopped]

It's a dead duck walking. Even if they get a 50% increase in sales (which is a big ask, considering how large cars are on the nose) they'd be looking at just over 1200 cars per month. Hardly setting the world on fire.
I'm still skeptical that the FH will arrive, I hope I'm wrong.

[cro142]

Originally Posted by Chopped

It's a dead duck walking. Even if they get a 50% increase in sales (which is a big ask, considering how large cars are on the nose) they'd be looking at just over 1200 cars per month. Hardly setting the world on fire.
I'm still skeptical that the FH will arrive, I hope I'm wrong.

You are correct in that the Falcon is a dead duck walking.

The comments here on poor marketing really relate to the past in that the poor marketing contributed significantly to the final collapse of sales over the past couple of years. It's over now.

Over the past 10 years I have had 8 turbo Falcons in one guise or another, and loved every minute of what they can provide. These cars suit me exactly.

I would like to buy an FH in 2015 and string out the experience as long as possible, but I too am very skeptical of the FH appearing, or the Falcon being around that long.

[FERG_51]

Glad I bought my XR50T when I did, might be the last of the best from FOA.

[Joe5619]

I think they should play on the factory closer in mine opinion. Don’t run away from this fact. Lines like "Get the last Falcon, before it is gone", “Get a slice of history”, “the last truly Australian built RWD”!! Don’t be shire, use peoples emotion about it!!

[davenl5l]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

They cant do any worse than the tepid walking fingers rubbish campaign that launched the FG. it was embarassing. There was no energy or fun about the ad. It was awful. its as if it was designed by women, for women! I should know, I did an advertising degree at the Uni of Canb in 2000 and it was 66% chicks.

They need humor, patriotism and fun in the ad.

football , meat pie's , kangaroo's & falcon car's ?

[Guzz226]

Devils advocate......if Ford are going thru with the FH as it is a better financial outcome to do this, rather than close up shop with the FG and hand back the Federal Government Funding they got towards the FH...they will probably spend minimal $$ on marketing, unless there are provisions in the funding around minimal volumes etc.

I do like the emotive suggestions ('last of a legend', 'get it before its gone' etc) though.

[Smoke Pursuit]

csv8 you should get a job at Ford....

[Kieron]

In my view and harsh as it may seem, Ford need to kill off the 'Falcon Car Company' image which I believe, is what they are already doing. It's a long term strategy but it's ultimately the correct path.

Add to this, the Falcon's largest market are fleets, I don't see them having a massive public marketing campaign. Maybe it will be a more targeted effort, aiming at us Ford/Falcon fans who are more likely to buy a 'hero' model as the last of the Falcon, this way the move away from the Falcon car company can continue for the larger buying public.

[cobramania]

The only reasons Australian's don't want a Falcon is:
1) They don't know it exists
2) They don't know they want one

In September Holden sold 2869 Commodores, Toyota sold 3341 Hilux's, so selling large vehicles isn't the problem as many think, they still sell.
But Ford only managed to sell 846 Falcons in September.

Marketing 101:
You have to advertise to begin with, & if you can't sell something to someone who doesn't know they want it, the ad's failed.

You have to make someone buy something, or at least want to buy something, that they don't need, don't know they want, or otherwise you've wasted your time, money & effort.

A good ad can sell oil to Texas.

[Kieron]

On the contrary cobramania, i'd suggest the public do know the Falcon exists, virtually every taxi is one for instance and it's actually the very reason why Ford Aus are no longer doing very well.

Re the VF figures, it's a new model (FG is a last gen model by comparison) and sales are going to rise purely because of this, there's also loud whispers that that Sept VF figure has been artificially inflated with dealers been given incentives to register them. On top of that, traditionally 75% of FalCom sales are fleet specials.

The Hilux isn't a large car, it's a commercial vehicle and sold in bulk to the likes of mining companies therefore can't be directly comparable to FalCom's.

I'm sure Marketing 101 makes reference to flogging a dead horse too

FH needs to be out ASAP, how many private FG Falcon buyers are looking at replacing now? it's 5 years old now and many will be looking to replace but what with, an FGII which is essentially the same car...

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I'd actually be surprised if they even bothered advertising the 201X.

Have to agree, anyone that really want an FH will know all about it and when it's arriving.
There's just no point in advertising Falcon when sales expectation is so low, expending
more resources and money just to feed advertising companies is seen as a wasted endeavor.

[XRtowcar]

Miley Cyrus swinging naked on a wrecking ball above a Falcon.

[fordlova8]

Part of GMH sales can be contributed to the NZ police as the commode is the car of choice.
There are just over 11 thousand staff in the NZ Police force (Wikipedia) so that's a couple of cars.

[Bonn]

sadly, the Australian motorist doesn't know what he/she is missing out on - without exception, everyone that has sat in my FG has been gobsmacked at the cool interior , especially the blue night lighting and ICC.
As for buying one, most folks want - um -soft roaders.....(rolling eyes), which is becoming the swansong of the sedan/wagon.....
Just been to Europe - they love their sedans and wagons there, so am confused....

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Bonn

sadly, the Australian motorist doesn't know what he/she is missing out on - without exception, everyone that has sat in my FG has been gobsmacked at the cool interior , especially the blue night lighting and ICC.
As for buying one, most folks want - um -soft roaders.....(rolling eyes), which is becoming the swansong of the sedan/wagon.....
Just been to Europe - they love their sedans and wagons there, so am confused....

Because people think they need an SUV for the 2 times a year that they drive 1km on some dirt.

[Bonn]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Because people think they need an SUV for the 2 times a year that they drive 1km on some dirt.

..like Keating said on 'Wide Open Road' they should tax the ***** off them.
"Another bone-head, another bone-head and another one" or words to that effect.
Back in the day, real men put 'Winter tread" on the back of the family wagon, and tackled mud and adversity with a stiff upper lip.
Now it's in a big 4 x 4 with a limp wrist......

[Syndrome]

Why bother marketing it? Those who want one will buy one. Sales will be driven purely by demand from the few Falcon fans left in Australia.

[borough]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Why bother marketing it? Those who want one will buy one. Sales will be driven purely by demand from the few Falcon fans left in Australia.

I highly doubt that the FG MKIII will ever see production. If it does, by the time it comes out it will be so far behind the VF, Aurion and the imports I can't see any reason to buy one unless you are a Falcon fan.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by borough

I highly doubt that the FG MKIII will ever see production. If it does, by the time it comes out it will be so far behind the VF, Aurion and the imports I can't see any reason to buy one unless you are a Falcon fan.

Plus with the projected sales being low, why would Ford throw lots of money at a loss maker?

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Plus with the projected sales being low, why would Ford throw lots of money at a loss maker?

Because the money has already been spent...