Irvine-based car dealership group Fladeboe Automotive Group has a unique marketing strategy afoot for a newly introduced line of electric vehicles from China.
Fladeboe recently opened what it bills as the first all-electric dealership in the U.S. featuring plug-in cars, trucks and vans. Its EcoCentre in Irvine offers three models—EcoE commuter car, EcoVan and EcoTruck—which plug into a standard electrical socket.
Each model travels at a maximum speed of about 25 miles per hour and a range of 25 to 40 miles between charges. Sticker prices range from $9,995 to $17,995.
Here’s the hook: Fladeboe owns and operates Fladeboe Honda, Fladeboe Volkswagen, Fladeboe Buick GMC, and all of the dealerships are located in the Irvine Auto Center. So when green-minded customers at any of the other dealerships show an interest in a hybrid- or electric-powered vehicle, sales staff can mention the availability of the more affordable EcoCentre offerings to customers deemed a good fit with those vehicles.
The vehicles—sold simply under their respective model names—are manufactured in China by Liuzhou Wuling Special Purpose Vehicle Manufacturing Co. and imported by car dealer Ramon Alvarez of Riverside. Alvarez hopes to make Southern California an electric-car hub, with plans to expand throughout the state and eventually the U.S. by lining up dealers to sell the vehicles. Fladeboe was the first dealership to sign on.
Fladeboe’s other green machines include three Honda models and one Volkswagen model. Now, prospective buyers can compare them to the all-electric vehicles at the EcoCentre.
Fladeboe’s target customers for the EcoCentre’s product line include college students, retirees, and corporate or retail businesses purchasing the vehicle for security patrols.
Black Friday Promos
Newport Beach-based Irvine Co. hosted a Black Friday giveaway on the day after Thanksgiving at its Irvine Spectrum, Fashion Island and Tustin Marketplace shopping centers.
Customers needed to spend at least $500 at one or more shopping center locations to qualify to win a Fiat 500 Lounge vehicle and were asked to take their same-day receipts to a designated redemption area at any of the three centers to enter the Fiat giveaway.
Promotions at the Irvine Spectrum included eight hourly $1,000 gift cards redeemable at the Spectrum, as well as free valet parking, ice skating, and Ferris wheel and carousel rides from midnight to 8 a.m.
Fashion Island promotions included two prizes: one $1,000 American Express gift card and one holiday prize.
The Tustin Marketplace gave away one $1,000 American Express gift card.
$10 Million Milestone
Laguna Beach-based MacGillivray Freeman Films’ Imax 3D film To The Arctic has grossed more than $10 million at the box office worldwide, easily one of the best-performing films in the Imax segment for the year.
MacGillivray Freeman makes Imax documentaries and feature films, and its MacG Media unit specializes in digital production services.
To The Arctic follows a mother polar bear and her two cubs as they navigate the changing Arctic environment. The film is narrated by Meryl Streep and includes songs by Paul McCartney.
The film debuted in April at 50 Imax theaters across North America. It has been added to about 100 additional theaters throughout the world, including 21 theaters in Russia.
The film won awards for Best Film Short Subject and Best Film for Lifelong Learning at the 2012 Giant Screen Cinema Association Achievement Awards earlier this year.
Social Strategies
Among recent promotions using social media:
• Anaheim-based Disneyland Resort created a website where fans can create a customized holiday-themed greeting card and share it with friends on Facebook.
• Huntington Beach-based clothing retailer Quiksilver Inc.’s Roxy women’s division asked fans to create a holiday wishlist of Roxy items and email it to Roxy for a chance to win one $500 gift card. The contest was promoted through Facebook and Twitter.
Bits and Pieces
Laguna Hills-based web design company Bold Array LLC won a MarCom Award for its website design of Santa Ana-based paper product designer Envelopments Inc. … Santa Ana-based IT services company Tekcetera Inc. celebrated its 10-year anniversary by hosting a charity initiative each month for 10 months.
