Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

Radio Control Clubs and Model Train types could easily be interested. Not sure if your Tractors have anything special that may influence their participation ie: RC features or hand painted, limited editions that Train Collectors also enjoy along with historical data about each model/display.

Seniors may have some interest here also so Veterans and other groups could link with this heritage product.

Hope this gets you started.
Cheers

To get non-collectors, this sounds like a potential for a family outing. There should be attractions for all family members: dads, moms, kids of all ages. Sales, food, prizes and games are great.

How about involving your target market in the event itself by having contests? Any time people have a personal stake in something, they have a greater change of becoming active supporters.

How about a tractor pulling contest if there is room for one? It can be side by side challenge pulling the same weight. Or it can be the best time pulling a junk car or some other heavy load.

Or if you can find participants, and have good liability insurance, a human tractor pulling contest. People vs each other pulling a small tractor in the best time. Or a group of people vs a small tractor.

For the kids, how about a wooden tractor race whereby the kids build their own hand sized tractor under certain guidelines and then see which reaches the end end of a guided course fastest from gravity power alone? Along the way, there could be dips and valleys to make things interesting.

Tractor tattoos (removable) for kids at heart.

How about getting personal care while on a tractor? You could involve local salons and vendors. Examples might be:

For moms and other ladies, how about a manicure/pedicure while on a tractor for a small fee?

For all audiences, how about a massage while on a tractor?

To market your products, how about a tractor collection contest? Greastest # of tractors, oldest in collection, heaviest total weight of collection, smallest metal tractor, smallest wooden tractor, smallest plastic tractor, etc.

Food contests, especially veggie related, since tractors and veggies go hand in hand. Largest veggie. Veggie eating.

Happy marketing!

I just thought of a few things. Be sure to have special stickers for each contest/event to give to the participants to show off their involvement and market your event for free.

These stickers would say such things as, "I've been manicured on a tractor," or "I survived the 2 ton tractor pull."

You could also have events with haystacks such as the manicure/pedicure instead of being on a tractor. Or have haystack/pitchforck throwing contests.

Tractor calling contest where participant tries to mimick the sound of a tractor. Audience or local celebrity judges vote on the best.

I know some of these ideas may sound wierd, but I have extensive PR experience, and some of the most popular events were the ones that execs didn't think would work, but the lay people out on the street loved them.

Other examples are celebrity autograph appearances, car smashing event with a sledge hammer, free pictures with above events. These things are usually low cost, but high prep work which can pay back huge dividends. Some of the events I did ended up being annual things at state fairs just because they were so popular. Some were even copied by competitors.

Which brings me to my next point, try using a local PR group, perhaps a university PRSSA or AMA chapter if you're strapped on a budget.

Any other questions, just ask. Happy marketing!