Merchandising Merchandising Merchandising

OGMB2K

Always thinking about helping others, I have a question for you Mitch.

I never asked nor have I read, regarding your delete plates, do you make them yourself or do you have someone make them for you?

I ask for the following reason; Consider engraving your Mazda Mitch logo into the plate, I think it would look beautiful, unless you have a big expense in redesigning the part.
or
Shrink the size of your round decal to where it will fit on the plate. I had thought about applying it there, only to discover that it is too big for the plate .. Boo Hoo for me .. lol

Just food for thought, got to get the brand out there ..

MazdaMitch

I used to make them myself, but now I sub it out.
I am not a big fan of brand logos on clothing or products.

I have them plain so that the end user can do whatever they want with it.
They can engrave on it whatever they choose, put a sticker on it, paint it, whatever.
That's how I would want to receive it.

Honestly I hate it when I get something like a part or a nice shirt or shoes and it have a brand logo on it.
Here is a good example.

These Corbeau seats are "popular" I guess, but I would not want the brand logo on it.

I like new balance shoes but hate the large N on them.
I like polo shirts but will not buy a nike shirt because of the logo.

I hate that my dickies work shirt has a dickies tag on it.

OGMB2K

You are one quirky man .. I certainly understand you point of view, however, sometimes the only way to market a quality product is through brand recognition. I too will never be a brand ambassador, but I do talk up those that do good by their trade ..

So you be you, we will do our part to help ..

MazdaMitch

OGMB2K

I have often thought about making a YouTube video titled "Who is MazdaMitch?"
I think I could make it interesting and might explain a lot.

Anyways, I am not really trying hard to "build" a brand....per say.
I am not wanting to be one of those people that are constantly like "hey buy my shit" "join my patreon" so to speak.
Those types come off as desperate to me and it turns me off.

I am just me, doing what I do.
This stuff is like a hobby, it's not my bread and butter.

All I have really ever done is try to put stuff together to help others with these trucks by providing information to use and a community to participate in.
It was a website with a facebook group, and now its a website with a proper forum.

I have been in front a camera most of my life and being on YouTube just came easy.
That started with a lot of personal stuff now marked private as it evolved into Mazda Truck Repairs, so I renamed the channel to what it is today. Everything is just growing organically.

When making the BookFace group I made the MazdaMiniTruckin' logo, as a mashup between the Mazda Logo and Mini Truckin logo and it turned out pretty good. A one hit wonder.
I made them all at home and sold lots of them.
I no longer make those, as I now sub out the sticker making and have better options.

Once upon a time I also sold T-Shirts and had a really good one that was Jack Daniels inspired and it got me banned from that t-shirt making website that was making them for me. You see, I didn't really want to have "stock" on hand so I would look for websites that would print to order. Those sites make the bulk of the money and I would make a little on each shirt.

I have several new shirt ideas, I just have not tried again. I want to find a better site that I was on to sell shirts.

The EGR plate came out of necessity. I saw something that I felt like everyone could use so I made it and sold them.
These got me BANNED for life from eBay. Yes BANNED FOR LIFE.
I wish I had that phone call between me and eBay recorded.
The call was on speakerphone and my wife heard it all. She is my only earwitness to that.
I violated their emissions delete rule 3 times.

I have other product ideas, but I have to keep tight lipped about them.

Some out there viewing me may think there is a boat load of opportunity for profit with what I am doing, but really it's a small niche community, of minitruckers that generally already make their own stuff, and usually want everything for free.

That's just the way it is.

This is not all that lucrative and there is a lot of effort involved in making videos of mechanic work all by yourself.

I could have been done with my project truck by now if it weren't for the planning of how to film what I am about to repair next and make it watchable.

But all that is fine. My repairs on these trucks is like a life docu series of sorts that has help many that have never wrenched before.
I will enjoy looking back on these videos when I am older.

I am rambling now. Too much coffee maybe???

lizardkingjr

If a watch doesn't say "Seiko" on the dial, I'm not buying it!

MazdaMitch

lizardkingjr LOL and I have not worn a watch in years.

lizardkingjr

MazdaMitch

I wear a different watch every day!

OGMB2K

You make perfect sense, we share similar stories, except I feel I have a face for radio, which is why I REFUSE to make a You Tube channel. I prefer long winded posts with lost of pictures. Like you and many of our members I have a knowledge base in my head and hands that would rival some of the greats like Kindigit, Foose, and others in their respective worlds. I just never went for it because of the demand it puts on your time to just keep up with the next video, car show and honestly the expense in having the proper tools and space to really make a go of it. So I tinker at home, being proud of what I produce for myself.

I feel my "automotive career" will take off once I retire and have nothing else to do but sit back with a welder and a spray gun. Till then, I'll work on my projects, slowly, and poke those like you to keep the sport alive.

Cusser

I have two watches from Target, were $15 each at 25% off decades ago. My late 1960s Rodania alarm watch needed service again (like every 2 years), so I bought a battery-operated watch at local Target. A few years later, couldn't find it, bought same unit. Of course, I later found the first one, the cat had pushed it into an open drawer, where I never would've looked.

Axel-Breaker-Earl

I have never worn a watch either.......not necessary really, if you have or use a smartphone these days. I don't wear any "jewelry" either.....not even my wedding ring! Too dangerous when working construction.
The kids bought me and the wife Samsung smartwatches that link up to your phone.......nice watches.......and the wife wears hers........I don't typically. Sometimes while on a vacation I will.......when we went out West in 2023, I wore it then, most of the time.......but we were hiking and such, so it is good to wear while doing that, heart rate and all.

While out West, we hooked up and met Cusser, had a beer and ate dinner with him.......he kept Mrs. Cusser away from me though.......I didn't get to meet her! 😉

Cuss.......the wife has said many times how much fun she had on that trip, so we will do this again......maybe next year more than likely, and I will let you know when........as I would love to meet up again. We'll try to limit the time on I-40 though......that road sucked!

Cusser

Axel-Breaker-Earl While out West, we hooked up and met Cusser, had a beer and ate dinner with him.......he kept Mrs. Cusser away from me though.......I didn't get to meet her!

Well, I'm awake at 3am this morning as Mrs. Cusser departs Phoenix for a 4-day trip to Kentucky to visit friends (a friend who lives in Tennessee, if that makes sense); so I'll be driving her to the airport in 30 minutes - in my '88 B2200, of course !!! So I'm in charge of 2 dogs and 1 cat while she's away.

Axel-Breaker-Earl Cuss.......the wife has said many times how much fun she had on that trip, so we will do this again......maybe next year more than likely, and I will let you know when

You'd be welcome, and maybe can offer you a stopover.

Red91EFI

Like the others have said, who needs a watch when you have a smartphone or even in the old days with a flip phone.

lizardkingjr

Cuz watches are cool. That's why.

I own over 100 of them -- all Seikos.

OGMB2K

lizardkingjr I own over 100 of them -- all Seikos.

I have an old Seiko, I believe it is a sub mariner, it has blue straps with a blue housing and a golden face. I will put pictures up later today. Anyhow it needs new straps. Where do you get your Seiko parts?

Thx ..

Axel-Breaker-Earl

Multiple hobbies are a good thing for everyone! Glad you enjoy collecting your Seikos. I have a older brother that collects different things......at one time, he was into collecting Pez.......the small plastic candy dispensers......he caught some grief over that collection! LOL...... He has since sold most of those, these days.
Now, his metal & porcelain sign collection? Several of us family members and longtime friends have claimed that they have first dibs on them when he can ........... no longer enjoy them! 😉

MazdaMitch

I'm the same as axle, I mean there's clocks all around I don't need to wear a watch I have my smartphone and there's just too many clocks around from me to need to wear a watch.

I also don't wear my wedding ring anymore I wear a rubber one because it's safer.

Too many close calls, and I have seen a finger de-gloved....you do not want to see that

Cusser

Back in the 1970s I used to wear my watch when I worked at VW repair shops, it would get quite dirty. It was a 17-jewel Rodania alarm watch which I liked but it would stop and need cleaning and oiling every 2 to 3 years. As it became tougher to find local watch repair guys (old guys) locally by the early 1990s, I switched to the battery-operated watches from Target. The Target watches still work, but their internal light no longer does. I still have the Rodania watch, but most likely have to send it out for service, and likely would cost $200 these days.

I don't wear a wedding ring; I had one from my practice marriage 1981-1983, but Mrs. Cusser didn't want me to wear that, and wasn't pressuring me to wear one (1986).

lizardkingjr

Cusser

Not just my watch that won't light up, even my phone doesn't light up like a flashlight !!

Mrcrowley

Mitch I like your point of view but maybe offer it don't put on everyone you sell but if a client wants it why not send it just my thoughts but they don't matter in the end of day but for me it just depends on what I'm buying and some ppl needs the logo to show there status in the world I guess

lizardkingjr

OGMB2K

seikosis

unclestraps

eBay