The Shreveport Convention Center was the location for the ninth annual Ark-La-Tex Boat Sport and RV Show and Fishing Tournament this weekend. The event had a moderate attendance in spite of the very cold weather for this area. The weather certainly did not intimidate the vendors who filled the floor with boats, RVs, and other wheeled and water sport craft.

Two businesses at the show stood out in their marketing distinction. Each is a true “guerrilla marketer.”

1. One of the larger boat displays was staffed by ProGator Boats owner, Leroy Moore, and his nephew, Ted LeMay. Moore produces the double hull fiberglass boats in Benton, Louisiana. ProGator and Gator Bay are his two lines of for the fresh and saltwater fishing  and boating enthusiasts.

Here is a truly brilliant marketing move. Moore’s ProGator and Gator Bay hulls are so rugged he offers a 10 year stump guarantee. If one of his boats strikes a stump and sustains structural damage to the hull, Moore will fix it free of charge. How’s that for a guarantee!

Of course, with the ProGator and Gator Bay hull designs, Moore could have just as easily offered a 25-year guarantee, but he pointed out, “Nobody would believe me.” Yep, that is a hazard of producing too good a product!

2. Another exhibitor with a unique marketing twist was The Lakecaster of Jasper, Texas. The Lakecaster is celebrating twenty years as the #1 promotional magazine for lakes Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. Their attractive print magazine is loaded with fishing news, tournament results and commentary, and other very interesting articles.

Managing Editor, Patty Lenderman (phone 409-384-3441), pointed out their unique twist in serving their advertisers. Lenderman offers any advertiser in the print edition of the monthly magazine a free online ad on the Lakecaster’s website at no additional charge. If the advertiser has a website, the ad links the viewer directly to that website. Could your business use exposure to the lake communities and visitors of these two popular lakes?

That is certainly what any organization with both a print edition with advertising and a website should be offering, but most haven’t figured it out yet. Email Patty Lenderman at editor@lakecaster.net.

If you have a small business catering to the outdoors recreation crowd, you may want to consider a booth at next year’s event. Here is another annual event that may be a fit for your business exhibit this year or next.

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To your business success!

© 2010 by Paul Elliott. All rights reserved worldwide.