My blog is dedicated to folding trailers (AKA PopUps or PUP’s). Hopefully non-PUP owners will find some of the posts of interest/value.
I’ll cover equipment, modifications, maintenance, camping stories, and of course SPUT’s (Stupid Pop Up Tricks). Please forgive my rants & raves and posts on my camping buddy – my granddaughter.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So I try and keep the post short but augment them with pictures from my SmugMug gallery.
Enjoy.
He Ruide
I’ll cover equipment, modifications, maintenance, camping stories, and of course SPUT’s (Stupid Pop Up Tricks). Please forgive my rants & raves and posts on my camping buddy – my granddaughter.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So I try and keep the post short but augment them with pictures from my SmugMug gallery.
Enjoy.
He Ruide
Coleman folding camping trailers are back
Posted 08-31-2008 at 12:05 AM by heruide
When the news broke that Fleetwood was selling the folding trailer division, there were a lot of folks that hoped the Coleman Company would be the buyer. However, those hopes were dashed when it was revealed that Blackstreet, an investment firm, was the new owner.
With the licensing announcement, I thought more folks would be happy to see the return of the Coleman name to folding trailers, but I was surprised that some didn’t think it was that important and worse there were unsubstantiated claim that Coleman would be paid $1000 for each trailer… a cost that would be passed on to the consumer.
Having worked for a company with hundreds of well known brands, I know the power that a brand name can bring to a product. For the most part we are a society preoccupied by brands. For example, as I write this I’m sitting in a department store watching folks go by with brand name - shirts, blouses, pants, shoes, bags, watches, eye glasses, caps, you name it. I still remember smiling when I saw someone with “TOMMY” on their sweat shirt knowing that the real name of the person is not Tommy. Of course I’m just as guilty as I’m typing this on my HP laptop and using a Verizon wireless card to upload this post. My point is there are name recognition (e.g., Coke or McDonalds) reputational considerations (e.g. Volvo and safety or Japanese cars and quality) and other tangible and intangible values that brand names bring. Some store brands actually try to copy the look of the major brands in an effort to confuse consumers. It the same reason whenever I walk down a street in Beijing or Bangkok I’m always approached to buy a Rolex watch… fortunately I would pull out my pocket watch and ask if they had a Rolex version,,, which I knew they didn't
So I greeted the Coleman licensing agreement are great news for FTCA… in fact I would say that this was the first major decision to improve the company’s profitability and it was a winner. Let’s face it, trying to sell FTCA or Jim Bob trailers would be a challenge. I’ve thought about the other names that are associated with camping or recreation. Personally I would have liked Jeep or Hummer but both have baggage. So I still come back to Coleman - with the history not only of building camping trailers but more important all the other camping products – as the best name FTCA could put on the PUPs
Now the next step for FTCA is to get a spokesperson. I immediately thought about Michael Phelps but he has already made his commitment to Kellogg, plus he is way too tall for a PUP. A NSCAR driver would be great but I suspect they travel in Class A RVs and so does Hollywood actors or music stars. However, FTCA I am more than wiling to be your spokesperson and all you have to do is call my agent.
OH OH.. I don’t have an agent
Would any of you reading this want to help me out?
Happy camping.
Ruide
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Recent Blog Entries by heruide
- Everyone Deserves A Roof (12-19-2008)
- Open letter to "Dave the Publisher" (11-28-2008)
- November 13th - My new birthday (11-16-2008)
- Boon Docking after Hurricane Ike (09-14-2008)
- Coleman folding camping trailers are back (08-31-2008)
