Printacom launches new marketing concept: The Oki Bus

In its bid to rival traditional marketing and sales tactics, Printacom, sole importer and distributor of the Oki range of printers in SA, has conceptualised and commissioned the Oki bus initiative.

The refurbished double-decker bus sports a state-of-the-art mobile demo centre that takes the entire range of products to the customer, offering full product training facilities and at the same time maximising brand awareness.

Says Neil Rom, managing director of Printacom: "At the end of last year, we decided that we needed a novel way of bringing the entire Oki range to our channel and customers. The Oki bus was just the ticket. With the mobility it affords, we are now able to offer customers the convenience of seeing our units in action and interacting with the printers directly."

Rom believes the Oki bus will be a valuable sales tool for its channel, allowing for customers to get a first-hand experience of the range`s capabilities.

In terms of the bus`s physical layout, Rom explains: "The downstairs section has been designed in a such a manner that the entire printer range is available to customers in a comfortable lounge environment. The upstairs area contains a 10-seater boardroom, complete with full AV facilities and a bar, allowing Printacom and its channel representatives to give presentations and entertain customers.

"We have also gone to great effort to use top-class finishes in the bus, something we believe will carry a true business feel across to customers," he says.

Initially Printacom plans to use the bus as a part of its channel awareness programme. "Apart from being an awesome mobile demo facility for customer engagements, we see enormous value in bringing the bus to our resellers` premises as a training facility, bringing a hands-on approach to our programme," Rom adds.

Printacom also plans to use it as a tool for conducting demos at corporate customer sites. "Printacom is also allocating resources to the bus, ensuring that a sales person and in some cases a technical expert will accompany the bus on each trip," Rom says.

"Since none of our competitors are able to offer this kind of service, we see the bus as a valuable differentiator. It could also be the deal clincher in many regards, since a reseller arriving at a customer in this fully-mobile demo centre will show that they are serious about their commitment to Oki and that Printacom is dedicated to its channel and customers," Rom concludes.