It's been a busy spring and summer, and we've had to forego our main source of advertising. I keep one ad in one of the local free rags to bring in regular business. But otherwise, we have a booth to set up at larger shows, and travel to smaller shows with flyers. Inexpensive, a chance to talk directly with car builders, and it's fun. This year though we've only had the booth set up at one show. I've skipped a couple others because of the projects sitting around the shop.

Today was hot and humid and sunny. My daughter was in a festival parade that also had a car show going on. It only had about 20 cars in it, but they all got flyers. On the way home, we hit a local church that was having it's own car show. There were a couple new cars I haven't seen in past years, but for the most part the 25 or so cars were all repeats that I've flyered over and over in recent years (they still get a flyer, though, because eventually they'll need work done). I do make it a point to put a flyer in one guy's car who badmouths me and never comes around the shop. You have to ruffle feathers sometimes.

Later this afternoon we drove about 30 miles to Decatur, IL and hit another car show. I thought it was a familiar cruise-in that has always had a huge turnout in past years. Wrong. This was another local car club, not the one I was thinking. Once again, about 20 cars or so. All sorts of cars, from regular drivers that people ran through the carwash to full-on, completely done rods. One old vette had a great paintjob, big wheels, and won best of show. But the interior was wrinkled and the seats didn't fit (those late 50s seats are hard to get a nice round fit). Once again, all got flyers.

My theory is that you get the cars needing interiors because they might turn loose with the money. I also try to put flyers right next to wear or damage to spur that group of people along. And the people with already finished cars A) might decide to upgrade what they've done in past years, or B) they have another project at home that will need the work down the road.

At least going to the shows has me fired up again. I have got to get the VW Bug in primer and paint so I can do a custom interior. Have to get with the body shop for the Dodge Dart so we can get it moving along and back out here for an interior. And I might drag the 63 Bel Air out of the barn and start cutting out the rust. Nah. I'll just head to the shop and work on someone else's fun. orngbiggrin.gif

So how is everyone else's summer going??

Russ
PRO Stitch Auto Interiors and Upholstery, Inc.
Taylorville, IL
www.prostitchauto.com