The Weathertech Guy

[cairns]

Is it just me? Or is the weathertech guy an egocentric moron?

I swear there are two pages of ads in every auto magazine out there with pictures of him needing a shave......espousing his philosphy of life and telling us how nice he is to little children and small dogs.

Is this really how you sell floormats?

[legion]

I can see why you find him annoying, but...

1) He's a car guy. IIRC, he owns several Porsches and is active with local Porsche owners in the Chicago suburbs.

2) He's a car guy. He helps support car rags by buying two-page ads in every issue.

3) He does manufacture all of his floor mats in Bolingbrook, IL.

4) His floor mats are far better than anything else you can buy. They are thick, easy to clean, correctly-measured, and won't let runoff (especially salty runoff) anywhere else in your car. I have a set in my truck, and I don't fear getting in with obscenely muddy feet.

5) Their customer service is top-notch. I stopped by their factory store because the car wash lost one of my mat hooks. Not only did they give me a replacement for free, they gave me a gift for stopping by, and told me next time just to call/e-mail and they would send a replacement hook for free. I walked out of there with a hand full of stuff without spending a dime!

[kaisen]

How would you propose Weather Tech tell their story and try to build value in a privately owned small business that makes everything in-house right here in the United States?

[exc911ence]

The woman he used to have in his ads was adorable... she disappeared fast, guessing she's his now ex-wife. ;-)

[exc911ence]

Her:

[IROC]

Isn't he also trying to fund his son's fledgling racing career?

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by cairns

Is it just me? Or is the weathertech guy an egocentric moron?

Looks like it's just you.

[craigster59]

He did some radio spots here in So Cal for a web design company (American Eagle?). He came across as pretty 'folksy" and nice, although a bit corny.

[motion]

My suspicion is that he bought the publishing companies and is getting free advertising. That can be the only explanation.

[intakexhaust]

You guys jealous or something? Carefull how you judge someone. I've known Dave for many years, long before his mats biz, watched him create and grow. He's a great guy and more humble than most of you. You don't know his business, family and how he achieved success. No need for me to shout it out but thought I'd stick up for him before this thread turns to schitz. Have a great day.

[NY65912]

Sounds to me that the WT guy is passionate about his product and company.

[Zeke]

Is he any different than Mike Valentine? Griot? the Sharper Image guy?

I don't quite have the story. Some of it as pure coincidence. In the late 90's there was a place called MacNeil Automotive in Laguna Hills CA. Owned by a racer named MacNeil. This probably is the same David MacNeil that raced sports cars at places like Sebring. He worked for AMG for awhile and it is said he began importing mats.

The rest of the story is more well known.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

He's a great guy and more humble than most of you.

Not more humble than me! Nobody is more humble than me!

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by cairns

Is it just me? Or is the weathertech guy an egocentric moron?

I swear there are two pages of ads in every auto magazine out there with pictures of him needing a shave......espousing his philosphy of life and telling us how nice he is to little children and small dogs.

Is this really how you sell floormats?

Sounds like Sandusky.

[Buckterrier]

I haven't seen his ads in a while but at one time he listed how everything was made in America, down to the shelving for his warehouses. Which is made in Pa. That company is an account of mine. Small world.

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by exc911ence

The woman he used to have in his ads was adorable... she disappeared fast, guessing she's his now ex-wife. ;-)

I didn't think I was the only one who thought she was attractive.
Jim

[9dreizig]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

You guys jealous or something? Carefull how you judge someone. I've known Dave for many years, long before his mats biz, watched him create and grow. He's a great guy and more humble than most of you. You don't know his business, family and how he achieved success. No need for me to shout it out but thought I'd stick up for him before this thread turns to schitz. Have a great day.

Coming from a guy with 911 posts it's got to be true!!!

[cairns]

Question:

How would you propose Weather Tech tell their story and try to build value in a privately owned small business that makes everything in-house right here in the United States?

Answer:

The woman he used to have in his ads was adorable...

Guess it just me! Seriously i have nothing against the guy- and I own some of his products which I think are great.

It just seems like a dumb way to sell mats and his advertising budget must be huge. Why not highlight your employees once in a while? The quality of your mats? A happy customer? Show a pretty girl?
I don't want to hear his life story- I just want to be compelled to buy his products.

The same ads have run for months on end.....IMO he looks stupid standing on the forklift in a full page picture telling us all about himself and his company when he needs a shave. The woman was gorgeous and I personally would rather see a lot more of her.

And FWIW I've never seen Griot, Mike Valentine or the Sharper Image guy* tell me their life story in order to get me to buy their products. Much less publish full page pictures of themselves.
I'm sure they're great guys too. But nobody is going to buy what you're selling just because you're a great guy. Those of you who know him know he isn't an egocentric moron. But when you publish a full page picture of yourself looking down at everyone with two pages of detail month after month you can sure look like one. He needs a new ad agency.


*BTW I didn't even know there was a Sharper Image guy- that catalog goes straight in the trash. You can only read about the world's best nose hair trimmer so many times....

[9dreizig]

Hey Cairns, not defending him but... I've often seen that it's not necessarily the owner of the company's idea to be in front of the camera but more like poor advise from his advertising agency

[MT930]

They have a good product, fast friendly service, The ad's got me and kept me coming back.

He is targeting his customers in the car mags most sensible area for Ad's

Made in America

I bet he's doing pretty well.