Congrats to WIVK!

We were just watching the CMA Awards, and Knoxville's own WIVK was name-dropped for winning the CMA for the best morning radio show in a medium-sized market. Congratulations to Andy, Alison, Jimmy, and WIVK from the Knoxville advertising community!

Marketing Knoxville + Oak Ridge

There's a lot of talk in the media about Innovation Valley's new campaign to boost the economic development of Knoxville and Oak Ridge. Competition to recruit new business and grow existing industry is fierce in the southeast, so Innovation Valley (a partnership of chambers of commerce and economic development agencies in Knox, Blount, Loudon and Roane counties, Oak Ridge and Tellico Lake area) is raising funds to support a five-year campaign. The organization hopes to create 30,000 jobs, increase existing business jobs by 19,000, create more than $3 billion in capital investment, increase per capita income to $45,000, and increase high school graduation rate by 20 percent. Support this Knoxville and Oak Ridge marketing initiative any way you can, and click here to read more here.

Monkeys Are The Best

So this has nothing to do with Knoxville advertising, but you have to read this story about George, the 7-week-old chimp at the Knoxville Zoo. Check out the part in Georgie boy's hair - in 7th grade (early 80s), I tried so hard to have a middle part that would allow me to feather my hair back. Lucky monkey looks cooler than I ever did.

Their Knoxville Ads Worked - Until I Went to Shop

I've got a bit of the new car itch. And I was hoping to scratch it a little this weekend by kicking some tires at a few Knoxville car dealerships. Why? Because their advertising in Knoxville worked - I saw the "Labor Day Sale" ads, liked the message of 0.9% and 1.9% interest rates, and decided to at least drive a few of the models that I've had my eye on.

I hate shopping for a car; I would rather go to the dentist. (Seriously, I love my dentist.) But on Sunday afternoon, I got myself psyched up and drove to the first of three Knoxville car dealerships I wanted to visit. As I was pulling up to the entrance, I could feel my blood pressure increase, then my pulse. I slowed down, started to pull in, then the gate was closed. I looked down the street, and the other gate was closed. The dealership wasn't open. So I went to the second dealership, and it was closed too. The third one? Yup, closed.

Ugh. All of that mustering up for nothing. Well, since I was out, I decided to visit a fourth Knoxville dealership. The cars it has are not within my first choices, but at that point I had nothing to lose. I park my car, get out, and am immediately approached by a sales professional.

"I'd like to drive your [blank] model with the [blank], [blank], and [blank]," I said.

"Oh, that one's out on a test drive," he replied.

Then, silence. We just stared at each other. No offer to drive the same model in a different color.

"Um, how about another model. I like the [blank]," I said.

"We've got just one, and it's up here on the sidewalk on display," he gestured.

"Can I drive it?" I asked.

"Well, if you can wait a while. These other cars will have to move, and I'll have to get the ramps." he replied.

Then, silence. We just stared at each other. No offer to drive the same model in a different color.

"Um, okay. Well, can I sit in it?" I asked.

He went and got the keys, opened the doors, started up the car to get the air conditioning cranked, and offered me a seat. I sat in the driver's seat, and he got in the passenger's. I looked around for a few minutes, played with the buttons, and dialed the radio to a good XM station.

"I'd really like to drive this," I said.

"Well, what if you make an appointment for tomorrow and come back?" he asked.

So I made an appointment for Monday. Then came Monday morning. On my way back out to that dealership for my appointment, I decided to first stop by the other three that were closed on Sunday.

"They're all having 'Labor Day' sales, so surely they'll be open on Labor Day," I thought. I thought wrong. They were closed. Again. Ugh. Now I'm not in the mood to return to the fourth dealership to talk the sales professional into selling me a car. Or just letting me touch one. So I went to the grocery store instead.

If you're going to advertise it, be prepared to sell it.

Knoxville's 40 Under 40

Do you know anyone in the Knoxville advertising community who might be worthy of being named one of Knoxville's 40 Under 40? Click here to fill out the nomination form. Entries are due October 1, and it's presented by the Greater Knoxville Business Journal and UT's Professional MBA Program.