how to encourage even more people to SIDC

[Gumball]

Hi

I see so many subarus of all varitation passing on a regular basis going about their business, runs, whatever and think that there must be so many more people that we could enlist into our glorious club. It may be a safe assumption that out of every subaru impreza you see driving past you on a daily basis........maybe 1 out of 10 are members of the SIDC? as a rough figure.

How can we increase the numbers of membership in Scotland? more members equals more new friends, cheaper rates on group buys, better and bigger stands at car events, a bigger subaru impreza drivers club. just to name a few.

Understandably marketing outlays for providing more advertising without a great deal of return is going to have a negative effect on what we are trying to acheive, so what ways can we make sure all these people or at least some of them come on side and join the great days and meets we have???

Would there be something on offer from the club at a monthly regional meet for the member that brought in the most new members?? or something along these lines.

Not that i have 100 people all on standby to join so i can get a new STI High pressure oil cap or anything. Just think it would be a great idea.

I suppose this thread can either go two ways......

1. get a lot of feedback positive/negative

2. get bombarded with people asking me if im on prescribed medication for doing something constructive. LOL

what ya'll thank????( sorry just off the phone to Wilky)

[imprezapete]

Agree with you Chris on having a bigger and better club and do wish it would be like that.

There are postcard sized adverts that some of the RO's have, I have handed out 10 alone in the Edinburgh area. But as you can see none of them have joined us here.

I tend to find that not a lot of the drivers are into this sort of thing, the vast amount are just normal car users just wanting to buy a good car.

A few months back there was talk at the Edinburgh (East) meet of new post card sized flyers to hand out, but I'm not sure what?s happening on that front. Grant/Imy and Scott were heading that up I think....

I also agree with do as many events as possible, but we seem to be missing a good few ROs due to no one in those areas. I feel that existing ROs can be a stretched at times. The main thing you have to remember is that these people are doing it off there own back at there own expense.

I have a lot of admiration for them; keep up the good work peeps

[2559B]

think it's a good idea chris ..... dunno about the prize though. maybe something from the club shop might be more realistic. like a key-ring / t-shirt / or something.

might also be a good idea to make a club flyer available to download and post up somewhere ???

[zeolite]

I'll take this on....

Firstly...Is bigger really better? Many clubs have discovered that being too popular has caused serious problems. More people means more opinions and that means more arguments.

Secondly...Why have these Scoob owners not joined already? Do they not know about the club? Are they not interested in what the SIDC have to offer? maybe you could do a bit of market research Chris?

[Gumball]

the prize idea isnt a suggestion to encourage me to do it. i would and do it anyway. just thought for people that dont feel comfortable with cold calling random people in the street it would give them more reason to step outside the comfort bubble.

can we do something where we all get a number of flyers at our regional meets and try and get some return on them by the next month?

just thinking out loud.

[st3ph3n]

One of my mates bought a WRX after seeing mine, but he's not really interested in the club, and he's sort of target audience for this kind of thing I guess.

Each to their own I suppose.

I can't really comment fully about being part of the club as the number of events I've taken part in is woefully small, but I'm hoping to rectify that with the next Glasgow meet, and of course the trackdays, and hopefully the september run too.

[phil]

The new membership forms now have a presented by box and the Online one will have as well

I will be keeping count of all the recomendations and there will be rewards in the future for active recomendations

Nice thread Chris

Always open to ideas

[fai17]

<< I'll take this on....

Firstly...Is bigger really better? Many clubs have discovered that being too popular has caused serious problems. More people means more opinions and that means more arguments.

Secondly...Why have these Scoob owners not joined already? Do they not know about the club? Are they not interested in what the SIDC have to offer? maybe you could do a bit of market research Chris? >>

I'll second this opinion.Bigger might not be better.

Not everyone has such spare time to commit to a club as i know because i am aways working and have a family too.

I think not everyone knows there is a SIDC till someone tells them.

I am glad i joined as i have meet a good few friends

But otherwise a very thoughtfull thread from a not always thoughtfull person Chris

[Gumball]

<< But otherwise a very thoughtfull thread from a not always thoughtfull person Chris >>

thats incorrect.

your gay.

[fai17]

Only joking Chris,Its me that is not thoughtfully for typing that last childish remark,sorry m8.

[Gumball]

no worries. fair dinkum

anymore suggestions or opinions on this matter????

[mazheriqbal_mohammed]

Hey there folks, as you were looking for some feedback thought i would say my bit!

Been a member of SIDC since a week after getting my scooby, the only reason i found out was because the previous owner of the car was a member and had left his stickers and old membership card lying about in the car at the time of purchase. Never saw too many adverts for SIDC prior to that, but maybe it was because i was a snob of an Integra type R owner and if it there was not a honda badge on it i was not interested : )

In practise from my own experience after driving about in a scooby i became fully aware that there seemed to be two types of owners

a) the car enthusiast who takes much pride in driving there scooby and is likely to give the thumbs up when passing another owner

folk getting from a to b who see it as just a work horse and nothing more than a pile of metal.

Frankly i think it is a)'s that are the most likely candidates for SIDC membership.

Aside from this as i mentioned earlier i have been a member for a year now and been displaying my SIDC logos in my car with pride, however in this time i have only ever had one guy come over and chat to me due to this (cheers jcscoob and hello if you read this)!! Either there are not so many folk that are members in Scotland or you are a well shy lot . I have to say i have not seen many scoobs out there displaying membership on the car, left them on my car so i could find more members out there but no joy yet!

Finally i am not sure what most peoples inclinations are but mine are to get out and race my scooby in a nice legal and controlled environment (so avoid trouble from PC plod!). For me Crail is an excellent place to test out some new modification and also get the hard pounding racing some other nicely tuned scoobys (and other beastly cars!) i recon that is a prime place to pick up new members, i have missed most organised events (for which i apologise!!) but turn up to Crail without fail just for the racing! I have to say i personally feel less inclined to come to an event if i know i am not gonna get a little but of action out of my scooby, thats just the way i think i doubt everyone will share this view! Maybe this line of thinking is why many folk dont turn up to too some of the organised events, just a thought . How about setting up a wee stand at Crail when it is on to attact the racing types out there?

[oobster]

Chris....

I tend to agree with other posts.... the current size of the club is adequate. You only need look at the turn-out for the only run i've been on (March) - any more cars than that & we'd have attracted serious attention by the police.

I am also of the opinion that a fair amount of subaru owners do not drive a subaru for the same reasons we do - i suspect it's because they are reliable sturdy but speedy work horses.

I joined the SIDC a few weeks before purchasing my WRX, and i joined for 2 reasons:

1) The social aspect - meeting new people & admiring each others cars

2) Help, advise, opinions & the general banter on the forum.

I did not join so I could thrash my car anytime any members meet up, but that does not mean I object to such behaviour - on the contrary, if that is how people enjoy their cars then fair play to them!! I enjoy how mine looks, and the knowledge that I have the power under my right foot if i need it.

My suggestion is: we should continue to encourage existing members to stay by providing them with a forum full of helpful advise, informed opinion & the odd bit of humourous banter chucked in. New members will see how well the forum & the club is run & will stay. i.e. i think we should all just continue what we are doing & the club membership will be just fine

[Gumball]

Andy

you are a clever man. thats a good reply and you have put everything into context i think.

as for not wanting to trash my car everytime i meet other members!! i agree with you 100%. i dont either

LOL

[terminator]

I have joined the sidc as i have wanted a scooby for many years and was refused by the wife,as she said i was not sensible enough.

I have since grown up "ha ha".I bought my 01 wagon 3 weeks ago and love it .I wanted to meet likeminded people and have the opportunity of speaking to real owners for help on mods,faults and gereral advice.The club is a nice size,and i like the exclusivity. If no one wants to join then stuff em,but they will miss great things. I would like to have a sticker on my car that has the SIDC logo, and the web address under it so that if anyone passes in a scooby they can take note of the club if they want.

[Grovit]

Good post Chris and well put.

I'm involved with TRS (Type R Scotland) a fair bit and on occasion this subject / discussion comes up - TRS printed off a load of A5 size flyers that members can hand out or put on a Type R when appropriate. The club's run on a voluntary basis and members pay money into the funds as and when they want.

I know SIDC is set up slightly differently, but then it would need to be really as it is significantly bigger. In terms of increasing membership, I guess the usual stuff really, flyers, positive coverage in relevant magazines, internet links, and the usual sorts of displays at shows etc etc.

The thing to bear in mind though, is that different people use the club in different ways - there might be some who don't often come to meets or runs, but post a lot and make a contribution to the forum. Or maybe the other way round. There are no doubt some people who don't get much time to get on line and only post when they can - hence it looks like they're not round very much, however they might always be at an event / meet / run when the opportunity arises. Tis horses for courses really.

Just my thoughts

[Gumball]

good post mate

really i suppose size isnt everything ! i can vouch for that

anymore opinions on this topic???