This varies depending on time of year. For instance, we ran a promotion on our mini group car throug

Alex Dick of London-based ZOOCars discusses in this web-exclusive Q A how the company has doubled its fleet over the last 12 months, engages in guerilla marketing campaigns to boost sales and has grown its affiliate member programs.
ZOOCars previously traded as D D Self-drive. D D Self-drive was taken over in 2004 by the current air travel discounts owners. In Jan 2008 we made the decision to rebrand and change our identity to ZOOCars. D D Self-drive had been trading for 25 years and was your typical old school local independent operation with the same fleet size for 15 years. Being a small independent we felt we needed to stand out and create a brand, which is what we have been successful in doing. We have been approached about franchise possibilities solely because of the brand and the image. The franchise air travel discounts tab will be going live on our new website, so don t be surprised if you see a ZOOCars opening near you.
This varies depending on time of year. For instance, we ran a promotion on our mini group car throughout the winter. We advertised locally and became renowned for this deal. This promotion made our mini group car most popular in Q1 in 2012. At the same time we were busy on commercial vehicles due to a pricing restructure in Q1. Moving into Q2 of this year, our most popular rental is the VW Transporter and the Ford Transit due to a successful marketing campaign through Q1 of 2012, which resulted in attracting additional local businesses and residents to use ZOOCars.
Before this year we were not a popular affiliate member, but at the start of 2012 we signed up with multiple brokers such as Rentmama.com , Economycarrentals.com , Easycar and Atlas Choice to name a few. We have also launched a Hotel Privilege service. This service is also a new strategy for ZOOCars. We predominantly supply prestige air travel discounts vehicles for hotels all around London ranging air travel discounts from 2-star to 5-star luxury hotels. This service is very lucrative but is very seasonal, which means our pricing is key. The introduction of prestige vehicles is a very exciting time and a huge landmark for ZOOCars. At the same time we are focused on not forgetting about our existing local businesses, local residents, local workers air travel discounts and holiday makers who we value and reward for their continued loyalty to ZOOCars.
We are always looking for new avenues and ways of obtaining new business. The most recent addition as I explained air travel discounts earlier is the new Hotel Privilege Service. air travel discounts We have also just had two ZOOCar brochures printed, (Business air travel discounts tariff Retail tariff) air travel discounts which is very colorful and friendly to the eye. We have been handing the brochures out during rush hour outside local train stations. The target audience is people who commute to work and who don t own their own vehicle. This has been very successful and increased utilization over the weekends. The business brochure has also been successful with some new businesses signing up with ZOOCars. The benefit of this new brochure is that if gives our sales team new literature to approach new and existing customers.
The rental industry has changed dramatically in London and the UK over the last 10-20 years. We have seen many corporate organizations, franchises and independent companies close or reduce locations due to the Recession, air travel discounts bad management or hiked insurance premiums. The benefit for me is that I have worked for the likes of Budget licensee, Sixt licensee, Guy Salmon, Europcar and National Car Rental and have seen the good and bad in all these organizations. We do try our best to give every customer that personal touch that they wouldn t necessarily get with a corporate organization. For instance, when customers return vehicles, we give them a lift to the nearest train station should they need a lift. Also, 99% of the time we can agree on a make and model of car or van for customers. It s the little things and the attention to detail that installs faith in the customer to use an independent.