http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2015/jan/28/free-loop-rides-arrive-saturday-downtown-chattanooga-electric-vehicle-service-runs-through-february/285196/ Free Loop Rides arrive Saturday in downtown Chattanooga; electric vehicle service to run through February January 28th, 2015 by Mitra Malek
[image http://media-cdn.timesfreepress.com/img/photos/2015/01/28/loopcar9367345510_t1070_ha0d4d4ecf783344b38e6fd13761c76b59c9750f8.jpg Contributed Photo/Times Free Press ] Electric vehicles seating up to six people will make loops around downtown Chattanooga beginning Saturday -- and offer rides for free. Loop Rides launched last year and reports having offered its service in 15 areas around the country. Chattanooga's service is expected to last through February, run Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Loop Rides gets its revenue from advertisers, whose logos and slogans are featured inside and outside its vehicles. Drivers also talk up the company to passengers. Passengers hail the vehicles along their route and can travel along the loop. [© timesfreepress.com] ... http://www.looprides.com/ http://www.nooga.com/168949/mobile-advertising-company-bringing-free-transportation-to-chattanooga/ Mobile advertising company bringing free transportation to Chattanooga Loop Rides will be in town Jan. 30–Feb. 26 By Chloé Morrison January 28th 2015 [image https://noogacms.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/_/6da744c14ec4c48691495fa2396a772c58268_medium.jpg Loop Rides will be in Chattanooga soon. (Photo: Contributed) ] Mobile advertising source Loop Rides is bringing free, environmentally friendly transportation to downtown Chattanooga. The New York-based company—which provides nontraditional advertising through its electric vehicles—will be servicing the downtown area Jan. 30–Feb. 26. The vehicles will make a 4.17-mile loop around downtown, including across the Walnut Street Bridge to the North Shore. "We like to home in on certain areas where we think a service like this could be a great asset to the community and where there will be a positive reception," Loop Rides President and CEO Mac Russel said. Russel said that the cars can "go anywhere within the specified coverage area" but will always be within certain parameters. There will be one car for the first advertising campaign, but the goal is to build a bigger fleet if there is interest, he said. Russel, who worked in finance for several years, said he's always been intrigued by marketing and advertising. He and a partner created Loop Rides in an effort to merge green energy and positive brand messaging. The company launched at the beginning of last year, and the team has been working to expand into new markets. They bought the electric vehicles, which go up to 25 miles per hour and produce zero emissions, then customized them for advertising. An advertiser pays the company for a unique advertising campaign that passengers see and hear while they ride. Loop Rides has a sales team whose members work in certain cities or with certain advertisers to provide experiential marketing opportunities. Experiential marketing is a strategy that engages more directly with consumers, inviting them to participate in the situation. For example, the vehicles have television screens that stream visual content and social media campaigns, and the drivers are sometimes trained with specific messages. Wave down a Loop Ride "It's important to highlight the fact that anyone can wave us down for a free ride. The drivers will be inviting." Source: Loop Rides President and CEO Mac [Russell] The ride may include a stop at a retail location where advertised products can be purchased or an array of advertising possibilities. "We make our revenue in selling the ad space," he said. "As we continue to build a fleet of vehicles, it enables us to connect to more cities." The first advertiser in Chattanooga will be a national brand. Loop leaders have some fixed rates for advertisers, but they are open to working with local companies. If that happens, there could be more negotiation on costs. Anyone who wants more information can contact Russel at 646-593-7848 or mac @looprides.com. "It's really great to interact with people and provide a positive service," Russel said. "From an advertising perspective, it's really beneficial to get a message out in a nontraditional way." [© 2012 Nooga.com] For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html#nabble+template%2FNamlServlet.jtp%3Fmacro%3Dsearch_page%26node%3D413529%26query%3DEVLN%2Bbrucedp2%26days%3D0%26sort%3Ddate {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Free-Feb-Chattanooga-Loop-Rides-in-ad-supported-6seat-nEV-1-30-2-26-tp4673641.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
