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[The Smiler] Marketing discussion

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Honestly I recon they expect to lose business in March and April probably in the hope those guests displace into later months. They have pushed fireworks and closed season back a week to compensate a bit. They will probably run some generic resort adverts in March maybe with an offer to go in March and return for free in June maybe.
 
They need to be careful not to over advertise The Sanctaury though as a free attraction if they're planning to remove it a few months into the season. I suppose they could add a generic Sanctaury advert saying get checked in ready for May but be quick as they're moving over the X Sector in may for a revolutionary project.

Or even just screen flashs of THE SMILER opening May.
 
Dave said:
Honestly I recon they expect to lose business in March and April probably in the hope those guests displace into later months. They have pushed fireworks and closed season back a week to compensate a bit. They will probably run some generic resort adverts in March maybe with an offer to go in March and return for free in June maybe.
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No chance. Definitely not a free return visit, maybe offer a pound or two cheaper off the normal bounceback tickets.
 
Rollercoasters4Life said:
Dave said:
Honestly I recon they expect to lose business in March and April probably in the hope those guests displace into later months. They have pushed fireworks and closed season back a week to compensate a bit. They will probably run some generic resort adverts in March maybe with an offer to go in March and return for free in June maybe.
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No chance. Definitely not a free return visit, maybe offer a pound or two cheaper off the normal bounceback tickets.
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They offer a return ticket for £16 any day and £5 the following day so its not completely out of the scope of possibility for them to offer a significant discount.
 
Rollercoasters4Life said:
Dave said:
Honestly I recon they expect to lose business in March and April probably in the hope those guests displace into later months. They have pushed fireworks and closed season back a week to compensate a bit. They will probably run some generic resort adverts in March maybe with an offer to go in March and return for free in June maybe.
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No chance. Definitely not a free return visit, maybe offer a pound or two cheaper off the normal bounceback tickets.
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Why not? They do free return tickets in Sept when you buy in June quite often. So why wouldn't they to persuade people to visit before smiler opens?

As for adverts, think we'll just keep seeing short breaks adverts or similar until smiler.
 
Dave said:
Rollercoasters4Life said:
Dave said:
Honestly I recon they expect to lose business in March and April probably in the hope those guests displace into later months. They have pushed fireworks and closed season back a week to compensate a bit. They will probably run some generic resort adverts in March maybe with an offer to go in March and return for free in June maybe.
Click to expand...

No chance. Definitely not a free return visit, maybe offer a pound or two cheaper off the normal bounceback tickets.
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They offer a return ticket for £16 any day and £5 the following day so its not completely out of the scope of possibility for them to offer a significant discount.
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Yeah significant or a discount, not free. It is also why I said maybe a pound or two (not literally, could be more) off of the normal bounce back tickets. Maybe say £8-10 return ticket.

thefatone said:
Why not? They do free return tickets in Sept when you buy in June quite often. So why wouldn't they to persuade people to visit before smiler opens?

As for adverts, think we'll just keep seeing short breaks adverts or similar until smiler.
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Never seen that advertised - didn't know they did that. But also September is a quieter month as people are back at school/college/uni whereas in June it is quiet busy so I cannot see them giving free tickets out in a highly visited month. But as you say, there is nothing stopping them, if they have before, giving out free tickets for a quieter month and having the stipulated months on the return ticket.
 
They did run a promotion back in 2010 that if you bought a ticket in June you can come back in September for free.

I remember using it when we bought a ticket for the park the day after the TH13TEEN event in June, and we went back in September for free. :)
 
I think they work on the idea the average gate take per person is about £24 (ish) when you factor in the many discounts. Offering a free return ticket (with restrictions over peak times) will result in people coming and spending on park and when people feel like they have got a good discount on entry people tend to spend more in-park.

So it's win-win really, they avoid moaning guests in March and April and get people spending in park twice.
 
I haven't saw this posted, but there is a new advert being shown.

It is the normal promotional advert but half way through it says:

'And be the first to ride The Smiler, our new ride'
It is accompanied by 'Mr Twirly' with its eyes spinning.
 
Longy said:
I haven't saw this posted, but there is a new advert being shown.

It is the normal promotional advert but half way through it says:

'And be the first to ride The Smiler, our new ride'
It is accompanied by 'Mr Twirly' with its eyes spinning.
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I just saw the same advert on Sky 1. The voice over kind of ruined the mystery though. :twirly:
 
Looks like the drip feeding is still going to continue. :twirly:

A quote from AT's twitter:

'Feels like a photo update for #TheSmiler is due tomorrow... what do you think?'
 
Ha they have to be watching these forums because just as people are starting to get bored, AT grab the rod and carrots. :p

Also interesting how AT are first to move on an update over TT
 
I still haven't seen this new advert yet. I've had a look on Youtube but I haven't found anything. :/
 
The advert is just the same as the one posted by Alton Towers a few weeks ago advertising money off short breaks with the water park footage. Except around half way through, Mr Smiley shows with spinning eyes while the voice over announces 'Plus, you could be one of the first to ride The Smiler, our big new rollercoaster'. The advert then cuts back to the hotel stock footage for the rest of the ad.

:D
 
Ooh I just had a brainwave! When it comes to testing with the dummies (thinking what thorpe did with the swarm) maybe when the dummies come back they could have 'mr twirly' painted on their face? Or even just a smile? :twirly:
 
Thanks for that! Glad that we now officially have Mr Twirly with spinning eyes, that is awesome! ;D

Must admit though, I don't think I've ever seen so much text with information or T&Cs on a TV advert in my life.

:)
 
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