CMC in the MMM

Aspenshaw
Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
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edited December 2017 in Motorhomes #1

Interesting article in the January 2018 issue of MMM. It’s an interview with Harvey Alexander, Director of Marketing at the CMC. He explains some of the changes introduced and planned by the CMC to reflect the increasing number of motorhoming members.

According to the article, the CMC is looking at its CLs, a number of which are trialling matting that can help driving of grass. This will help those motorhomers who do not want to go to a CL because of the risk of getting stuck. The Club knows the current booking system is not ideal. It is working on it for 2018/19, introducing the new system for 2019 bookings. It’s not going to be rocket science but it will be in line with the market.

There is more in the two page article which is worth a read but not enough to justify buying the magazine just for the article.

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  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #2

    Thanks Aspenshaw. I hope we can read something similar in the club magazine too. Someone mentioned this article on another thread. These sort of announcements would be welcomed on the club's web site.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2017 #3

     

    The cynic in me is very wary of anything that is "marketing speak" aimed at the non captive audience,whereas the "loyal" captive audience (us) are it seems now only a secondery (if that high) consideration,when looking to increase market shareundecided

    Ps of course CC Marketing as in most companies these days is one the best funded out of our moneysurprised

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited December 2017 #4

    yes, our postman must be a bit faster (about a week or more) on his feet than A'swink

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #5

    Rowena passed our comments on to the appropriate department after we made our feelings clear in the other thread and has promised to update us here when decisions have been made about the booking system.

    https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/welcome-hobby-talk/how-to-use-club-together/are-we-doomed/

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited December 2017 #7

    It annoys me a lot David

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #8

    It's a bit like parliamentary leaks but we are a membership organisation and members deserve to hear things first I think?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited December 2017 #9

    I would settle for reading it second kr third as long as it was from the source

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #10

    It annoyed me a lot, David. It was one more nail in the coffin and prompted my OP in the other thread. It’s insulting to treat members in such a way and an apology is in order.

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited December 2017 #11

    He's been busy as he's got an article in practical caravan as well but I haven't read it. I expect I'll disagree with most of it 

    I tend to find his articles a little out of touch. 

  • Qashqai66
    Qashqai66 Forum Participant Posts: 551
    edited December 2017 #12

    Makes me wonder about investigating the other club.  I understand they have the equivalent of CL sites which are the only ones we use in the UK.

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #13

    Are members saying that every time the CMC want to go to the press then they have to get our OK first ??

    Sorry but I don't  see it as a big deal , it's not like they are giving away personal information 

  • KeefySher
    KeefySher Forum Participant Posts: 1,128
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    edited December 2017 #14

    It's just the caravan / MH industry aligning to one message.

    'Sod the customer'

     

    Assemblers of common poor quality common parts masquerading as caravans have been at it for decades, the leviathan that was the CC, now CAMC has finally succumbed to same disdain and greed.

    Lots of examples in the meedja this lunchtime of corporate greed at the expense of stakeholders.

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited December 2017 #15

    No. Just that if they decide to release 'exciting news' they perhaps consider letting existing members know at the same time using their own media outlet. 

    I'm only a member for the insurance nowadays so don't care too much what they do but some of the things they think will attract (or even interest) potential new customers is bizarre. 

    Ironically the booking system is one of the few things I like. 

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #16

    But some members have said they throw away the monthly magazine without reading it ,so how do they know if the "exciting news" wasn't in it ?

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited December 2017 #17

    I read it husky. They could use the website, post on the forum, Facebook or Twitter as well. Instead members find that things are afoot elsewhere  

    Perhaps I should read the practical caravan article?  

     

  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
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    edited December 2017 #18

    In my OP I mentioned only two points from the two page article because those were two points that as a member I did not know about. I did know the booking system was being reviewed, just not the time scales.

    I will ask the mods to remove my post as I have no intention of it being used to bash the club of which I am a member.

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #19

    Can you have a thread removed ,because you don't like the answers ????

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #20

    No Husky, the board work on our behalf but if they are planning changes or whatever it would nice to keep members updated with news. The magazine and club social media might become more interesting too, I would think updates are a welcome part of the process. The social media element is the most speedy way of providing news and information, much of it is outdated at present. Snippets on FB from staff members go unnoticed except by a few eagle eyed readers who relay things on here.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2017 #21

    Some members,discard it, as some owners complain about their purchases,no different IMHO but its not i would think many out of the thousands sent to members,or purchasers only those few wanting to "make a point?"

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2017 #22

    Is this the same department that thought it good to sponsor some bloke to go to Antartica, though he never started ( wonder did they get our sponsorship back) and the same department who thought a garden in the RHS was connected to caravanning. If so says it all. Also probably he same one that came up with the astronomically expensive name change. Got to justify your highly paid job- sod the members.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2017 #23

    Thats why the Marketing depts in most companies have to come up with ridicules  "ideas" to try to justify their huge budgets undecided

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited December 2017 #24

    I throw the mag away unread but feel sure that somebody would read and comment if aware that the news was released elsewhere 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #25

    You put your post in the public domain so we could comment, Aspenshaw, but now you want to deprive posters of that facility.

    Not liking the responses is a chance we all take when we start a discussion. It’s life. 

     

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited December 2017 #26

    Just had the printed 2018  UK Site Guide. Guess what  our superb marketing department have done- The full picture is a Motorhome on a private site at Gruinard.  You would have thought a basic "Marketing" pose would be at least a club site.How much do we pay this excellent brain I wonder, NO wonder prices have to increase to justify this .......

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited December 2017 #27

    Could somebody enlighten me; what does MMM stand for and is it worth getting? Presume it has to be ordered?

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #28

    I think it's Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly and it's a larger magazine than Practical Motorhome but unless you're a magazine  addict they can be a bit repetitive. You can order them on line but they're on sale everywhere.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #29

    You can also download electronic versions,  a bit cheaper too. Just get the free app, a free magazine is offered at the moment with no commitments at all. 

  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
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    edited December 2017 #30

    hitchglitch, MMM is now the title of what used to be known as Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly [as stated above]. It's dropped the long title.

    The mag is produced by Warners and is linked to Warners' Out&About Live website which also has a Motorhome Matters forum. Warners run the big Motorhome Shows. Content of the magazine tends to be Travel articles, Tested [mainly van tests], Technical help which covers questions from readers and can be very useful, Buying guide, Regulars which is news and letters plus odds and sods.

    I'd recommend it to any new or inexperienced motorhomer. It's a personal taste if you're a more experienced motorhomer. You should be able to get a free mini digital copy.

    https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/news/?utm_source=outaboutliveforum&utm_medium=navigationbar&utm_campaign=news

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #31

    It is probably the go to motorhome magazine. There is a lot of reader input and the technical side is a lot more detailed than many other magazines. A lot of magazines seem to exist just as a place to promote new motorhomes but MMM seems to deal with things in depth.

    David