Brand Loyalty

buckaroo

buckaroo

Here kitty, kitty, kitty
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I think that we've had this discussion before, but since I'm an old fart and don't have a good memory, let's talk about this again. Besides, we have some new people that might have something to say about all of this. Here's my question for any of you who might care to give an answer. Do you think that today's NASCAR fans have much brand loyalty to their favorite driver/team? I know that back in the late 80's and early 90's, and maybe earlier and later, but for the most part, the sport really got going from about '85 on, but back then, the brand loyalty for the fans was very high. People who were loyal to their own brand of automobile certainly didn't root for a driver who drove for the opposition and to some extent, I still see that, but I know that if a driver had such and such as a sponsor, the fans of said driver would try to give that sponsor their business. To some extent, I did this, but didn't go out of my way to buy something that my favorite driver had as a decal on his car. And, of course, it was really mainly for the "main" sponsor of the car/driver.

My feeling today is that fewer and fewer fans have real loyalty to their favorite driver/team, other than possibly automobile loyalty. What say you all? While I'm a fan of Jr.'s, I sure as heck won't drink Budweiser. I didn't do that when Bill Elliott had that for his sponsor either. As a whole, I may try to use a sponsor who works with NASCAR over another brand, but it all depends on what that may be. Anyway, brand loyalty is a very big thing for the sponsors of anything with NASCAR.
 
HERE is that topic.

Not all the time. I'm a fan of a driver not a car. I have had 4 Rangers. Been very happy with all but this one. I would never own a Dodge Truck. Will get a Toyota next time. Yes I only drink Miller Lite or Rolling Rock unless I have no choice.
 
For me, it sucked when Rusty got in a Dodge.
I have a '67 Mustang fastback, 390", 4-speed. A '63 Ford F100 Unibody longbed, 390", C6. A '72 Ford F100 shortbed, 360", C6.
I drink Miller Lite.
 
I'm a diehard Ford guy.When Bill Elliott showed up I instantly aligned myself with him because he seemed like Fords next big thing. When he jumped to Dodge I didn't have a problem withthat cause I like Mopars. If he would have joined up with Chevy tho there would have been some serious self discussions. BTW BobbyFord i have a 68 Torino GT Fastback with a 390/C6
 
I think brand loyalty is harder to come by these days because there are so many other decent makes. Honda and Toyota were brand new in the 80's...practically a novelty. Hyundai was laughable etc...

Now it just seems cars 'in general' are better so it's harder to choose, or stick with a brand...
 
Quote:
By be9ak7ts16,
BTW BobbyFord i have a 68 Torino GT Fastback with a 390/C6

Cool car.

Oh yeah, in the `80s I was drinkin' MGD. It's a good thing Rusty changed to the Lite sponser, I'm not as young as I used to was. :)
 
I think Buckster was referring to more than vehicle brand loyalty.
I, for one, seek out the best (for my tastes and pocketbook) based on a lot more than who drives what and who the sponsors are. Auto Zone is close by and very user friendly, Target, and others too. I like a driver for themself and may try a sponsor's product, but I don't choose a product because of any particular sponsor.
 
Well i'm an old school guy so i followed Bill Elliot through his rise to fame. I owned 2 T-Bird Turbo coupes back in the 80s. I drank Rolling Rock and still do, once in awhile i would drink a Coors Lite. I own a 2500 Ram Diesel and a little Subaru Justy, so when Bill switched to Dodge it was a natural progression. Actually i already had a 1500 Dodge Ram before Bill switched. I like Mopars always did, but back in the 80s Bill winning all those races in Those Birds made me have to go out a buy one.
 
I think team and driver loyalty is a thing of the past. I see a few of you still follow it, but I just can't do it anymore. I use to did, but drivers were changing teams and sponsors often so I gave up on it. To put it all in perspective my favorite driver is Ryan Newman, but my cell phone service is US Cellular, I use to work for GM, and I drive a Nissan. If this were the old school days of NASCAR I'd be considered schizophrenic wouldn't I? :p
 
I drink Coors, but am not a huge fan of the 40. For myself I'm more loyal to brands that sponsor A car rather than just MY driver. Better to support NASCAR even if that means buying Bud when there is nothing else.
 
Let's see..............I started drinking Pepsi back in the 70's long before Jeff Gordon signed with Pepsi, drink an occasional Mountain Dew, prefer Coors Light and won't drink any Bud products. Hubby uses Valvoline oil in our cars, not Quaker State. Buy lots of Lays products, including Fritos, but not because they sponsor Jeff Gordon either. Prefer shopping at Lowes Home Improvement, but will go to Home Depot for some things. I've had Sprint cellphone service for 6 maybe 7 years now, and don't really care for Nextel. Smoke Marlboro cigarettes, not Winston. I follow Chevy drivers more than any others, but I own Ford vehicles.

So, as you can see, I buy what I want, not what any particular sponsor a certain driver has a sponsorship with.
 
As far as buying a car, no. I base me decision on what I need and how much I can afford to spend.


Other items, sometimes. It depends what mood I'm in.
 
I think RaceChick hit the nail on the head on this one in that brand loyalty is more of a thing of the past, and for that reason, I do believe that some of the really old sponsors are taking a hike from the sport and new ones are coming it to take a shot. That isn't a bad thing either if you consider the total picture. I know that for some of you, the brands Cheerwine and Texas Pete mean nothing, but for a while, the whole country was aware of these two brands. One is a soft drink and the other is a brand of hot sauce. Anyone remember when Ralph's was a sponsor? I didn't know what that was until it was on the hood of a car, and though we don't have a Ralph's store anywhere close by, I still knew that it was a chain of grocery stores. The whole thing about sponsorship now is not so much brand loyalty, but getting the name out there. When you think of it, how many people actually go out and purchase something made by DuPont? I mean really, do they make anything other than paint? I'm sure they do, but one thing is for sure, I not only know of the name, but I know how to spell it. Delphi, even though they are now having great difficulties, is another thing. Actually, I never really knew what they did until just recently. Any members of the UAW out there? (BTW, I was a member of that union for 12 years) They don't sell a thing, but they sponsor cars and races along with various auto manufacturers. It used to be and still is to some extent, beer and oil companies sponsoring many of the cars and races. Heck, we don't even see STP anymore unless it's a very small decal.

Anyway, I think you get my point. I've been told that many of the old usual sponsors will be heading out the door soon and the new sponsors will be something in the order of home mortgage lenders as we now have one already. I think that the sponsors of the future will be in the game simply to get their name out there and within a year or two will get back out. Companies no longer believe that fans will run out and buy their products simply because they sponsor a car, but instead, they will sponsor a car or a race to get noticed. It's been done before, but I think that the trend will be much more in the near future.
 
I am with you on this one buckaroo. I do remember Cheerwine and Ralph's as sponsors. I like you had no idea what Ralph's was since there isn't one in NC, but through their car sponsorship I became familiar with them. The thing that worries me about these mortgage companies coming into NASCAR is the same thing that worried me about NEXTEL. They is always the possibility of corporate take overs. Also I am a hands on person. I can't hold ditec.com in my hand. (My apologies to the ditec people if I have spelled you company name wrong)



buckaroo you may find this interesting:

http://www2.dupont.com/Manufacturing/en_US/

You will be amazed to know what DuPont has to offer. You house is probably full of DuPont products you just don't know it.
 
buckaroo said:
I think RaceChick hit the nail on the head on this one in that brand loyalty is more of a thing of the past, and for that reason, I do believe that some of the really old sponsors are taking a hike from the sport and new ones are coming it to take a shot. That isn't a bad thing either if you consider the total picture. I know that for some of you, the brands Cheerwine and Texas Pete mean nothing, but for a while, the whole country was aware of these two brands. One is a soft drink and the other is a brand of hot sauce. Anyone remember when Ralph's was a sponsor? I didn't know what that was until it was on the hood of a car, and though we don't have a Ralph's store anywhere close by, I still knew that it was a chain of grocery stores. The whole thing about sponsorship now is not so much brand loyalty, but getting the name out there. When you think of it, how many people actually go out and purchase something made by DuPont? I mean really, do they make anything other than paint? I'm sure they do, but one thing is for sure, I not only know of the name, but I know how to spell it. Delphi, even though they are now having great difficulties, is another thing. Actually, I never really knew what they did until just recently. Any members of the UAW out there? (BTW, I was a member of that union for 12 years) They don't sell a thing, but they sponsor cars and races along with various auto manufacturers. It used to be and still is to some extent, beer and oil companies sponsoring many of the cars and races. Heck, we don't even see STP anymore unless it's a very small decal.

Anyway, I think you get my point. I've been told that many of the old usual sponsors will be heading out the door soon and the new sponsors will be something in the order of home mortgage lenders as we now have one already. I think that the sponsors of the future will be in the game simply to get their name out there and within a year or two will get back out. Companies no longer believe that fans will run out and buy their products simply because they sponsor a car, but instead, they will sponsor a car or a race to get noticed. It's been done before, but I think that the trend will be much more in the near future.
Click to expand...


Well put. :)
 
buckaroo said:
Anyway, I think you get my point. I've been told that many of the old usual sponsors will be heading out the door soon and the new sponsors will be something in the order of home mortgage lenders as we now have one already. I think that the sponsors of the future will be in the game simply to get their name out there and within a year or two will get back out. Companies no longer believe that fans will run out and buy their products simply because they sponsor a car, but instead, they will sponsor a car or a race to get noticed. It's been done before, but I think that the trend will be much more in the near future.
Click to expand...

Buckster, I couldn't agree more.
I use Texas Pete because I prefer the taste, my step-daughter used BUTTPASTE because it worked, Bell South, even tho I have a choice, because of the excellent service, and more. I tried Schwans initially because Bunchy recommended them and because of their sponsorship of the 49, and still order from them because they have great food, you can schedule the delivery to fit your timetable, and also because I can order online.
I also think a lot more dot com companies will be featured in the future.
 
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