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Rally Australia, Smart Automotive and Protecting the Environment

David Turney - Thursday, September 03, 2009
Rally Australia (round 10 of the WRC) kicks off later this afternoon (EST) after several years absence, this time around the Northern Rivers region of NSW.  WRC followers will know how strategically vital Rally Australia is for outright championship contenders, while at the same time throwing the wild-card of a completely new event at those drivers.

Rallying is a spectacular & engaging motorsport.  Drivers in the FIA World Rally Championship must rate as the best in the world.  They not only possess lightning fast reaction times and nerves of steel but also race on vastly different surfaces, most of them not designed to driven at 180kph + and sideways.  The WRC is watched, reportedly, by audience numbers second to only Formula 1.  In their home countries, drivers are revered as gods and are used to sell everything from the brand they drive to breath mints.  Despite that, at any given rally the fan access is amazing.  Drivers and teams - while being under timed pressure for the entire rally - happily mingle with their fan base, chatting and signing autographs.  There's little elitism, just the love of their motorsport leveled across the spectrum.

Like most motorsport though, rallying has opponents, and they usually come from an environmental perspective.  Rallying attracts particular criticism from detractors by its format; timed runs on public roads, following the curves, rises, falls and unique scenery of the landscape.  In Australia at least, rallying is highly controlled and environmental impacts (if any) are analysed forensically.  The 2009 Rally Australia boasts to be the most environmentally rally ever staged anywhere and backs that up with a suite of reports (all but one downloadable from their website) covering every aspect from flora and fauna, to noise and dust management.  That's right, dust management.  How many rallies have a dust management plan?  Australia's does; 50-pages worth.

A small news piece I saw on ABC yesterday reported on and presented both sides of the argument.  One interviewee against the rally (happening to be a local councillor) openly questioned why an "extreme" car race is OK where four-wheel drives aren't allowed to access.  It's hardly fair to draw comparisons between the potential for an uncontrolled, disrespecting rogue element, crushing swathes through national park forests and a controlled, analysed and heavily regulated week-long event running on existing, closed (for the event), council-maintained public roads that already exist.

Whatever your opinion (and I'm pretty sure you know ours), every possible safeguard has been put in place to ensure that Rally Australia runs to satisfy environmental impact concerns, while putting Australia back on the international rallying stage.  It will run on its environmental credentials and the point is, whatever you do, you need to stand on your own beliefs about what's right to balance needs with impact and as much as possible, tip the balance.

At Smart Automotive, we do just that.  Like Rallying, we are fulfilling a need while making sure that the environmental impact is minimised.  Our patented, reusable, recyclable Smartcover is a case in point (as are our other products made from NWPP).  By using custom-branded Smartcovers to cover and protect your customers seats, you're not only projecting a strong, professional image, you're also helping to reduce the impact of automotive waste on the environment.


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Our e-brochure is now online. Download away!

David Turney - Wednesday, July 15, 2009
This just in!

Now online from Smart Automotive is our glossy, new e-brochure, ready for download by clicking the button over there to the right of you.  Go on, you know you want one.

In it you'll find all of our current range of custom-branded automotive protection solutions.  From our patented, reusable & recyclable Smartcover, our innovative 3-piece guard cover set and right through to our other NWPP protection products, it's all in there.

Download your own version, print it out, keep it on your desk or pin it to your wall, just keep it handy.  Above all, email it to your friends & colleagues in the industry to share the good news about the solutions we offer.

Cover it, Protect it, with Smart Automotive.


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Custom-branded bundling? All part of the service.

David Turney - Friday, June 26, 2009

Here's an interesting, innovative, custom-branded solution and a great example of our capabilities to meet specific client needs.

The client who contacted us is known for its superior customer experience and service around the world.  The brief called for a solution that could also cover technician call-outs to the customer while reflecting the brands luxury image.

We presented a pair of our patented Smartcovers, folded and contained in a specially designed messenger bag, both custom-branded with the client logo.  The Middle East-based distributor also specified a steering wheel protector, gear & handbrake lever protector and floor mats made from NWPP to be included along with the Smartcovers, for a complete customer protectionsolution.

The result?  A sophisticated, smart, custom-branded protection bundle that reflects the superior service attributes of the brand both in and out of the workshop.  What customer wouldn't get a solid feeling of reassurance seeing the technician turn up with this smart bag of protection for their car?

The promotional power of this kind of solution shouldn't be underestimated either, with eye-catching branding on the bag that's also made from environmentally friendly NWPP (non-woven polypropylene).

The good news is that this kind of flexibility is available to you too.  Simply contact us to discuss your specific needs and how we can achieve differentiation for your business.

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Promoting your brand while protecting your customers' cars

David Turney - Thursday, June 25, 2009

As a service professional you know how important it is to safeguard your customers’ cars when they're in and around your workshop.  But have you ever thought about the possibility of promoting your business at the same time?

With Smart Automotive, now you can.  While protective car seat covers used to be no more than a way of making sure the seats of each car could be kept free from grease, dirt and oil while it was being worked on, things have changed.  Customer value demands have increased so your brand and reputation are how customers define their experience with you.

Just imagine if every car you're working on had brightly coloured seat protectors fitted, printed with your business name and logo, to reflect your professionalism and promote your brand.  When parked awaiting pickup or getting ready to go into the workshop, they'd certainly catch the eye of anyone in and around your service business.  For the new generation "workshop on show", the feeling that it gives customers when they spot the high-visibility protection you use is irreplaceable.

Our patented Smartcovers do just that.  They're made from non-woven polypropylene (NWPP), which is the same material that reusable, recyclable green bags are made from.  They're non-porous and very tough, meaning that they not only last longer than single-use products, there's no chance of grease or oil getting through onto and damaging your customers' upholstery.

Although these seat covers are more expensive per cover, they last much longer than the single use plastic ones that end up clogging up the landfills that are already struggling to cope.  So in the long run you will actually save money as well as promote your environmental credentials.

Smart Automotive also supplies slick-looking nylon seat protectors that can be custom-branded, and our polyester seat protectors make a great promotional and merchandising aid on courtesy or fleet cars.

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    Smart Automotive is a proudly Australian owned & operated part of Smart Group Enterprises founded in 2003. We provide protective solutions that add to your brand & your customers' experience, improving customer retention & your bottom line.
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