On The Rhoad

The Holley Performance brand is one we are all familiar with but how does it continue to remain an automotive icon? We talk with Holley's Digital Marketing Manager on that very question. He sheds some light on LS Fest, automotive culture, products and where the company plans to be in three years. Follow Holley Performance: Instagram Youtube Facebook Holley Performance Website Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website

We’ve all seen those wild social videos of past Black Fridays. Hundreds of people camping out in lines, then frantically rushing into stores as soon as the doors open to get the best deals, not caring how many people they knock over in the process. Middle-aged moms elbowing each other to get the best toys, and crowds running to a pile of 20 televisions that are half off... Sounds like a social distancing nightmare, right? According to new data, other Americans think so, too. Since March, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused our shopping habits to change, with more stores, even local ones, converting to digital purchases and curbside pickup. And now, Google is reporting that many Black Friday shoppers will choose to shop online rather than in person. This may not seem like a huge shift. We've already seen, in recent years, the rise of Cyber Monday and online e-commerce dominance, as consumers take tor their couches instead of stores for the best deals. Still, there is more than meets the eye to this story which Davin and Chris discuss.    Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website

Davin and Chris determine when and how automotive companies can start selling again without appearing tone deaf. Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website

Impostor Syndrome is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud". The most talented people I know, and myself, struggle with it day-in and day-out. General Managers running billion dollar companies. Speakers who command audiences in the thousands. Powerful men and women who still wonder if what they are doing is good enough, or if they are about to be found out for being an imposter. We all suffer from it.⁣⁣ I am convinced there will be a knock on the door one day and a man with a clipboard will be there to tell me that it was all over. That they caught up with me and I would have to get real job now. Since I'm a shit-cook, I'm quite relieved that most of the door knocks so far have been the pizza man.⁣ But Imposter Syndrome doesn't go away with any form of a success. We assume that successful people don't feel like frauds but we now know that the opposite is true.⁣⁣ In fact, the most successful people I know don't question themselves. They question their ideas and their knowledge. They know when they are in too deep and to ask for advice. They use that advice to improve their ideas and to learn.⁣ Our special guest on this week's podcast is VP Of Marketing for Bristol Motor Speedway, Drew Bedard. He too knows a thing or two about Impostor Syndrome and implore us all to welcome the challenge.  Stalk Drew: Instagram Twitter Facebook Marketing That Works Podcast Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website

Back in February, when it was still safe to travel, Davin and I visited a media agency in LA. This isn’t like any other media agency though. They have completely flipped the traditional agency model upside down by operating out of a garage space which acts as a hub - connecting artists, innovators, industry insiders, and brands around a shared passion for contemporary car culture. By doing so, they have worked with the likes of Samsung, Michelin and most recently, Formula 1. That agency is Race Service and today we are going to chat with its co-founder and long-time friend, Jacob Agajanian. His wealth of knowledge will give you some insight as to what’s happening on the media landscape and tips you can apply to your own media strategies.  Stalk Jacob: Instagram Youtube Facebook Raceseng Website Follow Race Service: Instagram Youtube Facebook Raceseng Website Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website

If you’ve been listening to this show for a while, then you know how much I love good design and aesthetics in general. Logos, package design, typography, photography. All of it. And that’s why I’m very excited to have on today’s guest, Jarrett Seng. He owns and operates Raceseng which produces high-end (dare I say luxury) automotive parts. For example, one of the marque products is a set of titanium lug nuts that sell for $900. You’re probably thinking what lunatic would pay $900 for lug nuts. The answer is they aren’t buying lug nuts. They are buying the experience that the Raceseng team have designed. And that’s why Jarrett is on the show. He’s going to share how they take a seemingly commoditized product and created a lucrative business around selling high-end experiences. Show Links: Marty Neumeier books Stalk Raceseng: Instagram Youtube Facebook Raceseng Website Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website

We're talking to David Gibson, Business Development Manager of MoTec USA. Like many of us, MoTec have had to adapt to the ever changing requirements with customer support and supply chains. So he’ll give us some insight on how MoTec is handling that. David will also touch MoTec’s North Carolina office and it’s relationship with NASCAR despite the sport’s decreasing numbers. Lastly, we will hear that one piece of bad advice that you shouldn’t take. Show Links Instagram Youtube Facebook MoTec USA Website   Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website

One of the most well known automotive photographers on the planet who’s best known for his work with SpeedHunters and more recently Jay Leno. Larry Chen is joining us and we cover a lot. Everything from the business value of photography to what he would put on a blank billboard. Stalk Larry: Instagram Youtube Facebook Website Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website

It’s being said that the manual transmission is going extinct. Between the adoption of electric cars which don’t utilize a transmission in the traditional sense. And more and more consumers considering driving to be a chore, clutch companies are keeping a very close eye on the market shift. So we’ve invited David Norton of SPEC Clutch onto the show. He’s going to give us some insights as to how they have adapted to market shifts over the last two years and how they plan to stay ahead of this one. SPEC Clutch specclutch.com SPEC Instagram SPEC Facebook Tag along: studiorhoad.com Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok

With any marketing initiative, you want to take advantage of underpriced attention and esports are ripe for the picking. More specifically, online racing which is wildly in expensive to sponsor. With everyone in stay-at-home mode, we are filling the void for racing with simulators like iRacing, Asseto Corsa and Formula 1 2019. Some of which are being broadcasted on national TV networks to the tune of 800K viewers. So Davin and I are going to give you some tips and suggestions on how get your foot in the door, then take advantage of this surgence in viewership. Tag along: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

If you’ve purchased anything online in the last few weeks, then your experience was inevitably different than that of pre-quarantine. And you likely asked yourself questions like, - Is this company even operational right now? - If they are, when will I get the product I want to purchase? Those same questions are creating doubt in your purchase is happening in minds of your customers and hindering eCom sales. The fix is very simple and on this short episode, we’ll tell you how. BTW, we’re making some studio and equipment changes so please excuse the poor audio quality.  Website Notification Links: Bigcommerce: powr.io Wordpress: Hello Bar: https://wordpress.org/plugins/hellobar/ Shopify: https://apps.shopify.com/quick-announcement-bar-always-keep-your-customers-informed/reviews?page=50&rating=5 Tag along: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

This is a special episode for Davin and I. With the Coronavirus in full swing, a lot of friends, clients and colleagues are facing tremendous adversity and not quite sure what to do. Since recording this episode, we got word that Accuair was forced to close their doors due to the pandemic. With this episode, we hope to play a small role in preventing other companies falling to the same fait. So we’re going to talk about how your company should tread lightly during these tough times and I’ll provide 4 ways you can execute on today which will allow you to not only survive but to come out on the other end in a better position prior to the crisis. Tag along: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

This is the episode we’ve all been waiting for. For months, Davin and I have been teasing about an episode around Vanity Metrics. Well that day has come. And we both come out swinging with two analogies. One is a stairclimber and the second being the frosting on a cake. Odd I know, but it’ll all makes sense shortly. Tag along: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Marketing is who you are, not what you sell. What we mean by that is, Your brand represents the culture of your company which in turn is represented in the soft service that you provide. So when you think about it, the marketing of a lot of automotive companies is trying to inspire the customer to enter the fold and be a part of the company’s ethos beyond the product itself. Today, Davin takes the reins on this one and provides three really good examples of companies that take this approach to heart. Each of which, we can all learn a thing or two from. Links mentioned in show: https://www.instagram.com/black/ https://www.instagram.com/white/ https://www.instagram.com/raceseng/ Tag along: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Many times on this show we’ve advised you not to emulate Apple or similar companies because of their sheer size, resources and ability to fail forward.  However we are going to contradict that statement in reference to Tesla and their launch of the Cybertruck. Love it or hate it, Elon’s launch of the truck is a masterclass in branding. Today Davin and I will unpack the 5 steps Tesla used to launch the Cybertruck which were inspired by Apple.   Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

This week we speak with someone who I’ve wanted to have on the show for quite some time. Mark Arcenal. If that name rings a bell it’s probably because he’s worked for and built some of amazing brands over the years. Nike, Fatlace, Illest, Hypebeast and RWB just to name a few. Through those experiences Mark has perfected the return on good design and visual branding. Follow Mark on IG: https://www.instagram.com/mrk.rcnl/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

This week we are talking about Apple and why you shouldn’t be using them as your guiding light. Or any business of their level. Primary because they have resources and safety nets in place that allow them to fail forward. So we’ll unpack those scenarios and give you some alternative approaches when looking for business inspiration.   Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

This week we are talking about ROI - Return On Investment But not in the way you might think. This won’t be a numbers or data conversation but rather an overarching dialogue about setting expectations and how it relates to ROI. Trust me. It’s not as boring as it sounds. Matter fact, I’m pretty sure we used a circus as a metaphor for automotive businesses. I’m not quite sure how that happened.

Welcome to Episode 18 of On The Rhoad. A weekly podcast where we discuss the art and business of the automotive market. Well ladies and gentleman, I think we have official broken Davin. This week we are talking about sponsorship from the brands perspective And if you know anything about us then you know how easy it is for us to get triggered on this topic. I’ve included the PG13 version of this in the main show, where we unpack sponsorship strategy and how to approach that part of the business. But if you want to hear Davin lose his mind over this, keep listening after the outro. Don’t say I didn’t warn you….   Studio Rhoad Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Today we’re going to a break from Davin and I babbling and speak with Andrew Rains. He’s the Marketing Director and Co-Founder of Apex Pro who build motorsports data acquisition products. They are one of the few companies I’ve seen to successfully use a mobile app that’s integrated with a hardware element. I’ll include a link to their site in the show notes if you want to take a look. Keeping that in mind, we talk to Andrew about two primary subjects. Customer Loyalty and his advice on introducing an app-based company into the automotive market. Apex Pro Links: Website: https://apextrackcoach.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialapexpro/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialapexpro/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1gjrm-7rAKen3KN70HBFw Studio Rhoad Links:Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Today we're going to discuss a topic that we see very often and have touched on briefly in previous episodes. And that is ego in relation to success. It might be fun to win an award or dominate your category in terms of market share, but what's it worth if it doesn't support the actual goal? Marketing in the automotive space is more powerful than ever and we have more leverage than ever before. This makes picking your milestones and your goals more critical than it has ever been. So on this episode, Davin and I discuss what success actually looks like and how to ensure your ego doesn't pull the rug out from under you. By the way, Davin gets really fired up about this topic. Links Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Ladies and gentlemen…. We’re back. That’s right, after taking a few days…. Well months off, we are officially starting Season 2 of On The Rhoad with a little bit of a twist. You all have requested that we do less interviews and have more discussions between Davin and I. So, that’s what we’re going to do. Although we do have a few very good interviews scheduled, you will be hearing a lot more from us over the coming weeks. To kick things off, we talk about the importance of the Chief Marketing Officer role and how automotive brands can acquire one without the $200k price tag. Show Links: Spencer Stuart Study:  https://www.spencerstuart.com/research-and-insight/cmo-transitions-the-shuffle-continues Studio Rhoad:  http://www.studiorhoad.com/ Feel free to let us know what you think about the show by rating or writing a quick review. To be a guest on the show or would like Chris and Davin as a guest on your show, visit http://www.studiorhoad.com/podcast/

Today we’re talking with Tim Coltey, the Performance Marketing Specialist of a brand that we all know and love …. Garrett Turbo. When we think of Garrett we imagine large corporation but in fact, they are quite small. So they use some very clever approaches when it comes to media production. All of which are based in a quote, “Don't’ let the product be the hero. Your customers are the hero of the brand” Links Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

This week we have a very, very special guest with us. The Founder of AEM Electronics, Mr. John Concialdi. He provides some insight and a peak behind the curtain on how he started this iconic brand. One topic in particular was how we grew the business by decreasing the size of the business. Links Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

On this episode Chris has stolen the spotlight; for better or worse. Apparently his horse dies which relates to a framework that will allow your company to make better decisions more quickly.  Links Decision Jam: http://www.studiorhoad.com/services/decision-jam/ Validation Sprint: http://www.studiorhoad.com/services/concept-sprints/ Effort Impact Video: https://youtu.be/opvs6nOzZh4 Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Today we’re talking with the marketing director of a very iconic drag racing team. If you’ve seen pictures of a copper orange Mark4 Supra popping wheelies, then you know exactly who I’m taking about. Wes Bourne of Titan Motorsports. Wes tells us how that iconic car became to be. And how this 20 year old company walks a fine line between preserving their legacy while not racing to the bottom. Links Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Today we’re throwing questions at one of our very own clients, Tony Palo of T1 Race Development; They are a Nissan GTR Specialty shop out of Texas but, to be fair, that's an understatement. These guys are the best in the business and have more broken records than they can count. If you run a small shop or manufacture performance parts, this episode is for you. Links T1 Race Development: https://www.t1racedevelopment.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

On this episode, the Founder of MotorMavens and 86Fest and an old friend of mine, Antonio Alvendia, shares his experiences with creating content for automotive brands and why your brand’s social might be missing the mark. Links Antonio's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antoniosureshot/ MotorMavens: http://motormavens.com/86Fest: http://86fest.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

On this episode, we chat with the Director of Marketing for Ferrea Racing Components, Zeke Urrutia. Now Ferrea is a great example of a company who transitioning to digital while maintaining a very clever foothold in traditional marketing which we explore. But before we get into the nerdy business stuff, take a listen to Zeke’s story at the beginning. It’s an incredible peak behind the curtain of the company’s racing history and how his grandfather passed away during a race in 1948. Ferrea Links: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ferrearacing/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ferrearacing/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/Ferrearacing1 Studio Rhoad Links:Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

On this episode, we chat with Porsche Digital Business Consultant and long time friend, Marat Pashkevich. He lays down some serious insights on how companies should be approaching digital. More specifically, the downside of over produced videos, what you can do to make your content look different from everyone else and if you should have an in-house marketing manager. The answer to that may surprise you. Marat Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_rush Studio Rhoad Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

On this episode, we chat with the Marketing Director for one of the most recognizable brands in the automotive aftermarket. Lawson Mollica of AEM Performance Electronics. Normally we limit our episodes to 30 minutes, But here’s a few reasons why we’ve extended it to 45mins: - First…. When it comes to content marketing, Lawson explains why we should be playing like Ty Cobb, not Babe Ruth. - He gives us insights on their product innovation - What specific metric convinced them to build a new website after 6 years. - The content strategy that helped them triple their social media audience while simultaneously decreased the workload of the customer service department Studio Rhoad Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Davin and I chat about the reality of conducting business on social platforms. To give you some context, we read a post on a social forum which sparked the topic. So you’ll hear us reference that post throughout the show. Studio Rhoad Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Art Director of Vortech Superchargers, Andrew Schwartz, explains how they stay ahead of the curve and what they consider the true value of sponsorship. Andrew's Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schwartzmotors Website: https://vortechsuperchargers.com/ Studio Rhoad Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

The Art Director of Haltech Engine Management Andrew DiMartino dives into the topic of customer relationships and Davin drinks some tea. Talks about: - The importance of accessibility between company and customer at times when it matters most. - Having the proper resources to support customers properly. - The importance of teams/drivers presenting themselves in a professional manor when times get tough. - Winning races is not always the value to the brand Communicating with customers Andrew's Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dimartinofab/ Website: https://www.haltech.com/ Studio Rhoad Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Marketing Director of Konig Wheels Scott Weiss welds an office chair and Davin almost insults his DSM roots. - Scott Weiss Loves to work on build, crazy builds. Has a 2006, twin turbo 350z with only 23,000 miles on it One thing that made him/them successful in marketing - Success is subjectives. Make quality product. He really believes in what he does. Not in the business of convincing the market to buy Konig. - Stages of career. Learn then utilize. Over and over. - Being self aware. - Not being complacent with where you are How the auto sector markets itself: - Very comfortable with checking boxes. - Marketing tactics are moving very/too quickly. - Always playing catch up. - Have a hard time keep up. And don’t really trust where to go or how to get there 2019 Plans: - Long term focused (5yrs) Scott's Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scott_konig/ Konig Wheels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/konigwheelsusa/ Website: https://konigwheels.com/ Studio Rhoad Links:Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Today Davin and I kick off our pilot episode. We explain what you all can expect in future episodes and we dive into a quick discussion about branding. Studio Rhoad Links:Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiorhoad Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/studiorhoad Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/studiorhoad Website: http://www.studiorhoad.com

Sponsorships? Ambassadors? Social Media influencers? I speak in detail with the President of Varrstoen Wheels about what's going through his head when reading sponsorship applications for VTX Offroad and Varrstoen wheels. We also talk about building community and his worst business experience.

Last week I had the honor of being a guest on Do It For A Living. A podcast which focuses on inspiring motorsports entrepreneurs. It was my first guest appearance on a show in a very long time. What was intended to be a podcast about design ended up covering far more serious topics: - My worst business experience - Digital ‘hoops of fire’ - Sales = rich. Branding = wealthy - The future of the automotive aftermarket iTunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/095-hear-how-chris-rhoad-started-studiorhoad-com-to/id971910947?i=1000381939558&mt=2 The Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/Doitforaliving/posts/675003272687380 Do It For A Living Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R6WgcnS8iA

In this episode: - I refuse to talk tactics - I get a little pissy. - Discuss how Taylor Swift is kicking your butt - We learn to ‘see’ - Discuss why Karl Benz was an amazing idiot - Dance with fear /// Join Hundreds Of Auto Industry Businesses Who Have Removed The Guessing And Speculation From Their Marketing Efforts. http://bit.ly/srclassjoin Studio Rhoad /// http://www.studiorhoad.com A digital agency that helps aftermarket companies bridge the gap between customer experience and commerce. Questions - Show Suggestions /// chris@studiorhoad.com @StudioRhoad

From understanding the big-picture of strategy to making sure your marketing tactics jive with your customers, there’s a lot to consider when planning for 2017. Next year promises to be huge for our industry, and in today’s Automotive Aftermarket Masterclass, Chris Rhoad outlines how to craft a truly remarkable strategy to help you sail through 2017. Corresponding video and presentation, can be found here: http://studiorhoad.com/masterclass/two-marketing-strategy-approaches-auto-aftermarket-brands-both-wrong/ Don't be a stranger: info@StudioRhoad.com @StudioRhoad

Entrepreneurs and business owners, in general, are increasingly scared of change. When you’re in that marketing meeting and propose a certain tactic or initiative or feature, it is viewed as subjective in the eyes of the business owner. And by being subjective in nature the business owner, who are running the business via a P&L, are unlikely to see the value in your subjective proposition. It involves risk. It also involves pain. Often times, similar changes are accompanied with a certain level of pain that resonates with those close to the initiative. Yet, within those changes is ultimately where growth occurs. Revenue hides in change. So, how do you induce change and remove pain from the other side of the table? That’s what we discuss in this week’s Automotive Aftermarket Masterclass along with how to: - Remove Uncertainty From Your Marketing Efforts - Create Consensus Between You And Your Team - Learn how a the customer’s journey reflects commerce - Receive A Free Journey Map Template Link to video presentation can be found here: http://studiorhoad.com/masterclass/guide-customer-experience-auto-aftermarket/