Featured Client: UBSki / January 21, 2010
The new year is off to a very chilly start and what better way to enjoy it than by hitting the slopes? Our client, UBSki, knows just how fun that powder white is. They’ve been organizing college ski trips since 1988. In an effort to attract more ski and snowboard aficionados, they turned to Creative Suitcase for a new website, posters and postcard series. It was enough to inspire Mackenzie to book a trip with them over the holidays and luckily she came back in one piece.
Your Name(s) and Title(s):
Phillip Cohen President and Owner
Where are you located?
Austin, TX 600 West 28th Street, Suite #102 Austin, TX 78705
Why Austin?
I came to UT in 1983 and I never left! It might sound like a cliché, but Austin has everything from the lakes, the hills and trees to live music, great nightlife, theater, and tons of restaurants. I feel Austin has a unique and special type of persona – it’s a vibrant, young, hip city that is very health and environmentally conscious not like larger cities. And its a great city to raise your children in!
How many people does your company employ?
3 full-time, 2 part-time, over 50 Campus Reps at universities across the country.
What does your company do?
We are a Ski Tour Operator specializing in College Ski Weeks, Alumni Ski Weekends, Corporate Ski Getaways and Family Vacations.
Who are your clients/customers?
The majority of our customers are college students ranging in age from 18-25 years of age. We have also begun offering our ski packages to families and corporations.
What has been your greatest success?
We began a College Ski Week trip to Breckenridge, Colorado, the first week of January 1989 for University of Texas Students. In our first year we took 75 students to the slopes. And now, 20 years later the College Ski Week has grown to close to 3,000 skiers and boarders from across the U.S. and the world (Germany, England, Japan, etc.).
Where do you find inspiration?
I love what I do. It does get a little crazy sometimes, but I love being my own boss and offering our customers a great product at a great price. My wife and my boys are always willing to help out and give me encouragement. My parents have also been big influences in my life, showing and teaching me that hard work and treating people fairly will pay off in the end!
Where do you want to be in five years?
I hope to be doing the same thing and teaching my sons the business. They already have the snowboarding part down!
Why did you choose Creative Suitcase?
After receiving a few different travel themed mailings from Creative Suitcase, I decided to give them a call. Rachel came to my office and met with my office manager and myself. I was really impressed with how she handled herself very professional, personable and knowledgeable. She was also a GREAT listener. She listened to me explain my business, my customers and my needs for about an hour. I felt very comfortable talking to her and she seemed like someone I could trust with our entire marketing campaign.
How did you hear about us?
I received a direct mail postcard a couple of years ago from Creative Suitcase. At the time we were not happy with the direction of our website and advertising and were in the market for a new advertising and web design company. When I read the Creative Suitcase postcard, I loved the travel theme and felt they could be a good fit with our marketing needs.
What results have you experienced with us?
Our main issue was that all of our marketing had a different look. We needed to consolidate our image with a more modernized logo, design and theme. Creative Suitcase designed an entirely new website with an updated reservation system, a series of marketing posters, direct-mail postcards and an updated logo that met all of our challenges.
Top 5 items in your suitcase (your favorites)
Travel destination: I love the mountains, but Im a Beach-Bum at heart. Belize, Rosemary Beach, FL & Acapulco (just to name a few). And Vegas, too!
Take home souvenir: A stupid t-shirt and some great memories
Web site: ubski.com, snow.com, hulu.com, cnn.com, espn.com, itunes
Logo/campaign/tagline: the Hut or maybe the Shack (JUST KIDDING) E*trade babies, What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas commercials, I Want My MTV and Avis We try harder taglines.
Austin original: Guerros, Fonda San Miguels, Alamo Drafthouse, Lake Austin
Posted by Jennifer
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Phillip Cohen,
President and Owner, UBSki
