WAGGIN’ TRAIN LOOKS TO TURTLE FOR NEW SAMPLING & AWARENESS TOUR
                   Healthy Dog Treat Samples are Getting Pet Consumers to Jump on the Wagon

     It was the mission of Waggin’ Train, a pet supplier based in Anderson, SC, to develop and manufacture healthy dog treats using meat as the only primary ingredient in their products. But how would the company position its brand as the leading supplier of all-natural jerky treats and promote its products nationally to pet consumers?] Among various integrated marketing approaches, Waggin’ Train understood the importance of making appearances at national events and retailers, where they could generate conversations with potential new customers. With stops at pet stores across the country, Waggin’ Train knew it was critical to find a solution to stand-out among other brands.

     Waggin’ Train contacted Turtle Transit to create a vehicle that would not only capture the brand’s western image, but consumer attention as well. The brand’s objectives were to sample their products, transport materials, and incorporate a vehicle design that would really drive brand awareness for the company. Turtle, a pioneer at building head turning vehicles, instantly utilized the western branding of Waggin’ Train for inspiration in their vehicle design. All of Waggin’ Train products showcase a dog mascot dressed up as a cowboy, riding a horse-drawn wagon.

     Turtle Transit was sure if they transformed a vehicle into a covered wagon, steered by the brand’s mascot, it would certainly turn heads at events and in transit. Turtle used a Ford F150 truck as the base vehicle, and fabricated a steel canopy over the truck bed. Using fabric, fleece, resin, and sculpting epoxy, Turtle fabricated a realistic wagon canopy to mount on the bed of the truck.

     To build the wooden frame for the wagon, rough pine planks were installed on the sides of the truck. Buckets, branded barrels, and shovels were installed on the wooden sides, completing the look and feel of the wagon. Turtle then hand-sculpted the brand’s mascot out of foam and fiberglass, and mounted it to a fabricated wooden seat on the roof of the truck.

     The vehicle’s branded graphic wrap, incorporated two horses at the front of the truck; to give the appearance they were visually pulling the wagon. Faux leather reins were fabricated on the vehicle and attached to the hands of the mascot. On the rear of the truck, a motorized faux dog tail was installed to wag during transit. Aluminum branded signage was installed on all sides of the vehicles, making sure the brand’s identity could be seen from all areas. Additional western elements were added to detail the truck for visual appeal. Starting in September, The Waggin’ Train promotional vehicle will travel to events and sample a selection of their dog treats to national pet consumers. 

                    THREE DIMENSIONAL BUS CAPTURES THE ATTENTION OF CONSUMERS
                         Comcast Transforms their Online World into a Mobile Experience

     This summer, Comcast and Turtle Transit partnered together on two mobile marketing programs, with the goal to transform the online world, “Comcast Town” into a physical reality for consumers to engage and experience. In July, Turtle designed a semi-permanent pop-up retail store, promoting the all new Red Sox on Demand access program at Boston’s very own Fenway Park. The three dimensional store incorporated the look and feel of Comcast Town, and generated impressive engagement with ball park attendees.

     In August, Turtle designed a second mobile program for the Comcast brand. In order to expand their footprint and reach consumers in the mid-west, Turtle transformed Comcast Town into an interactive bus, to promote Comcast cable services. Utilizing an existing vehicle that Comcast owns, Turtle Transit refurbished the shuttle bus, incorporating outdoor interactivity and head-turning dimension.] A critical design for this custom vehicle, was its graphics and use of three dimensional elements. Using the Comcast Town website, Turtle needed to design a vehicle wrap, transforming the online world into colorful large format digital graphics. With the amount of detail and characters Comcast Town showcases online, Turtle needed to capture the true imagery of the online world, and apply it to the exterior of the shuttle bus. This included redesigning elements of the online world, as well as creating a new Comcast Town character - a branded flying robot designed in-house at Turtle studios. Spot graphics of the NFL football franchise, Indianapolis Colts, were also integrated in the custom vehicle wrap.

     Turtle fabricated a vending window on the side of the bus, which when opened displayed a 42’’ LCD TV. On the rear of the vehicle, two billboard-like doors opened to display another 42’’ LCD TV. Branding was installed inside the billboard doors for additional Comcast product messages. The LCD TVs are used to demonstrate the complete Comcast product offerings, and to show promotional media while parked at various locations. Turtle fabricated a custom counter top, allowing Comcast staff to connect it the exterior of the vehicle and expand its outdoor footprint. The vending counter top provides Comcast the additional space to set-up two wireless laptops to access the internet. Turtle designed a branded table skirt to cover the counter top, hiding any unnecessary cables or components from consumers.

     Turtle also incorporated three dimensional signage and focal points into the vehicle program. Branded aluminum signage of the Comcast Town logo were installed on the front of the bus, while a custom fiberglass squirrel, a branded mascot of Comcast, was displayed on the roof. The custom bus will travel to a number of festivals, parks, and professional sporting events, promoting the services offered by Comcast.