Marketing Your Parking

The parking business is very competitive. Facility owners and operators need to be proactive to compete for customers in this ever changing environment. If you are just sitting back waiting for customers to show up… they won’t!

Effective marketing can help ensure your parking operation is profitable. This blog post will briefly discuss creating a strategic marketing plan for your parking facility, using public relations to increase parkers and building relationships with social media.  

• Strategic Marketing Plan
• An effective plan will develop awareness of your brand/facility – who you are, what you do and why customers should use your service over others
• Your plan must identify the audience(s) you intend to target, activities you intend to undertake, a detailed budget of those activities, how you are going to measure success and who will be responsible for each task
• Public Relations
• Good PR campaigns can build relationships with your customers and community, create good perceptions towards your service and help introduce new services
• Communications vehicles include:
• Press releases, Articles, Newsletters, Customer Testimonials, Letters to the Editor and Event Sponsorship's
• Social Media
• Thinking of utilizing social media for your parking operation? The first step is to figure out where your customers are virtually socializing (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, Flickr etc.) The next step is to build a relationship with your customers using these channels
• Customers use social media to get news, promotions and to leave feedback – often in the form of complaints
• Social media is not about advertising, it’s about building relationships and growing communities. It’s about having a conversation and developing relationships with your customers
• Monitoring of and quick replies are very important when dealing with social media. These quick responses can quickly turn negative complaints into positive marketing

When PSI starts or transitions a new account, we implement a strategic marketing plan to maximize your facility’s capacity – and maximize your bottom line.  Some of our most successful marketing activities include:

• Online advertising
• News releases
• Referrals
• Newsletters
• Partnerships
• Social media
• Validation programs
• Frequent parker and commuter programs
• Coupon and flyer distribution
• Corporate discounts for volume purchase

PSI understands the marketplace for parking services. We will analyze your market and your pricing strategy, review your operational attributes, and continue to seek opportunities to maximize your revenue.

Contact us today to learn more. 

Cleveland Clinic CARES about Parking Symposium: August 5th-6th 2013

Do you CARE about parking? Join us for the “Cleveland Clinic CARES About Parking Symposium” on August 5^th to the 6^th, 2013.

At the symposium guests will interactively learn about the CARES model which profiles how to efficiently and effectively balance patients, employees, visitors and guests all while keeping "patients first". Cleveland Clinic's parking team operates 44,000 Spaces, 11 Garages, 116 Surface Lots, 50,000 Internal Customers and 24 Valet Locations. The keynote speaker will be Gordon M. Snow – Chief of Protective Services at Cleveland Clinic. There will be a guided tour of Cleveland Clinic, including The Heart Center (ranked #1 in the U.S.).

Location:

Cleveland Clinic

9500 Euclid Avenue

Glickman Tower

Cleveland, OH 44195

Register at: http://goo.gl/UBzdr

Questions? Please contact Jeremy Robinson at robinsonj@parkingsolutionsinc.com or 614.453.1507

PSI Checks Into A New Hotel

PSI began service at Courtyard by Marriott Cleveland University Circle hotel on Tuesday, April 30th. The new site, led by Neal Kaufman, is open 24/7/365.

Photo above: Valet, Eric Blackman

Welcome to PSI!

Parking Solutions Welcomes Duke University Hospital

On March 4^th, Parking Solutions began operations of all valet parking for Duke University Hospital. Valet parking is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

“We are proud of this new partnership,” said PSI President Aaron Shocket, “Our team at the front door will extend the outstanding care of Duke University Hospital to every patient, visitor and guest.”

Inaugural Safety Hall of Fame Inductees

Congratulations to the team at Nationwide Executive Car Wash, led by Site Manager Danny McCloud, for their induction to PSI's Safety Hall of Fame.

 

The team at Nationwide has an extraordinary 1,368 days (that's almost four years!) and counting as a safe work environment. This means there have been no accidents - either of cars or employees, no reports of damage to vehicles or any other unsafe activity at the site. McCloud attributes the success to a watchful eye, constant training and selection of the most-qualified team member to drive cars. He also ensures everyone continues to take pride in their excellence by posting a board at the garage featuring the number of days they've stayed safe (the team has the company's longest safety streak).

 

To celebrate their success, McCloud and rising star Jeremy Baugus received a monetary bonus and lunch with President Aaron Shocket and Safety Manager Rob Jones.

 

PSI's Nationwide Executive Car Wash service began in 2007. Our team provides car wash services with safety and excellence always top of mind.

 

Pictured above left to right is Columbus Area Manager Kevin Paris, Nationwide superstar Jeremy Baugus, President Aaron Shocket, Site Manager Danny McCloud and Safety Manager Rob Jones.

PSI's New Corporate HQ

Parking Solutions has a new home. Our new Corporate HQ address is:
 

Parking Solutions, Inc.

353 W. Nationwide Blvd.

Columbus, OH 43215

It's only a few miles away from our old location in the exciting Arena District.

Come for a visit and maybe we can catch a Columbus Clippers ball game - we're right across the street from Huntington Park!

For more information about PSI or directions to the new space, please click here.

Welcome Lima Memorial

PSI is proud to partner with Lima Memorial Hospital. We will provide exceptional care at the curb for patients, guests and visitors.

For more information about our healthcare valet services, click here.

PSI's finest receives Eagle Eye Award @ CMH

The Columbus Airport Police gave an Eagle Eye Award to Abdul Rahim today for helping capture a luggage thief at Port Columbus International Airport.  

PSI came out to support and honor Abdul - pictured above, left to right: Rudy Touvell (Business Development), Abdul (hero), Jesse Beckett (PSI Manager), Mary Tromp (PSI Regional Manager). Pictured below is President Aaron Shocket with Abdul and Jesse.

PSI Safety: Backing Techniques

One out of every four accidents can be blamed on poor backing techniques, according to the National Safety Council. PSI employees are acutely aware that poor backing can result in costly damage, serious injury or even fatality. Our staff is trained to recognize that backing accidents are always preventable if the driver is properly trained – and prudent.

Our drivers are taught that those who practice defensive driving will never take any situation for granted, but will observe and judge each parking requirement on its own. Even though backing into a particular parking spot a dozen times, PSI drivers look and evaluate the same spot each time to be sure of clearances and to make certain no new obstacles are in the way.

Tips for backing techniques:

• -      Practice, practice, practice
• -      Be aware of the big blind spot – use all your mirrors
• -      Move backwards at a “crawl”
• -      If needed, get out of the car and walk around to inspect any hazards
• -      Have a co-worker (or passenger) help you maneuver

Many accidents can be avoided if drivers practice defensive parking. For more information about Parking Solutions’ safe drivers, visit www.ParkingSolutionsInc.com. 

Parking Solutions New Ticket Sponsor

Parking Solutions is proud to showcase a new ticket sponsor for all Columbus, Ohio hospitality locations – Capitol Cadillac. When supporting the community at a special event or parking with PSI as a guest of one of our parking partners, make sure to check out the new tickets!

About Capitol Cadillac Formerly known as Hummer of Columbus, Capitol Cadillac still specializes in selling pre-owned Hummer H2's and H3's as well as a variety of other makes and models.  All inventory is pre-owned in which is acquired from trade-ins, lease returns, and local auto auctions. Please visit www.capitolcadillacs.com for more information.

Charge your car @ INDy airport

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers using the Indianapolis International Airport now have a convenient way to ensure a fully charged ride home, with the installation of three new GE Energy EV charging stations in the airport parking garage. GE WattStation(TM) Wall Mount EV charging stations can be used at no cost to travelers who use the airport's valet parking services. (read more here)

CurbsideVALET available at Indianapolis International Airport

As if flying these days doesn't include enough headaches, don’t let parking your car be one of them! As the temperature dips lower and the days get shorter, you might be wondering whether there is a better way to streamline the check-in process at the airport. This year Parking Solutions has introduced the CurbsideVALET service at the Indianapolis International Airport. For those customers that prefer to drive directly to the garage, we still have our Express Valet service located on Level 3. Don’t worry if you don’t live in Indianapolis, CurbsideVALET is also available at Port Columbus International Airport and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Our experienced valet's are ready to whisk your car away to safety from the curbside of the Departures terminal, saving you valuable time and energy.

In the Running for OSU Parking

Check out this link as Parking Solutions is part of a team in the running to lease the school’s parking operations for up to 50 years.

(Link courtesy of The Columbus Dispatch)