OUR STORY:
FUN LIFESTYLES.COM
Profile on Larry & Joy Marshall
Fun Lifestyles firm markets toys for people on the go
Ashland, OR company sells accessories for recreational- vehicle users who have it all
[Story used by permission : Mail Tribune]
By GREG STILES
Mail Tribune
ASHLAND, OR — Spurred by their passion for motor home travel, Larry and Joy Marshall developed a business line known as Fun Lifestylesand a website, www.FunLifestyles.com. They market what they term "Fun & Functional Lifestyle Toys 4 Big Kids."
From portable spas to memory foam mattresses to pet strollers and rare art pieces, Fun Lifestyles "Toys 4 Big Kids" are designed for those who have everything — including lots of money.
The Marshalls say they saw the $13 billion recreational vehicle industry as the perfect platform for their pursuit.
"There are large companies such as Camping World that sell basic utility items," says Larry Marshall, 64. "But the industry is changing. People are buying these vehicles, spending from $100,000 to over $2 million, and they are using them differently than in the past. They want to have fun with them. Our challenge was to find something we could bring to the marketplace that hadn’t been there before. These are unique, innovative products which we personally enjoy using and which we want to share with others to enhance their travel-oriented lifestyles."
They moved to Ashland, OR three years ago from Malibu, Calif. Both in their second marriages, they met eight years ago and had vowed to have a "new life adventure every five years." While Larry Marshall ran his own executive search and management consulting firm, specializing in marketing and corporate communications, his wife, Joy, has been a special events and fundraising consultant for the Children’s Miracle Network and their over 175 children’s hospitals across North America, as well as a staff executive for childrens’ hospitals. The couple then wanted to develop a business that appealed to their shared interests.
The company has evolved quite nicely. In March, 2004, they created their initial company to market the products they wanted to share with other RVers, Elegant MotorCoach, and developed its Online boutique website, www.ElegantMotorCoach.com. In May, 2004, they found that their portable, travel-oriented products were the same products often sought by boaters, so they established Elegant Yachting, with its Online website, www.ElegantYachting.com. By June, 2005, after successfully marketing to RVers and boaters, they wanted to expand marketing channels into the broader consumer marketplace, to direct their products to people with all types of passionate lifestyle pursuits, so they consolidated the two companies and the individual websites to become Fun Lifestyles with its integrated website, www.FunLifestyles.com.
The Marshalls’ first project after launching ElegantMotorCoach.com — the company’s original name — was finding a Tempur-Pedic quality mattress for the motor home. They figured since they liked the Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattress, others would, too. But Tempur-Pedic didn’t think its $2,000 price point would be attractive.
The Marshalls then turned to a New York manufacturer to produce a similar quality product they sell for $999, under the Marshall's own brand-name, Elegant Comfort Memory Foam Mattress.
When a portable spa in the New York City-based Hammacher Schlemmer catalogue caught their eye, they figured it would tickle the fancy of other RVers, too.
Spa2Go, produced in Florida, has been a big seller among the motor coach and yacht set, as well as to the home owners and renters, via the Marshall's efforts.
The 250-gallon portable spa seats two to four people, sets up in 25 minutes and runs on a 110-volt power source. Its 127 micro jets shoot out water heated between 80 and 104 degrees, providing a vigorous massage. It's shipped to their customers in a compact, 2 foot square box, weighing only 60 lbs.,that inflates to over 6 feet. The spas are made of the same durable vinyl as river rafts and sell for $1,299. However, Fun Lifestyles discounts them at $899.
The company also introduced another portable spa model, which looks more like the expensive, traditional spas, with the same Power Pak as the Spa2Go, that seats four to six people. It is aptly named Spa-N-A-Box, since it has an 8 panel, simulated redwood frame, weighs only 80 lbs., holds 300 gallons of water and sets up in only 15 minutes. While it sells for $1,699, Fun Lifestyles discounts them at $1,499. Most traditional spas range from $5,000 to over $20,000, need costly installation, uses expensive 220 volts and you can't move them once they're in place. So, Spa2Go & Spa-N-A-Box are being welcomed by enthusiastic, cost-conscious buyers.
Larry Marshall spent three decades recruiting executives for his marketing and public relations executive search and management consulting firm, Marshall Consultants, Inc., based in New York City, which he founded as the first executive search firm in that emerging field. It also had western offices in Seattle and later in Malibu and Los Angeles, CA. They represented over half the Fortune 500 Companies, major advertising & public relations agencies, professional and trade associations, as well as prestigious nonprofit organizations. So it was no mystery how to sell their new find: He peppered major recreational vehicle and boating magazines with promotional material, bought prominent ad space and garnered great product publicity and product reviews for their featured products.
But that was just the beginning of the marketing campaign. Through their successful marketing publicity and advertising efforts, many RVers, Boaters and others became enamored by their unique, travel-oriented, portable products and wanted to see them personally. So the Marshall's took their own RV, a 36' Holiday Rambler Endeavor, towing their Land Rover, on a road-trip to exhibit them at selected, major venues. The couple, along with their "Kids", Toby, a Cockapoo canine and Sebastian, a Rag Doll feline, spent much of 2005 on the road, hitting major RV, boat and home shows around the country, building a lot of "buzz" for their products, as well as generating impressive sales.
First stop was the world's largest RV show, the Sports, Vacation and RV Show held each January in Quartzsite, Ariz., 100 miles east of Palm Springs, Calif. The show drew 150,000 "snowbird" visitors and over 50 of them bought portable spas for use while "boon-docking" in the desert and for their future travels.
On the road, Fun Lifestyles continued as a two-person show capable of handling Internet sales via wireless communications technology.
RV and Home shows outside Atlanta (Family Motor Coach Association's International Rally) and in Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla., and a boat show in Sarasota, Fla., followed before the humidity chased the Marshalls northwest. They recently completed their tour circuit of over 15 shows, building the awareness of their featured products and company brand. Now they want to stay put and enjoy living in their home base city of Ashland, OR.
"Boaters like Spa2Go because traditional spas would take up valuable space," Larry Marshall says. "They can use them on the boat and marinas as well as docks around the world."
Still, he says, 80 percent of the thousand-plus buyers over the past two years use the portable spas at home, too. Their versatile use and easy, low-cost maintenance is a major factor of their attraction to people on the move. Many buyers consider them to be the "world's most attractive, affordable and portable spas."
The couple operates out of their home, a Victorian-era residence which, in years past, had been the manor of a sprawling 160 acre prize-winning peach orchard. They especially enjoy showing visitors their beautiful Sculpture Garden, which is also the Marshall's other passion, "Gallery of Enchantment",a private sale art gallery. It features gorgeous figurative bronze and Carrara sculptures by major American and international artists and is located not far from Southern Oregon University. They have no plans to open a storefront.
"We enjoy working from our home and working the hours we like," Marshall says. "Even though we often end up working much harder than either of us did in our former lives, this has given us an opportunity to see the country and meet people."
The Marshalls have extended their offerings to over 40 products, including a series of Kittywalk Pet Strollers & Enclosures that give small to mid-sized dogs and cats all the benefits of babies and toddlers. Those sell from $89 to $299. They also market eGo Electric Cycles, Elegant Comfort Memory Foam Mattresses and an evolving list of "Fun & Functional Lifestyle Toys 4 Big kids".
The Marshalls are marketing directly to consumers, as well as via selected RV & Boating Dealers & their Accessories stores nationally. Some are using them as sales closing incentive premiums, as well as showcasing them as novel RV & boating accessories. Additionally, many campground park owners and managers have also been buying the products and rent them to camper guests, as an added amenity.
Fun Lifestyles' company Web address is www.FunLifestyles.com and the phone number is 541-488-3121.
Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail business@mailtribune.com.
Contact Information:
Larry & Joy Marshall
Fun Lifestyles™
Office: 541-488-3121 ;
www.FunLifestyles.com
FunLifestyles@aol.com
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