IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Just up the road from Tomberlin’s Leesburg, FL operations center you’ll find “The Villages”, perhaps the most famous after-retirement community in the country. With literally tens of thousands of golf cars in The Villages, it’s the largest single marketplace for golf cars in the country. Basically, if you don’t own a golf car you’re not considered a Villager. Unlike other large planned communities utilizing golf cars as a major means of transportation, what’s unusual in The Villages is the vast majority of the golf cars are still powered with gas. And true street-legal LSV’s are few and far between.
Just recently we had the good fortune of visiting one of the best retailers serving The Villages. When we pulled up in the parking lot on a Tomberlin E-Merge we were quite overwhelmed by the dozens and dozens of gas golf cars on full display throughout the property. Since Tomberlin only offers electric vehicles, all purpose-built to LSV standards, some of the golf car shoppers must have thought we were from another planet!
Yet as we observed the multitudes of Villagers coming and going through the golf car lot, it was quite pleasing to see how the E-Merge began attracting curiosity and interest. For those that dared to jump in and “drive a lap” in the E-Merge, it was obvious they enjoyed a riding experience they simply were not expecting. One thing led to another, and wouldn’t you know it, within 24 hours our friends at the retailer said they had a waiting list of customers anticipating the opportunity to test drive the Tomberlin E-Merge. Now that’s what we mean by “What a Fun Ride!”
BUILDING THE BEST LSV WITH THE BEST RETAIL DEALERS!
As an integral part of Team Tomberlin, we’re fortunate to have what we feel is the best dealer network in the country. Tomberlin dealers enjoy unique products that are distinctive from the crowd, generate incremental margin opportunities, and create honest partnering relationships. Many dealers are now featuring various electric products from golf cars to motorcycles to bicycles to lawn equipment. In todays world electric vehicles are a must have. Since that’s all we do, we pride ourselves on doing it very well.
FULL SPEED AHEAD IN 2023!
Since last gracing the front cover of Golf Car Advisor two years ago Tomberlin has continued their fun ride of incredible sales growth, game changing product innovation, and record consumer demand. In fact, you may be interested to know a recent industry update shows Tomberlin as the second fastest retailing recreational vehicle. With Disney World only 45 miles south of our Florida facility, it would only be appropriate to compare our success to one of those fun rocket ship rides to Mars. Maybe we are from another planet?
Despite today’s recessed economy, global unrest and whatever else we find concerning, rest assured Tomberlin is not circling the wagons. It is indeed an unprecedented period, but within this turmoil is a very real business opportunity we plan to seize upon. In fact, for the 2023 model year launched months ago, we continued our tradition of being the first major supplier to launch the 2023 model year. In doing so, Tomberlin introduced three new models to add to our portfolio of 16 total models. We introduced 17 new body colors to take our standard colors to 30, and we introduced several new custom designed seats thus offering six model-specific designer seat collections in 15 colors and patterns. And if that doesn’t fit the bill for the consumer, we’ve been known to custom paint and color match a customer’s RV, truck, trailer, boat, motorcycle, or yard toy!
DON’T SETTLE FOR “ME TOO” AND “THE SAME AS!”
As a Nordic Group brand, our electric vehicle heritage stretches back to 1947. Nordic’s history of innovation includes a long list of industry firsts that are today’s standards in electric vehicle technology. Starting with the first engineered polymer front body, solid state controllers and on-board charger, and first 48v battery system utilizing eight 6v batteries we’ve continued innovating. In 2006 Tomberlin was the first to offer 4-wheel hydraulic brakes and 3-point seat belts as standard equipment. Only recently have a few others done the same. And when we launched our popular electric power steering in 2018 and Bluetooth audio headliner in 2019 we anticipated most would follow. We’re still waiting. Last year we launched our first-to-market standard 210a Lithium package with a proprietary Limp-Home mode. As others try to catch up, Tomberlin will continue to set the pace in innovation. In fact, if you’re attending this years PGA show you’ll see exactly what we mean with our new EVOKE, the most technologically advanced electric bike on the market.
TOMBERLIN – THE INDUSTRY STANDARD IN SAFETY, PERFORMANCE AND STYLIING!
Since introducing the first Tomberlin street-legal, Low Speed Vehicle in 2006, all Tomberlin Emerge units were purpose-built to meet and exceed the unique safety, performance and styling requirements for on-road applications. While other brands repackage their fleet golf cars with accessories, we go farther by engineering LSV vehicles exceeding the strict federal LSV safety requirements. As a result, what Tomberlin considers standard equipment is often costly optional equipment on other manufacturers products. And unlike the large fleet golf car providers, all of Tomberlin’s energy and resources are focused directly on pure electric vehicles for the consumer market.
Additionally, we include automotive features like electric power steering, our Smart Park automatic parking brake, a locking steering column and unique key-set to avoid theft from copycat keys. And features like our powerful 450a drivetrain and unique 4-wheel braking system give a level of performance not found in other golf cars or LSV vehicles. Finally, we surround the rider with styling and features expected only in automobiles with the convenience, freedom and fun of a neighborhood electric vehicle.
A HIGH QUALITY PRODUCT IS JUST THE BEGINNING!
In addition to a premium quality product, Tomberlin is proud to have a talented, dedicated team of associates who “Go Farther” to support our dealers business development needs. Important and valuable features of Tomberlin’s dealer support include:
- We Gladly Answer Your Phone Call with A Client Care Associate Dedicated to Your Dealership
- We Provide Tier 1 and 2 Basic and Advanced On-Line Sales and Technical Training Modules
- We Staff a Dedicated Technical Hotline, with In-Field Technical Service Managers to Train Your Service Staff
- We Offer Floor Planning and Consumer Financing Solutions with Leading Industry Providers
- We Have Retail Development Managers for On-Site Retail Training and Continued Business Development
- We offer Various Sales Promotional Programs, in Include Quarterly Promotions, Dealer Salesperson Sales Incentives and Store Merchandising Opportunities
The retail golf car landscape is changing rapidly, and Tomberlin will continue to set the pace as Americas established leader in Safety, Performance and Styling. For all of those dealers serving their own local “Village” or ready to step up their game, we welcome your consideration and interest in joining our team. Tomberlin is perfectly positioned to help your dealership attract a new world of electric enthusiasts. We won’t be surprised when you find yourself saying “Wow, what a fun ride!”
Quotes:
“Tomberlin’s unique combination of professionalism and “family-feel” blends well with what we strive for at Etto. We have a very discerning customer base with extremely high expectations and Tomberlin consistently exceeds those expectations. Their industry leading focus on safety, performance, and particularly styling places them securely at the top of the LSV/golf car manufacturers, and as Etto grows throughout the Southeast and beyond, Tomberlin will be a key component to that growth. We are grateful and excited to continue this collaboration as it continues to mutually prosper moving forward.”
– John Finnegan, Director of Development, Etto Leisure Cars, Charleston, SC
“Our partnership with Tomberlin has elevated our Dealership to the next level with their cutting-edge design, power, comfort and efficiency plus the vast array of options for their cars. From their dealer representatives, to their headquarters staffing and mobile service team, we continue to be excited for our future success with Tomberlin in Lake Erie Vacationland!”
– Tony Corona, Catawba Island Carts, OH
