fbb cannot remember how many times he has written about the need of good publicity for bus services. Likewise the current misguided philosophy that "it's all on line" often make the chubby one less than content.
It is therefore a joy to be able to publish these pictures.
A warm welcome, bright publicity leaflets and occasional gifts for regular passengers.
Even cash prizes can encourage passengers to return with their fares clutched in their clammy mits.
Smart buses and ...
...smart staff engaging with community.
You would have to admit that all of this is much more appealing than the suggested "lack-lustre" style of incumbent Newport Transport. This is just a sample pf what FoxStar brought to its competitive service to Bettws back in December 2018. This blog has met Fox before and has paid the price!
Both the MD and his team have been quick to counter any criticism or any suggestion that all is not what it seems with their product and their excellent publicity. It would appear (from his twitter site) that the boss moves in high-powered circles ...
... and often appears in PR pictures with the great and the good of the bus industry (e.g. James Freeman and Giles Fearnley).
Foxstar announced a 12 minute frequency between Newport and Bettws.
The group web site lists a wide range of brands ...
The group web site lists a wide range of brands ...
... although it would appear that some of them are no longer trading under those names.
The Bettws route comes with a route name (TheOne) as used by the collapsed Wessex Bus in Bristol. Maybe that was an omen.
Dozens of bright and cheer pages have proliferated on Twitter and Facebook, although the latter has recently faded from use.
More on-line pictures show superb posters at the bus stops ...
... and there is even a hint of further expansion.
Even the foxy fares were competitive.
But, suddenly, things seemed to go wrong.
Hi everyone
We’re sorry to say that TheOne is operating a limited service.
Some of our buses belong to a leasing company, and without any warning their staff have turned up this morning and driven the buses to Newport Bus.
We’re not sure exactly the story behind it, but we believe the leasing company were worried because of Newport Bus’s precarious financial position (after several years of six figure losses). They’ve therefore colluded to take the small operator off the road to protect their bigger customer.
To make things worse, they’ve stolen our operator licence discs and ticket machines to stop us getting back on the road quickly.
We’re talking to the police and relevant authorities and we’ll keep you updated but in the meantime we’re very sorry for the inconvenience
The above appeared on Twitter but was soon removed.
Then came the news, suddenly and without warning that TheOne had ceased operating.
Ever gracious, Newport Buses agreed to accept Foxy tickets for a few days ...
Why the sudden collapse?
Readers can speculate; but NAT failed to sustain their competition in Bettws and it seems likely that there was simply insufficient patronage to sustain two operators - and, despite its dowdiness, Newport Transport had the financial strength to weather the storm.
It would appear that publicity alone isn't enough. And, if that publicity was concentrated on electronic "platforms", it may be that the demographic of Bettws simply wasn't ready for FoxStar's style of operation.
The City Fox Group web site is slightly more worrying.
Several of these brands simply do not exist and there is some doubt as to whether they ever did. Their current operation, according to the web site ...
... includes MyFirstMile in Bristol which ceased in December 2018!
The latest information is the the whole of the "CityFox Group" went formally bust last Friday with just the taxis in Bristol being run by the adminstrators. According to fbb's source the First Bus evening link service is Keynsham is still operating.
A correspondent has informed fbb that the Group Managing Director is currently "on holiday" in Spain.
Will another Fox re-appear? Only time will tell.
Tomorrow a Northampton update plus some other news.
More publicity matters blog : Friday 12th April
Just about sums Hand up. Thinks he is this major player in the industry, chucking vitriolic comments out left, right and centre across his social media platforms and duping the public into thinking he is massive.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that this idiot doesn't get the chance to hold a licence again. I'm shocked that someone as intelligent as Stockley even had a sniff of involvement, unless there was the offer of the old how's your father involved to keep things happy.
Great brand work, but about as much substance as a bucket of water. Let's hope this child goes away and stops affecting people's lives with fake promises about long-term job prospects, pensions and big bonuses. Leave the butties to passengers to the big boys, Hand. You couldn't run a bath, let alone a bus service.
"Just about sums Hand up. Thinks he is this major player in the industry, chucking vitriolic comments out left, right and centre across his social media platforms and duping the public into thinking he is massive.
DeleteLet's hope that this idiot doesn't get the chance to hold a licence again"
That reminds me of someone!
I would take issue with FBB's musings as to "It would appear that publicity alone isn't enough. And, if that publicity was concentrated on electronic "platforms", it may be that the demographic of Bettws simply wasn't ready for FoxStar's style of operation." As FBB concedes, there was plenty of conventional publishing of timetables and marketing on vehicles and at stops. That would suggest that such considerations aren't a silver bullet. Instead, this is good old fashioned mismanagement - a lack of understanding costs versus revenue. That, and an ego of someone who thinks they're heading some major group when the reality is it's a few taxis in Bristol (and how much was actually owned/leased), some hired buses, and a lot of bovine excreta.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is much of Cityfox has been smoke and mirrors. The taxi empire was always explained away by us "bus people" not knowing what it's like. It's more fluid and dynamic..... well, there were issues when the relationship with a firm in Plymouth turned out to be untrue, plus Bath, and other places too. Our blogger mentioned the Fareride one - again conveniently explained. In fact, our chubby soul has quite an entitlement in this instance to feel aggrieved having been taken to task by Messrs Hand and Stockley, however eloquent the latter gent was.
The bus side of things had various claims, teasers etc with Cornwall and Bristol both being "announced" - cue lots of shots of photoshopped vehicles, or the vehicle they had on loan from Wheelers (another misunderstanding there apparently) or a Scania that seemingly trundled around once a fortnight doing who knew what.
That's before you get onto the Hot Dog stall near the bus station that Rhys claimed to own and the Excite Venues "business".
In short, Rhys Hand is a person who appears to have a casual relationship with the truth. The trip to the beak will be interesting and here's hoping that this will be an end to things. Doubtless, for a person who communicates a lot, he'll have all manner of excuses as to how things have been misconstrued. I suspect the TC will see through that.
I’ve just noticed the promo stuff is all a rip off of First Kernow promo stuff just changed in colour and prices! Shapes, patterns and even wording match various First Kernow marketing!
ReplyDeleteTheres more than a whiff of homophobia in some of the comments today and yesterday. I trust FBB will be as judicious in deleting these comments as he is others.
ReplyDelete