Have You Driven A Ford Lately?
By Laurie Beth Jones
Yesterday I test drove the new Ford Transit Connect, which is might I say a darling design and keen concept small delivery van. It looks like a PT Cruiser married a small half bus/truck. See photos at www.ford.com “Transit Connect.” Having been successfully used in Europe for several years, it is now invading the shores of the United States. As a delivery van made especially for small business owners, and priced around $22,000, the Transit Connect is selling like hotcakes.
It handles well, has a basic interior, and has options for detailing the inside with every configuration of drawers and bins you can imagine. The demo video shows it in use with a produce company, a child home protection company, and a kayak company, which is what drew me in. In the back of my PT cruiser I have a “bin” for my journal stuff, a “bin” for my swimming gear, a “bin” for my biking gear, and a bin to hold some of my smaller bins. I have a bin for “dry cleaning” and a bin for “Donations.” I also have a bin for “library books.”
While this may sound almost compulsively organized for a wind, I assure you that it is not. It is an attempt to organize the stuff of my life, and keep it with me in mobile fashion. Who knows, for example, when I may get an urge to create a leather journal at the beach? And right after that ride my bike and then go for a swim? Having my things together with me allows me to live a larger life, I say to myself. It also saves times and energy. So….why not a delivery van? Then I could get bigger bins and buy bigger toys, or even maybe set up a small office in it, like Georgia O-Keefe did when she took out the backseat of her car and turned it into a mobile art studio.
(My therapist appointment is coming up, I assure you.)
The Transit Connect brochure says it is an ideal van for florists, caterers, dry cleaners, handymen, etc. The salesman who showed it to me says he is thinking about buying one to set up a mobile embroidery business on weekends. He and his wife could take it to trade shows in the area and do on the spot custom embroidery. The possibilities are ENDLESS!
Besides all that, I really like the way it looks. It is different. I could do a full graphic vehicle wrap and then have a traveling billboard, PLUS having all my goods with me. When I shared this with friends at dinner one of them asked “Are you sure you want people to know what you do, and where you live?”
I paused. First, I would have to figure out exactly what I do, and what I would put on it. “The Path. Find it. Live it. Love it.”
“How is my driving?”
Or “LBJ Journal Making. None for sale.” Or “Author driving. May make sudden stops or u-turns.”
All I am telling you is that Ford is on to something here. Like the millions of small business entreprenurs who can do it all, wherever they are.
Now, if they just make sure the brakes work, they may have themselves a winner.
What could you use a delivery van for?
What graphic would you put on it?
Laurie Beth Jones
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