The Four P's with One of My Favorite Places

This past weekend I visited Jay Peak in Jay, Vermont which is a skiing and riding mountain, yet there is so much more they have to offer. There is the Jay Peak Resort, the Tram House Lodge, The Ice Haus, and of course, the new Pump House indoor water park that opened in December 2011.  Jay Peak is one of my favorite businesses for many reasons, yet I'm mainly impressed by their dedication to their marketing strategy  ("Raise Em' Jay" is known for attracting many different generations and keeps people coming back) and their continual improvement. They are always looking for new ways to make their mountain a memorable experience for families. This summer the new Hotel Jay will be opening. It's amazing how many large projects they have in progress at once. Plus, they are consistently advertising their new features. Jay Peak reminds me of Starbucks in the way that they market their services. It's a complete experience. The real eye-opening part of my trip to the water park was that it wasn't the actual water slides and wave pool that made the difference, it was the people that made the trip what it was. I told a friend that it felt like "my whole Vermont family was on vacation together." It's a great feeling to be able to have a conversation with anyone and experience new things together.

Jay Peak truly analyzes the four P's of marketing which certainly shows in their commercials, website, and at the mountain itself. You may have noticed that I titled this entry using the word "places" instead of "companies." This is because when I was there I felt like I was on vacation, escaping the monotony of everyday life. Again, this ties in with the idea of selling you an experience. Their pricing strategy is also spot on in my opinion. When the park first opened they were drawing people in right away by offering a very low deal on both a water park and room package. Now, the price has gone up a bit since the word is getting out that it is well worth the $35 for the day (and kids are $15).

Overall, what I love is that everything about Jay has such a community feel attached to it. Even on their website they post a personal message each day talking about what's happening on the mountain. After my trip this weekend I was exploring their website and signed up to try and win a trip. By the next morning the owner had sent me a personal message back expressing his thanks for my visit and hopes that I would return again soon. Personally, I think direct communication and caring for every person that helps your business are such rare qualities in an organization, and it is very refreshing to see that he took the time to do that.

I would encourage you all to check out the Pump House and support all that Vermont has to offer!

I was unable to find their newest commercial, yet it is shown in many area movie theaters and on local TV stations, so keep an eye out for it!