Friday June 15, 2001

MarketComm To Create GSA Web Site for Thomas Built Buses

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 15, 2001 -- MarketComm has been hired to develop a site to help representatives of federal agencies purchase buses from Thomas Built Buses of High Point, N.C.

Thomas Built Buses provides numerous products through the General Services Administration~s Buses All Ready to Buy (BARB) program. The program enables federal agencies to spec and buy school, shuttle and transit buses from Thomas at pre-determined prices with quick turnaround.

To help buyers determine which buses meet their needs and make the buy, Thomas plans to introduce a web site specifically for this audience.

"Virtually every component that makes up a bus is a specific contract item that must be specified by the buyer in the purchasing process," said Stern Dixon, MarketComm president. "Deciding what to buy can be a daunting task for a small agency with little experience in such purchases. This site is meant to help them navigate the task.

"The site will be a modified e-commerce site that will make shopping for a bus much like shopping for a pair of pants," Dixon said. "Buyers will choose the base model they want, then review and select the numerous options they want in order to configure a unique bus. Options only available with other options are specified to prevent buyers from requesting components that only come as part of a package.

"Nearly the entire site will be data-driven and feature a web-based administration tool to enable Thomas site administrators to update and modify the kit of parts over time," Dixon said.

Thomas will also provide government buyers with GSA program news, maintenance tips and service bulletins as well as offer a dealer locator.

The site is being developed jointly by MarketComm, Carolina Public Relations and Objectiv Studios. The project is expected to be completed in late summer.

MarketComm, LLC, provides marketing strategy, advertising, public relations and web development services to corporations and institutions nationwide..

For more information send email to info@mktcomm.com