The company is also leveraging online and social media tools like Facebook to reach a new audience as it continues its growth as the leading downstream energy distribution company.
(Click here to view Gulf's Facebook page.)
The first promotion, "Making Green Miles," is a social networking [image-nocss] program that offers the public a forum to go online and share ideas about what they do to offset their carbon footprint. For every "Green Mile" entry received at www.gulfoil.com/makinggreenmiles, Gulf will plant three trees, with the help of American Forests. Planting three trees offsets the carbon footprint associated with one fillup of gasoline for an average car.
In August, the 10 most popular entries with online visitors will be entered into a random drawing, and one of these entries will be chosen as the grand prize winner of a $250 Gulf gas card and have 250 trees planted in his or her name.
Another part of the program involves the "Mile Makers" team having a presence on Facebook. Visitors learn about the team's appearance at upcoming public events, concerts and grand openings. The "Mile Makers" team is a group of summer interns that goes out across the Gulf Oil footprint and conducts outreach to the public during the summer. They encourage drivers to Make Green Miles, as they distribute promotional items such as recycled Frisbees, reusable shopping bags, water bottles and eco-friendly driving tip magnets.
Gulf is also continuing its "Get Spotted" promotion, which began in July 2008. Drivers that place a Gulf decal on their cars (available at Gulf stations) and register at www.gulfoil.com/getspotted are eligible to win a $20 Gulf gas card if "spotted" by a member of the promotion staff. Drivers also are entered into a pool for a monthly drawing of a $500 Gulf gas card. Since the promotion began, 400,000 decals have made their way into the marketplace, and Gulf has given out thousands of dollars in gas cards.
Finally, Gulf is promoting its Commercial Fleet Card with no fees for 2009. Gulf sites participating in the program will receive signage and Fleet Card applications in July. The promotion will run from July 15 through the end of 2009.
"We know there are many choices when buying gas. These programs are designed to bring our 100+ years of name recognition and brand awareness to a new generation of drivers and ultimately build business for our retail outlet partners," said Rick Dery, Gulf Oil's senior vice president of branded marketing and sales and chief marketing officer.
Gulf Oil, Framingham, Mass., is one of the Northeast's largest wholesalers of refined petroleum products. Gulf Oil distributes motor fuels through a network of more than 2,400 Gulf-branded stations, 12 proprietary oil terminals and a network of more than 50 other supply terminals. Gulf Oil supplies heating oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel and kerosene to these branded retail outlets through its Gulf Oil brand. Through its unbranded subsidiary, Great Island Energy, Gulf Oil also supplies petroleum products as well as risk management and financial services to industrial, commercial and independent retail firms.
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