Fitness enthusiasts support Fortress Half Marathon through ‘pop up’ promotion

Fitness enthusiasts received a refreshing surprise recently when a leading fund manager “popped up” up at popular exercise spots around the island to encourage them to support the upcoming Fortress Half Marathon.

 

Fortress Fund Managers successfully ran its first-ever Random Acts of Fitness (RAF) promotion in the first two weeks of September by greeting exercise enthusiasts and encouraging them to take part in the Fortress Half Marathon which comes off on December 4.

 

Taking to Browne’s Beach, Bay Street; the Garrison Savannah; Garfield Sobers Sports Complex; and the Richard Haynes Boardwalk in Hastings, Fortress’ RAF team gave away random items related to fitness including branded fruit, water, granola bars and t-shirts. The team also shared tips on preparing for the half marathon and provided a link to a training guide on its website. 

 

The promotion was part of a wider initiative by Cave Shepherd & Co. Ltd., the lead sponsor for the Run Barbados Marathon Weekend in December. Fortress is part of the Cave Shepherd group of companies. 

 

Fortress’ Marketing Manager, Kim Howard, said the promotion was well received. “We enjoyed the interaction with the scores of runners and walkers who appreciated our outreach and found it fun. We were also able to raise awareness of the Fortress Half Marathon and the Run Barbados Weekend as well as our mutual fund offerings,” Ms. Howard said. 

 

She added that just as completing a half-marathon required discipline and preparation, so did saving and investing for retirement. “That’s what Fortress is all about - disciplined value investing for the long term.”

 

On the last day of the promotion at the Richard Haynes Boardwalk in Hastings, in addition to fruit, water and t-shirts, fitness enthusiasts interacting with the Fortress team also received complimentary vouchers for smoothies at Sips Smoothie Bar. Founder and Creative Director, Corey McClean, himself an avid runner, was pleased to participate. “I loved the whole idea and was definitely on board when Fortress approached me.”

 

Exercise enthusiasts thought Fortress’ outreach was a great idea. “Amril”, a regular at the boardwalk, described Random Acts of Fitness as a “good and motivating” idea. Her walking partner, Valerie Gilkes, also enjoyed interacting with Fortress. “It’s a good thing they are doing because people will get to know more about the company. And the treats were good!”