We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Barther a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

Our standard show of appreciation for all our customers is providing them with a S’mores Kit with the biggest marshmallows you’ve ever seen. Along with a “Thank you” bag with additional gifts from us and our sponsors. On top of that, we do try to add individualized touches so no two rentals are alike.

When customers rent our Watermelon Airstream, they will usually write a little blurb about the reason why they are renting it. When they do this, I try to find small ways to individualize their experience during their rental. For example, we recently had a family rent the Watermelon Airstream and told us it was a huge once-a-year family gathering along with their little girls birthday weekend. I was able to take that information and made a custom balloon stand with themed balloon decorations for the little girl and had it setup for when she arrived. The family absolutely loved it and was completely surprised by it. It’s those reactions that make the little touches absolutely worth the extra time to show customers we appreciate them.

Amanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, my name is Amanda and I am the CEO of Air Dream Stream. Air Dream Stream is provides a service that simplifies the camping experience while also making it unique and unforgettable. To do this, Air Dream Stream allows customers to rent themed Airstreams, with our flagship unit being a gigantic Watermelon. Inside of Airstream, the unit is customized to provide special touches to really ingulf the customer in the unique watermelon experience.

I have worked in the hospitality/customer service industry for over 15 years. I have always enjoyed making customers happy and making them feel like an individual instead of just another number or name. I have always made it my goal to get that “look on their face” when they realize I remembered them by remembering some detail about them. I also have a passion for all things DIY and interior design. I have a knack for doing all the small details that leave a lasting impression. We have sold many houses where I have put my small personal touches on things and everyone has loved them. I also have procured more tools than my husband, which most people find hard to believe.

So, with those skills and our love for the outdoors, we came up with Air Dream Stream. I was able to put my love for hospitality and love for unique details into the beloved Airstream. I get the pleasure of meeting all kinds of people and getting a smile on their face every time. Most importantly, I am able to making camping easier for all to enjoy.

Sure you can go rent ANY camper but it will never be a Watermelon Airstream with the personalized customer experience we provide. I am not just a “weekend warrior” where we own several campers and just dump them off where you need them and leave. I take pride and passion in what I do and what we provide for each customer.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

Starting this business was the biggest risk of all. We decided we couldn’t just buy any type of camper it had to be an iconic staple that everyone would know in the camping world. One that has a ton of history and hasn’t changed much since the beginning. Airstream, which has been around since about 1934 and has a huge following, is a very well-known brand. After much research and looking through all the inventory for the Airstream we wanted, we finally found one 6 hours away. Risk one, buying a brand new Airstream. One of the most scary things was signing on the dotted line for something so pricey and with inflation, it was terrifying.

Second Risk, probably the biggest, deciding what theme to use. So we had this brand-spanking-new Airstream and needed it wrapped nearly completely in vinyl. I started reaching out to all the local Vinyl Wrap businesses to get their feedback on possibilities. Most had a hard time wrapping their brains around what I had in mind and most mock ups I received showed they didn’t get the whole vision. This scared me more because the visual design experts couldn’t see the vision. We finally stumbled upon an amazing local artist who runs his own shop. He not only saw my vision, but he was also super excited about it (he liked to camp, too!). He never once tried to sway me in my Watermelon-themed ideas and together we picked the best Watermelon Rind. It was definitely an unsettling few weeks waiting for an update or a picture; but it was so worth the wait. What he did was magic! Seeing my vision as a reality only made it more of a passion to get the interior done and out on the road for everyone to see.

I decided on a boutique, trendy inside with watermelon touches. Everyone expected the inside to be an exploded watermelon and I believe that would have been fine. I leaned more towards a chic hotel style interior and so far it has paid off. There’s pinks, reds, golds and watermelon seeds throughout.

Our Airstream has been captured out at parks and on the roads and posted on multiple webpages and groups. The vast majority have loved it and have gotten a few good laughs. We do have some fellow Airstream-ers that aren’t a fan and don’t understand why we would do this to a camper. But at the end of the day, the risk we took and the vision we followed has paid off tremendously with all the smiles, laughs and rentals. Anyway you slice it, it’s still an Airstream (pun intended)

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building an audience hasn’t been extremely difficult do to just how visible our product is. It’s a HUGE watermelon. We did add a QR codes and a big “Rent Me” sign on the back of the Airstream. From the QR code, it will take you to our website (AirDreamStream.com) which in turn takes you to our rental platforms. This was a longer process to come up with as we wanted it clear that it was for rent we just didn’t want it to overpower or take away the theme of our Watermelon. We played with different designs and positioning of these elements to come up with the best way to advertise without deduction. Although, we are a newer company and still learning and growing, we will be adding more QR codes to help people navigate to us easier.

Being forever present on our webpages has also helped. I will periodically search for photos or posts about our Airstream. I will comment, reply or repost those and gain the attention from the audience that is replying or sharing it. Which in turn gains me a few followers and even some reaching out about renting it.

Contact Info:

• Website: Airdreamstream.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airdreamstream/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airdreamstream/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdreamstream?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
• Outdoorsy: https://www.outdoorsy.com/pro/watermelon