Case Study: Revolutionising In Store Radio for TeamSport Indoor Karting

Revolutionising In Store Radio for TeamSport Indoor Karting

Introduction

In this case study, we’ll explore how Sonair partnered with TeamSport Indoor Karting, the UK’s largest indoor karting company, to deliver custom in store radio services that enhance their customers’ racing experience. We’ll cover the challenges faced, our tailored solution, and the outcomes of the collaboration.

About TeamSport Indoor Karting

Founded in 1992 in Guildford, Surrey, TeamSport has grown from its modest beginnings to become the UK’s largest indoor karting company. Known for its innovative multi-level tracks and top-of-the-line karts, TeamSport operates 35 tracks across the UK and five in Germany, attracting over 1.3 million visitors annually. With 20 electric and 20 petrol tracks, the company combines thrilling karting experiences with excellent customer facilities, including food and beverage options and additional leisure activities. TeamSport’s commitment to offering the ultimate indoor karting experience is fueled by its 1,000-strong crew, ensuring every race is unforgettable.

Challenges

Before partnering with Sonair, TeamSport Indoor Karting faced significant challenges in managing their in-store audio across multiple locations. Without a centralised solution, they relied on either terrestrial radio stations or manually curated playlists sent from head office to each site. This process required substantial manual intervention and resulted in inconsistent audio experiences from one venue to the next.

Some of the key challenges included:

Manual management and inefficiencies: The head office team and site managers were responsible for updating playlists, a time-consuming task that often led to inconsistencies. Emails with updates were sometimes missed or forgotten, leaving certain venues playing repetitive or outdated music, which negatively impacted the customer experience.
Lack of control and enforcement: The existing setup allowed staff to override the audio system, resulting in some locations playing uncensored music or streaming from personal devices. This not only led to inconsistency but also posed a risk to TeamSport’s brand image by exposing customers to music that didn’t align with the company’s values or environment.
Missed promotional opportunities: TeamSport lacked a way to effectively communicate offers and events through in-store audio. Without a centralised system, they were unable to promote key messages, such as return vouchers, track openings, or venue upgrades, missing out on potential up-selling opportunities.

The Solution: Sonair Radio – A revolutionary in store radio service.

To meet TeamSport’s need for a consistent, engaging, and fully managed in-store audio experience, Sonair provides a powerful, industry-grade solution: Sonair Radio. Unlike a typical playlist or standard in-store radio service, Sonair Radio operates as a real radio station, delivering uniform audio across all of TeamSport’s locations with minimal manual intervention.

Our solution includes the following key features:

Standardised music and branding: Sonair Radio delivers uniform music output across all TeamSport venues simultaneously. We curate high-energy playlists that align with the dynamic atmosphere of indoor karting, updating the music weekly to stay in sync with current trends and customer preferences. The system also features branded jingles, sweepers, and custom advertisements, ensuring a consistent brand presence.
Hands-off operation: Understanding that TeamSport prefers a hands-off approach, Sonair manages all aspects of the radio service, from content updates to scheduling. Offers and promotions, such as return vouchers and new track openings, are seamlessly integrated into the radio stream. Sonair also provides full audio branding and production services, ensuring that each message aligns with TeamSport’s brand identity.
Granular scheduling control: Our industry-grade playout system allows for precise control over the music content, with the ability to pre-select different music vibes for specific days and times. This ensures the right atmosphere is created, whether it’s a busy weekend or a quieter weekday.
Flexibility for local customisation: While Sonair manages the majority of the content, we also provide TeamSport with the ability to stop the radio stream locally when needed. For instance, staff can use Sonair Radio’s downloadable software to pause the stream and play pre-uploaded content, such as birthday messages or special announcements, offering a touch of personalised engagement at each venue.

With Sonair Radio, TeamSport is able to fully standardise their audio experience across all sites, reinforcing their brand, enhancing the customer experience, and allowing for effective promotions — all without adding to their team’s workload.

Hear It...

Don’t just take our word for it. Take a listen to TeamSport Radio now to discover just how amazing in store radio can truly sound.

Implementation

The implementation of Sonair Radio at TeamSport began with an in-depth discovery phase. To capture the true essence of the brand and karting experience, the Sonair team spent time at various TeamSport locations, immersing themselves in the atmosphere. We also analysed their YouTube videos, social media channels, and brand imagery from their website to ensure that the in-store radio reflected the energy, excitement, and values of the TeamSport brand.

Once we had a clear understanding, we crafted a demonstration system that included custom jingles, sweepers, and advertisements, all tailored to TeamSport’s dynamic environment. After an initial 30-day trial at one site, the full rollout began.

With audio systems already in place at all venues, the installation process was straightforward. Sonair Radio’s downloadable player software was remotely installed across all locations, and the entire network was operational within two weeks. The only challenge we faced was reaching site managers to initiate the installation process. Once contact was made, the rollout was seamless.

To ensure smooth adoption, we provided comprehensive training to the TeamSport contacts responsible on how to use the Sonair Radio portal. Additionally, instructional videos were circulated to site staff, covering the basics of the player software. Sonair continues to offer full support through a dedicated ticket system and a WhatsApp support service, ensuring that any issues or questions are resolved quickly and efficiently.

Results and Outcomes

The implementation of Sonair Radio has had a significant impact on TeamSport, improving operational efficiency, enhancing brand consistency, and boosting customer engagement.

Operational Efficiency: One of the standout benefits of Sonair Radio is how it has streamlined audio management across all TeamSport locations. The system is entirely hands-off, freeing up valuable time for both head office and site managers. TeamSport no longer needs to manually manage playlists or worry about inconsistencies in audio content. The only involvement required from TeamSport is to inform Sonair about new promotions, which are quickly integrated into the radio stream.
Customer Engagement:While there is no specific data on promotional success, TeamSport’s regular updates to their advertisements suggest that they find value in using Sonair Radio to promote new track upgrades, events, and special offers. The ability to reach customers with targeted audio promotions has allowed them to drive traffic to new experiences and locations. In fact, Sonair has received inquiries from TeamSport customers who were impressed with the service and wanted to implement similar solutions for their own businesses.
Brand Consistency and Staff Satisfaction:Sonair Radio has delivered a uniform audio experience across all of TeamSport’s venues, reinforcing the brand identity at every location. TeamSport’s management and staff have expressed their satisfaction with the service, praising the curated music selection and the overall sound quality. The radio station has become a key component of their brand, contributing to a consistent and engaging atmosphere across all sites.

Next Steps

Sonair Radio has become an integral part of the TeamSport experience, providing a seamless, fully-managed in-store radio service that enhances the brand’s atmosphere while freeing up time for their staff and management. The consistent audio output across all venues, combined with the flexibility to promote new events and offers, has helped TeamSport maintain a strong brand presence and engage customers more effectively.

As TeamSport continues to grow and expand, Sonair is committed to supporting their future needs. We’re excited to explore new opportunities for collaboration, whether through additional content customisation, expanding into new locations, or introducing even more dynamic audio solutions to further enhance the customer experience.

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