About

It is more probable to be struck by lightning multiple times than live through the
life I have so far. If I had begun playing the lottery long ago, with my luck, eventual retirement would not be something concerning me, even with the rate of inflation and staggering economy. I have lived through things nobody expected, experts included. The numerous terminal diagnoses’ then the aftermath including re-learning of the primal operations of living, and then finally the addiction to adrenaline, among other things complicated my life. As I see it, if I wasn’t meant to survive this life, I would have been gone long ago. Even angels fall.

 

Today, as a bright, beautiful young woman and a survivor of extreme odds, incurable
disease, addiction, and physical malady; I have learned to make little changes where I can to contribute to goodness and morality where I may. Outlined below is how I view Tank Girl Army including why and how I would like to be in contact with you. Your enterprise, which is hopefully your vocation also, could have a direct impact on our companies’ successes:

 

Tank Girl Army is the first attempt to accessorize the male driven transportation market by marketing a positive image of femininity. The message is one of three-fold empowerment: encouraging stimulation of local economic infrastructure and non-profit organizations while articulating a forceful positive message in the representation of the feminist characters of the product design. I want to take back tact in advertisement, live as an example showing others how to persevere
when they have an idea, and most importantly; I want to cultivate more women to become interested in the male driven transportation and motorcycle industry.

 

I would like to know what your niche is, what your interests are, and where in particular you can see Tank Girl Army in the local and larger marketplace. Answering questions you may have would not only help me see my product line more clearly, it would help me expand my audience by having the opinions of those who see an expanding market in alternative transportation as something of value.

 

Thank you for taking time to review the “about us” section. Below are statistics from Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services and an analysis:

 

Motorcycle Endorsements in MN

 

 

Year

Male

Female

Total

%
Male on Avg

%Female
on Avg

1990

272,381

19,683

292,064

93.3

6.7

1991

276,753

19,871

296,624

93.3

6.7

1992

271,289

19,433

290,722

93.3

6.7

1993

272,102

19,654

291,756

93.3

6.7

1994

272,973

20,191

293,164

93.1

6.9

1995

274,651

21,198

295,849

92.8

7.2

1996

275,109

21,993

297,102

92.6

 7.4

1997

276,042

22,821

298,863

92.4

7.6

1998

278,071

23,921

301,992

92

8

1999

281,520

25,489

307,009

91.7

8.3

2000

284,887

26,938

311,825<

91.4

8.6

2001

288,791

28,630

317,421

91

9

2002

296,028

31,576

327,604

90.4

9.6

2003

301,674

34,188

335,862

89.8

10.2

2004

309,196

36,973

346,169

89.4

10.6

2005

314,148

39,312

353,460

88.9

11.1

2006

318,757

41,386

360,143

88.5

11.5

 

 

 

 

Avg
% Dif

Avg
% Dif

AVERAGE

286,999

27,098

332,352

-4.8

4.8

 

If the numbers of women riding motorcycles has increased by about five percent, as the number of men riding motorcycles has decreased by the exact same amount (rounded to the closest tenth) consistently for the past 16 years, why has the market for motorcycles remained male dominated and characterized by ridiculously dense and tactless designs? This is what TGA wants to change.

BICYCLE TRAVEL

Deterrents

 

2007

Weather

Male (%)

Female (%)

Distance

72

81

Routes

56

65

Road Safety

44

51

 

43

60

 

 

 

An independent study done by Laila Davis and Cali Jirsa, with Dames on Frames: A Feminist Bike Zine, surveyed 230 people of Minneapolis and St. Paul asking what things deter them from bicycling, how to change these things, and why they choose to bike.

 

Women were twice as likely to say skill was a major deterrent, 63% of women surveyed felt this way, in fact.

Tank Girl Army advocates riding a bicycle and trying other non-traditional modes of transportation. By creating a new and appealing market, we specifically hope to see people getting out and learning about alternatives in transportation.

 

Often, that first step of getting out the door to learn about new transportation is the most difficult; we are here to give you an extremely firm push.

 

And women were four times as likely to find image to be a major deterrent, at 38%

Tank Girl Army is here to change image issues by creating and encouraging accessories that present women as strong and confident, alongside the men who have claimed dominancy in the transportation industry for so long.

 

-Women found harassment more of an issue by 10 percentage points (30% total)

In presenting images and ideas of strength among women, Tank Girl Army hopes the consumer is able to internalize the message of strength TGA wishes to create, allowing customers to see the strength within them.

 

I’ve been an avid motorcycle rider for four years now and I have had difficulty finding motorcycle accessories that are complimentary to women who ride. As I was in the process of a (sweet) custom paint job on my motorcycle, I saw a wicked poster on the walls of the University of MN’s College of Art and Design and decided that I wanted this artist to design an image to place on my motorcycle tank.

 

Ashley Hay is the artist for Tank Girl Army. We were complimented excessively on the finished product, the tank protector, so we decided to make our product available to the public. Ami Morgan came on board to create the website for the company. Ashley, Ami, and I are very excited to see how our collaboration of talents will turn out.

 

Tank Girl Army is a retail company and our products are to be empowering accessories for the “urbane” motorist who is taking advantage of intermodal transportation. This is including, but not limited to transportation via motorcycle, bicycle, automobile, and truck.

 

Tank Girl Army products have positive messages of strength and TGA hopes to encourage a positive market for those who wish to use new and intermodal transportation. It’s good for the environment, good for decreasing traffic, and good for providing a healthy dose of feminism (yes, a ‘healthy dose’ is possible).
Giving back to the community through volunteerism and non-profit donations shall ensure that a consumer’s empowerment not limited to possession of the product, but also in the process of purchasing from Tank Girl Army.

Thanks,

Sarah

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