Lifted Trucks, a vehicle dealership specializing in customized used trucks, struck gold when A-list actor Kevin Costner commissioned a build from their shop, as detailed in a report by the Phoenix Business Journal. The partnership was a dream scenario for the Valley-based company, declared the 2021 ACE Rookie of the Year by the same publication.
According to co-owner James Pillor, Kevin Costner decided to reach out to the Lifted Trucks team after a recommendation from a friend and some online research. This collaboration has since amplified the company's profile. Still, it brought Pillor's operation, boasting locations in Mesa, Glendale, Phoenix, and Scottsdale, and a journey of 30 years worth of customer testimonials, squarely into the limelight. “The exposure has been great. Kevin's an awesome human. Getting to know him was easy because he was a truck enthusiast, so he spoke our language,” Pillor told the ABC 15 News. It wasn't just a joyride; the partnership with Costner has paved the way for significant marketing reach.
Pillor elaborated on the specifics of the build, underlining that the truck was tailored to suit Costner's outdoor lifestyle in Southern California and Colorado. The actor, known for his roles in "Field of Dreams" and television series "Yellowstone," also has plans to utilize the rugged vehicle on the set of his upcoming film, "Horizon," which he will produce, direct, and star in. Pillor indicated, Costner communicated his intent to use the truck to navigate through the demanding terrains of the West during location scouting for the movie.
The collaboration's zenith saw the Lifted Trucks team fly out to Costner's home in Santa Barbara, California, to document a testimonial with the actor himself. “Lifted Trucks kind of came to my rescue, a little bit, because they understood what I was going for,” Costner expressed in the video shared on the company's Facebook page. Such personal endorsement from an Oscar winner illustrates the high regard in which the company's work is held. This encounter has resulted in a noticeable surge in Lifted Trucks' visibility online, directly translating to increased engagement and sales.
Pillor, who has been steering the Lifted Trucks brand since 2015 along with business partner Dustin Desmarteau, is optimistic that Costner's testimonial will ignite further opportunities for the enterprise. Pillor envisaged that the celebrity endorsement would help introduce their craft to off-road enthusiasts in locales where they do not yet have a dealership, but hope to in the future. “So I think this is a great first introduction for people that may have not found us before … letting them know that we’ll deliver right to your front door,” Pillor articulated during an interview with the Phoenix Business Journal. The venture's trajectory seems to be scaling new heights, riding on the back of both industry acumen and now, star-powered acclaim.
