Before online booking became the norm, Fun and More Rentals had a much simpler way to reach vacationers. A flyer tucked inside a rental home's welcome bag could put the company in front of a family before they even unpacked. That small piece of paper helped turn arriving guests into rental customers and shaped how the company approached vacation delivery.
The idea was simple: reach people where they were staying, make renting easy, and have what they needed waiting when they arrived.
A simple flyer in a vacation rental welcome bag helped Fun and More Rentals reach guests before they needed rental equipment. That early strategy shaped a business built around convenience, direct delivery, and being ready when vacationers arrive. Today, the same customer-first approach continues to influence how the company serves families across Anna Maria Island.
The Welcome Bag That Started the Conversation
In Fun and More's early years, vacation rental check-in was a walk-in experience. Guests arrived at the office, filled out paperwork, picked up their keys, and grabbed a welcome bag. That bag held dish soap, local restaurant flyers, and discount coupons.
The team at Fun and More spotted an opportunity. They asked the vacation rental company if they could include a flyer in each welcome bag.
"We went to the vacation rental company and said, 'Could we do a flyer?' In those days there weren't lockboxes. Everybody came into the office. It was a line out the door. You'd check in, you'd get a welcome bag with dish soap, local restaurant flyers, discounts. We put our flyer in there. And then the phone started ringing."
— Duane Gartman, Owner, Fun And More Rentals
That office managed 40 or 50 properties at the time. It wasn't a massive operation, but it gave Fun and More direct access to arriving vacationers.
Each guest left with a welcome bag, putting the company in front of a potential customer at exactly the right moment.
Why That First Partnership Worked So Well
The original relationship with the vacation rental company was a natural connection. The rental company knew which families were arriving, and those families needed gear. Fun and More had exactly what they needed, right when they needed it most.
The flyer gave guests an easy way to find that equipment. It also gave the vacation rental company a simple resource to recommend. A family crossing the Cortez Bridge to find a golf cart, beach chairs, and baby gear waiting at the door starts vacation easier.
The relationship runs on reliability and trust. When gear arrives on time, clean, and in good working order, the property manager looks great. When the delivery crew walks a family through the golf cart controls and recommends a favorite grouper sandwich, guests remember the experience.
That kind of service can strengthen relationships with both vacation rental partners and their guests.
From Free Delivery to a Better Arrival Experience
It's easy to forget that delivering vacation gear directly to a rental home was unusual twenty-five years ago. The thinking was straightforward. If guests were already relaxing at their vacation home, why should they drive to a storefront, load up gear, and drive back?
That simple approach became an important part of how Fun and More served vacationers on Anna Maria Island. The full history of the company's free delivery model is covered in Free Delivery on Anna Maria Island Started Here.
Today, the delivery arrives before the family has even unpacked. The golf cart waits in the driveway, the door stacks beach chairs, and the car seat is installed. Nobody has to solve a logistics problem on day one.
The crew does not just drop gear at the curb. They show up ready to help, walking guests through the golf cart controls and confirming the car seat is properly installed. They often answer questions before anyone even has to ask.
Consistency matters, too. Every delivery needs to arrive on time, clean, and ready for the guest's vacation. When that happens, the property manager can feel confident that an important part of the guest experience is being handled well.
The one-on-one safety briefing is part of every golf cart delivery. That handoff is covered in full in The Face-to-Face Golf Cart Handoff Families Remember All Week.
Ready to have your gear waiting when you arrive? Fun and More Rentals can deliver a street-legal golf cart and beach gear to the same rental home.
The Same Promise, 25 Years Later
What made that first flyer work was not the paper or the printing. It was thoughtful placement, right where it needed to be. The family was already arriving, orienting, and figuring out the week ahead. The welcome bag met them in that moment. The flyer said something simple: here's something that will make your trip even easier.
Today, the delivery arrives before the family has even unpacked. The golf cart waits in the driveway, beach chairs are stacked by the door, and the car seat is installed. Nobody has to solve a logistics problem on day one.
The chrome bike has moved on to new adventures, having served its purpose well. The flyer gave way to referral links and Google reviews. The vacation rental office with the line out the door is now a digital check-in. Yet the moment it all serves remains the same: a family just arrived on Anna Maria Island, and they need to start their vacation. Fun and More Rentals has been ready for that moment for twenty-five years.
Questions Guests Often Ask
How did Fun and More Rentals reach vacationers in its early years?
One of the company's early marketing opportunities came from a flyer placed inside vacation rental welcome bags. Guests saw the flyer as they arrived, giving Fun and More a direct way to reach vacationers before they needed rental gear. That simple idea helped establish a connection between the company and local vacation rental businesses.
How has the vacation rental welcome bag model evolved?
Early welcome bags gave vacationers local information and rental resources as they arrived. Today, that connection can happen through property-manager referrals, pre-arrival communication, and other digital channels. The format has changed, but the goal remains the same: make it easy for guests to arrange what they need before or when they arrive.
How does Fun and More Rentals work with property managers on Anna Maria Island?
Fun and More Rentals works with vacation rental companies to make gear delivery easier for arriving guests. Golf carts, beach equipment, and baby gear can be arranged before arrival and delivered to the rental home. The company shares more about these partnerships in The Anna Maria Island Vacation Rental Partnership That Simplifies Your Arrival.
Does the free delivery model cost guests anything extra?
Delivery and pickup are free across Anna Maria Island, including Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach. The Best Price Guarantee applies to the full rental rate. Gas carts include a refueling fee covering the cost of refueling at pickup, which is disclosed upfront.
Can guests add gear after the initial order is placed?
Same-day additions are available depending on inventory and delivery scheduling. Contact the team directly to confirm availability, and arrange a second drop-off if needed.
What makes Anna Maria Island well-suited for golf cart travel?
Anna Maria Island has a compact layout with beaches, restaurants, shops, and residential areas connected by local streets. Golf carts can be a convenient option for getting around, depending on where you're going and the applicable operating rules. Golf Cart vs. Trolley vs. Ferry on Anna Maria Island covers the transportation options in more detail.
How long does it take to get a golf cart delivered after booking?
Delivery windows are scheduled in advance and confirmed before arrival day. Weekday deliveries typically end by 5 p.m. Saturday deliveries run later, around 6 p.m., due to turnover volume across the island. Same-day requests depend on availability and are not guaranteed during peak season.
What are the driver requirements for renting a golf cart on Anna Maria Island?
Fun and More Rentals requires all golf cart drivers to meet specific rental conditions. These include meeting the minimum driver age, holding a valid driver's license, and carrying the required insurance coverage. Guests should confirm the current requirements before booking. Florida also has specific rules governing where and how golf carts may operate on public roads. See Florida's golf cart operating rules for details.
Arrive Ready Instead of Starting from Scratch
Booking before arrival makes day one easier. Fun and More delivers directly to the rental home and confirms the drop-off window in advance. The team also handles the golf cart briefing on-site, so guests know what to expect before heading out.
Have your golf cart and beach gear waiting when you arrive. Reserve a street-legal golf cart and get the week started right by booking before your arrival date.
