“ we have strong cash-flow generating capabilities”
product for, then we are ready for it.“ Either way, I do believe we are in good shape and should be able to outperform the market. We are focused on giving our customers reasons to get excited about the business opportunities we have for them, and to help them make the most of the opportunities they can find for their riders from within our offerings.
" Our Team Sales Model, with ten teams based on the major riding markets, is a platform that allows us to provide the tools and resources our dealers need to grow. We are working with them to help develop social media content, for example, and provide meaningful product knowledge and sales training,"
Kenan Ikels, VP Sales
“ We spent heavily to improve our businesses in the second half of 2016, at a time when the decline surprised a lot of people, and we intend to continue doing so to make sure we are positioned for growth in a slow growth market.
“ The platform we have built means we now have the strategic muscle needed to succeed, and we will continue to invest heavily in our sales force and R & D programs- this is absolutely the time to be doing so.“ If funding that and other investments has meant temporarily curtailing expenditure elsewhere, then that is what we have done; if it has meant curtailing some expenditure altogether and changing aspects of how we were doing business, then we have done that also.” One issue that has been something that I personally have always wondered about,( and it becomes especially relevant from an international dealer’ s perspective) has been the complex matrix of channels through which a shop owner could buy a Kuryakyn branded product, for example. Sometimes there have been anything up to six or seven channel options available to a dealer, with domestic U. S. distributors competing with dealer direct sales and, internationally, pan- European and national distributors in Europe competing against all the above as well as each other. Does Graves see the merger of those brands with a major distributor such as Tucker Rocky as the moment in market evolution when that complexity is resolved?“ Well, Kuryakyn is a good example. The focus has to be on providing the best quality of dealer buying experience we can. It is all about service and inventory, and if a dealer gets that best by buying from us, then great – we want to be the best choice he can make. The power is in the dealer ' s hands: they can choose to buy directly from Kuryakyn, purchase through Tucker, or have
Rush Racing: National Sales Manager Adam Daniel, left, and CEO Terry L. Daniel:“ Biker’ s Choice is our exclusive distributor and they do an excellent job for us. The sales team are motivated and professional and get right behind our product line”; www. rushracingproducts. com
Cobra Engineering: The Yorba Linda, California based exhaust and accessory manufacturer has become one of the few aftermarket exhaust brands to make significant progress with sales to authorized Harley-Davidson dealerships under the leadership of former Cycle World Editor Camron Bussard; www. cobrausa. com
Avon Grips: Owner David Kelly says“ our dealers can choose from the widest range of advanced design and materials grips on the market- Air Cushion, Air GEL, Super Sport Air SS, Custom Contour and Memory foam with a choice of finishes, such as chrome and black anodized; www. avongrips. com
www. AMDchampionship. com
Battery Tender: The Deland, Florida based starters and battery maintenance specialist is on the expansion trail – company president Mike Lenahan, left, is seen here with North American VP Sales Clinton Green, center, and International Business Development Manager Alan Bradshaw. Check out the new upscale Battery Tender embossed tin packaging and merchandising displays; www. batterytender. com
Brass Balls Cycles: Former AMD World Champion production bike builder Dar Holdsworth is now developing a popular precision-machined parts program – many of the designs have evolved from some of the design ideas seen on his multiple award-winning bikes; Dar signed up with Tucker Rocky just the week before their Dealer Expo; www. brassballscycles. com
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