Dealernews

Slow Sales? Get 'Em in Gear

So it would appear that now more than ever, apparel and accessories sales are of growing importance. Yes, we understand that selling jackets, pants and helmets won't supplant new unit sales, but when bikes aren't moving and consumer financing is nil, what's another way to boost the bottom line? In preparing for this issue, I talked with Jennifer Robison, the Tucker Rocky national retail specialist who spends the bulk of her time inside dealerships explaining the finer points of merchandizing,...

The Merits of Merit Awards

Here's how you can compete for one or more Merit Awards: First, complete your Top 100 nomination form on the mBlast site (visit the Top 1 0O page on www.dealernews.com for a direct link to the entry/nomination process). Then, once you complete your Top 100 entry, you will be e-mailed a link to the Merit Awards entry form. It's a pretty short and straightforward process, and it's easier than you might think. Merit Award entries require you to answer one question and upload accompanying materia...

Iron Pony Motorsports

5436 Westerville Road * Westerville, OH 43081 Store Size (sq. ft.): 127,000 Showroom Size (sq. ft.): 15,000 Community involvement: Westerville Chamber of Commerce, Westerville Area resource Ministries (W.A.R.M.), etc.

Gear

ANSWER ION PANTS: Buckle and Velcro side adjusters for better fit. Pre-curved foam padded knee, leather inner knee, stretchable panels. Retail: $99.95. Answer Nova helmet: DOT-approved, removable helmet liner and cheek pads, multiple air intakes, rear exhaust vents. Retail: $89.95. Answer Ion jersey: Engineered raglan sleeve, full-cut pattern, multipaneled contoured collar, extra-long tail, flat-seam stitching. Retail: $29.95. Answer Ion glove: Durable, synthetic leather palm, thumb and thumb...

Gear Comes Alive at Dealer Expo 2011

Nowhere is this more evident than in the Apparel & Gear and the Helmet Marketplaces. The Apparel & Gear area will unite more than 40 manufacturers and distributors (at press time) of on- and off-road apparel, protective gear, and casualwear. A center stage will play host to several fashion shows throughout the expo weekend, and exhibitors will be conducting a variety of product demonstrations, as well as miniseminars on how to merchandise and sell these items in your store, and promot...

New in Merchandising

Orange County Choppers (of TLC's "American Choppers" fame) will open a Roadhouse in Newburgh, N. Y. The flagship Roadhouse will center around a bar and restaurant, with 165 beers on tap. A bowling alley and concert hall are also in the venue's planning stages and are slated for next year. Dainese's D-Store in Costa Mesa, Calif., hosted its first-ever ladies' night, bringing along guest speaker Christina Shook, author of "Chicks on Bikes." Shook offered a presentation on what it means to be a ...

Service - Tools and Shop Equipment

Irwin Tools has added straight and smooth jaw designs to its line of Vise-Grip GrooveLock Pliers. Both feature the brand's trademark press-and-slide button, which Irwin claims adjusts the lower jaw two times faster than any other adjustable tongue-and-groove pliers. Users press the button, slide the jaw into position, and release. Jaw capacity sizes range from 1-1/8 inches to 6 inches. Retail prices of the 6-, 8-, 1 0- and 1 2-inch pliers range from $1 0.99 to $19.99. The 16-inch pliers retai...