Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/511164
OPINION FROM THE EDITOR www.PowersportsBusiness.com Powersports Business • May 25, 2015 • 11 June 1 is just around the corner, and that means it's time for all of us in the northern climates to shake off some iffy-at-best May weather patterns and prepare for the heart of the summer selling season. And because we want you to be able to devote your time and energy to "sell, sell, sell" when the calendar turns, we want you to make sure to complete your Powersports Business Power 50 dealer application on or before June 1. That's right, the Power 50 application deadline is June 1, so log on today to www.powersportsbusiness.com/power-50 to complete the application. As you know, the Power 50 showcases the top- performing dealerships in North America. Of course, for us as an editorial staff to determine which 50 are the most successful, we ask for a handful of data points, along with some insight into how and why you approach various segments of your business the way you do. We're thrilled with the interest in the third annual program, but we're anxious to see how your dealership compares to the others. So if you don't mind one more request, get started on the application today. The days are ticking until the June 1 deadline hits. Powersports Business will once again announce the Power 50 dealers at AIMExpo in October. We'll put together another memorable event, count- ing down to announce the No. 1 dealer in North America, as well as the top five and select Best in Class Award winners. Power 50 dealers will be able to share their ideas and experiences that make their dealerships the successful retail locations that they've become. And after we've completed the cel- ebratory event exclusive to Power 50 dealers, their staff members and families, we'll provide you with plenty of marketing tools to help promote your deal- ership. First, of course, we'll provide some swag at the event itself. The plaques that go to the Power 50 winners are highly appreciated by the winners, and some enter the Power 50 with the goal of adding to their stash of hardware. In the weeks following the event, we'll provide a press release that announces your dealership's new Power 50 status to your local media. And, of course, there will be website buttons and window clings and other interesting promo- tional items that let your local customers know that your dealership is among the elite. We have plans this year to include the Power 50 winners in an advertisement in consumer motorcycle publications, helping you leverage your status even more as the 2016 riding season gets underway. After all, what riding enthusiast customer wouldn't want to make their next big purchase at your Power 50 dealership? PSBI@AIMEXPO TAKING SHAPE … While you're in Orlando attending AIMExpo and the Power 50 Awards Dinner (remember, winners only, so apply today to be considered!), you'll want to make plans on Oct. 15-16 (Thursday and Fri- day) to attend the Powersports Business Institute @ AIMExpo presented by CDK Global, the annual free dealer training seminars. We're proud to have CDK Global returning as a presenting sponsor of the PSBI@AIMEXPO. In addition, McGraw Powersports is returning to sponsor the Powering Profits track, and ARI Net- work Services recently agreed to sponsor the new Leadership Plus track. The third year of the PSBI@AIMEXPO brought with it more interest than ever from potential seminar presenters. We're excited to present the lineup in the coming weeks, and we're convinced that the 32 hours of dealership training will be time well spent for you and your staff. … AND SO IS ANOTHER WEBINAR Be on the lookout for registration information about the 1 p.m. CST Tuesday, June 9 webinar, hosted by Powersports Business. McGraw Powersports, in an effort to drum up support for the Powering Profits track at the PSBI@AIMEXPO, is sponsoring a series of three webinars titled Powering Profits: A Dealership Roadmap — A webinar series. We'll once again turn to a panel of industry experts to provide insight and data points for a range of dealership segments, including pre-owned, F&I, sales, PG&A and service. And you can book the final in the series of three webinars for Tuesday, Sept. 15, also at 1 p.m. CST. TEAM-FIRST SELECTIONS Hopefully you can see how much we enjoyed putting this edition of the magazine together. The Executive of the Year and Industry Leaders issue always gets people talking, and we're thankful for the time and energy that our honorees provided to us as part of their selection. We take considerations and nomi- nations and get stopped at trade shows and events throughout the year with folks bending our ears about potential candidates. Managing editor Liz Keener made a journey across the river to Küryakyn headquarters in Somerset, Wis., to learn more about how and why company president Holger Mohr has elevated the company to new heights. It's a thrill for each of us on the editorial staff to share the news with the recipients. You can nearly see and hear the high-fives from the selectees through the phone lines. At the same time, in what is becoming a truism among the winners, they were not ready to bask in the accolades alone. You can tell from reading the stories how important teamwork is to this group of winners. Heck, a few of them told me that upon learning of their selection, they did indeed make a run through their office, throwing around high-fives to their staff and anyone else in the vicinity. It's easy to envision every one of them doing that, as their enthusiasm and passion for our industry and its products are what drive people into your dealerships. WOLVERINE R-SPEC HITS THE MARK The good folks at Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. pro- vided me with one of the coveted invitations on the 2016 Wolverine R-Spec press drive, and I walked away thoroughly impressed. You can read more about the side-by-side's performance at the incredible Brimstone ATV park elsewhere in this edition, but know that Brimstone was simply no match for Yamaha's latest side-by-side offering. The side-by-side product team is keeping up with its mantra of building that busi- ness, as the Wolverine R-Spec joins the newly released Viking and Viking VI. I also got to sit down with Mark Love, who manages Brimstone Recreation and the incredible swath of trails. We'll learn more about the former dealership owner in the next edition. Dave McMahon is editor in chief of Powersports Busi- ness. Contact him at 763/383-4411 or dmcmahon@ powersportsbusiness.com. 1. Crash eliminates Ryan Villopoto in Italy 2. Erik Buell shares statement on EBR closure 3. New Polaris electric fat tire bicycles featuring Troy Lee Designs launched 4. Spectator killed at rock crawling event 5. Analyst reports BRP talks utility UTV plans 6. Motorcycle manufacturer announces shutdown 7. Indian dealership opening its 7th in state 8. Challenge accepted: New UTV for those 'driven to do more' 9. Arctic Cat hires first-ever chief marketing officer 10. Indian Motorcycle adds 6th dealership in state 11. Polaris acquires Idaho-based snowbike manufacturer 12. OEM sells headquarters for $44 million 13. Harley-Davidson Q1 retail sales down worldwide 14. Helmet House settles patent lawsuit with Olympia; grants license 15. New Harley-Davidson dealership to open in state The headlines above belong to the most frequently viewed articles from Powersports Business' three-times weekly e-news during the April 15-May 5 period. The number is based on the percentage of e-news viewers who clicked on the article's headline. To subscribe to e-news, go to www.powersportsbusiness.com/newsletter-signup. WHAT'S THE HOTTEST INDUSTRY TOPIC? Powersports Business blog ONLINE WITH POWERSPORTSBUSINESS.COM Leading industry executives and dealer consultants are among the contributors to PSB's blog. See below for recent blogs. Don't forget to complete your Power 50 application Visit powersportsbusiness.com/blogs Blog gets double-digit response Managing editor Liz Keener gave her perspective on bikini bike washes at dealerships in her monthly blog post on PowersportsBusiness.com. The blog post generated a discussion and responses ranging across LinkedIn, Twit- ter, PowersportsBusiness.com and independent websites. On Powersports Business' LinkedIn, the discussion surpassed 20 comments from dealers and others in the powersports industry. Want to get involved in the conversation? Comment on PSB's monthly blogs on PowersportsBusiness.com/blogs or on our LinkedIn group's discus- sion page. CHRIS CLOVIS Vice President, EagleRider Motorcycles Believe it or not, overemphasis of strengths is common in the busi- ness world, and it can stagnate us. Enhanced focus to strengthen weak areas doesn't impede overall results, it improves them. It's your business. You decide what you want to be known for. MARK MOONEY Principal, Mark Mooney PowerSports Consulting We all have stories and reasons for why we're in the motorcycle business. I love hearing them and throwing in a few of my own from time to time. Yes, we have dealerships to run, but it's pretty cool at times just to remember why we do what we do. LIZ KEENER Managing Editor, Powersports Business If you want to bring new buyers into the store, consider your audience. The more that your events appeal to a variety of people, the more likely you are to draw a new group of people into your store, and that, in turn, opens opportunities to make new sales. LESLIE PREVISH Founder, Prevish Marketing Ensure your social posts, emails and website content are encouraging to others, giving them reasons to smile. Be aware that sarcasm or snarky com- ments can be perceived in different ways by people of different back- grounds, or generations. DAVE McMAHON