Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/523095
34 • June 15, 2015 • Powersports Business MOTORCYCLE www.PowersportsBusiness.com Dealership partners with custom printing department BY KATE SWANSON ASSISTANT EDITOR It's one thing to find the perfect logo or sticker to accessorize a motorcycle; it's a whole other to have one custom made to fit your specific needs. One Image Department, a partner of Barney's Motorcycle & Marine based in St. Petersburg, Fla., caters to its customers' specific printing tastes. "We specialize in large format printing, vehicle wraps and decals," said Richard Salpietro, one of the three employees behind the operation. One Image began just over six years ago with Richard, his brother Vincent Salpietro and Barney's owner K.C. Wood. One Image operates as an independent com- pany associated with Barney's. "It initially started basically for store pur- poses," Salpietro said. "When we had to order signs for our dealership, instead of ordering them, we started making them." What began as a simpler way to make sig- nage for the dealership soon became public as people found out what One Image could offer them. "We started in the back of the warehouse where nobody could see us and made signs for the shop," he said. "As our success grew, we ended up moving up. Now we have a cor- ner office, and we offer all of our services to the public." Some of the popular pieces that One Image deals with are boat wraps, PWC stick- ers and motorcycles stickers. "It's a pretty convenient product for our regular custom- ers," Salpietro added. "It's sad to say, but a lot of people pass in this industry, and being in this [custom printing] industry, it's an easy and convenient memorial gesture that we can do for the community and for the riders." In addition, the public consumer response to One Image has been an "over- whelming success." Besides working out of the dealership, One Image participates in several demo days and community events. "Usually when we have a community event we advertise there or through other motorcycle shows. Other than that it's mostly word-of-mouth," Salpietro said. "Our products speak for themselves, and it brings back a returning customer." Recently, Barney's One Image department designed custom helmet stickers for a young man named Nick Wolf, who has been fight- ing cancer, so he could live out his dream of riding a motorcycle. Barney's arranged for Wolf to demo a new Can-Am Spyder, and One Image gave Wolf the customized helmet to keep. Salpietro says that One Image looks ahead to 2015 with enthusiasm: "We're getting into the busy season. A lot of people are coming up and wanting their boats ready. With boats come new stickers, and with stickers comes drafts and new business." PSB One dream, One Image at Barney's Motorcycle & Marine "Our products speak for themselves, and it brings back a returning customer." Richard Salpietro, One Image DIGEST Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders and Harley Owners Group members are hitting the open road during the Harley- Davidson World Ride on June 27 and 28. "One of the beautiful things about rid- ing a motorcycle is how it lets you check out from the daily grind and experience the pure feelings of joy and freedom it brings," said Ken Ostermann, Harley- Davidson general manager of Integrated Marketing Operations. "The Harley-David- son World Ride is all about being on your bike, loving life and sharing that feeling with others." Launched in 2008 by the Harley Owners Group as Million Mile Monday, the annual riding event was expanded into the two-day Harley-Davidson World Ride in 2012 to give more riders worldwide an opportunity to participate. In 2014, participants logged more than 10 million miles on solo rides, in groups large and small and through a vari- ety of dealer-led events around the world, united by their shared passion for motor- cycling. For 2015, the event retains its two-day format, but shifts to Saturday and Sunday to enable even more riders around the globe to participate. Whether it's across town, cross-coun- try, or anything in between, every mile counts and can be recorded by logging into Harley-Davidson's online mileage accu- mulator at h-d.com/worldride, where a rolling odometer will record the collective distance traveled by all participants in the World Ride. Ride participants can log their post- ride mileage directly onto the World Ride website from mobile devices and share their riding stories and photographs on Facebook and Twitter using the hastag #HDworldride. GENUINE SCOOTERS ADDS TITANIUM GLOSS TO BUDDY COLOR OPTIONS Genuine Scooters announced a new color option to its popular Buddy line of scooters, titanium gloss. In addition to the titanium gloss color, all previous chrome accents on the scooter are "blacked-out" in matte black. This includes the headlight bezel (surround), speedo bezel, rear turn signal housings, accent triangular plate on front, mirrors, rims, front forks, engine cover, passenger foot blocks and "Buddy" badges. Genuine Scooters' Buddy scooter is the perfect mar- riage between old-school vibe and modern technology. It's a vintage-inspired scooter available in a variety of retro colors including black, red, tangerine, seafoam, white, metallic blue and now, titanium gloss. And at the same time, it has meshed Euro- pean good looks with plenty of modern features that include under-seat storage and a USB charger. The Buddy 50 engine size makes it driv- able in most states with only a standard auto license. But the Buddy is also great for everyday transportation, running errands around town or cruising across a college campus. And with 100 mpg, riders will spend less time at the pump and more time scooting around. The Buddy Titanium 50 retails for $1,999 and the Buddy Titanium 125 at $2,699, which does not include dealer des- tination or preparation charges. Both come with a standard two-year, unlimited-mile Genuine Confidence Warranty and Road- side Assistance Program, supported by a network of 240 Genuine Authorized Deal- ers across the country. ZERO MOTORCYCLES LOWERS 2015 MOTORCYCLE MSRPS Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in the electric motorcycle industry, announced that it is lowering prices by $1,350 across its 2015 model line. Seeing its battery costs fall and energy density increase faster than anticipated as it develops successive model years of high performance electric motor- cycles, Zero Motorcycles has decided to deliver this increased value immediately to consumers in North America. "As leaders in this space we believe it is important to pass on the benefits of improved battery technology and our increased scale to consumers as soon as possible to allow more motorcyclists to experience the thrill of electric," said Richard Walker, Zero Motorcycles CEO. "We're not here to do things as they've been traditionally done in the motorcycle industry. Making this change mid-season to deliver great value to consumers at indus- try-leading price points, rather than waiting for 2016, is just the right thing to do." Since most distribution partners across the world buy Zero motorcycles based on the U.S. MSRP, Zero will be able to pass on the benefit of these newly announced prices to consum- ers in their local markets. In Europe, these cost reductions will allow Zero to absorb the currency impact of the weakened Euro with- out raising prices from their current levels. The new U.S. MSRP for 2015 model Zero motorcycles include: Zero FX ZF2.8, $8,495; Zero FX ZF5.7, $10,990; Zero DS ZF9.4, $11,995; Zero DS ZF12.5, $13,995; Zero S ZF9.4, $11,995; Zero S ZF12.5, $13,995 and Zero SR ZF12.5, $15,995. "This announcement will benefit the consumer and, of course, further accelerate our growth. We are the acknowledged tech- nology and commercial leaders in the bur- geoning electric motorcycle market, and this move positions us well to remain on top," said Pieter de Waal, Zero Motorcycles VP of Global Sales and Marketing. World Ride Day set for summer 2015 Genuine Scooters, the largest U.S. based scooter company, announced a new color option to its popular Buddy line of scoot- ers, titanium gloss. See Digest, Page 43