Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/687402
6 • June 13, 2016 • Powersports Business NEWS www.PowersportsBusiness.com BY DAVE McMAHON EDITOR IN CHIEF Untraditional powersports dealers partner- ing with a brand in its infancy in the U.S.? Why not? It has worked magically for the top three selling Hisun dealers in the U.S. In fact, it's worked out so well since the brand's 2014 launch at AIMExpo in Orlando that all three of them were treated to an incentive trip to the Hisun manufacturing plant in Chongqing, China, in April, as the brand's top selling deal- ers for 2015. I was the one lucky enough to tag along and learn more about what makes a Hisun dealer successful, and we'll be sharing those stories throughout the year on these pages. But for now, know that some of them didn't even have 12 months to put up their numbers — they flourished against more established dealers despite carrying the brand for less than a full year. The honored dealers were Dave and Chris- tine Ballard, owners of Ballard Golf Cars and Powersports, Couer d'Alene, Idaho; Dave and Dawn Luce, owners of TNT Automotive Sales, Inc., in Billings, Montana; and Javaughn and Bridgette Spencer, owners of Lowcountry Pow- ersports in Beaufort, South Carolina. They each bring a distinct — and diverse — approach to selling Hisun. Ballard turned a mobile golf car service business into a pow- ersports operation that still includes golf cars in the lineup. He moved his operation into a former dealership location in town. Luce sells just about everything at his two locations, one in Billings and another in Bozeman. He works all day at one location, and often fin- ishes up the night after driving to the second store. He could be heard in China racking up extra phone minutes as he coached his team onto strong sales. He's an auto dealer. And an RV dealer. And a marine dealer. And more recently a tractor dealer. Not to mention pow- ersports. Spencer's might be one of the coolest stories out there. The first thing you see on Lowcountry's website is "Get Approved or Get $50." His 28,000 Facebook followers might as well be family. The dealership typically replies to Facebook queries within an hour, even if it's with an apologetic "We've been abnormally busy, but we'll get back to you." He got so tired of selling pre-owned Spyders and seeing them all over the region that he went out and bought himself a Slingshot. Just because. You will hear plenty more from young Mr. Javaughn Spencer in this industry. After 30-plus hours from driveway to hotel room for most, we gathered at the Country Gar- den Phoenix International Hotel in Chongqing for the first leg of the trip. Nearby the factory, it appeared to be a cousin of the Venetian in Las Vegas, and the first place where we had a hos- pitable stay. Ryan Daugherty, vice president of sales and marketing at McKinney, Texas-based Hisun Motors USA and the host/go-to guy for the incentive trip, knows China as well as any- one in the industry. He's approaching six dozen trips made to China. The blue sky day in Chongqing allowed for some testing of new ATVs and side-by-sides on the factory test track following a tour of the 7.1 million-square-foot facility, where dealers were free to watch, ask questions and otherwise get to know all they ever wanted to know about Hisun. On display was the manufacturing pro- cess in the CNC machining plant, the engine plant, the die casting plant, the stamping and welding plant, the injection molding plant, the coating plant, the assembly plant, the R&D center and more. And watching some of the 200 engines per day that roll off the assembly line was mesmerizing. A return trip to the factory the follow- ing day allowed the dealers to hold court in front of about 25 designers, engineers and sales executives. The open dialog session was To the China factory and back with Hisun dealers See Hisun, Page 7 1. Constructed over five years, Hisun's factory opened in 2013. It includes 15 plants and six office buildings. The CNC machining plant and the engine plant house 100 employees apiece, and a Bosch torque assembly system can be found in the engine plant. Hisun currently employs 1,500. 2. The hydrographics process adds camo to ATV and UTV plastic parts. 3. Hongya Cave in Jiefangbei along the Yangtze River helped the Americans find a bit of Western fare during an afternoon walk through the tourist area. 4. Mr. Li, Hisun's owner, says you've never been to Chongqing until you've tried hot pot. So hot pot it was for the dealers. 5. A traditional lunch at another top-shelf restaurant. 6. The travel crew in front of a familiar spot — a restaurant. The trip included two days in Beijing, where the deal- ers enjoyed a tour of the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Taking the alpine slide back down the mountain was a highlight for all. The ride up the ski lift was equally memo- rable for at least one of the dealers below. Left: Peonies were in full bloom on a blue sky day in Beijing. Here, dealers took a tour of the Forbidden City. Right: A boat tour on the Yangtze River to see the City of Lights wrapped up the Chongqing portion of the trip. 1 2 3 4 5 6