Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/303681
www.PowersportsBusiness.com NEWS Powersports Business • May 5, 2014 • 5 4 • May 5, 2014 • Powersports Business NEWS www.PowersportsBusiness.com industry's first end-to-end business manage- ment platform. DX1 debuted earlier this year and already has been installed in dealerships across North America. It gives dealerships the unique ability to manage all parts of their busi- ness from one launchpad. "To succeed in today's environment, dealers must spend more time running their business and less time managing their systems," said Jeff Littlejohn, president of Dominion Pow- ersports Solutions. "That's why we've invested as much time developing and fine-tuning the installation and service aspect of DX1 as the platform itself." The new DX1 members include powers- ports veterans Mark Wilson and Brett Ernen- putsch. Wilson worked for a number of years with Maxxis International, helping build the brand's industry tire sales. He also is a former off-road motorcycle racer, having competed in enduro and motocross. In his new position, Wilson will be the customer support manager for DX1. He will be part of a team that provides training and support based on each dealer's need, ensuring each store's unique business model is taken into account. Ernenputsch, a Navy veteran, attended Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and later worked at Harley-Davidson dealerships in Arizona. Now, he will be serving as a business analyst for the DX1 team. Ernenputsch will be working out of the DX1's West Coast offices. ADP LIGHTSPEED ADDS DIRECTOR OF LEARNING Todd Smith has been named director of learning & development, a new department within ADP Lightspeed that furthers the company's commitment to provide its deal- ers with best practices and ways to improve their businesses. Smith will work out of the ADP Light- speed headquarters in Salt Lake City and report to ADP Lightspeed general manager Greg Smith. Todd Smith comes to ADP with an extensive background in employee and end-user learning sys- tems and has a proven history of establishing programs to increase learning and knowledge retention. Before joining ADP, he worked with American Express as the global director of learning & performance of business travel. He will strive to enhance ADP Lightspeed's training efforts with a focus on learning standardization and assessment, in order to provide dealers with consistent, high-quality learning and training opportunities. "Todd will do great things here at ADP Lightspeed in helping dealerships within all our markets see the benefits in developing best practices," Greg Smith said. "I am eager to see our dealers succeed by learning and optimizing the ADP Lightspeed software," Todd Smith said. "By investing in learning, ADP Lightspeed has led the way for dealers to increase their sales, customer reten- tion and employee satisfaction." PSB sales increases of 5 percent or more. However, like many dealers, Vincent is ready for warmer weather, so he can start moving Spyders and Sea-Doos. "We had a great Toronto Boat Show. The Sparks are sold out. I wish I had another 20 of them. ATVs are soft, so I'm a little worried about that. And Spyders are just kicking off," he said. Though dealers are hopeful sales will pick up over the rest of 2014, they're being cautious with their outlooks. "I expect us to probably be probably near equal with last year or maybe a 5 percent increase," Holmes said, adding that he expects ATVs and side-by-sides will carry the load for his dealership in 2014. Hollink is also being conservative, with concerns looming about how the economy is affecting his area's blue-collar workers. HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR CURRENT INVENTORY LEVELS BY LINE OF BUSINESS? TO WHAT EXTENT HAVE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE FOLLOWING EXTERNAL RISK FACTORS CHANGED OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS? 22% 10% 9% 6% 19% 14% 33% 31% 21% 13% 33% 27% 40% 46% 55% 59% 39% 48% 2% 9% 13% 19% 7% 9% 3% 4% 2% 3% 2% 2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% U.S. political environment High/rising gasoline prices Financing costs/ availability Housing market Economic and/ or political issues outside of the U.S. Employment outlook Significantly more concerned Somewhat more concerned About the same Somewhat less concerned Significantly less concerned 30% 29% 35% 32% 23% 25% 26% 36% 60% 67% 60% 63% 72% 72% 67% 52% 10% 4% 5% 5% 5% 3% 7% 12% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Side-by-sides ATVs Heavyweight Motorcycles Sport Bikes Off-road bikes Scooters PWC Snowmobiles Too heavy About right Too low IN GENERAL, TO WHAT EXTENT HAS YOUR BUSINESS OUTLOOK CHANGED COMPARED TO SIX MONTHS AGO? HOTNEWS "I think it will be about the same as last year, maybe slightly up," he said. "In a normal economy usually with a cold winter like this, when the weather breaks, it gets crazy, but we haven't seen that yet." Dealership survey-takers also were careful with their predictions for the year, as 39 per- cent rated overall business conditions as aver- age, and 41 percent said their business outlook remains unchanged compared to six months ago. But there's always hope for a good season, as 39 percent of respondents reported buying interest in Q1 was somewhat or significantly better than the first quarter of 2013. As for Vincent, his positive first quarter leaves him excited for what's to come in the remainder of the year. "I'm looking forward to a really good '14," he said. DEALER REFLECTIONS The following are comments dealers left on our Q1 survey. All comments are shared anonymously. "Weather was a challenge in Q1 for us in Indiana. However, ATV & SXS was increased quite a bit. As soon as the weather breaks, we predict 2014 will be significantly higher than 2013 due to pent-up demand." — Multi-line Midwest dealer "The metric OEMs could phase out cruiser production as the new 500 and 750 HD will be the nail in the coffin. In oil field country, riding a metric cruiser is akin to showing up at a Ferrari meet with a Kia, it just isn't cool. Rid- ing a [metric cruiser] to the local Buffalo Wild Wings here and parking it in the bike section next to all the real cruisers will probably end bad for you." — Multi-line South dealer "Average people are being priced out of industry. Machines are getting too expensive." — Single-line West dealer "New units sales are down from prior YTD due to lack of current model allocations (we have multiple sold incoming units with depos- its and simply can not get enough of the new product for stock), which is driving up our pre- owned sales." — Single-line Northwest dealer "Seems like there are less tire kickers and lower overall traffic this quarter, but those who come in are buyers. Sales staff are generally closing on 80 percent of customers." — Multi- line Canada dealer "Sales & prospects are looking good for 2014." — Multi-line Northeast dealer PSB SURVEY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 See Survey, Page 5 Source: Powersports Business / RBC Capital Markets CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 TODD SMITH P01x10-PSB6-News.indd 5 4/23/14 9:54 AM