Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/328305
www.PowersportsBusiness.com NEWS Powersports Business • June 16, 2014 • 5 4 • June 16, 2014 • Powersports Business NEWS www.PowersportsBusiness.com www.powersportsbusiness.com Editorial and Sales: 763.383.4400 Subscriber Service: 847.763.9565 EDITOR IN CHIEF: Dave McMahon 763/383-4411 (dmcmahon@powersportsbusiness.com) MANAGING EDITOR: Liz Keener 763/383-4413 (lkeener@powersportsbusiness.com) SENIOR EDITOR: Tom Kaiser 763/383-4424 (tkaiser@powersportsbusiness.com) DIGITAL SOLUTIONS MANAGER: Christopher Gerber DIGITAL PRODUCTION EDITOR: Heather Brown SENIOR ART DIRECTOR: Dodi Vessels PRODUCTION ARTIST: Kelsey Houle (khoule@epgmediallc.com) PRODUCTION MANAGER: Angela Schmieg PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Cherri Perschmann NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Allison Gruhn 763/383-4467 (agruhn@powersportsbusiness.com) NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Mark Rosacker 763/383-4433 (mrosacker@snowgoer.com) NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER David J. 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Send editorial materials to EPG Media, LLC, 3300 Fernbrook Lane N, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55447, 763/383-4400. No responsibility will be assumed for unsolicited materials. Powersports Business is a registered trademark of EPG Media, LLC. Copyright 2014 by EPG Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited unless expressly authorized by publisher. REPRINTS: For more information on e-prints or reprints from Powersports Business, contact Bernadette Wohlman, 763/383-4400 x2464. Printed in U.S.A. and TR merger would be a beneficial idea? BRIAN ETTER (BE): Both companies have known each other for a lot of years, both as customers and suppliers, and as we've spent a lot of time together, we've gained an appre- ciation for the similar cultures — very focused on customers and improving the customer service offerings. We share a similar vision. MAG approached it from having strong brands; Tucker has a great sales organization and logis- tics. We felt together we could accomplish our vision faster than we can separately. PSB: How will the two companies operate — completely as one, as two sharing many of the same resources, or completely separately? BE: We're continuing to operate under the decentralized structure of MAG. MAG will continue to be the named parent entity, but we go to market with our brands. We currently have on the MAG side a brand and retail/media division, and with this merger it will now have a distribution division, all of which will be managed separately, and the leadership teams of the respective businesses will continue to be in place. PSB: If they will be separate, will Tucker Rocky distribute all MAG products? DAN COURTNEY (DC): The MAG brands will determine their distribution strategies, not Tucker Rocky. Tucker Rocky will continue to seek brands to distribute to be the best prod- uct offering to the dealer population. I would expect Tucker Rocky to have to earn that busi- ness from those MAG brands and continue to find ways to partner with vendors to grow their brand. PSB: How will this affect the MAG brands that were being distributed by other industry distributors? BE: We value our current distributor partners and expect to continue to offer our products through those distribution relationships. We don't see any changes there. PSB: How will this affect MAG competitors that have been distributed by Tucker Rocky? DC: I can assure you that Tucker Rocky and Biker's Choice will continue to partner with suppliers to support their growth in the mar- ketplace. Brands matter. Our customers want choice, and we will continue to partner with suppliers to grow their market share. PSB: MAG has been known to purchase companies and then simply act as a steward of sorts, allowing the companies to run their programs in a business-as-usual manner. Will or how will that dynamic change? BE: We believe that in a decentralized envi- TOUTING SUCCESS MERGER CONTINUED FROM COVER Powersports Business Executive of the Year GREG HEICHELBECH CEO / TRIUMPH NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY LEADERS STEVE MENNETO TIM CALHOUN MARK-HANS RICHER SARAH SCHILKE After Powersports Business announced Triumph North America CEO Greg Heichelbech as Executive of the Year, and Tim Calhoun of SpeedMob, Inc., Mark-Hans Richer of Harley-Davidson, Steve Menneto of Polaris and Sarah Schilke of Schuberth North America as Industry Leaders for 2014, the accolades came pouring in from social media. Here is a sampling of some of the praises we read for these five, who have contributed so much to our industry over the past year. Brian Etter says both MAG and Tucker Rocky/Biker's Choice bring similar business cultures to their newly formed operations. P01x07-PSB8-NEWS.indd 4 6/4/14 1:59 PM