Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/379417
ATV New packaging, new products created to drive business BY LIZ KEENER MANAGING EDITOR Great Day, Inc. has been involved in the powersports aftermarket industry for more than a decade, but as the company develops more products, it is also looking to increase its brand presence. "Right now we're in the pioneering days of our brand because if you want to market your company, if you want to be known not only to dealers but to investors around the world, they have to know who Great Day is," said Ilar Meeks, national sales manager and vice president of Great Day. "You can't be what I call 'cannibalized' by other people. They have to recognize you as someone that's a player, that is here to stay, not just looking the part, but you're actually here, wanting to do business, and you're successful with your sales efforts. And that's what we strive to do." Great Day was founded in Tallulah, La., in 2003. The Meeks family had a history of manufacturing, as Meeks' father, Paul Meeks, had been in the tree stand manufacturing business since 1979. As those same hunting customers were using ATVs and beginning to use side-by-sides, the Meeks family started a new company aimed at providing utility aftermarket products for ATVs, UTVs and pickup trucks. "We were making some basic powersports accessories at the time, which were staples of the industry — loading ramps, sprayers, a few gun racks — and we slowly evolved into a major player with our Rumble Seat and some of the other items that none of the other companies have to offer," Ilar Meeks told Powersports Business at the Tucker Rocky Brand Expo. Though Great Day's rear-facing, two-pas- senger Rumble seat is one of the company's most popular products, along with its gun racks, the company has also developed bow racks, utility racks, spare tire carriers, hitch stabilizers and more for the powersports mar- ket. Its latest product is the Sporting Clays UTV Gun Rack, which carries four guns. ATTRACTING CUSTOMERS AND DEALERS Customers are drawn to the product because of how universal much of the items are and how each piece fits on the unit. Also, most of the products are lightweight and constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum. "They also like the ease of installation, the ease of use and price. Our overhead gun racks, for example, when compared to other gun rack companies out there in the pow- ersports industry, ours don't require any drilling; you can put them in in less than 30 seconds. It doesn't scratch the vehicle; you can take it out," Meeks said. Dealers also like the ease of installation, not only as a selling point, but because it provides an easy opportunity to accessorize units on the showroom floor. "With the Rumble Seat specifically, they can order a Rumble Seat, pull it out of a box, Great Day looks to build ATV/UTV aftermarket brand 28 • September 8, 2014 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com (Left) The Shooting Clays UTV Gun Rack is one of Great Day, Inc.'s newest products. (Right) The Power-Ride Spare Tire Carrier has become a popular UTV product for the Tallulah, La.-based Great Day, Inc.