Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/410969
FOCUS PSB Helmet & Apparel 18 • November 3, 2014 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com Scorpion USA gets development boost with addition of Wilkinson BY LIZ KEENER MANAGING EDITOR After more than a decade of riding and a career full of collecting ideas for improving a variety of products, Edward Wilkinson has landed in an ideal position for someone with his background. Wilkinson was named director of develop- ment for Scorpion USA in January. Scorpion, with its own factories, sales team and distribu- tion, has been a welcome addition. "It's been awesome," he told Powersports Business. "Now we're doing things that I haven't done before, which is always the challenge." Wilkinson's career started in retail at an outdoor sporting goods store, from which he was often advising his manufacturer reps on product improvements. "I would collect these ideas and feedback based on using that product, and I would take it back to the manufacturer's rep," he said. "Everything can be made better; all you need is the idea." Wilkinson then moved on to the shoe com- pany Merrell, where he spent 10 years. Then, in the early 2000s, he became a motorcyclist and quickly developed a passion for adventure touring. However, he quickly became disap- pointed in the apparel and gear that was avail- able for that segment. Again, he was beginning to come up with his own ideas on how to improve these products. Soon, Wilkinson melded his career with his passion, accepting a position at Klim, where, among other lines, he worked on the Badlands and Latitude motorcycle products. Then Scorpion called, and Wilkinson was excited to join the team. At Scorpion, he over- sees all of the company's development prod- ucts, and he works hand-in-hand with national sales manager Jayson Wickenkamp. "Sales tells us what people want, and we can build it. Or I'll come back from a materials or trade show, and we'll look at what I learned," Wilkinson said. NEW PRODUCT When Wilkinson joined Scorpion, one of his first big projects was the 2015 line, which will be released in January. New products for that line are focused on outfitting street touring, off- road touring and speed touring riders. "Obviously for 2015 it's going to be a lot of touring," Wilkinson said. "The average age of the motorcycle consumer now is in their early 40s; they've got more discretionary income, and they use their bikes to travel." At AIMExpo in October, Scorpion unveiled the R710 helmet, the latest in its R-series. The lid features a fiberglass/Aramid Matrix shell, Elip-Tec base plate system, Everclear no-fog face shield, emergency release check pads and SNELL 2015 certification with an MSRP of $189.95. The MSRP on the EXO-R410 was also lowered to $129.95. All of Scorpion's gear is designed to be func- tional, useful and safe first, with fashion as a secondary focus. "It's functional motorcycle apparel; it also happens to look good, not the other way around," Wilkinson said. Scorpion is easily able to develop any prod- uct its design team can conceive of because its parent company, South Korea-based Kido Focusing on functionality and safety See Scorpion, Page 19 Edward Wilkinson was named director of development for Scorpion USA in January. He leads all of Scorpion's development projects.