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OPINION FROM THE EDITOR www.PowersportsBusiness.com Powersports Business • July 13, 2015 • 17 If you have not circled the AIMExpo dates of Oct. 15-18 in Orlando on your calendar yet, do so now. Now the only trade show of its kind in the U.S. market, AIMExpo continues to make impressive gains in Year 3. In case you missed it, the lineup of OEMs bringing their latest products to the show has grown exten- sively in recent weeks. Suzuki became the first OEM to sign a two-year commitment, when it booked space not only for 2015, but 2016 as well. Suzuki dealers should be proud of their affiliation with such a forward-thinking OEM. "From Year One we recognized the value AIMExpo was providing for the powersports industry as a whole by creating an event for dealers and consumers," is how Rod Lopusnak, director, operations head, Motor- cycle/ATV Sales Operations at Suzuki, described the contract in a press release. "Suzuki is committed to supporting Suzuki dealers first, so they can provide value to consumers, which is why we have signed a multi-year agreement to leverage the show's platform for both Suzuki and for Suzuki dealers. We will have even more products on display and available for demo rides this year including our GSX-R and new GSX-S line, plus Suzuki V-Strom, Burgman, Boulevard and KingQuad ATV lines. We look forward to connecting with Suzuki dealers, Suzuki riders and with the indus- try as a whole throughout the four days in Orlando." The ink was barely dry on that deal when BRP announced it would showcase its Can-Am, Sea-Doo and Ski-Doo models at AIMExpo. That announcement really turned heads in the industry. "We believe AIMExpo is the ideal event to show- case BRP's product portfolio," said Delton Bohlman, director of Dealer Network Management, BRP, in a press release. "In fact, AIMExpo will be one of the first North American public showings for some of our model year 2016 lineups. Dealers will also be able to get a glimpse of BRP's new dealer image." "The BRP name speaks volumes in the powers- ports industry about the wide range of recreational products that it offers. That diversity and the presence of each BRP brand at AIMExpo is a great representa- tion of how dynamic the all-in-one platform is in reaching every segment of the greater powersports marketplace," said Cinnamon Kernes, AIMExpo show director. "Adding an OEM with the stature and range of BRP shows that AIMExpo is absolutely changing the way the industry showcases its products to North America and the world." And most recently, Kawasaki announced it will return to AIMExpo after making its debut in 2014. "We are delighted to be returning to AIMExpo for a second year and will again use this opportunity to bring a number of new products to the marketplace," said Kevin Allen, Kawasaki manager, PR + Brand Experience, in a press release. "The ability to connect with the global media, our dealer network and the general public were key factors that contributed to our decision to return to Orlando. We're looking forward to building on the suc- cess we had last year as we bring an even more engaging and personalized experience to the show floor." And there are plenty of others: Bad Boy Buggies/E- Z-GO, BMW, CFMOTO, Hisun, Honda, Linhai, Mas- simo Motor, Polaris Electric Bikes, Yamaha and Zero are among them. You'll also want to be on the lookout for the best lineup of free dealer training at any industry event anywhere. The Powersports Business Institute @ AIMExpo will once again be held on the first two days — Oct. 15 and 16, Thursday and Friday. We've been getting our speakers finalized and sessions fine-tuned over the past few weeks, and we're eager to share the lineup of sessions and speakers soon. And consider this fair warning that you'll want to have your dealership staff join you in Orlando. It's more impossible than ever for you to be everywhere you need to be at AIMExpo, so plan now to add the ris- ing sales star to your list of attendees. DEALS GET STARTED AT AIMEXPO In October I was checking out the impressive Hisun UTV lineup at AIMExpo. By summertime I was on a flight to China for a factory tour to see just how the brand plans to continue its growth in the U.S. After spending a few days there with Ryan Daugh- erty, VP of sales and marketing of Texas-based Hisun Motors USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hisun Motors, it's easy to see why the company left room to grow when it built the monstrous new factory. Factory owner Mr. Li has some grand designs for the com- pany's future, and I would expect the brand's October launch at AIMExpo is the start of something big. Some of the fish that Mr. Li hand-picked from a restaurant aquarium were rather large, also. One thing I never had to worry about in China was going hungry. The hospitality is always over the top, and the food is usually something crazy but at least worth a try. Chongqing is known for its spicy food, so it was with that in mind that I had to pass on the city's staple — hot pot. It's a scorcher (tongue-numbing, even), and, combined with some unknowns in the pot, had me eager for the Westin breakfast buffet the next morning. Mr. Li was a good sport when he learned of my decision to keep my palate in tact. "But you cannot say you've been to Chongqing until you've had hot pot!" As my Chinese hosts would have it, part of the journey to see the Hisun factory included a trip to Bei- jing. Tours of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City were followed the next day by a trip to the Great Wall. But hey, by then it was the weekend! So yes, I'm looking forward to seeing what I take away from AIMExpo in 2015. PSB Dave McMahon is editor in chief of Powersports Busi- ness. Contact him at 763/383-4411 or dmcmahon@ powersportsbusiness.com. 1. Honda unveils all-new 2016 Pioneer 1000 and 1000-5 side-by-sides 2. Kawasaki introduces new 2016 models 3. Yamaha unveils 2016 ATV side-by-side lineup 4. New bill allows Slingshot in Texas 5. Eicher, Polaris unveil first joint vehicle 6. J&P Cycles, Motorcycle Superstore on the move 7. Suzuki reveals 2016 motorcycle lineup, with GSX-S1000 models 8. Yamaha introduces 2016 off-road, street motorcycles 9. Harley-Davidson Q2 U.S. retail sales estimate reported by analyst 10. Can-Am unveils 2016 off-road lineup 11. Honda unveils RC213V-S with $184K pricetag for 2016 12. New Indian dealership is state's fourth 13. Storied Wisconsin Harley-Davidson dealership sold 14. Slingshot given the green light in Conn., no motorcycle license needed 15. BRP recalls 12,500 youth ATVs The headlines above belong to the most frequently viewed articles from Powersports Business' three-times weekly e-news during the May 28-June 23 period. The number is based on the percentage of e-news viewers who clicked on the article's headline. To subscribe to e-news, go to www.powersportsbusiness.com/newsletter-signup. WHAT'S THE HOTTEST INDUSTRY TOPIC? Powersports Business blog ONLINE WITH POWERSPORTSBUSINESS.COM Leading industry executives and dealer consultants are among the contributors to PSB's blog. See below for recent blogs. AIMExpo continues to ramp up OEM lineup Visit powersportsbusiness.com/blogs See what we've been up to... Since the last issue of Powersports Business, our editors have been getting out of the office to meet industry executives, visit the Early Years of Motocross Museum and ride. Want to see the Great Wall of China? Check out Powers- ports Business' Facebook photo album to see editor in chief Dave McMahon's trip to China. Want to go to the museum without leaving the house? Spend time browsing managing editor Liz Keener's pictures of her experience. Want to see what it's like to demo CFMOTO and Polaris UTVs? Click on assistant editor Kate Swanson's pictures from High Lifter's Quadna Mud Nationals. Start now at www.facebook.com/PSBMagazine/photos. CHRIS CLOVIS Vice President, EagleRider Motorcycles All jobs have challenges, but when yours is a labor of love, those bad days are mitigated by the good. Passion brings dedication, positive energy, optimism, drive and focus. Many of us in the powersports industry already understand that fact. GARY GUSTAFSON President, G-Force Consulting As you can see, efficiency improve- ments abound — we just need to look at the definition of waste more broadly. Whether you feel you are dealing with oranges or lemons in your corner of our industry, there is usually a lot more juice to wring out of them. JENNIFER ROBISON National Retail Specialist, Tucker Rocky As powersports retailers, we are expected to stock and offer basic rider's products, suit their needs, and of course, customers want to see the NEW as well. The best way to get your turn on investment is to stock basic and need items. KATE SWANSON Assistant Editor, Powersports Business A 22-year-old will approach buying a new motorcycle from a different standpoint than a 42-year-old. The point is that the sources and marketing that you use to get customers into your dealership needs to be varied. DAVE McMAHON Hisun USA VP of sales and marketing Ryan Daugherty (left) joined PSB editor Dave McMahon on an excursion to the Great Wall following a tour of the Hisun factory in Chongqing.