Iron Mountain Motorsports

Hi Risky1,
I would not like to speculate on the number of companies in China that manufacture motorcycles.I would think they number in the hundreds.As you describe there are many of them that just have a capacity for manufacturing anything they can copy,good or bad.There are also many that are serious about what they make and are determined to produce world class products.The challenge for a North American distributor is to align themselves with a manufacturer that is as serious about the products as you are.The language barrier is emmense,trying to determine a choice at a international dealer show must be daunting.
Really not a lot different than the challenges facing the industry in the early 60's with the Japanese.Remember all the brands that did not make it .Lilac,Tohatsu,Bridgetone,Yamaguchi,Riku,Hodaka,Marusho,Pointer and many more.
I would think(and this is speculation only)that BMG has had a number of brands taken from after they spend time and money estabishing the brand,ie(Triumph.Artic Cat,Aprillia and KTM).They may be thinking they can align themselves with a up and coming Chinese manufacturer and give their brand name to these products.If they can create a demand for this brand it will be very difficult to loose this product line if it becomes a success.BMG truly understands the power of Brand names as it is what they do.To have their own in this industry is a lofty goal and the rewards could be huge.Exiting times are ahead!

Dale,
Marketing is simply this ."..find out what the people want and give it to them"
May sound easy, but it is not!

nsman said:

Dale,
Marketing is simply this ."..find out what the people want and give it to them"
May sound easy, but is it not!

Click to expand...

Bruce,
Then one would need to include proper follow up service / support including the insurance of parts availability for earlier models and qualified service personnel. Right?

Dale

If the market demands it,it is the marketers challenge to supply it.If they fail then another marketing law comes into play....you if don't service your customer,someone else will...

nsman said:

If the market demands it,it is the marketers challenge to supply it.If they fail then another marketing law comes into play....you if don't service your customer,someone else will...

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Bruce, do you know what this means?

WE AGREE!

Now this is indeed huge as I rarely agree with anyone.
You are cramping my style. Hope I am not losing my edge and going soft. :lol:

Best Regards,
Dale

Usually we can agree at some point.Not this soon though,I nearly fell off my chair!

I can only speak to the relantionship we have had w Dixie in L&G. They have always been a good company to do buisness with. They have they money to see this thru as good as anyone...and they already have some infastructure to rely upon. Im not sure that can be said of some of the other dist that Husaberg has had..no amount of good intiontions can survive a lack of capital. Being from Mississippi I watched the whole deal with the Knights and I thought that would fail from day one. I know those guys and they are good guys..but I had a feeling the capital was just not there. As for the Chinese stuff..they are coming...and thier quality is improving. I think Dixie will keep parts for the units they wholesale. I also think there is a completely different buiness plan for Husaberg and GasGas from the atv's and scooters.
As a dealer you look for stability in a company also...you get stuck with the complaints when a company leaves you high and dry. The dealers that have stuck with Husaberg thru all this are to be comended. What they need to do now is grow that dealer network and get parts under control.

dcg141 said:

I can only speak to the relantionship we have had w Dixie in L&G. They have always been a good comapny to do buisness with. They have they money to see this thru as good as anyone...and they already have some infastructure to rely upon. Im not sure that can be said of some of the other dist that Husaberg has had..no amount of good intiontions can survive a lack of capital. Being from Mississippi I watched the whole deal with the Knights and I thought that would fail from day one. I know those guys and they are good guys..but I had a feeling the capital was just not there. As for the Chinese stuff..they are coming...and thier quality is improving. I think Dixie will keep parts for the units they wholesale. I also think there is a completely different buiness plan for Husaberg and GasGas from the atv's and scooters.
As a dealer you look for stability in a company also...you get stuck with the complaints when a company leaves you high and dry. The dealers that have stuck with Husaberg thru all this are to be comended. What they need to do now is grow that dealer network and get parts under control.

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Had Husaberg Sweden not lacked proper funding they would have remained Husaberg Sweden.

Dale

Had Husaberg Sweden not lacked proper funding they would have remained Husaberg Sweden.

Dale [/quote]
From what I understand you can blame Swedish labor laws as much as a lack of funding.

Whats ironic about all this...Dixie Sale is the largest parts distributor in the US for AYP and Poulan. Ayp is the largest manufacturer of mowers in America. They contract build for Sears and get this Husquarvarna. AYP and Poulan are owned by..Electrolux. The Swedish conglomerate..that once owned Husquarvarna. They now own in addition to AYP and Poulan, Frigidare, Dometic, Josereds , Yazoo-Kees and Husquarvarna USA...chain saws and lawn equip.

I suppose our Bergs will be in decent company stacked up along side some Husqvarna chain saws

dcg141 said:

Had Husaberg Sweden not lacked proper funding they would have remained Husaberg Sweden.

Dale

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From what I understand you can blame Swedish labor laws as much as a lack of funding.[/quote]

Perhaps.
What I know for certain is Husaberg was going belly up fast and had they not been purchased the factory doors were to be closed for good.

How do I know?
I was sitting in the Husaberg Orebro, Sweden conference room the day the deed was done. It was a very somber day @ the factory.

Dale