American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 172 November 2013 | Page 4

AMDs all new 'HOT 100' program
However, this year it was startling to note what thin pickings our survey of
OWN the years I have often written about the importance of
innovation, of new product development. It is critical at the exhibitors revealed as the mainstream parts, accessory and apparel industry in
best of times, but when business is in the doldrums and Europe recoils from the disastrous fall in market activity taking place.
Of more reassuring interest, however, has been the response to our recent
nobody is buying what you've been offering, then the importance of
finding something that your potential customers will want to buy is "new product information call" vendor communications here in the v-twin and
Harley-Davidson aftermarket - on both sides of the Atlantic.
self-evident.
I have also, frequently, pointed to the research that shows how the two most
n 2010 there were several indicators that made it look like, for a moment or
important downturn activities and investments are research and development
two, the downturn was going to have ended up being a relatively short (24 or
and marketing.
36 months duration down-cycle - and an encouraging burst of new product
These are the twin pillars of recovery from tough times, and countless academic activity at the V-Twin Expo that year was one of those apparent indicators.
and economic treatise have pointed to the direct correlation between high and
However, it wasn't sustained, just as the promise of encouraging early season
low downturn R&D and marketing spend, and the relative fortunes of businesses sales-activity didn't sustain that year, and the downturn became the much deeper
as their markets emerge from recession.
and longer-term malaise that many observers had been predicting.
Even humble little old 'us' are trying to do our bit to be as future-facing as
I am though pleased to be able to report that so far this season the new product
possible, and one such idea that we are launching this
activity that we are hearing about is promising, and
month involves a special digital-only edition of AMD
coming this early and taken with the other indicators
Magazine that will highlight what appear to be the
that we are seeing maybe in the coming 12 months will
best, most important, or certainly more interesting new
not just see the modest single digit average growth of
product introductions of the current trading period.
the past 12 to 24 months sustained, but perhaps even
improved upon.
very month we carry as comprehensive as possible
Either way, the early indicators in market R&D
a survey of the new or recent items that new and
established vendors have for dealers in the v-twin and PARTS AND ACCESSORIES investment terms are encouraging, so it will be a
pleasure to be able to use AMD’s new 'HOT 100'
custom bike industry, and there is inevitably somewhat
of a peak cycle to such introductions - typically from around September and program to highlight the new product developments that we think are worth a
second look, worthy of a 'mention in dispatches'.
October, through to the V-Twin Expo show period to March, or thereabouts.
If you have, or know about anything new that you think people should know
AMDs all new 'HOT 100' is an accolade that you will see appearing alongside
certain selected product items that appear in our monthly editions - there are about, please let us know!
Meanwhile look out for the 'HOT 100' logo in this and future editions of AMD
several highlighted as such in this edition - and these products and their
manufacturers will form the content of a 'HOT 100' special digital-edition of AMD Magazine be sure to let your customers know about the products that are casuing
Magazine that we'll make available onli ?RF?FV?W'2?B6??7V?W'2??F?R7&??rF?Rw&VFW7B??FW&W7B??F?R?&?WBF??26V6????vR?fRF?????fFRF?7W'f?fR?F?R?W2vR??R'G2f?"F?6???B6??W7@??bV6??V"??WW&?RF?R???7G&V?v?WG&?2r?V?B?6???VB??F?&7?6?R?&?WB?2??BF?R'G2?B66W76?'???GW7G'??F??2?2??Bv?Wr?Ww2r???vWfW"F?R???'F?6P?F???rfW'?vV??B&W6V?B???FVVBF?B??vV??&RF?RV?FW'7FFV?V?B?bF?R?b?VW??rF?R"dB?B?&?WF??r??fW7F?V?G2&????rv?V?F??W2&RF?Vv??FV6FR2&V6V?F?2#r?#?F?F?Er??vW&VBGv?v?VV?W"?6?W2???6?wB&VV?F?RV6?W7B?bw&V6V?fVBv?6F??2rf?"?W"??GW7G'?F?V?'&6RF??0?WW&?RvW&RFBV?FW"6?V??G2?V"?'?F?RV?B?bF??2?V"F?Bv????fRF??R&?V?B?6?F?F??6Rv???fR??vVBF?F?6????&W7V7B?FV6??VBF?FB?fW"???#2?B&W7B?6??V"vR&W&R7V6??VF?F????b?W"6?7FW"FV?W"?v???R??WW&?R????FW&?F????FV?W"?Ww2?v??6??2f?"6??6??VBv?WG&?2r?"v???7G&V?p?g&?6??6VB??F?&7?6?RFV?W'2??B?2V&?6?VB???VF?FV?&??"F?F?R??V??&?&??'&F?W??t???6??rr?T?4???BF?R&?V????t6???v?R6??rr???DU$??B??B????p?6???v?W"?VF?F?"???6??V`?v?F?F?RW??&Wf?WrVF?F???2vR&?GV6RgFW"F?W6R6??w2?vV?W&???&?2?&?&??FV?W"?v?&?B?6????v?????B??F?R?Wr&?GV7B??G&?GV7F???7?6?R?@?????P??P???