“ Commerce , Content , Community ” Kenan Ikels , VP Sales & Marketing , Tucker Rocky / Biker ’ s Choice
“ Commerce , Content , Community ” Kenan Ikels , VP Sales & Marketing , Tucker Rocky / Biker ’ s Choice
Words by Robin Bradley robin @ dealer-world . com
Pictures by Sara Viney sara @ dealer-world . com
In the first of two distributor shows held back to back in February , AMD reports on the Tucker Rocky & Biker ’ s Choice Dealer and Brand Expo held just north of Dallas , Texas , February 8 & 9
Given the well documented difficulties that the Motorsport Aftermarket Group has been through recently , it came as a pleasant surprise that the overall ‘ vibe ’ and ‘ atmospherics ’ at their recent Dealer and Brand Expo were so positive . While there are some third-party vendors that remain concerned at the way the bankruptcy reorganization filing in November has affected them , the majority have managed to arrive at an accommodation with Tucker Rocky and Biker ’ s Choice that , at worst , provides somewhat of a satisfactory way out of a less than ideal situation . The positive message of “ business as ( near as possible to ) usual ” that the company ’ s management had communicated before the show was
www . AMDchampionship . com largely playing out - probably better than anybody could have hoped . Vendors exhibited , dealers visited , sales reps wrote orders , everyone got to deliver on the first of the “ three pillars of wisdom ” with which Sales and Marketing VP Kenan Ikels ’ team had approached the event .
There were 140 brands exhibiting at the show including 14 house brands from Tucker Rocky and Biker ’ s Choice ( such as Twin Power and BikeMaster ); MAG business units such as Vance & Hines , Burly Brand , Performance Machine and Progressive Suspension , RSD hard parts ( the Performance
Group ), Kuryakyn and Mustang Seats ( the Accessories Group ) Speed & Strength , Black Brand , Answer Racing , Firstgear and RSD Apparel ( the California based MAG Apparel Group ) plus notable businesses from the Off Road Group such as Renthal , Dragonfire , Quad Boss and ProTaper .
‘ positive atmosphere ’
So , the content was certainly there , for the V-twin , ‘ mainstream ’ and off-road sectors of the market . Despite four years of market decline and the recent difficulties , the overwhelming sense among the exhibitors was a positive one where the prospects for 2018 are concerned - especially among the hard parts , accessories , service , tuning and performance community . One of the classic signposts to market optimism , in any market , is investments in R & D and new products and in brand and product promotion , and in both respects the show was a success . It was content-rich in terms of new products for dealers to get excited about ( look for the reports in this and upcoming editions ), and if we here at AMD Magazine are a bellwether of marketing dollars , then yes , vendors are anticipating better sales this season . Regardless of the background to the acquisition of the MAG businesses by former Tucker Rocky owner Lacy Diversified in early 2014 , and regardless of the market decline and debt servicing burden that brought about the reorganization filing in November 2017 , the company is currently well
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - MARCH 2018 17