Quote:
Originally Posted by William
I worked at Harley in Parts & Accessories, Supply Chain, 2012-2015. Easily, the best working experience I had in 44 years.
The problems they are having have little to do with leadership and everything to do with the rapidly shrinking motorcycle customer pie. Had Matt not made the move into electric bikes, that would be touted as a reason for the decline. Previous leadership got them into 500 & 750 cc bikes built in India. Those haven't done much either.
They are smart and sophisticated at marketing their products; chased every market segment there was. Try as they might, the bulk of their customer base has remained aging baby boomers that could afford the product. That group is aging out, selling their bikes and moving on. When I was there, the #1 competitor for a new Harley was a gently used Harley. Supply has exceeded demand.
Next time you are at a car show, take a look around. Do not ask for whom the bell tolls.
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As to what William said-when I was going to SEMA- I was able to attend some marketing classes that were run by some of the HD marketing folks. It were very interesting as to how they viewed their customers-and how they ran their marketing campaigns. In fact one of the recent (a few years ago) ads that they had on TV epitomized how they did what they did...it in effect said, "When our competition turns right, we go left!" So many commercials are all alike, so to capture a customers attention, you have to be different. That in effect is Harley. They march to the beat of their own drum.
Also keep in mind, H-D's motor clothes/parts and accessories make lots of money as well. Finally their branding is off the hook. H.O.G (Harley Owners Groups) are very strong and nationwide. The import folks owners groups can only wish that they could be one tenth as successful. The company I worked with spent thousands of dollars every year emulating our Harley stores owners groups to try to get the Import owners "clubs" to get more involved. It never worked.
You don't see too many folks with Honda/Kawasaki/Suzuki tattooed on their arm or back, but their are plenty of skin examples of the Harley logo everywhere you look at any motorcycle event. That's a marketing persons dream...free advertising and liking the product so much that they permanently put it on their skin
I really enjoyed those classes at SEMA.
