Another Harley thread - good or bad, you decide

[decobike]

On the local news tonight - KDLH the NBC affiliate in Duluth, MN - notified us that HD is going to open another dealership in Canal Park in Duluth. If you look at a map of the US and see where Lake Superior's western most point is (looks a little like a finger pointing) is where Canal Park is located. That would be liking opening an HD dealership in the French Quarter or along the River Walk in San Antonio or on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City or in the numerous old towns in various cities all over the US. The impression I got is they won't build new but remodel one of the old warehouse buildings. Its pretty much guaranteed from late April thru October they'll get traffic. Not sure what I think about it, it'll sure bring the Harley riders in. Don't know about the rest of us.

[R100Pilot]

That's the marketing strategy now - Harley is moving in a "boutique" sorta direction, targeting upscale customers with shops that have more Licensed Merchandise than bikes. It's all a bit frou-frou if ya ask me, but I'd be willing to bet they'll make a ton of money and not care.

[Wombat]

Here in Honolulu there are 3 Harley stores (Pacific H-D) that are totally dedicated to the motorclothing line of products.
One is in the Ala Moana shopping mall, one in the heart of Waikiki and one in the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
I used to work at both the Waikiki and Hilton stores and would have a giggle at the customers who would come in to get a 'Dealer T-Shirt' when in fact there is no such dealer as Pacific H-D.

[mdgore]

HD has always been about marketing (well, since the bankruptcy anyways). They are selling the brand, not the bike. You don't need to have the bike to sport the brand. There is a HD shop right off State St. in Santa Barbara, and State St. is THE street in SB for the tourists, etc. The store is completely boutique, as their main shop is out on a frontage road of HWY 101, near Carpinteria.

That's HD's business model right now, and for the present, it's working. There are a lot of boomers who have bought into the image and drop $20 +k on a very low tech bike. HD's fit and finish are second to none however, but the tech behind the bike is a joke for that kind of money.

The problem is that HD has a backlog of inventory and they are financing anyone with a pulse (this has been going on for the past two years). The white trash yahoo's who have drooled over the chrome can now ride away with it. When their payments jump after a year, they start hating life. I see more late model HD's for sale in the local trade magazines than any other brand, easily by a 2 to 1 margin. AND, they all want what they paid for them. LOL

People thought that the Hardley craze would bottom out 5 years ago. It just took a bit longer than expected, but it's starting to happen right now. People have overextended themselves and the toys are always the first thing to go. When the war in Iraq is over, and the economy tanks, you'll be able to pick up that ass jewelry for half of what people want for them now.

[Normandy]

Relax, Willie's daughter just got a little carried away with her marketing department's responsibilities. :-D

[decobike]

So I'm getting the idea - I live my naive little life up here in the midwestern outback - that these are like all the Disney stores in the Malls. (The bulb brightens) Which would make HD in direct competition with Lands End and Kohls more Wisconsin clothing retailers. Wow, the things you learn on this forum.

[trypcil]

Harley is after all just a T-shirt company anyways so what the issue? Maybe they'll buy Gap and baby Gap along with Banana Republic - which aren't doing so well - diversity is what HD need, or perhaps Victoria's secret, that be cool ! :hammer:

[miker]

I think if they bought Tommy Bahamas as well that would top it off! Their prices are through the roof as well.

On a recent short visit to Orlando FL, I was in the airport for about an hour before boarding. Orlando Harley Davidson have not one, but two outlets in the retail section of the airport. I had to buy a sweatshirt just because they tried so hard, the guy behind the counter didn't know what a Shovel was, let alone an '82 Sturgis. That says something......

Mick

[davidc]

Mdgore's "ass jewelry", I like that metaphor - and it is soooo very true.

[doodledog]

Had to laugh yesterday, Guy rolled up on a HD at the coast, he was on a 3 year old sportster it was the ugliest thing you ever saw due to the Mods and aftermarket stuff on it, it looked like three bikes bolted together the front was spoked the middle was cromed with leather tank bib the rear was solid wheel and leather bags. The shop guy had had a field day with this guy, he was about 45 and was wearing all the stuff, HD boots leather jeans with lace up sides, leather lacket with a leather waistcoat all brand new with new HOG patches all over it, he looked a right tit, as he creaked along the sea front sweating and red faced, silly bigger.