The Blind leading the Blind. HD appoints their first Brand President.
#83
04-17-2019, 09:02 PM
Tourer
HD has done a remarkable and sustained job of screwing up marketing and model diversification. The only time they got it right is when they listened to real bikers and borrowed/bought their ideas like the Softail name, the Softail frame, disc brakes, solid disc wheels, narrowglides on big twins etc. The history is long and embarrassing with much potential profit left on the table.
They make plenty of money but investors only care about growth so expect more thrashing. They are nowhere near tanking but investors consider slow sales a disaster. If they do tank, GOOD, because it will open the door for competent investors like the brilliant John Bloor whose Triumph revival combined retro and modern motorcycles. Any real biker can build his own and the aftermarket makes it easier than it's ever been so enthusiasts will always have rides. We were doing that when some dealerships rejected customers who rode up on a chopper (speaking of less than brilliant MoCo behavior).
They make plenty of money but investors only care about growth so expect more thrashing. They are nowhere near tanking but investors consider slow sales a disaster. If they do tank, GOOD, because it will open the door for competent investors like the brilliant John Bloor whose Triumph revival combined retro and modern motorcycles. Any real biker can build his own and the aftermarket makes it easier than it's ever been so enthusiasts will always have rides. We were doing that when some dealerships rejected customers who rode up on a chopper (speaking of less than brilliant MoCo behavior).
You and your kind of rider is precisely the "type" Harley is trying to distance its self from.
#85
04-17-2019, 11:53 PM
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Originally Posted by SWThomas
Well I respectfully disagree. Sharing common ground with your target audience has absolutely nothing to do with branding. Large corporations hire branding experts all the time based on their success record, and don't care at all if they use the product.
#87
04-18-2019, 12:51 AM
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
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#88
04-18-2019, 12:56 AM
#89
04-18-2019, 07:04 AM
Really has nothing to do with whether he is knowledgeable of bikes or not. He could be an advid rider. We have no clue.
Most riders here have not worked at a shop or sold women's clothes.
For all we know he has riden his whole life, and finally has a chance to work for motorcycle company. Have any of you put your job app in at Harley yet?
Also was the article written for internet forums? I saw it in bizjournal.
Last edited by Zerk; 04-18-2019 at 07:06 AM.
#90
04-18-2019, 10:11 AM
Stellar HDF Member
These amateurs do a better job marketing than Harley. You can’t market Harley on a rational level. You have to give a glimpse into the irrational love we have for our bikes.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/harle...tail-film.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/harle...heir-bike.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/harle...tail-film.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/harle...heir-bike.html