| Author | Message | ||
     Xbrad9r |
the pro-Buell stories are starting to pop up all over, here is another http://wmoon.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/harleys-lost -generations-failure-to-reinvent-loses-the-after-b oomers/Read More | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Error 404 - Not Found Sorry, but what you're looking for isn't here. Perhaps you typed a URL incorrectly or clicked on a broken hyperlink. | ||
| Tpoppa |
That is not a well written article. I get the point, but it's hard to follow. | ||
| Xbrad9r |
http://wmoon.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/harleys-lost -generations-failure-to-reinvent-loses-the-after-b oomers/ | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I want my click back | ||
| Swordsman |
I do believe that's MJ in the logo. I knew he wasn't dead. ~SM | ||
| Jammin_joules |
Hard to read but there are words that resonate therein. And Seeking Alpha agreed: “And among those which seem to be unaware of any generational shifting in the U.S. consumer base would have to include: General Motors Inc.,Harley Davidson Motorcycles Inc. (HOG), Wal Mart (WMT) and Wendys/Arby’s (WEN).” Whether it was fear of losing the base or being unimaginative, Harley-Davidson has failed the challenge for the past decade by delivering basically the same bikes year after year while ignoring what was exciting and attracting After Boomers. It did not reinvent the brand—and unless it finds a way to do so, it has doomed itself to an increasingly shrinking market until someone in Milwaukee figures out how to do so—or years down the road, consumers find a way to reinvent this particular style of motorcycle. Otoh, it did have Buell—while it had the negative of being “half a Harley” with its engine, it had innovative and cutting edge technology and styling. It is a sport bike and it had the right kind of styling—and as reported before—it was growing even as Harley shipments were shrinking. So Harley’s best chance of capturing After Boomers has been “discontinued” in one of the most blundering, short-sighted and idiotic management decisions in USA corporation history. It is doubtful, then, given all the reasons above, that Harley will bounce back once the recession is over. While the Motor Company was already facing the difficulty of producing too expensive motorcycles when the majority of new riders would be in their cheap bike stage, the definitive H-D styling is unappealing as is the lifestyle of the H-D rider. In every way, then, the next 20 years of riders will not find Harley’s a natural choice in their natural riding life cycle. Unless Harley finds a way to reinvent itself and make the iconic brand speak in fresh exciting ways to these digital, wireless, social networking generations.} | ||
| Mndwgz |
I had to look up Iow = in other words, and iirc = if I recall correctly I knew otoh = on the other hand Writing styles using acronyms like the ones used above, kind of fry my middle-age ass, but they keep the word count down if they have a maximum they have to adhere to. She has done a bunch of homework and brought up another tangent argument that the moco really doesn't have a clue. "H-D has admitted that it’s been unable to effectively market to minorities and has only in the past three (iirc) tried to reach out to African-Americans. That BMW is as white or whiter than H-D isn’t the issue–it merely points to the problems that BMW will have on top of it’s line of mostly too-expensive bikes for the pre-family/career rider. That you are the second person to get–seemingly–defensive about how white Harley is speaks to the problem we have as a country. I brought it up as a strictly business issue: there’s a large market and a growing market among minorities and it’s one that any company that’s responsible to its stockholders is obligated to win. That people get defensive that it’s even mentioned that a market segment is ignored is sad. I suggest you look at the issue in terms of business. Harley is." The previous blog is a good read too: http://wmoon.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/the-life-cycle-of-a-male-motorcyclist/ edit: added the link (Message edited by mndwgz on November 20, 2009) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
We see proportionate minority representation at our dealership for all but hispanic customers. I can't remember a single hispanic person ever. I'm only there two days a week, though. |
