Triumph dealers - a lifestyle choice?

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Nobody203
26/11/2007 at 09:10
Just something interesting that came up yesterday. Went into one of my local dealers yesterday for a couple of bits and was surprised to see all the Triumph signage had come down to be replaced by Kawasaki.

Had a quick chat with the bossman, and he was saying that it was because of Triumph's attitude to what they wanted. It would appear that they did not want a bike show room any more, but a lifestyle shop, i.e. trying to break into the Harley market.

Now we also have one of the ex-Carnell places which is a Harley dealership and if that is the vision for Triumph the nit means it would turn into a place full of Triumph branded gear only, perfectly laid out etc...

Now I am not in the market for a new bike, but is this the future for independent dealers? Do you want an immaculate show room full of like branded accessories? Or would you prefer to see a nicel laid out show room, but a traditional bike shop in the background, full of different ranges of clothing and accessories and spare parts for whatever bike you need?

This place has been a Triumph dealership for as long as I've been biking, so I'm sure he did not take the decision lightly.

I just wonder what others see as the future for a successful bike shop?
WUSS#1169, pipe 'n' slippers officionado. 'L'Homme Bleu qui marche plus vite', yes and keep it that way. This is also still dull

VFRs are nice, a bit like me, nice but dull :smoke:
weeksy
26/11/2007 at 09:13
i wouldn't really care. I don't go into bike dealers. I buy all bikes/clothing/accessories on-line.

If bike shops never existed in any shape or form it wouldn't much matter to me.
SuperSonic
26/11/2007 at 09:38
If I go into a bike shop it's to look at bikes, bike accessories or bike clothing.

Not to buy a branded t-shirt or cap.
Orange Z1000 with a few mods....
Diversion
26/11/2007 at 09:46
it is exactly what Honda has done...
wish I was a weeble

Recommended:Seat mods and re-covering - Paul Bishop (01962 777800)

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Strappy
26/11/2007 at 09:48
To a degree it could be argued that BMW showrooms are the same, with branded t-shirts and accessories and it doesn't sound that different to Honda's solus policy.

Biking has become more of a leisure activity, no longer does a young man get a bike as a cheap alternative to a car, more bikers are starting later in life. This is a market with much greater disposable income and a clichéd notion of what being a "biker" means, so I can't say I'm surprised that the marketing men have decided to target that market. There will always be bikers who just want decent kit at a reasonable price but why would you run a shop aimed at them when you're hoping to maximise your profits?
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If at first you don't succeed, tell everyone you did anyway.
490
26/11/2007 at 09:50
Bonners wrote
but is this the future for independent dealers?


Not necessarily, but I think it became pretty obvious about a year or so ago that it would be the future for Triumph.

Risky move in that it'll probably ensure the company's future for ever and a day if it works, and probably ensure their failure if it doesn't.

You'd have to say that it's working so far!!!!!!
Velocette
26/11/2007 at 09:53
I don't know, but I do find the Triumph magazine a bit nauseating, full of pictures of posing metrosexuals affecting coolness. The Triumph department at Fowlers has been rubbish since Richard Ellis left. No thanks I don't want to buy a Triumph branded wallet on a chain. I buy most of my stuff on-line too.

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Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Half of what I say is meaningless.

TooFamousRob
26/11/2007 at 09:53
Its just bike manufacturers catching up with what the car industry has been doing for years.

Bevans in Cardiff refitted their showroom last year in line with the new Triumph corporate style. There is a decent range of Triumph clothing and accessories but its certainly not at the expense of other brands of clothing.
http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/images/logos/triumph9.gif
490
26/11/2007 at 10:06
TooFamousRob wrote
There is a decent range of Triumph clothing and accessories but its certainly not at the expense of other brands of clothing.


There's rumblings in the industry that it's only a matter of time before Triumph insist on their dealers being solus.
slogger
26/11/2007 at 10:07
i am thinking that the bike shop may have bolloxed up in his choice , triumph are pushing forward harder than ever now.
This is the way forward if you really believe in your product ,and seeing as most people that buy bikes do so for pleasure only? why not make it a nicer cheasy moment , never had a triumph but i am seriously thinking of getting one now

WHO CARES WINS

TooFamousRob
26/11/2007 at 10:07
490 wrote
There's rumblings in the industry that it's only a matter of time before Triumph insist on their dealers being solus.


Solus as in no other bike franchises (a la Honda) or clothing too?
http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/images/logos/triumph9.gif
490
26/11/2007 at 10:18
TooFamousRob wrote
Solus as in no other bike franchises (a la Honda) or clothing too?


Yes, as per the Harley Davidson set up.
iBurty
26/11/2007 at 10:20
This isn't limited to Triumph is it?

Honda, BMW, Harley, Ducati, all do this.

How many new car dealerships are multi-franchise, & sell generic parts and accessories?

"This vehicle has remarkable power and should be used gradually and with maximum caution." - Aprilia
490
26/11/2007 at 10:25
burty wrote
This isn't limited to Triumph is it?

Honda, BMW, Harley, Ducati, all do this.

How many new car dealerships are multi-franchise, & sell generic parts and accessories?


Yes but I don't think you can necessarily compare cars and bikes "per se", volume of sales is very, very, different.

The Triumph thing will probably work if they have few enough dealers nationwide but you could also imagine that some dealers would prefer to keep their options more open.

Horses for courses and all that.
TooFamousRob
26/11/2007 at 10:27
490 wrote
Yes, as per the Harley Davidson set up.


Interesting.

Can't blame them I suppose. There's much bigger margins in clothing and accessories than in new bikes.
http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/images/logos/triumph9.gif
Cousin Jack
26/11/2007 at 10:32
Velocette wrote
............... but I do find the Triumph magazine a bit nauseating, full of pictures of posing metrosexuals affecting coolness.


Massive understatement ! The first of the new format magazines barely mentioned bikes, the second was a little better, but still nauseating. The marketeers have taken over.

And Triumph is now officially a "cool brand". Yuk!
Cousin Jack

(a member of an oppressed minority whose legitimate aspirations to nationhood have been brutally suppressed by the Anglo Saxon invaders. Remember An Gof !)
490
26/11/2007 at 10:36
TooFamousRob wrote
Interesting.

Can't blame them I suppose. There's much bigger margins in clothing and accessories than in new bikes.


Absolutely, read in some of the industry comics that Harley make something like 80% of their profit from parts and accessory sales and just a small part of it from the actual sale of the bikes themselves.

The Triumph name could (probably) carry that sort of business model as well ultimately, come to think of it most of the European makes probably could do something similar.

But the Japs??????????,......................not so sure!
490
26/11/2007 at 10:39
Cousin Jack wrote
Massive understatement ! The first of the new format magazines barely mentioned bikes, the second was a little better, but still nauseating. The marketeers have taken over.

And Triumph is now officially a "cool brand". Yuk!


Perhaps that's why the dealer mentioned preferred to move away from Triumph, maybe he likes dealing with bikers!!!!!!
Strappy
26/11/2007 at 10:40
490 wrote
But the Japs??????????,......................not so sure!


I guess that the perception of heritage helps push Harley and Triumph sales, same with the Italian marques. I suppose that the Japanese are happy with being global mega-corporations instead.

Mind you, there's a growing market in 'classic' Japanese bikes, what with BTB-ers buying that memory of their youth - if someone's willing to spend a couple of thousand on a Fizzy they may be persuaded to get the matching t-shirt and underpant combo too.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ArrantNonsense/sigImage.jpg

If at first you don't succeed, tell everyone you did anyway.
Nobody203
26/11/2007 at 10:41
490 wrote
Perhaps that's why the dealer mentioned preferred to move away from Triumph, maybe he likes dealing with bikers!!!!!!


He did distainfully show me the new Triumph (what, I'm not actually sure what it was:confused thingy, saying this was the kind of image they were now trying to promote. It did look a bit, not for me, type of thing.
WUSS#1169, pipe 'n' slippers officionado. 'L'Homme Bleu qui marche plus vite', yes and keep it that way. This is also still dull

VFRs are nice, a bit like me, nice but dull :smoke:
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