Sept. 29, 2003 – Marshall plans expansion

Marshall Distributing, Inc., Cass City, Mich., plans to begin a two-part expansion project, which it says will enable it to eventually accommodate over 3,000 powersports dealerships.
The first stage of expansion will occur at the company headquarters, where construction to be completed this fall will make room for additional staff members hired to service an expanding customer base for the distributor’s Coldwave snowmobile clothing, Teknic motorcycle clothing, America Eagle plows and expanding Gmax line.
The second stage of the expansion involves building a new 68,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Albany, NY, which is expected to reduce shipment times to New York, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania by 50%. The warehouse is scheduled to be finished by early 2004.
Cycle Country Adds Distributors
Cycle Country Accessories Corp. (AMEX:ATC), the Milford, Iowa, developer and manufacturer of ATV accessories, has added two distributors, bringing to 18 the number of distributors servicing over 8,000 dealers throughout North America.
AMSOIL, Inc., headquartered in Superior, Wis., and a leader in synthetic motor oil, now carries a complete line of Cycle Country’s Per-Form oil filter products for motorcycles, ATVs and other utility vehicles.
At the same time, Gamma Sales, Inc., a relatively new Canadian distributor of powersports parts and accessories, now carries the entire Cycle Country accessories product line.
Amsoil’s extensive distribution in the U.S. and Canada has pushed revenue growth and already represents a “solid percentage” of the company’s overall sales in this product category, the company said. Gamma’s primary distribution is focused in eastern Canada and is expected to strengthen the Cycle Country’s dealer coverage in that region.
Tucker Rocky Online
Tucker Rocky Distributing, Ft. Worth, Texas, says it finished testing and is now offering a new business-to-business Web site designed to make a dealer’s ordering experience easier.
TRDealer.com allows TR’s powersports retailers to search inventory; import or manually create orders to send to Tucker Rocky; view and edit back orders, including seeing estimated receipt dates; view and print invoices, credit memos and statements; see carrier tracking information; see closeout product information; and set up multiple User ID’s at the dealership to control access to specific information.
TR’s three 2003 catalogs are already online, and the firm asks that dealers call 800/347-1010 for their access code. TR says the online catalogs have everything the printed versions, plus an Update Section that provides new products, applications and corrections.
Motorcycle Stuff
Motorcycle Stuff, the powersports distributor based in Cape Girardeau, Mo., held its annual business meeting in Clearwater Beach, Fla., Sept. 5-7.
The 220 dealers registered to attend had a chance to visit with 67 suppliers who explained product designed for the street, off-road, cruiser and ATV markets.
A part of the Global Motorsports Group (GMG), Motorcycle Stuff’s new suppliers include seat and luggage designer Corbin-Pacific; Execute Sports, which makes graphics and seat covers for off-road bikes; American Mfg., designer of snow plows and ATV accessories; Diamond Powersports, a Florida-based manfuacturer specializing in streetbike accessories; brake expert Ferodo; trailer specialist Kendon Industries; Pacific PowerWorks, which offers QuadWorks ATV kits; and Shogun Exhausts, a well-known purveyor of cruiser exhausts.
“But, probably the biggest piece of news unveiled at the show had to do with our Web site and dealer online order entry system,” explains Tim Dodd. “Now, our dealers can place orders; check stock; check backorders and account history; look at their payables; look at specials; and even export Lightspeed orders directly into the Web site — eliminating the need for double-keying.”
Dodd said MC Stuff, working with IT specialist Perot Systems, started developing the project in March. He said a group of dealers commenced testing in mid-July.
“Web surfers will be able to learn who we are and see what we’re about; but, since we work only with dealers and not with the general public, visitors to the site must have an account number and a password to get in and see and work with the majority of the site,” he said.
For more information about Motorcycle Stuff or its new online order system, call 800/325-3673 or visit www.mcstuff.com
Sidi Sponsors Supermoto
Sidi has been named The Official Boot of the 2003 AMA Sports Supermoto Grand Championships, the result of a sponsorship agreement between AMA Sports and Motonation, which is Sidi’s exclusive source in the United States.
“It’s clear that Supermoto is part of the future of motorsports in the U.S.,” said Bill Berroth, president of Motonation. “We look forward to a long-term relationship with AMA Sports and the AMA Sports Supermoto Grand Championships.”
The 2003 AMA Sports Supermoto Eastern & Western Championship Series will conclude with the AMA Sports Supermoto Grand Championships in Las Vegas on November 22 and 23.
Riders finishing the Eastern & Western Championship rounds in the top 35 in points will earn a starting spot at the Las Vegas event; the nine classes competing for number-one plates will be lined up for heat races by points earned at regional events.
AMA Sports presents the 2003 AMA Sports Supermoto Grand Championships in cooperation with AMA-chartered promoting organizations Supermoto USA and Supermotard USA. For more information on these promoters and there events visit www.supermotard-usa.com or www.supermoto.com. For more information about Sidi, call 877/789-4940 or visit www.motonation.com.