Aug. 16, 2004 – Acerbis teams with Scott USA

Scott USA has entered into what it calls a strategic alliance with Acerbis Italia SpA, a move which will have all Acerbis product administered and marketed by Scott USA.
Acerbis will phase out its San Diego location effective Sept. 1, 2004, to create a new and common sales network with Scott USA. Sales, marketing, and administrative offices for Scott USA are in Ketchum, Idaho. The company’s distribution facility is in Clearfield, Utah.
Acerbis, in a prepared statement, said the deal will increase the market penetration of Acerbis products while streamlining its business in the U.S.
“People have been asking if this is a precursor to going dealer direct, and the answer is ‘no’,” Scott Watanabe, vice president of Scott USA’s Motorsport Division, told Powersports Business. “We have no interest in being a distributor, and you will not see Scott selling more brands in the future. That’s not a part of our strategic direction.”
Watanabe says the deal stems from a long-standing relationship between Scott USA and Acerbis and the challenges of operating a business in a foreign country.
Scott USA has an office in Switzerland, but the company’s product for Italy, Belgium and Spain is channeled through Acerbis’ distribution system. Now, Acerbis is planning the same type of arrangement in the U.S.
“It’s difficult to run a business and understand the idiosyncrasies of a consumer base from a different country,” Watanabe said. “Yes, we have an office in Switzerland, but we’ve never operated that facility with Americans because it’s just not feasable to do so.
“So, because we’ve had a professional and personal relationship with Franco Acerbis (founder and president of Acerbis Italia SpA) for more than 20 years, and were drawn to one another as companies because we have a lot of things in common, we decided to work together toward a common goal.”
Watanabe said he did not yet know if personnel from Acerbis USA would be hired by Scott USA, and said Scott USA plans to make no changes to the Acerbis distribution or product line-up for the first year.
“There will be a transition, but we’re hoping that it’s a transition that won’t even be noticed outside of our four walls,” he said. “We want to take a full year to truly understand all of the nuances of that business so that we can then analyze it from a practical standpoint as to what modifications may be needed; whether those changes be in distribution, product mix, product offerings or new product.”
Acerbis is based in Albino, Italy. In 1973, Franco Acerbis struck a deal with plastics pioneer Preston Petty to import Petty fenders into Italy. In his first year he imported 100 plastic fenders for distribution in Italy and southern Europe. By the third year he’d reached 40,000 units.
In 1979, when Petty discontinued production of plastic fenders, Acerbis began to produce his own products, finding additional success in fuel tank production.
Today, Acerbis consists of three company offices in Italy and the soon-to-be-closed San Diego location. Its distribution network supplies 43 countries around the globe with over 1,800 different Acerbis products. The company’s list of OEM clients includes Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda, KTM, Triumph and Yamaha.
Involved in motorsports, bicycling and winter sports, Scott was started in 1958 by Ed Scott, an engineer and ski racer living in Sun Valley, Idaho, who designed a tapered aluminum ski pole. The company entered the motocross market in 1975 with goggles, soon to be followed by grips and accessories. It opened its office in Fribourg, Switzerland, in 1978.
Kolpin Acquires Pioneer Outdoor Products
Kolpin Outdoors, Inc., based in Fox Lake, Wis., has acquired Pioneer Outdoor Products, Bountiful, Utah. This acquisition is another addition to Kolpin’s quickly expanding line of ATV products.
Through this acquisition, Kolpin has added a series of new ATV products to its lineup including the Pioneer Fuel Pack, a stackable auxiliary fuel tank; Water Pack, a stackable auxiliary water tank; Flat Pack, a complete tire repair kit; and Rack Pack, a gear box with special attachment brackets for Fuel/Water Packs.
“The Pioneer products overlay perfectly with our strategy to expand beyond our strong presence in hunting related products into the utility and ATV enthusiast side of the industry,” said Tom Lutes, VP/GM ATV Accessories for Kolpin.
Kolpin Outdoors, Inc. has manufactured and marketed outdoor products for more than 50 years.
Harvey Wagner Joins Scorpion Sports
Harvey Wagner has been named eastern region sales manager for California-based helmet supplier Scorpion Sports.
Wagner has broad retail distribution and management experience, including positions with Coleman Power Sports, PowerRide Inc. and J & D Walter Distributing, and he most recently served as eastern regional sales manager for Idaho-based Western Power Sports.
Scorpion founder Eric Anderson says Wagner’s extensive experience with independent reps makes him uniquely qualified for his new position.
“We really needed an experienced manager in the East,” Anderson said. “Harvey will manage our reps, keep us up-to-date on regional opportunities and provide additional support to our dealers.”
Offering dealer-direct distribution, Scorpion Sports imports a full line of unique dirt and street helmets from their state-of-the-art production facilities in Asia. The brand offers a complete range of parts and accessories to personalize each helmet including custom liners in various colors and patterns, seven faceshield colors and various SpeedShift and vent slider options.
Anderson is former vice president of Intersport Fashions West, Tustin, Calif.
Bridgestone Places Product Manager
Norris “T.J.” Tennent has been placed as product manager, motorcycle and kart for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, providing technical support to both the engineering and marketing departments for all the Bridgestone brand motorcycle and kart product lines.
Tennent was previously research and design engineer for BFNT’s South Central Region based in Dallas, Texas, where he provided a range of on-site testing, research and design services for three main tire categories: motorcycle, passenger and light truck, and commercial tires. He now will work with Bob Graham, manager of BFNT motorcycle and kart programs.
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, Nashville, Tenn., is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation. BFNT develops, manufactures, and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton products, as well as associate and private brand tires.
VP Racing Adds to Atlantic Region
VP Racing Fuels, Inc., has named Mike Farr as a sales representative, based out of VP’s Delaware office, Farr will join the Sales & Technical Support Staff in VP’s Atlantic region, which includes Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Eastern Ohio, Ontario and Quebec.
Farr has been involved with motorsports his entire career, primarily as a service and sales representative for two major shock absorber manufacturers.
Jim Kelly is regional manager for VP’s Atlantic region.
Global Plans Show
Global Motorsport Group, owner of Custom Chrome and Motorcycle Stuff, plans to hold what is being called the “Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building” at its U.S. dealer show in October.
First held in 2002 in conjunction with Custom Chrome Europe’s (CCE) European Dealer Show (in Germany in March each year), the event, co-produced by American Motorcycle Dealer (AMD), is to be held in the United States for the first time.
The World Championship of Custom Bike Building is open to all brands of motorcycles with three distinct classes: Freestyle, OEM and HR3 Kit Bikes. The World Championships will be held October 8, 9 and 10 at Custom Chrome headquarters in Morgan Hill, Calif.
There will be a $100.00 entry fee for the Freestyle Class only. All bikes must be at the show no later than noon on October 6 , and all bikes will remain at the show throughout the entire weekend until October 11.
For more information, visit www.AMDProShow.com
Teknic Enters Europe
Powersports apparel brand Teknic, manufactured by U.S.-based Specialty Sports Limited, plans to introduce its product to the European market at Intermot, the international motorcycle show scheduled to be held in Munich, Germany, September 14-19, 2004.
The Teknic product — one- and two-piece leather suits, jackets, pants, gloves and boots — will be distributed by Motorcycle Stuff Europe.
Visit www.teknicgear.com for more information.
New Area Code for Jardine
Jardine Performance Products and Doug Thorley Headers’ new area code has changed from area code 909 to the new 951 in Corona, Calif. The old area code is scheduled to function until October 29, 2004. On October 30, 2004, however, the 951 area code must be used on calls placed from phones outside the new area code or the call will not go through.
For sales, marketing and customer service regarding Jardine Performance Products & Doug Thorley Headers, phone 951/739-5900 or fax 951/371-1623.
For Summit Industries (Corporate offices, Accounting, Human Resources, R&D, Engineering), phone 951/371-1744 or fax 951/273-3615.
Electronic contact information will remain the same: www.jardineproducts.com, www.dougthorleyheaders.com, sales@jardineproducts.com.
Motovan Releases Catalog
Motovan has released its latest version of the Road Krome apparel catalog for cruiser enthusiasts. The 12-page catalog can be found online at www.motovan.com.
Edelbrock Purchases Another Rig
In its 66th year, Edelbrock recently added an 80-foot, two-story trailer to its line-up of five rigs that travel the country visiting more than 200 events every year.
The trailer also has elevator, interactive displays and is filled with Edelbrock and Russell product — in fact, 60% more Edelbrock and Russell product than any of the company’s other trailers can hold.
“It’s really state-of-the-art,” said Jason Snyder, Edelbrock national sales manager. “Products are placed on roll-outs based on engine family and performance level and are the most detailed displays Edelbrock has ever done. Even the catalog and literature holders have a new, customer-friendly design. When the new trailer is at an event, we can display all of this to consumers, which will help the local retailers. That’s really the goal behind the new rig to promote our products and support retailers.”
Based in Torrance, Calif., Edelbrock’s product line now features more than 8,100 performance products for automobiles, motorcycles and ATVs. In addition to four production facilities in Torrance, the company owns and operates a foundry in San Jacinto, Calif.
Ramsey Winch Names ATV Sales Manager
Jim White was named ATV sales manager for Ramsey Winch Company, responsible for growing ATV sales through powersports distribution and OEM business in the U.S. and Canada.
A former professional ATV Racer who won 7 National Championships and has received “Rider of the Year” award, White previously served as national sales manager for Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
Ramsey, based in Tulsa, Okla., currently manufactures more than 150 winch models for front mount self-recovery and industrial applications. The company markets products in more than 85 countries worldwide. psb