Features

May 15, 2006 – Thinking About It

Tucker Rocky picks up Teknic
Specialty Sport Ltd. and Tucker Rocky announced a new partnership that will have the Texas-based company distribute the Teknic brand of apparel.
Tucker Rocky plans to officially launch the distribution partnership at the company’s upcoming sales meeting, scheduled June 2-3.
“Teknic fits well into our street apparel portfolio alongside Firstgear, MotoGP, River Road and LBZ brands,” said Tucker Rocky’s Stephan Ulbrich.
Specialty Sports Ltd. also distributes Teknic apparel through Marshall Distributing. Both companies are based in Michigan. The new partnership with Tucker Rocky will not have an effect on Marshall’s relationship with Teknic, a spokesperson for Specialty Sports Ltd. told Powersports Business.
In other Tucker Rocky news, the distributor is changing the name of its newest line of value helmets from Epic to Vantage. The brand was introduced at the Dealer Expo in Indianapolis and will be available for dealer supply later this year.
Tucker Rocky officials say they were recently informed that the Epic name was being used in Canada by another brand of motorcycle helmet. “During our initial research, this information was not uncovered since it is just a common law usage and is not a registered name,” explained Bill Carter, vice president of marketing and strategic planning at TR.
Carter said Vantage helmets are aggressively priced helmets designed to maximize dealer sales and profits and meet the safety needs of those requiring a lower-priced helmet with attractive graphics.
The model lineup, designs, and pricing as depicted in the Tucker Rocky 2006 catalog will remain the same, just the name will be changed.
Marshall Plans Open House
Marshall Distributing, Inc. plans to hold a dealer open house at its Cass City, Mich.-based warehouse on July 9.
Marshall sales representatives will meet for seminars July 6-7; vendor setup takes place 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on July 7 and 8 a.m. to noon on July 8; then vendors and staff will meet at 10 a.m. July 9, conduct a dealer open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and tear down from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Marshall suppliers will be able to ship display booths and display items to the Michigan warehouse in advance: Marshall Distributing Inc., 4162 Doerr Road, Cass City, Mich., 48726
Motorcycle Stuff Delivers 2006 Catalog
The 2006 Motorcycle Stuff catalog has several features, including more sections for easy navigation, section pages that include indexes, and new part numbers highlighted in blue. There are more than 30,000 products to choose from and more than 130 brands.
The 2006 Motorcycle Stuff catalog also is accessible at www.motorcyclestuff.com. For more information, contact your Motorcycle Stuff sales representative at 800/325-3673.
New Owner to Update PMC North America
PMC North America, a re-manufacturer of marine and non-marine powersports engines, has new ownership and a new chief executive, who recently announced some changes.
Z&J Acquisitions, LLC, completed the purchase of all Largo, Fla.-based PMC North America assets, including patents, trademarks, servicemarks, copyrights and logos in late 2005.
New PMC President Edwin Barr said he has asked his senior management team to focus on three major areas: 1) earning customer trust, 2) making sure products are ready to ship, and 3) building cooperative relationships with dealers. He said the new PMC North America has already changed one policy to defer charges to dealers for engine cores. Before dealers were charged for the core until it was received by PMC.
PMC remanufactures and sells a full line of crankshafts and engines for boats, personal watercraft, ATVs, snowmobiles and motorcycles. Its products are designed and manufactured to replace engines for all of the major powersports brands, including Mercury, Mariner, Mercruiser, Johnson, Evinrude, OMC, Yamaha, Force, Polaris, Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Bombardier, Kawasaki, Tigershark, Arctic Cat, Honda and Suzuki.
Barr said PMC North America also plans to add more products to become a better-known single-source supplier.
Barr moved to PMC after a career implementing information technology programs for Fortune 500 companies. “In fact, I intend to apply some of these management techniques to PMC to improve our manufacturing processes and to suggest ways dealers can improve their shop procedures for larger profits and happier customers,” he said.
S&S Cycle Announces Promotions
S&S Cycle, La Crosse, Wisc., announced the promotion of Michael Scaletta to senior engineering manager. His new duties include overseeing the OE Services and Support Department and the Engineering Department.
Scaletta was hired in March 2003 as the research product coordinator. He was promoted to current product engineering manager in September 2004. He was employed at Lockheed-Martin Aeronautics in Marietta, Ga., prior to joining S&S.
Scaletta is one of three third-generation family members who work at S&S. “Obviously I’m partial because Michael is a cousin and we’re great friends, but he has earned every opportunity he’s had with S&S and this is no different,” said S&S President Brett Smith.
In other S&S news, Michael Read was promoted to OE Support & Services manager, overseeing the sales, engineering and customer/tech support areas for all OE customers.
Read was hired in April 2004 as an OE engineer. He most recently held the position of sales manager. S&S said Read was chosen for the new position based on his previous experience with engineering and sales, as well as his relationships with OE customers.
Finally, Brent Glick was promoted to OE services lead. His new duties include providing technical services to OEs. He is part of the OE services and support department. Glick has most recently been in charge of the customer support team.
Pro-One names director of dealer development
Strategically timed to coincide with the introduction of its exclusive line of OEM custom motorcycles, PRO-ONE announced the appointment of Bob Musso as director of dealer development and motorcycle sales.
Most recently director of product development and marketing strategist, Musso will be cultivating a select number of highly qualified dealers throughout the United States. Additionally, he will provide new dealers with flooring assistance, guidelines for service and sales integrity and insight into financing OEM customs.
Oxlite Names New Sales Manager
Oxlite Manufacturing has named former sales department account manager, Tim Landry, as executive sales manager. Landry joined Oxlite in 2005.
Oxlite Manufacturing, Breaux Bridge, La., has been in the manufacturing business since 1989 and produces more than 75 styles of lightweight, purpose built aluminum loading ramps and ATV accessories.
Zongshen, MRP Sign Agreement
Martin Racing Performance, supplier of racing components for scooters, ATVs and go-karts, has signed a cooperation agreement with Zongshen America, Inc., a subsidiary of China’s Chongqing Zongshen Motorcycle Group.
The deal will have MRP develop a wide range of exclusive racing parts and accessories for Zongshen-built vehicles and have MRP offer dealers technical support. MRP also will assist with joint product development, suggesting changes to the Zongshen product line for entry to the U.S. dealer base.
To kickoff the agreement, Zongshen will provide MRP with its entire U.S. lineup, including its private-label models currently sold in the United States to nine other importers.
Zongshen America said the deal was designed to assist the company in entering the North American market. Both companies are based in Doral, Fla. psb

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