NVP Showcase a hit with dealers

PowersportsBusinessAugust 23, 2011

The LeMans Corporation National Vendor Presentation kept its festivities entirely in Madison, Wis., over the weekend, and the format got high marks from dealers and vendors alike at the distributor’s biggest sales event of the year.

Icon, Thor and Alpinestars debuted new apparel to rave reviews at the Dealer Showcase, held at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in downtown Madison, along the shores of Lake Monona and in the shadow of the state capitol building. About 150 Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties sales reps and hundreds of dealers feasted their eyes upon new 2012 aftermarket products from 126 vendors.
Taking in the latest in parts and accessories, gear and apparel, dealers took center stage on Sunday, when “it was packed with dealers in here,” as one vendor described.

Following a Dealer Preview event Saturday evening, a well-attended Meet & Greet reception was held on the rooftop of the Monona Terrace. Dealers were treated to an insightful Q&A session with a host of the company’s sponsored riders. In previous years, the Meet & Greet had been held at the LeMans Corp. warehouse in Janesville, Wis., but the change was welcomed.

“We changed up a lot of things this year, and I think it’s been more exciting in a lot of ways both the reps and the dealers,” said Greg Blackwell, LeMans Corp.’s vice president of sales. “I personally was blown away by the turnout we had at the party on Saturday. Changing things up by not going down to the warehouse has allowed people to spend more time together. The vendors liked having more time with the dealers, and the dealers liked having more time with the vendors. The social environment was real positive.”

LeMans Corp. also announced that another dealer showcase will be held March 24-25 in Reno, Nev.

Check out the interest in the new Icon line of apparel by clicking here for a video. And read more about the NVP in an upcoming edition of Powersports Business.