KingOfFleece wrote:I'm not sure of what you mean by business model. If you mean build a shop to fit the "lifestyle" Triumph insists on, then good luck to them.
That's the business model I was referring to.
KingOfFleece wrote:We had the SM at our monthly BMW club meeting. He said they will have everything. So, he may be in over his head as Triumph NA is, IMHO, unreasonable in their demands. They are adding on to the showroom for Triumph-good for them.
And that too.
From what I've heard through the grapevine, the problem is not actually Triumph NA but Triumph headquarters in the UK. They want to make the dealership model consistent worldwide, based on how it works in Europe, and they haven't yet understood that this model is unsustainable in large parts of North America because the population density is too low and the geography is much too vast. John Bloor is no longer in day-to-day control of the company; he's handed the reins over to his son Nick, and Nick doesn't seem to have as clear a grasp of world markets as his dad.
For a shop in Vermont, for example, to stock the whole Triumph lineup plus accessories and apparel is simply not possible from a business standpoint. The same is true in many other parts of the country, which is of course why Triumph's dealer network is hemorrhaging shops at a frightening rate, and why Triumph is going to be in trouble when the urban hipster crowd's interests move on from Bonnevilles and Bobbers to, I dunno, penny farthing bicycles or something.
KingOfFleece wrote:For now, based on past experience, I'll hope for the best. I am encouraged that two techs were sent to Triumph school.
Yeah, Triumph school is one of the required steps. Cyclewise's mechanic actually went to Triumph school as well while they were in talks to become a dealer; but they ultimately didn't sign on because the outlay that would have been required in order to meet Triumph's demands just didn't make economic sense. Which sucks, because they would have done awesome with Triumph.
--mark