Friday, February 17, 2012

Dealer Expo Experience Day #1

     As many of my friends know, I have been in the bicycle industry for most, if not all of  my adult life.  All of the companies that I have worked for (Specialized Bicycles, Livermore Cyclery, Sun Bike Shop, and Cognition Cyclery) have prepared me, as I like to say, my second life, at Kali Protectives.
     Kali, if you do not know, sells bicycle, motorcycle, and now snow helmets.  Bicycle, got that covered.  Snow, not much experience there, but I will learn.  Motorcycle?  Learning the helmets was one thing, but understanding and learning the different dealers across the US and what they go through on a daily basis, seemed like it would be a foreign world too me.  As it turns out, although there is certainly a very clear division of labor, the industry is much like bike, only there is a lot more money involved and a ton, and I mean a ton of competition out there in the helmet world.
     All of which brings me to this, I am now at Dealer Expo in Indianapolis and Thursday has been an experience all in its own.  Mind you, the convention starts on Friday for the dealers, but setup for the vender's is on Thursday.  I have not gotten a full vision of what to look at, but to say the least, it will be big, and it will be impressive seeing all of the different parts, accessories and even motorcycles that will be littered all over the convention center (which is a stones throw from Lucas Oil Stadium for you football fans).
     The booth layout for Kali is nice, and the setup was easy and smooth.  Our 20x20 space has enough space for us to show the dealers our new helmets and protective gear.  This will not be my first trade show, but this will be my first trade show for moto.  I have the technology down, which for me, is what I love about the company.  Uncompromising protection for our riders.  Uncompromising in support for our dealers.  Uncompromising in what we do!
     Of course, there was your sales meeting and our company dinner after, but it is the shenanigans that we get into after that lets us relax and blow off steam.  Talking about them though, would obviously break some kind of code, but to put your mind at ease, there is nothing illegal, all is in good taste (depends on your POV though), and all is in good fun.  All of which is that I am nursing a slight headache (hangover) and look forward to day #2, of which I have my appointments ready and the product learned.  Graphics are another thing and I have a few hours to memorize everything.  But I am ready and look forward to meeting my friends that I only get to talk to over the phone.

Cheers - J