Times they are a’ changin’ for economics in Canada ... or are they? Mixed reviews from the Banks of Everywhere make it hard to tell, but one thing is for sure: there’s never been a better time to beef up the bottom line with money you’re already entitled to.

According to one manufacturer of business management software for powersport dealers, a store loses roughly three to five percent of the value of its inventory every year because of human error. That amounts to big bucks over 50 weeks—get it back using software featured on page 6.

It seems unbelievable to us, but a surprising number of retailers would rather read the dictionary than spend time developing a plan for effective merchandising. Creating a clean, engaging, and personalized display and store plan can mean the difference between concrete block walls, and concrete block walls that shine. Check out page 9 for a look at Gear Head Canada, an Ottawa shop that won Best Display from Dealernews, and for tips on how to make your store stand out.

This is the first issue to feature a Market Report, which is a new section to CPT. We’ll be looking at a number of aftermarket categories throughout the year, and reporting on the state of sales and innovation in said categories. See page 13 for our first, on body armor. Contact me directly for a list of items that will be featured each issue.

Two issues ago I wrote about optimism. I thought it was interesting that reader feedback and subsequent conversations about the state of the industry were mostly positive, so I relayed the hot dog story, having to do with the parts of recessionary pull-back that are a matter of attitude. My intention was to point out this optimism I found delightfully strange, all things considered. A reader’s feedback suggests that the view isn’t realistic. His letter, printed below, outlines issues dealers have been facing for years, and that deserve mention.

I published the hot dog story because I thought it was interesting to be hearing optimism from an industry that truly has the cards stacked against it. My point was, of course, to spread what I’d hoped was some good news; not to diminish or make small the importance of the issues the industry is facing.

As always, your feedback, suggestions, and comments are always welcome.

“I think you forgot the part of the hot dog story where 30 per cent of the hot dogs are over a year old and have been attracting the interest payments all this time. Also, the vendor is have a difficult time moving his hot dogs because all the providers of consumer credit have abandoned him and now he cannot finance his customer’s purchases. Also the vendor down the street is having a really hard time and is selling his hot dogs for less that cost. Also a number of his customers have lost their jobs and cannot afford a hot dog or even to licence or repair the old one. Also he is now in trouble with his hot dog supplier because even though we are in the worst hot dog economy in 80 years and sales are down over 20%, his supplier has increased his quota to 15 dozen per day and they are piling up in the refrigerators and there is no more room.

It would good if your magazine would reflect reality. It is nice to be optimistic, but obviously you were not around for the ‘82, ‘83 recession in which thousands of people lost their houses and jobs and dozens of dealers went bankrupt.

I personally worked as mechanic for a Honda dealer in ‘79 and ‘80 and sales were booming. He had five stores. By ‘82 he was bankrupt and lost everything he had ever worked for. So did many others. That’s reality in the motorcycle business.

Next time you talk to these optimistic dealers, ask them one question:

“Is your house in your spouses name?”

Charles Waggett
British Italian Motorcycles
Vancouver, BC
JK