What it means to me, and why I hugged a bunch of fat guys one night
Aug 1, 2008
By:
Rick Fairless
|
The annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally brings people together, over and over
Apr 1, 2008
By:
Rick Fairless
|
Screw the rest of the pack: forge your own path to success
Nov 1, 2007
By:
Rick Fairless
|
Surviving nowadays means hiring smart, staying flexible and knowing that selling yourself isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Business is rough, sales are tight, customers are tighter. Don't cry about it. It's called work for a reason
Aug 1, 2007
By:
Rick Fairless
|
This has brought way too many people into the industry who, in my opinion, never should have left their day jobs.
The expense of running a motorcycle shop, or why you might be better off watching sausage being made
Jun 1, 2007
By:
Rick Fairless
|
The business side of the motorcycle business is by far my least favorite part. I'm not very good at it, so I'm lucky that my lovely wife, Susan, is very good at it. I have Attention Deficit Disorder and it's hard for me to focus on things for very long, especially things that don't interest me.
The service department can be a cash cow and your biggest pain, so learn to separate the good from the B.S.
Apr 1, 2007
By:
Rick Fairless
|
I prefer paying flat rate because then I'm paying the service technician for what he gets done.
Preparing for a rally can be a huge undertaking, but the benefits often outweigh the blood, sweat, tears — and money
Feb 1, 2007
By:
Rick Fairless
|
Hey Spring, when are you gonna show your face? I've been waiting on you all winter (well, we don't have much of a winter in Dallas, but I am still waiting).
Reputation has a serious effect on your success (e.g., 'badass party boy' may not be the most sound business decision)
Nov 1, 2006
By:
Rick Fairless
|
This month I want to talk about the "business" part of the motorcycle business. Even though most of us are having a great time in this industry, there are always things we need to be aware of as business men and women. One thing I think we all need to focus on is building a positive image for ourselves.
Some changes are good. Other changes, like charging five bucks for a beer at a motorcycle rally, aren't so good
Sep 1, 2006
By:
Rick Fairless
|
Here's another exciting (at least to me) article for ya'll to ponder. I am in my 11th year of business here at Strokers. To you new guys in the industry I know that seems like forever, and to you longtime industry legends (Arlen Ness, Don Hotop, Donnie Smith, Dave Perewitz, etc.), 11 years in business makes me one of the FNGs of the industry.
