New performance device..how do l market it?
 

l choose to post this here because l think this forum has some very intelligent members that have some life experience and years of motorsports experience. l have an opportunity to be the USA distributor for a somewhat revolutionary device that will enhance the performance of motorcycles.Pretty vague eh? until l have this thing in the bag it has to be that way. l see a real market for this device on racebikes(what it was invented for), stuntbikes,streetfighters,etc. l`m having a `busa kit added to the product line right now. This is FRESH,testing has been completed and the units are just now being manufactured. l`ll need some high visability racers to sport this product on their rides,guys who get coverage and could use an edge this product can provide. l`m looking for ideas here, l`m trying to formulate a plan of attack to bring this device to commerce. Any and all help appreciated,l`ll also need dealers for this. l`ve been in the bike biz as a tuner,seller or rider for over 30 years continuous but this situation is a new one for me. My general plan? get the device on some winning riders racebikes,first and foremost.Top tier riders in various bike fields,stunters are super popular, LSR guys,dragracers,etc. beyond that l need some feedback.l have the opportunity here but l have to show the manufacturer that l`m the guy for the job. any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

E-ram?

Gererator?

l`ll need some high visability racers to sport this product on their rides,guys who get coverage and could use an edge this product can provide

If it truly provides any edge, it's probably already been used or banned; if not, it's probably already been debunked.

If I seem a little skeptical, well, I am - I've seen this sort of product hype more times than I can remember.

Well, if you do have something, marketing is what you need. I have designed, prototyped, tested, manufactured, sold and installed a home improvement item in the past. It's more work than I care to do again.

You will need more than a few racers and their subsequent endorsements. In fact, unless you pay the fare, they may not even help you. Then, you have to get the recognition out that the product is indeed being used and successful. Press releases may help, but a check to the display advertising dept of your target publication will help.

I think you may spot a trend here; no free lunch. You will need to invest in this enterprise as everyone else before you has had to do. Trade shows, booths at events, all of that. Expect to travel a lot. You could use Elephant Racing as a business model. Where did he get a lot of free "press?" Right here on Pelican (and they carry the products). An engine builder I know invaded about 3 forums spending countless hours. It has paid off for Jake Raby.

Oh, and a website. A really, really good one that gets hits. How do you do that? Ah, the answer once again is money.

Good luck. I see lots of 16 hour/7 days a week ahead for you. If not, the next guy will out work you and win. That's definitely how it works.

I have more to contribute but that pretty much sums it up.

Not impossible to do.

You gotta WANT IT!

E-ram? please,that`s a bit harsh isn`t it? So,let me get this straight, there are no new inventions that aren`t crap? This device has a patent protecting it and is the pet project of a gentleman who owns and is the CEO of an international company with manufacturing facilities in both Europe and the USA.Racing innovations happen all the time,just look at the folks from Smart Racing Products,Elephant,etc. There are quite a few examples in the motorcyle aftermarket. Look at the GPR motorcycle steering stabilizers,these are a perfect example of a new motorcycle product that applies benefits to most motorcycles. That device is now almost deriguer in roadracing and stunting,this is exactly what l`m referring to,a product with this type of universal application. With or without my help this product will be well known in the racing community within a year of this date,guaranteed. l was the first person in the USA to contact the manufacturer so an opportunity has been presented to me and l`m trying to run with it rather then be run over by it:) Press releases,magazine testing,all this is scheduled for the coming year. The relevance of the device is clear to me and l feel strongly about the market for it but where to go from here,that`s what l`m working on...

Honestly, if you have to ask, you're gonna struggle a bit.

Is there a motorcycle equivalent to SEMA?

There's an annual show in Indianapolis, IIRC.

thanks for the replies. Struggle? a bit? that is the nature of our existence. l already have a solid plan based on the usual conventional stratagies ,this is not rocket science but a lot of time on the phone and computer followed by some flying and driving....more phone,then more,etc Repeat. l guess l was hoping someone would have an idea l hadn`t thought of , nobody thinks of everything after all and marketing is an evolving practice. There is enough money behind the product and we are not in a hurry, it`s not a race, l`m trying to cover all the bases. Posting here may not pan out into anything beyond negative comments but if l get one good idea l hadn`t considered,it will have been worthwhile.

No one is being negative, rather being more realistic. If you're looking for some ideas, read Guerrilla Marketing Attack

http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Marketing-Attack-Conrad-Levinson/dp/0395502209

There are many books, but this one is a very good one.

There is an Annual Bike Show in Long Beach (ala L.A. Convention Ctr Auto Show) that you could try!

Well those two sentences are not very consistent.

Pretty simple to me.

He wants to protect his position in a limited space.

Isn't that what a patent provides; protection? Furthermore, as soon as a patent is granted, ALL of those details are made public.

Life IS Sales

Their is a diff between protecting a distribution territory and a patent protecting a product. They are not one and the same.

He wants the manufacturer to give him N. America distribution rights, he does not want to be limited to some island, upper left coast.