Was doing some "outside the box" thinking about Brammo.
Dealerships: Brammo started with Internet sales (and a couple of Best Buys too), and is now moving to a "shared floor space" plan with local motorcycle dealerships.
A). What if Brammo added specialty Bicycle shops to the mix. These bike shops generally have good show-room space and have a fair amount of overlap in clientele with Brammo (outdoor people who ride 2 wheels and are often environmentally conscious...and usually have extra bucks to spend). They have sales people and repair people. Generally they have very enthusiastic staff who are crazed about bikes. And in this economy they, like most businesses, are looking to add foot traffic and sales.
They also are often located in prime locations for Brammo...near colleges and also located in affluent neighborhoods. Plus specialty bike shops likely won't see Brammo as a lost sale of another motorcycle. Some motorcycle shops won't want Brammos as they are competition...or they might like having Brammo to bring in foot traffic but they will steer buyers toward gas bikes...
And specialty bike shops are likely to take a much smaller commission than a Harley dealership.
B) Brammo could also work with businesses like REI. Outdoorsy, Environmentally conscious and affluent. Great overlap of clientele. Great showroom space.
C) This is just a personal one, but we have a small vintage scooter restoration and repair shop that just opened here in Albuquerque.
Upside...Shop is one block from the University of New Mexico, so lots of student foot traffic. Staff live, eat and drink for 2 wheels...grease monkeys who can repair anything. Small staff of poor scooter folks who would take a much smaller commission per sale than Harley dealerships.
Downside. Small showroom...mostly garage space with just a small front area that can hold a few motorcycles. Poor start-up young men that wouldn't have money to buy a franchise fee.
Other upside is that a specialty bike shop is right next door. Specialty bike shop could handle sales, scooter shop could handle service. Specialty bike shop MIGHT have money for a franchise fee, but not sure.
Advertizing....Solar magazines...get people who are planning to add solar panels to their roofs to start thinking about adding a Brammo to their garage.
Promotion: work with major solar panel installers...offer $500 off a Brammo to anybody who puts X amount of panels on their roof (split costs with solar installer).
Or work with major solar panel manufactures (Sharp, SunPower etc etc) and offer discounts through them...
etc etc...
Gavin
