Today #365DaysOfKegelHD is finishing up the Dealernews 1998 Top 100 Dealer Profile piece on us.
When Jeff Carr of Rockford was looking for his first motorcycle three years ago, he went to a variety of dealerships before choosing Kegel's to buy his Big Twin. "For me, it was the people," Carr says. "They knew what they were talking about and were very genuine. And the service guys are really good."
Family members aren't the only ones with staying power. Service manager Richard Olson joined the store when he was 14 years old, starting out by sweeping, mopping and performing odd jobs (the same way all Kegel kids get involved). Through hard work and training, Olson has made himself part of the family, moving up through the ranks to the position he proudly holds today.
Happy Days Are Here... At Least For A While
Since Karl joined the shop full-time in 1969, "everything has changed," he says. "The customers have changed and the way we do business has changed. Things are so much more aggressive, and we're selling more high-profile stuff."
Karl has been in the industry through good times and bad, and he is enjoying an upward trend that started back in '85. He anticipates another five to eight years of continued growth in the Harley market. "There's still a lot of opportunity," he says. "Harley-Davidson, Buell and BMW are all bringing out new products.
"We're already selling 200+ motorcycles each year. These sales, combined with the bikes sold by dealerships around us, really feed the service department.
Mark agrees with Karl's assessment. "Today, Harleys are pre-sold," he says. "When I first started, you had to practically beg people to buy." However, he does see things slowing somewhat... after Harley hits its 100th anniversary in 2003.
Oh, to have the woes of a thriving Harley-Davidson dealership. Asked about the biggest business challenge they face, Karl, Carole, Mark and Mel each responded differently. But the concerns they named are the kind struggling dealers across the country would die for.
Karl defers to the store's mission statement, conceived as part of their Harley-mandated five-year plan. In a nutshell, they're working to "provide the highest-quality motorcycles and accessories with the service they deserve," he says.
Carole is also focused on keeping up with the day-to-day stuff. "We need to continue to offer the gest service, maintaining the business we've created and keeping things fresh," she says.
Mel gives her attention to finding enough qualified employees to meet the needs of a growing business. "Unemployment is so low that there aren't as many people out looking for work," she says. A bigger facility, expanded customer base and extended hours have forced the Kegels to recruit employees at retail stores that are closing in the area.
On a similar note, Mark struggles with keeping the staff smiling. "We have three to four times the employees we used to have," he says. "It's a challenge just keeping them all happy." Every dealership should have such challenges...
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