Ehhhhhhhhh whatever they gotta do to keep the lights on I guess? This seems like the kind of weird scheme you would need to run a low volume motorcycle dealer in London
However for context, The Bike Shed Co is a combination restaurant/barber/tattoo parlour. Maybe this is common knowledge, IDK... not really in tune with UK bike culture meself
There’s only 3 bikes in their range so they don’t need much space anyway. I figure they make more in merchandise than bikes (I’ll bet Triumph does well on merch also). Weirdly Norton is selling off-road based apparel in the store also.
I just wish Norton would sell the commando, the other bikes, and that's it. Why they have to complicate stuff... Keep the "prestige" tucked away somewhere and make/sell the bikes. That's simple
The journalist missed the mark. Rather talk about Norton as a brand and how they could sell bikes more appropriately (and efficiently) he resolve to create a class clash using old prejudices.
The journalist missed the mark. Rather talk about Norton as a brand and how they could sell bikes more appropriately (and efficiently) he resolve to create a class clash using old prejudices.
What I mean is that the journalist tries to create polarization between what was and what is now, like, back in the day was like that, and today is worse because is like this.
That's all. Feel free to correct if you disagree.
The richest man in the world sells luxury items to upscale individuals and wannabes.
From experience I can tell you there is more profit in selling accesories than motorcycles.
As Rolls Royce use to say: It is not wether you want a Rolls but wether it wants you.
The Norton is not meant for the mass market.
I think you will find that very few existing shops will be interested in sell Norton because it will only canibalize existing sales.
Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta are prime examples.
The richest man in the world sells luxury items to upscale individuals and wannabes.
From experience I can tell you there is more profit in selling accesories than motorcycles.
As Rolls Royce use to say: It is not wether you want a Rolls but wether it wants you.
The Norton is not meant for the mass market.
I think you will find that very few existing shops will be interested in sell Norton because it will only canibalize existing sales.
Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta are prime examples.
I don't know, I think Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta are VERY different motorcycles throughout the ranges and could easily be sold in the same dealership as the customer for 1 isn't likely the customer for the other.
From the linked article, “For the first Atelier, I wanted to create a space that reflected the history and values of the Norton brand while also creating the perfect environment to display the new clothing collection,” explained Tentis. “Outfitting the space with a tailored mix of both bespoke and vintage furniture perfectly encapsulates Norton’s past, present, and future.”
This dude's version/vision of Norton is polar opposite to mine and the upscale (Uppity?) sales space as described would more repel me as opposed to bring me in. In the picture it had a barber pole too, so I suppose one could get an expensive haircut, some over-priced Norton branded beard oil and some finely tailored duds, while sipping on a low-cal, half-fat, vegan coconut/soy mix fair-trade coffee resembling beverage with a dusting of cinnamon, nutmeg and white chocolate shavings. Oh, and look at the pretty motorcycle up on the stand.
I've always viewed the Norton as a blue collar "fists-up" brand. My perception is that while they sold basic transportation they also had a racing/performance imperative. To me they are (or were) enthusiasts machines where as an owner you become intimately familiar with the bike itself (and not always because you want to) to the point of loving it specifically or loathing them in general. My father bought a Norton single when he arrived in Canada after WW2 and I have a 1974 850 Commando that I quite like owning.
Say what you will about Harley's retail experience but they do a great job of walking the line between exclusivity by virtue of their price and blue collar everyman aura created by their history and marketing.
AJ would have a much better formed perspective on the historical branding of Norton than I so I might be full of crap.
Ya see... this is the IMAGE they want you to believe, but it doesn't matter who you are, how many companies you own, what school you went to... they'll sell you a bike.
Get a picture of Kid Rock on one and you've undone their entire marketing campaign
I have to disagree. "Real" Nortons were always sold as "upscale" and demanded a premium price. Nortons were consistently priced 10-25% more than the comparable Triumphs and BSAs of their time.
You could buy a Matchless, virtually the same bike as a Norton, at the same price as the Triumph, but people still paid more for the Norton name plate. Matchless was "basic" transportation, the Norton name plate bought you a racing pedigree.
... which all has NOTHING to do with these bikes... the rights for "Norton Motorcycles" was owned by a Canadian T-shirt company, which, in my mind, kinda blew off the "racing pedigree".
I have owned several 1970s vintage Nortons and have fond memories of how they looked.
John Players Special commando (black & gold) is in "my opinion" (realy don't care if you agree) is the most beautiful motorcycle ever built.
On the other hand my opinion was it was already out-dated and a peace of **** quality wise.
I am realistic enough not to believe marketing speak that the current bike has anything other than the logo to do with the past.
If a dealer sells 50 BMW, 50 Yamaha, and 50 Triumph in a year and also take on Moto Guzzi then they will sell 49 BMW, 50 Yamaha, 49 Triumph and 2 Moto Guzzi. Same amount of profit but more overhead plus the risk of the BMW or Triumph distributorship being taken away and given to someone else. Honda does not allow you to sell Suzuki or Yamaha in the same showroom. There are a few exceptions for large volume grandfathered dealers.
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