An Afternoon at the Motorcycle Show
If I’m going to a trade show it’s typically something business-related. Recently my husband and I went to the International Motorcycle Show here in NYC because a friend of ours was exhibiting his custom built bike at the show. Brian’s hobby is building custom bikes that are great to ride and have the high-end look and feel of much more expensive bikes.
His goal is to become the go-to guy for great riding bikes that look high-end but cost less than comparable big-builder bikes. He has amassed 3 barns full of cycle parts and has established an online business selling them. Brian is a true entrepreneur with good marketing savvy.
I couldn’t resist sitting on his bike. It was a beauty and has won awards at smaller shows. The only time I ever rode a motorcycle I was a passenger and I remember burning my leg on the exhaust. But it was a fun ride.
Walking the rest of the show revealed a very wide range of options for bikers, with prices ranging from less than $10,000 to over $50,000, at least what I saw. Bikers and would-be bikers of all ages were kicking the tires and trying the seat. Pre-teens and seniors alike were enjoying jumping on and off everything in the showroom. As would be expected, there were lots of riding and biking “accessories” on exhibit as well.
Here’s one of the exotic bikes we saw.
While I didn’t go to the show for business, I did meet a few people who were clearly in need of some marketing help. I left my card and will follow-up.
What I didn’t see was a company that offered bikes for rent, in the same way you can rent or lease a car. Seems like that would be a good option for those who don’t want to make the investment in a bike, but want to ride now and then. That’s an especially attractive option in this economy. Sooner or later someone will latch onto the idea.
For help with branding, revenue generating strategies or just helping you make a critical business decision, I’m always eager to support and guide you. Be in touch anytime.
What I Learned in Berlin
Well, he did it again. My husband, Marty, convinced me to take another Christmas week vacation where it’s cold. We’d been to London and Paris at year end and swore we’d not go to Northern Europe this time of year because of the damp penetrating cold. BUT…a couple of the people Marty works with had recently been to Berlin and loved it. Also things were supposedly cheaper than other European cities. Marty always takes off 2 weeks at year end so we agreed to go.
Our flight was uneventful and our hotel was luxurious. We stayed at The Regent on Charlottenstrasse in the East. It was gorgeous and the service impeccable. I would highly recommend it. The Germans have maintained their traits of regimen and punctuality. Because of that, services in general are great. There are buses , subways, light rail, and trains, all with time of arrival updated by the minute on overhead electronic signs. Few people have cars because public transportation is everywhere and excellent.
One of the first things we did was take a personalized tour with an expat American who has been in Berlin for 9 years. We spent 8 hours with him and got a history lesson along with the full city tour. He said we walked a total of 4 miles and our bodies felt it the next day. It rained, snowed and sleeted during the day we were out and it was that bone-chilling damp cold that goes right through your clothes. I had on 3 layers and was OK, but my hands and face got cold.
We learned that most museums are centrally located on Museum Island in the middle of the Spree River, which runs through Berlin. We toured a couple later in the week. Our guide took our picture in front of the Reichtag, a building where political gatherings over the years have changed the course of history many times, and where Adolph Hitler convinced the German people to elect him.
Berlin is a city of many contrasts and surprises. What has been saved or restored is magnificent, but the memories of its ugly history are still evident. A piece of the old Wall which was breached 20 years ago still stands.
The old has been preserved whenever possible, and the new is often right beside it. One church was left exactly as it was and the glass tower replacement stands beside it.
One day we went on a walking tour on our own into some of the streets of East Berlin where there still had not been much rehabilitation. It’s where many of the young people and artists live. We saw sidewalk markers in front of homes where people had been whisked away during the Holocaust and never seen again. Memorials of all varieties were on many of the blocks. And in the distance we could see the TV Tower and rotating ball built by the Russians (the tallest structure in Berlin) during the Cold War. At the top is a rotating high-end restaurant that gives a 360 degree view of the City. Another example of the many contrasts in Berlin.
I didn’t see one single family house in Berlin. Housing is six to seven story apartment houses (large and small) and on the upper floors of some of the commercial buildings. Any new construction requires that at least 20% will be dedicated to housing.
The food was excellent and representative of many countries. Of course, German food like wursts and pretzels are everywhere along with KFC, McDonald’s, Subway and Starbucks.
Almost everyone can speak English. It’s been part of the school curriculum for years, as tourism has been a major industry since the fall of the Wall. Even though the weather was cold, the people were warm and seemed to be in good cheer. Maybe it was a touch of the holiday spirit. All in all a wonderful experience.
Police/Paramedic Partnership
I found this article in a London journal highlighting a weeekend partnership between the Hounslow police and their paramedics. They’ve learned that fights and car crashes often require paramedics, so they’ve accomplished two benefits by having a paramedic ride with police. They’ve cut down on use of ambulance services and decreased the response time for medical help.
Using their past experiences together with creative thinking they came up with a double win resolution.
Any interesting successful partnership strategies you’d like to share? Let’s spark our creative thinking.