from Smart Money magazine, August 2006, beginning on page 28
(Question put to Jim Ziemer, Harley-Davidson CEO who earns $11,998 per week, photographed next to a H-D $32,000 Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic) SM: "So you're okay with your demographic?"
Ziemer: "We have work to do. There's no doubt when you look at a Harley event it's pretty Caucasian. Now we need to reach out more to minorities and females."
But how Mr. Ziemer, how? I would suggest not employing an advertising tie-in with the Wizard of Oz movie, since everyone knows blacks on motorcycles DO NOT look like the flying monkeys used by the Wicked Witch of the West.
The head of design for GM is a graduate of Howard University. (yesssss, for ALL of GM, a black gentleman) Perhaps if H-D were to hire another Howard University graduate to head its own design department. It's worked so very well for GM.
An optional air horn which plays La Cucaracha.
Engines which can also serve as rice cookers.
Training wheels.
Continue to insult the male Caucasians who actually buy Harley-Davidsons. Perhaps an ad campaign where the white dude can't figure out how to work his motor-sicle until assisted by mildly exasperated woman and minority. White dude hops on bike and promptly crashes into tree. Black and blonde roll their eyes and share a laugh. Oh, these silly white men! Buy a Harley!
(Mr. Ziemer also complained about aftermarket products which make H-Ds louder than when they left the factory. "You have to be mindful, whether it's playing your radio loud or having loud pipes on the bike, of what you're doing to other people." Now there's an underpaid CEO who knows his customer.)
(Question put to Jim Ziemer, Harley-Davidson CEO who earns $11,998 per week, photographed next to a H-D $32,000 Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic) SM: "So you're okay with your demographic?"
Ziemer: "We have work to do. There's no doubt when you look at a Harley event it's pretty Caucasian. Now we need to reach out more to minorities and females."
But how Mr. Ziemer, how? I would suggest not employing an advertising tie-in with the Wizard of Oz movie, since everyone knows blacks on motorcycles DO NOT look like the flying monkeys used by the Wicked Witch of the West.
The head of design for GM is a graduate of Howard University. (yesssss, for ALL of GM, a black gentleman) Perhaps if H-D were to hire another Howard University graduate to head its own design department. It's worked so very well for GM.
An optional air horn which plays La Cucaracha.
Engines which can also serve as rice cookers.
Training wheels.
Continue to insult the male Caucasians who actually buy Harley-Davidsons. Perhaps an ad campaign where the white dude can't figure out how to work his motor-sicle until assisted by mildly exasperated woman and minority. White dude hops on bike and promptly crashes into tree. Black and blonde roll their eyes and share a laugh. Oh, these silly white men! Buy a Harley!
(Mr. Ziemer also complained about aftermarket products which make H-Ds louder than when they left the factory. "You have to be mindful, whether it's playing your radio loud or having loud pipes on the bike, of what you're doing to other people." Now there's an underpaid CEO who knows his customer.)