No matter which brand you talk to, times are tough in the motorcycling world. Prices are rising and sales are down and yet, a dealership is still a great place to visit, even if, more often than not, it is merely to dream.
Of course, the one element that really makes a difference is the human element. I can’t think of a bike showroom that I’ve visited where you don’t just meet a different breed of person than you’d meet, say, in a bank. Maybe I’m stating the obvious but, every time, it is the people who work there who make a dealership, no matter what brand they are selling.
The ambience of the showroom is important, of course, and, sometimes, the human and the material elements come together to make the experience memorable.
In the current economic climate, businesses need to think on their feet to get potential customers through their doors, not to mention remind the loyal customer that they are still there, ready when they are.
At the weekend, it was the turn of Bavarian Motorcycles (or BMW Motorrad Centurion as they are now commonly known), the long-established BMW dealer in Centurion, to welcome customers old and new to their showroom for their annual October Fair and it is one of the most pleasant dealer ‘open days’ I have attended.
The showroom itself is large in the floor plan but relatively low-ceilinged and not at all brightly lit so there is a feeling of intimacy and warmth. There are a large number of new BMWs displayed to their best advantage and it just feels as if things have been carefully thought out.
The other noticeable thing is the number of familiar faces among the staff which, despite the move a couple of years ago to the new premises, gives a great feeling of continuity.
Encouragingly, there were a large number of people there when we arrived at around 10:00 a.m. and, if it thinned out as midday approached, that was only to be expected: it was not intended to be for the whole day. The fact that so many chose to spend some of their Saturday at Bavarian gives some indication of the loyalty of the customers and the reputation of Bavarian Motorcycles.
For variety, in the same showroom you will also find Pretoria’s finest Vespa showroom, Clint’s Scoots, which has also commenced stocking the fantastic little Italjet scooter, although to call it a scooter does not do it justice. Clint now has his own workshop space at Bavarian for service, restoration and modification of Vespas.
A sunny day around motorcycles and motorcyclists, familiar faces and friends. Not a bad day at all.
For more information visit: www.bavarianmc.co.za
