In 1990, when Road and Sport joined the Harley-Davidson dealership network, there were ‘new kids on the block’ in motorcycling. These kids were named MotorClothes and Collectibles, and they changed the two-wheeled world.
H-D Motor Company had introduced MotorClothes just two years before in 1988, a brave move in an industry focused on engines, sprockets, primary chains, and tyres, just to name a few things.
While motorcycle stores always sold leather jackets and riding boots, MotorClothes expanded those products into stylish men’s and women’s ranges with a much wider variety available. But the really unexpected jump was to offer vast ranges of fashion and casual clothing.
The goal of seeing the Harley-Davidson brand on customers and riders when they’re NOT on the bike had proven massively successful in the USA, Australia, and Canada… even in the two short years before Road and Sport joined the team.
Shelley Sproule, half of the Road and Sport ownership team with husband Barry, carefully checked out the in-depth information about MotorClothes from H-D and the distributor at the time Morgan and Wacker. Shelley saw the potential glowing like a neon sign, and took the dealership into the new clothing and collectible areas in a serious way!
“I thought there’s no sense in nibbling at it. So, we assessed the enormous product range carefully, ordered an impressive selection of riding gear, apparel, homeware, and collectibles, and built an entire new department in the Te Rapa store.”
“We were the classiest clothing shop in Hamilton, and maybe we still are.”
The growth of MotorClothes (now called apparel and merchandise) has never really slowed, showing that Shelley’s research and instincts were spot-on.
“Everyone wants that famous Harley brand on their clothing somewhere and the casual clothing has fanned out into the non-riding community for all of our 32 years with H-D. And it should too! It’s stylish, keeps up with current trends, and the product quality has always been excellent,” she says.
Harley was also the first motorcycle manufacturer to seriously and consistently offer large ranges of riding gear and clothing, especially for women. The cut, the features, sizing, the placements of different fabrics and the accessibility of various pockets and the like, are designed by women riders, for women riders.
Over the years, the immutable core has always been riding gear, tough, innovative, using leather and new high-tech fabrics. Because the apparel designers at Harley are riders designing for riders, features from the concept to the smallest detail are purposeful.
Expansion areas have also taken Harley into homeware, children’s apparel, backpacks and bags, belts, wallets and purses, casual footwear, denim jeans, toys and model bikes, and SO much more!
Just like our service technicians and parts staff, the apparel and merchandise staff are required to undertake many training courses and modules through Harley-Davidson University.
“The Apparel people must know about their products, and the training teaches them the big pictures of safety, comfort, and materials selection, as well as the smaller ins-and-outs of pockets, waterproofing, removable liners for warmth, tech-storage pockets and outlets for phone. I could go on, but it’s all the details that Harley is so good at adding into the gear,” Shelley says.
“Our team members can reach H-DU master level, just as a technician can, and it’s ongoing. There are new courses every year.”
Shelley and Barry are proud that the Apparel and Merchandise department is as successful – and important – as New H-D Sales, Genuine Parts, Accessories and Service in contributing to the three Australasian Dealer of the Year awards won by Road and Sport in just the last five years.
