Bruce Rossmeyer; Carrying on a Harley-Davidson legacy
On my recent trip down to Florida to escape the cold, I noticed the many billboards still showing Bruce Rossmeyer’s smiling face inviting you to his Harley Davidson dealership, Destination Daytona. If you have driven through Florida you have undoubtedly “seen and remembered these billboards. They are iconic (remember able) like the “South of the Border billboards without the cheesiness and overkill.
I was glad to see this article at the Miami Herald looking back over almost a year of what has been happening at Bruce Rossmeyer’s but was sad to read that they are replacing his face on the billboards because so called experts with a really crappy 1985 style website said it was a wise idea. If you must teach people about how to run a business, a professional website is a good idea. As a human being, a Harley rider and visitor to Destination Daytona I disagree. I hope it works for them; they are taking over this company following the closing of the Boca Raton store last year before his death and the closing of Pompano Beach after his death. Sales are down 35% which is considered average across the board for Harley dealerships.
I wish I had written the article because I have questions that remain unanswered. They mention that "You've got to refresh the brand, and the name is what we care the most about. The family felt strongly about maintaining that." It seems odd to me again that they are removing his face from most of the dealership and billboards. After all, the family was quoted March 3rd as saying "We wanted to keep his brand of dealership because that is what he worked so hard to do at his locations. To keep his face up there for a while — our family feels strongly about that." and "I can't tell you how many people have said to me, "I still say hi to your dad when I'm driving on the highway past his billboard." Believe me, I still do too." When I visited for Daytona 2010, all I saw of Bruce at Destination Daytona was a truck with a big screen mounted up top and random images of Bruce. It seemed tacky and sort of tucked into a corner where you might not have seen it but I felt his presence was gone. It just felt wrong. Maybe it's just me? Rumors were swirling that all of the holdings are for sale, but have not heard anything else in months. I would have loved to ask them what is for sale and if they are moving forward with the condominium development.
Well, I have rambled on more then expected, hit the source link for the entire article.
Source: Bruce Rossmeyer; Carrying on a Harley-Davidson legacy
I wish I had written the article because I have questions that remain unanswered. They mention that "You've got to refresh the brand, and the name is what we care the most about. The family felt strongly about maintaining that." It seems odd to me again that they are removing his face from most of the dealership and billboards. After all, the family was quoted March 3rd as saying "We wanted to keep his brand of dealership because that is what he worked so hard to do at his locations. To keep his face up there for a while — our family feels strongly about that." and "I can't tell you how many people have said to me, "I still say hi to your dad when I'm driving on the highway past his billboard." Believe me, I still do too." When I visited for Daytona 2010, all I saw of Bruce at Destination Daytona was a truck with a big screen mounted up top and random images of Bruce. It seemed tacky and sort of tucked into a corner where you might not have seen it but I felt his presence was gone. It just felt wrong. Maybe it's just me? Rumors were swirling that all of the holdings are for sale, but have not heard anything else in months. I would have loved to ask them what is for sale and if they are moving forward with the condominium development.
Well, I have rambled on more then expected, hit the source link for the entire article.
Source: Bruce Rossmeyer; Carrying on a Harley-Davidson legacy
