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AFTERMARKET
Powersports Business • March 2024 • 29
Turn 14 expects inventory available for dealers in March
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Turn 14 Powersports shares that staff members have moved into their new offices in suburban Fort Worth . The new building will house the company ’ s brand management , product development , and marketing staff , led by recently hired president , Bob Schuetz .
“ The collaboration that happens when we are all under one roof is really important , and our people are happy to be back together ,” Schuetz says . “ Our move into this new facility will be a great start to an important year for Turn 14 Powersports .”
The 10,000 square foot office space is in a newly renovated building in Keller , Texas , which is northeast of Fort Worth . The movein should be complete by the end of January .
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TRANSITION UPDATES The inventory of Tucker Powersports is now moved to Turn 14 Distribution ’ s three distribution centers , located in Pennsylvania , Texas and Nevada . The move has been a large project for Turn 14 Distribution warehouse staff , with over 11,000 pallets of product , representing 146 brands and over 60,000 SKU ’ s moving into Turn 14 Distribution possession .
All inventory should be checked in and available to dealers .
Turn 14 Distribution takes pride in its carefully curated line card , which is focused on quality over quantity . The company typically carries a full line of
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products from a tightly managed number of suppliers . The company is currently onboarding 146 product lines from the recent acquisition .
Products should be posted on the Turn 14 website for dealer access at this time .
Powersports sales and marketing efforts are moving forward to assist dealers for Spring selling . Turn 14 Distribution uses both field territory managers and inside sales staff to support dealer needs .
With this partnership , Turn 14 Distribution meets dealer needs in person in dealerships , while inside staff is available for prompt response to calls and emails . In addition , Turn 14 Distribution has a
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Customer Support Team , separate from Sales , to ensure the company is meeting dealer needs .
The company is building a marketing team for Turn 14 Powersports , led by former Tucker Marketing VP Lesley Madsen , and additional marketing resources for distributed brands .
The open positions on the Marketing Teams should be filled by Spring 2024 .
UTV Canada acquired , joins Mountain Sports Distribution
KV Capital recently announced the acquisition of UTV Canada — one of Canada ’ s top distributors and retailers of ATV and UTV parts and accessories . The deal will see UTV Canada merge with Mountain Sports Distribution ( MSD ), a full-service powersports distributor that is part of KV Capital ’ s portfolio .
“ UTV Canada and MSD have a complementary relationship ,” says Jonathan Herman , president of private equity at KV Capital . “ In the powersports industry , we see three main pillars : snowmobiles , motorcycles , and UTVs . MSD has built a strong presence in snowmobiles and motorcycles , while UTV
Canada specializes in UTVs . Both businesses have great talent and a strong desire to grow . Together , their strengths will let them bring a new level of service excellence to the entire powersports industry .”
The deal originated when UTV Canada ’ s CEO , Stacy Nehring , reached out to the MSD team after learning about the KV- MSD partnership .
“ In the past , our team had discussed the possibility of a sale ,” says Nehring , who retains equity and will join MSD as part of the partnership . “ It is a tight knit industry , and when we heard about MSD working with
Recap : Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties 2024 Spring NVP Product Expo
KV , we wanted to ask MSD ’ s owners about their experience and the opportunity . What we heard from Chuck Gorton , MSD ’ s CEO , was very exciting and led us to today . This deal means my team and I can do more of what we love — helping off-road enthusiasts experience more — and less on administrative work and managing back-office systems .”
MSD CEO Chuck Gorton also welcomes the partnership . “ We ’ re very excited to partner with the UTV Canada team , grow our dealer network and brand portfolio , and offer our customers even more ,” he says . “ Partnerships like this one are why we were eager to join KV .”
The acquisition will enhance strategic and operational performance for both MSD and UTV Canada , according to a statement from KV Capital . The two teams will merge to share expertise and create efficiencies while retaining their individual brand identities in the market .
Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties hosted the return of their in-person Expo to Louisville , marking the fourth year of this premier event .
The Expo took place from January 20− 21 at the Kentucky International Convention Center ( KICC ), and while the weather was frightful , the crowd of dealers and exhibitors inside was delightful .
The Expo weekend commenced on Thursday with an innovative training format for the Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties sales team , extending into Friday . This unique training provided the sales team with invaluable , up-close interactions with vendors . The knowledge gained during these sessions translated seamlessly onto the expo floor , where the sales team introduced new products to their dealers .
Paul Devine , who was recently hired as vice president of sales and marketing , comments , “ I am thrilled to witness the tremendous success of the Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties Expo in Louisville . The dealer attendance , expanded exhibitor space , and innovative training format truly highlight the strength and vitality of our industry . I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and excitement of this premier event in the years ahead .”
On Saturday and Sunday , the Expo unveiled an array of exciting new brands and products , offering attendees opportunities to connect with brand representatives . One of the lures for dealers to attend the Expo is the exclusive discounts and additional incentives available from several vendors .
On Saturday night , the industry came together for the iconic Meet & Greet , hosted at The Sports & Social Club in the heart of downtown Louisville ’ s vibrant 4th Street Live Entertainment District . The event featured plenty of food , drinks , games , and live entertainment , providing the perfect conclusion to a solid day spent on the show floor networking with vendors and dealers .
The Spring NVP Expo continues to solidify its position as a top gathering place for industry professionals to collaborate with vendors , engage with other dealers and network with other industry pros . The LeMans team says that plans are already underway for the next event , that should bring even more growth and excitement . The next NVP Expo is planned for September 7−8 , 2024 , and will be held in Milwaukee , Wisconsin .