BRP's Target Market

[Smylinacha]

Well I think this place has a very broad range of people on here - females, males, young, old, black, asian, white, latino, european, white collar, blue collar, retired, still working, wealthy, not so wealthy, physically challenged - Seems like anyone and everyone likes the :spyder:. I think it's cool that it's so broad. Harley is like that now too - years ago it only used to be "scummy lookin bikers" and now look - you've even got the prepsters riding them and more women also. Except when a guy buys a sportster he gets made fun of cuz Harley riders think it is a chick bike.:2thumbs:

 

[NancysToy]

Except when a guy buys a sportster he gets made fun of cuz Harley riders think it is a chick bike.:2thumbs:

That's the truth. Back when I had my CH (stands for Charley Horse), it was the hottest thing on the planet. Now it's a chick bike. What does that make a stinking tricycle?
-Scotty

 

[Smylinacha]

That's the truth. Back when I had my CH (stands for Charley Horse), it was the hottest thing on the planet. Now it's a chick bike. What does that make a stinking tricycle?
-Scotty

Also when I had my Deluxe, Harley Riders thought that was a chick bike too.:dontknow: Now I'm not saying all Harley riders are bike snobs but many of them sure can be. HDX isn't, Roaddog isn't and my friends that ride them aren't but I've seen some Harley forums and many are a bunch of jerks in there. Nothing wrong w/ Harleys - I love them and I also love Ducati's, Beemers, Triumphs, the Honda rice rockets, Suzukis - I like ALL bikes. Not sure what many bikers think of the :spyder: but the ones I know like it:2thumbs:.

 

[Immortal]

I posted that and then removed it because the controversary of it all wasnt worth the dislikers bashing on the site. At the same time I dont care about political correctness because I too think that it has been taken to far. On the other hand, BRP has a vehicle that has brought a wide range of individuals together and I think that by them overlooking that and being narrow minded and unacceptable of the trend is a business mistake. Everytime I ride mine all people across all age ranges and races love it! That says that they need to revisit their target market. Thats my 2 cents and Im out.

 

[bjt]

When I was in Valcourt at The Homecoming, some BRP reps stated that they initially figured the target market would be younger male riders. I think they have now found that they couldn't quantify the market of such a unique and exciting machine. They had no idea that older people would see this as a way to continue riding when a two wheeler become too difficult. Or that those who were uncomfortable on two wheels would jump at the chance to ride in the wind with a Spyder. Or that those with various disabilities would have the chance to ride. The list goes on. :thumbup:

 

[mike3069]

:agree:The BRP folks told us they made 3 different sales projections. best guess, more optomystic, and less optomystic. They readily admitted they way surpassed ALL their projections and widely missed the mark on the target market.

Rememer that this was not only a brand new product for BRP, it was also a brand new CLASS of prduct for the marketplace. There was no existing data to use for projections, and therefore ALL projections were based on a best guess. No one could be sure just who this might appeal to untill the MARKET gave back some real sales data.

 

[BRPjunkie]

I think this is about the same surprise that BRP had back in 1988 with the Sea Doo. They felt that middle age Jet Skiers might move into sit downs, but were surprised by the huge interest by those who had never ridden a Jet Ski. While the Sea Doo was not a completely new market, it revoltionized the up until then "Jet Ski" market and lead to a redefinition of the market as the PWC market. While the Spyder may not redefine the motorcycle market in the same way, it will clearly broaden the market and will create more models from BRP and perhaps some others.

 

[bone crusher]

Anyone in marketing will tell you that targeting groups is normal for any and all products...that's business...

If they err, then they alter plans and go at it again...

This is normal and acceptable...this is how business works...on the other side, this is what makes marketing tough...sometimes, you need a few go-arounds before you get it right...

The Spyder is becoming a vehicle for everyone, and that is great...it will make BRP's job a lot easier to market as broader market appeal means more business...

Go Spyder go...

As far as someone else's comment here about average age...we had someone on this board figure that out several months ago...I think we had about 85 respondents...the average age was about 53, I believe...

 

[mike3069]

I think this is about the same surprise that BRP had back in 1988 with the Sea Doo. They felt that middle age Jet Skiers might move into sit downs, but were surprised by the huge interest by those who had never ridden a Jet Ski. While the Sea Doo was not a completely new market, it revoltionized the up until then "Jet Ski" market and lead to a redefinition of the market as the PWC market. While the Spyder may not redefine the motorcycle market in the same way, it will clearly broaden the market and will create more models from BRP and perhaps some others.

What most people don't know is that the 1st Sea-Doo was built in 1959. It was a total flop. No one bought it. It was a sit down concept just like the later RE introduction model in 1988.

This just illustrates how the market is a fickle place. Same concept, 30 years apart, one fails one is a total blowout winner.

I think BRP remembered this lesson and therefore tended to go conservitive with their estimates accross the board for the Spyder.

 

[bone crusher]

What most people don't know is that the 1st Sea-Doo was built in 1959. It was a total flop. No one bought it. It was a sit down concept just like the later RE introduction model in 1988.

This just illustrates how the market is a fickle place. Same concept, 30 years apart, one fails one is a total blowout winner.

I think BRP remembered this lesson and therefore tended to go conservitive with their estimates accross the board for the Spyder.

:agree: Save way to go...

 

[BRPjunkie]

What most people don't know is that the 1st Sea-Doo was built in 1959. It was a total flop. No one bought it. It was a sit down concept just like the later RE introduction model in 1988.

This just illustrates how the market is a fickle place. Same concept, 30 years apart, one fails one is a total blowout winner.

I think BRP remembered this lesson and therefore tended to go conservitive with their estimates accross the board for the Spyder.

The two years that BRP produced the first Sea Doos I believe was 1968/69. They had to discontinue production not only because the market wasn't ready, but the air cooled engines were blowing up and created unacceptable liability issues. Most companies would have given up, but they waited twenty years and redesigned the craft with water cooling and made history. Let's hope the spontaneous combustion incident we read about is not a similar design defect.

 

[chris56]

i bought it without test-riding or so ..one of the first (10pcs) for austria..
they said.. it should be a secure "coffey racer " something like that..
but then i found out thats the best touring-machine also with my (wonderfull) passenger and daylong driving.. unbelievable
they had no bags - no windshields .. all this stuff
so i think their marketing-dep didn`t know what they have started..

..if you would meet me with full-face helmet suglasses aso
nobody sees that I`m 52/white/catholic.. and thats good so !!
so for me everyone who is a "spyderlover" has something in common..
chris (greetings from sunny austia)

 

[Roaddog2]

We must be the bait. They always use irresistible models. :joke:
-Scotty

:agree::helpsmilie:

 

[Roaddog2]

Well I think this place has a very broad range of people on here - females, males, young, old, black, asian, white, latino, european, white collar, blue collar, retired, still working, wealthy, not so wealthy, physically challenged - Seems like anyone and everyone likes the :spyder:. I think it's cool that it's so broad. Harley is like that now too - years ago it only used to be "scummy lookin bikers" and now look - you've even got the prepsters riding them and more women also. Except when a guy buys a sportster he gets made fun of cuz Harley riders think it is a chick bike.:2thumbs:

Put your :cus: on some class there was a time when that was a official H-D shirt Smylinacha did you miss anyone never mind I found Scummy Lookin:spyder:

 

[Spanky]

So now besides being politically incorrect, I am demographically incorrect? :dontknow: Oh, woe is me!
-Scotty

Now you dunnit, you threw politics into it.

So would you call the targeted market people demographts????

:dontknow:

 

[Star Cruiser]

Anyone in marketing will tell you that targeting groups is normal for any and all products...that's business...

If they err, then they alter plans and go at it again...

This is normal and acceptable...this is how business works...on the other side, this is what makes marketing tough...sometimes, you need a few go-arounds before you get it right...

The Spyder is becoming a vehicle for everyone, and that is great...it will make BRP's job a lot easier to market as broader market appeal means more business...

Go Spyder go...

As far as someone else's comment here about average age...we had someone on this board figure that out several months ago...I think we had about 85 respondents...the average age was about 53, I believe...

Yes, I remember doing it a while back. 53 seems to be about the figure that I remember. Somehow people seem to get offended by "profiling" when it is really just a "tool" for many different things. I agree, why target 16 year olds when the 30 - 60's are buying an item (any item).