One of the city's retailers has won an international award.
Cycle North was named one of North America's Top 50 Powersports operations by Powersports Business Magazine. It is the first time the magazine has made such a list, and it applied to all retailers, not just specialists in one form of sports machine or another, or any particular manufacturer name brand.
"There are hundreds of thousands of dealers across the continent. The recognition is huge," said Cycle North spokesman Bryce Lokken.
The list was revealed in Orlando, Florida at the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo). It was a showcase of the industry's best machinery and accessories, but also a business development event.
"From our point of view, the Power 50 is all about recognizing the top performers in the industry," said Roy Olivier, CEO of chief event sponsor ARI Network Services Inc., a company specializing in marketing action vehicles.
"To a great extent, those top performers are exhibiting the best practices that are helping them be more successful and sell more stuff. That's exactly what we try to do. Being a participant in helping recognize what those dealers do, and helping other dealers understand their successful traits, that's what we do here. Our whole strategy is to help dealers be more successful selling stuff."
Lokken said Cycle North came to the attention of the Top 50 organizers because they were involved in the promotion of the powersports industry itself. Even though they are a small, family-owned business far away from international urban centres, they still devote resources to business mentorship on a continental scale.
"We participate in what's called a 20 Group," Lokken said. "We get together with 19 other dealers across North America to see how we can improve, how to develop our business. We are part of that network that cuts across brand names and regional markets. That was known to the magazine, but we were also known to them for other things as well. Management here is very involved and participatory in the industry behind the machines we sell."
Cycle North is closing in on its 25th anniversary. It was operated by Randy and Joyce Lloyd and is now evolving into the hands of the second Lloyd generation: Dustin, Danny and Kourtney. The store, located on Gauthier Road in the Vanier neighbourhood of the city just off Highway 16 West, is an expansion of the original location in the Queensway light industrial area. They moved in 2009 and have set sales records since then. They currently have a staff of about 30.
"The staff satisfaction level is really high, said Lokken. "That played a role in the Top 50 judging, and so did the community involvement. Cycle North sponsors a lot of charities and sports teams all over the area, not just in Prince George."
