Harley Davidson Case Study

The Harley Davidson brand has expanded not only in the United States but also globally, it has transformed its manufacturing, product development, and retail capabilities over

Harley-Davidson, Inc. Introduction Harley-Davidson, Inc. since its inception has specialized in selling dream motorcycles that are of high quality and distinctive in styles. The company in the past have seen turbulent business environment to the extent of leveraged buyout, infiltration of foreign made bikes as well as government regulations. Yet despite these factors, Harley-Davidson continues to reap profits, yield high growth of approximately 15% a year and retain its customer base (Official Website 2004). This position in the market is however limited to the US whereas in other countries of the world Harley-Davidson products remain luxury item requiring emotional attachment with American iconism.

I. Introduction of Firm Harley Davidson been in business for over a hundred years. The company operates in several related markets. They sell motorcycles, motorcycle parts and operate a financial component. Additionally the company operates in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. All Harley-Davidson business segments operate internationally.

In 1929, the Wall Street Market crashed causing many businesses to close their doors. Although the Harley-Davidson motorcycle company did not have to close their door, they did suffer major setbacks because of the Wall Street Market crash of 1929. The Wall Street Market crash caused many people to lose their jobs. Thus they would not afford to purchase motorcycles. Then in 1937, the Davidson motorcycles began having engine issues, leaving customers deserted. However, the brothers soon detected and diagnosis the problem with the engines, fixed the engine issues and gave the motorcycles a fresh look.

William Harley and Arthur Davidson (Harley Davidson) William Sylvester Harley was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 29, 1880. He received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He co-founded Harley Davidson with Arthur Davidson in 1903 and served as a chief engineer until his death in 1943. He was married with whom he had two sons and a daughter. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum in Milwaukee and was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.

By 1920, the company was producing almost 30,000 bikes annually and was the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, taking the title away from Indian Motorcycle. However, a combination of a mild economic depression and Henry Ford’s Model T began eating away at Harley-Davidson’s profits, and the motorcycle company even had to reject a potential business partnership with Ford Motor Company to protect themselves (“William S. Harley, Arthur”). The partnership involved manufacturing Harley-Davidson bikes with a sidecar to be used to deliver mail, albeit under the Ford name. Harley-Davidson rejected this deal, but later used the idea to sell their own bikes to the Postal Service (Harley and the Davidsons). In 1914, the U.S Postal Service was using 4,800 Harley-Davidson motorcycles to deliver mail. To save their company, Harley designed motorcycles to be used by law enforcement across the United States. By the mid-1920s, roughly 3,000 law enforcement personnel would be riding a Harley-Davidson, a testament to William Harley’s engineering genius. In addition, Harley would design bikes with larger engines and brakes which helped boost sales for a short while before the Great Depression came. To counter the resulting plummet in sales, Harley gave the bikes a facelift, designing new bikes with more appealing fuel tanks and adding both stylized eagle designs and the company logo on the bikes to increase appeal. Around this time, bikes were also designed with different color patterns (“William S.

Case Analysis of Harley-Davidson, Inc. Executive Summary Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) was founded in 1903. The home base was originally founded in and even today remains in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Harley-Davidson’s popularity grew significantly during World War I, when the U.S. infantry used 20,000 of the company’s motorcycles in its war effort

Harley-Davidson Inc. Celebrating their 100th anniversary next year, Harley-Davidson is a true American success story. From their modest beginnings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to one of the most recognized company names worldwide, they have been passionate about motorcycles. Harley offers an experience like none other with the one of a kind look, feel, and sound only available on a Harley. Besides their main business of building and selling motorcycles, they have began to offer financing and insurance through Harley-Davidson Financial Services, and they also offer a full line of accessories and apparel to make the Harley experience complete.

Harley Davidson: Preparing for the Next Century BUSI 615 40 Professor David Houghton By Brian Lynch Since the founding of Harley-Davidson in 1903 by Arthur and Walter Davidson and William Harley, the company has a rich heritage and a loyal following. The company has proven to be resilient and innovative throughout the years.

Introduction Regardless of their emergence in the market in the year, in 1903, Harley-Davidson together with the motorcycle industry did not have an easy start until the end of the Second World War. Many people used motorcycles during the period the war took place. Harley-Davidson was instrumental in supplying around

Brostowitz •     Vice President, Secretary & General Counsel - Gail A. Lione . PRESENTATION •     Started as a partnership between a draftsman and a pattern maker in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1903. William Harley and Arthur Davidson intrigued by the newly invented motorcycles began experimenting with ideas to design and build their own motorcycle. They enlisted Arthur's brothers, Walter a skilled mechanic and William a machinist who gave live to the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. That early partnership has evolved into a family of millions of Harley-Davidson, Inc. stakeholders throughout the world.

MGT499: Strategic Management Professor Daniel Corcoran November 30, 2014 STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF HARLEY DAVIDSON The success of Harley Davidson (HD) is due to the American motorcycle icon’s effective Strategic Management. HD’s vision, mission, goals and objectives strive to exceed the requirements of its main stakeholders. Although these needs are not always met, the company has unique relationships with is stakeholders. The company stays on course with its strategic plan, despite the economy and the decline of American manufacturing and what might be considered its dwindling U.S. consumer base.

Milwaukee is where it all started for Harley Davidson. In 1903, William Harley Walter and Arthur Davidson created the first of millions Harley Davidson. It was one of the two major motorcycles that were able to survive the great depression. Since 1977, the only motorcycles sold to the public under the Harley-Davidson brand have been heavyweight motorcycles, with engine displacements greater than 700 cc, designed for cruising on highways. It is one of the most well known brands in the world of motorcycles and otherwise as well. Harley-Davidson maintains an enormous brand community, which keeps active through clubs, events, and a museum. The worth of Harley Davidson brand and its logo was somewhere around $40 million which was 0.8% of the

STRENGHTS 1. Harley Owners Group (HOG) Rallies: The company has its characteristics rallies named as “Harley Owners Group” on a regular basis which involves Harley owners from different parts of the nation to communicate & experience a different lifestyle. The members of Harley owners groups are 1.2 million. 2. Range of

Case Study Harley Davidson Department of Marketing IV Prof. Dr. Florian Kraus University of Mannheim Fall term 2011 By: Veilleux, Jacques-Olivier-1345802- jveilleu@rumms.uni-mannheim.de Vela Loira, Valentin -1346667-vvelaloi@mail.uni-mannheim.de Viscosi, Jennifer - 1344990- jviscosi@mail.uni-mannheim.de Wang, Yi - 1326001 - yiwana@mail.uni-mannheim.de Wijma, Ludwig - 1346338 - lwijma@rumms.uni-mannheim.de Yip, Lu Yi - 1342949- luyiyip@gmail.com Mannheim, November 2011 Table of contents COMPANY BACKGROUND 1 CASE STUDY HARLEY DAVIDSON 3 Question 1) CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP