Harley-Davidson inaugurates its first concept store in India

Words: Shubham Choukse

On August 8, Harley-Davidson India inaugurated its first concept store in India. The store named Warrior Harley-Davidson is located at Mokshaa Motorbike Company, Sarnobatwadi, Kolhapur, Maharashtra. This store is a first of its kind in the country.

A concept store according to Harley-Davidson is an initiative to improve their reach in tier 3 cities where the brand does not have a retail presence. A concept store is a platform where all Harley-Davidson customer experience concepts are brought under one roof in small forms. It is also a great place for motorcycling enthusiasts in the city to interact and also be a part of H.O.G. (Harley-Davidson Owners Group) events.

Present at the inauguration were Mr. Marc McAllister, ‎Vice President and Managing Director, International Markets at Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Mr. Sunil Christian, Dealer Principal, Warrior Harley-Davidson.

“Our focus has always been on developing the culture of leisure motorcycling in India. We expect the next level of our growth to come in from tier 2 and 3 cities and expansion to these markets is an important part of our strategy. Our first concept store is a step in the same direction, taking the brand closer to enthusiasts and giving them an opportunity to experience the lifestyle.” said Mr. Marc McAllister at the inauguration.

Harley-Davidson entered the Indian market in the year 2009, setting up its first dealership at Gurgaon, Haryana in 2010. Harley-Davidson India now has an assembly plant in Bawal, Haryana. Although the company has acquired a great following in the country, but its retail presence in tier 2 and tier 3 cities is still very limited therefore this kind of concept stores will help reach the brand to a wider customer base. It will also help the existing customers of Harley-Davidson India in terms of spares and support.