So the level of investment cost has to recouped somehow by the franchisee, which means they either have to sell more bikes, or secure increased revenue from other activities. Question is whether a 250k shop refit will achieve this, or alternatively place undue financial pressure on the business. If it's the latter then local customers will lose out in the long run. I am not fan of change for the sake of change if the current set up meets customer expectations.
If the garage doesn't want to look as professional as Ducati want them to be, then I suspect Ducati are probably quite happy for them to leave. Natural attrition. Ducati won't care about a small dirty workshop who don't want to make the investment whilst sullying the 'image' Ducati want to maintain. If I had an employee who refused to adhere to the office dress code, then I really have no choice except to let them go if they continued to refuse to 'invest' in the appropriate attire. How bright an employee they were is irrelevant.
You're all obsessed with workshops, whereas most of you would struggle to tell the difference between a ringy and an open ender. A snazzy sales front end is the natural surrounding for FOS salesmen. I bet the bean to coffee machine comes at a price the bean counters are ecstatic about.
Why say the small workshop is dirty . The ones I know you can eat your lunch off their floors and work surfaces. I think the attitude is wrong . As for dress code,when they are offered employeyment by you,you tell them the dress code,and company expectations,fair enough. But what Ducati are doing is detailing an expectation, contracts are signed, successfull trading takes place for many years, then Ducati change the dress code,and say if you don't adhere to the dress code,you can't come to the party that you had been invited to many times before.
Ducati have set a standard for their official dealers. If you want to play with their ball and represent them then that's what they have to do. This is no different to any other bike or car manufacturers on the planet. In fact it's no different to a number of other consumable manufacturers. For example I have a number of sales agents around the world and I set out what I expect of them, and what they can expect from me in return, in an official legally binding contract. If I learn that they are not representing my company in the way I have asked and they have agreed, then they have breached the contract, then the contract is cancelled. If you want to represent a company then you do as you are asked to promote them in the best possible light. Or you don't represent them. Simples.
Because that's how Ducati see it if they don't want to wear the corporate dress code. I've worked at a place where the dress code has changed 4 times (suits 5 days, then casual Fridays, then 5 days casual, then suits 5 days again). I had the option to leave if it disgruntled me so much. But I understood their reasons, and toe'd the line because my contract with the company meant something to me more than my cost/inconvenience. Sure, 250k is a lot of money, and the workshop will need to make a decision as to whether they value the Ducati contract enough to stay in contract and spend the $$. Just part of being part of the corporation...
I can comment from a ford point of view. They make us jump through whatever hoop the uni gradetuate has dreamed up during the current month. It's all a bit ridiculous if I honest. I agree the place should have certain look to it, have certain tiles, have a certain standard but it can go too far. Hope Ducati don't do this. 3 years ago we had a 7 car and 6 car showroom. The showroom size itself hasn't changed but what's inside has. We now have a technology table taking up one space. This is basically 4 iPads on a big table that can only access the ford website. Nobody has even used them yet in nearly 3 years. Next we have a"relax" area where customers can relax without anyone talking to them. Same again nobody sits there as people don't go to a car dealer to sit in the quiet. This week we have spent £70k having a 6 50 inch tv's that link together to show he new vignale. We have also got another lounge that nobody has sat in yet. so far we've lost 4 spaces in our main showroom to "other stuff". We look more like currys than ford currently and it's frustrating when someone wants to look at a car but we can't get them all inside. We are now in the process of moving from a site we have occupied for many many years as we can't fit in the mustang stuff , and whatever else comes next. Customers hate it, but nobody high up realises. Clean, tidy and professional is all that's needed. The staff make the business just as much as the flash crap.
I fear they are all going to end up looking and feeling like Audi showrooms. I know I'm an old fart but in my opinion it's a crying shame what is happening to Ducati ... but that's "progress"
You want to see the mini showroom and the "toilets!!!" Free coffee wifi cold drinks tele latest mags newspapers There are booths for PC workers A fab bag display The toilets are the best I have seen for a garage Quilted paper and soap and.... hand cream not any cheapo stuff Harding and Baylis All these things make a difference I find any excuse to go up there to use the facilities Oh and they have a big bowl of sweets on reception I will have to take some pics On the other side I had to take mini to an independant for wheel bearing/discs as I supplied my own and the guys there were fab I had seating area to keep an eye on mini while I munched on biscuits and had endless coffee in a big leather chair and flat screen tele oh and free wifi Mini is bright and shiny and my independent is old clean comfy and like being at home
Which would I choose The independent garage over shiny mini Shiny is for those days when your having a bad day and want the finer things in life Home from home I think is best
I do understand that times change etc. and I do feel a nice environment is prettier . I guess what I am objecting too is that the brand supplier is making what I call small businesses invest way too much.£250,000 for a showroom refit. Now I know that a lot of the materials can only be supplied by Ducati, ie tiles. Ducati charge many times more than you or I can get the exact same tiles for. Why? Because they are making a profit on this too. Ducati is not in the business of selling tiles!!! And they will not allow the dealer to buy those exact same tiles from a tile dealer at at third of the price. So yes I can go with nice Ducati signage, some lovely red paint and tiles etc, but Ducati are effectively overcharging for the job. As I mentioned previously I am in the interior design sector, includes resits of all sorts of places,from a funeral parlour to Claridges Hotel etc. one thing I can tell you, it should not be costing what they are charging the poor man in the street . And guess what, those charges will only work themselves down to retail prices of the products. So it's you and me who effectively end up paying for a well thumbed magazine and a shitty coffee machine. Etc.
I hear you Maybe it would be better for the existing businesses to use the colours Ducati want and follow a plan using local sources The best showroom initiative gets shown on the Ducati website
My dealer is facing the same pressure - they are likely to lose their franchise unless they pay a significant sum to Ducati to tart up their showroom into a 'glass palace'. They're a small family run independent with a deserved great reputation and I had all my Ducati's from them. I had this on another thread but I'll say again here. I went there yesterday to buy a new Monster 1200S. The deal was good but because they know that after care and service are important to me suggested that I dont take the deal as they were under this pressure and uncertainty from the new VAG Ducati. That is integrity and the reason why I do business with them. I'm an old(ish) 40+ fart too and I have to agree. It is a shame what's happening to Ducati under Audi. As you say, business is business and Audi bought the brand to earn coin not to honour any heritage or history.
