ROGERS, AR (09.26.23) – The Audio Edge Team rolled out of the company’s Nederland TX home at 5 AM on Monday September 18th for the 530 mile trip to Rogers, AR. Owner Chris Hulin was behind the wheel of the F350 pulling a 24’ trailer filled with tools, accessories and supplies needed to complete installations on dozens and dozens of bikes at the Bikes, Blues and BBQ Motorcycle Rally that ran September 27-30 in Rogers, AR.
Team members Cody Gressett, James Duvall and Seth Hollier joined Hulin in the F350 cab on the 12 hour trip.
The 2023 Bikes, Blues and BBQ Rally was definitely impacted by weather. A total of 10” of rain fell during the week. The first night high wind took out a big tent. As the days passed the weather improved and the event finished under a sunny sky.
During the Rally KENWOOD staff members Tim Hill and Marcus Vasconcellos were under the tent showing bikers product, doing demos and closing sales along with the Audio Edge Team that completed installations.
Momentum Marketing firm members were under the Rockford Fosgate tents during the event. Hector Mena, Gary Biggs, Jimmy Bradfield and Jorge Grijalva worked to show and demo Rockford Fosgate’s extensive line of motorcycle products.
Gary Biggs related, “The Bikes, Blues and BBQ event was was great. We did have rain several days but it did not keep many bikers from coming. We were busy the entire show. Audio Edge has been a strong Rockford Fosgate dealer for many years. We definitely enjoyed spending time with their team during the event.”
“This was our fifth trip to the Rally in Rogers and it was another very good trip that we are planning again in 2024. We completed KENWOOD and Rockford Fosgate installations on dozens and dozens of bikes from 8 in the mornings until all jobs were done well into the nights. We did a lot of 2 and 4 speaker installs and quite a few older bikes. The biggest job was a done the last day and was right at $7500. Rockford Fosgate Stage 5 products and radio plus a Kenwood motorcycle camera system were installed. When we packed up for the trip home we didn’t have much inventory on the trailer. We gauged it pretty well based on past trips to Rogers,” Hulin related.
The KENWOOD, Momentum Marketing and Audio Edge teams stayed in a large, very nice rental house on a lake close to the Rally site. ”We ate a lot of pizza, sandwiches and BBQ from food trucks during the day and enjoyed dinners on the grill at the house. Spending time with the KENWOOD and Momentum Team members was a terrific opportunity to talk bike, industry and what’s happening in the world around us,” Hulin added.
Overall attendance at the 2023 Sturgis Rally was reported to be down a bit and weather was certainly a contributing factor.
Concluding, Hulin offered, “We are all very glad to be home. During the rally we talked with hundreds of bikers about what they enjoyed listening to their systems on the road. We will be able to utilize that info as we talk to bikers here at our store. When they hear about out trips to Rogers and Sturgis they know we are the bike experts. The crew at the store did a great job while we were gone. Sales are good in Nederand and we are already getting ready to attend a few more bike rallies. Bike sales are definitely an important and a growing part of our business.”