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SALES CREDENTIALS My sales career, and the roads I took along the way. From my first bike sales job in 1976 at Poulins Honda in Yakima, Wa., until 1991, motorcycle sales was my passion. I left Yakima shortly after Mt. St. Helens erupted in May 1980. I was flat broke and the entire city was quarantined for ash removal for weeks. It seemed like a great time to head south for a better economy, better bike sales opportunities and the year-round market in Los Angeles. I was really good at it, setting sales records at several dealerships in the L.A. area in the '80's. In a 9 year stretch I sold over 3900 motorcycles. In 1986 I was head-hunted into the collector car auction business by Rick Cole, the largest sports car auctioneer in the world at the time. I was promotional director, which meant I did everything but bookkeeping. We specialized in Ferraris, and having one of the world's largest collections, we bought and sold them like pork bellies. In less than 2 years I consigned and assisted in the sale of over 800 cars totaling 12 million dollars! I fulfilled a life-long dream and was sent by my boss to the Harvard of auction schools in Decatur, Indiana, Repperts School of Auctioneering. It was the ultimate sales and promotion education if you're in that business. I was soon hosting some of the most prestigious charity auctions in the car world including the Long Beach Grand Prix Wine & Dine D' Elegance, 2 yrs running, the Del Mar Grand Prix charity wine auction, as well as many other top celebrity charity auctions. I was regularly rubbing elbows with the most powerful people in the car and show business, so I thought it made sense for me to break off on my own. I began a brokerage firm with 8 or 9 classic cars and a small motorcycle collection. Business was good for a few months until I sold two 959 Porsche delivery contracts for $375,000 each. My commission was $30,000., reasonable we agreed, and less than the standard 6% (the net profit was still over $300.K). The parties cut me out & I spent everything I had to collect a measly $1500. I needed some cash flow and was intrigued by an ad for a sales position at a large art gallery in Beverly Hills. The ad read something like strong closers make $30k + monthly! I got the job as an art consultant, the only male working among some 17 of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen! The original paintings we offered were chiefly in the $20-150,000. range, with our least expensive serigraph at $1,200. It was a tough market with some of the most eccentric people in the world. As a poor farm boy, bike racer from the rural northwest, and one of the few straight men in the art business, I really felt outside of my motor sports element. I think I hated every minute of it, but the grueling challenge of not letting it beat me, kept me there for nearly 2 years. The pay was 10% commission, no minimum guarantee if you wanted to come back. I was so hungry for such long stretches, I became known for the box of cereal that I carried in my briefcase. I finally had a couple of good months and was ready to put that whole chapter of my life behind me, so I went back to work for one of my favorite shops, N Hollywood Honda. Selling art was easily the toughest thing I've ever done. It made selling motorcycles again almost effortless. It seemed like everybody that came into the shop wanted a new bike - I remembered going weeks without so much as a nibble at the gallery! I was really happy being back around motorcycle people again and making great money as well. I soon decided to buy a house that was up for sale just down the street from the shop. I negotiated a deal with the owner and gave him a deposit. It was Friday & we made plans to draw up the papers with my lawyer on Tuesday. I celebrated all weekend with friends, I was on top of the world! Then came Monday & the occasional judo practice at LA City College. While throwing a sensei in a sparring match, I snapped my neck & became a c-6 quadriplegic, paralyzed from the chest down. Life changed dramatically. After 6 months of rehab I came home to my new house and a huge mountain of bills. I went to the garage, took inventory of all the left-over racing parts I had, & ran some classifieds. I soon had the phone ringing, and people coming by for parts. There was a big demand for certain items and I started running ads for parts wanted, buying up whatever I could find. First thing you know, I'm paying my bills buying and selling parts, as well as bikes. Business outgrew the garage and distributors wouldn't sell to me without a legit location, so I incorporated as Moto Carrera, sold the house, and moved to a retail location. Fast forward 13 years, we're getting bigger every day with our mail order, manufacturing, service center, custom bike building and retail store. After 28 years in the bike industry, my passion for motorcycles is greater than ever, & I can't imagine doing anything else right now. From Aermacchi to Zundapp, two-strokes to four, I am passionate about the vintage motorcycle market. Whether you're ready to buy or sell, let me know how we can assist you. Doug Johnson, President Moto Carrera 2-Stroke Sportbike Specialties -
same location for 9 years
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Moto Carrera 2004© |