Helmet House/Ansai partnership

What is the financial nature of the partnership?

As privately held companies, neither Ansai nor Helmet House release specific financial information on their respective business dealings. As a partnership, both Helmet House and Ansai come into this relationship as true partners, collectively deciding issues related to product development, distribution, marketing and customer relations and satisfaction.

Is there a defined duration of this partnership?

This partnership is a long-term relationship where both parties are fully committed to a variety of product, sales and marketing functions across both our businesses.

Will Ansai be expanding or altering its business presence in the United States with this partnership?

Ansai remains a manufacturer and Helmet House primarily a distributor, but this partnership does offer both companies the ability to more effectively develop brands for the partnership’s interest and to grow each company’s business across current and future brands. Helmet House will expand the development of its apparel and gear business with Ansai going forward while Ansai will continue to focus on Helmet House related lines as well as current customers.

Was this partnership concept in response to current market conditions in the powersports business? 

Fundamentally this partnership is based on anticipated opportunities both companies see developing in the powersports industry to more effectively service our respective brands and to better serve our dealers’ product needs.  At its core, this partnership concept is designed to give our respective dealers better options to satisfy the needs of a wider segment of consumers with more product line distinction, more efficient marketing and more comprehensive and technical product development than either company would do independently across all of these brands.

Was this partnership concept driven by the state of the aftermarket powersports apparel market?

The objective of the partnership is the result of a comprehensive analysis of the available opportunities in the apparel segment and consumer needs for these products. While both companies feel they are providing high-quality, high-value products that are properly positioned for the current market, we both feel the opportunities that exist in the future will allow each of our companies to thrive better in partnership than independently.

Does this mean that Ansai will be making helmets or other non apparel items?

At this time, Ansai and Helmet  House have a wide array of products under development in the apparel and gear areas where both companies core competencies lie. The helmet market is a highly competitive field and the partnership has no plans to develop a helmet line.

Are any other brand lines that Ansai manufactures affected by this partnership and if so how?

While Ansai has a number of other brands in many industries they do business with, they will essentially be unaffected by this partnership, Ansai will be focusing the partnership on currently owned brands by both Helmet House and Ansai as well as the new brands to be developed as market opportunities warrant.

Why did Helmet House feel it necessary to form a partnership with Ansai?

Helmet House saw a positive opportunity to integrate itself more completely into the product development, sales and marketing process with Ansai to increase sales volume through the coordinated positioning of several brands within this partnership.   Helmet House’s business model offers Ansai a lot in terms of a focused staff with strong sales, product development, marketing sell through and promotion that Ansai felt would help them to continue to grow.

How will this partnership affect Ansai's current product distribution model?

Helmet House assumes the exclusive distribution duties in North America for Ansai’s Fieldsheer line of apparel and gear.

How will this partnership affect the Fieldsheer, Tour Master and Cortech product lines?

The effective coordination of product development along with targeted positioning to dealers and consumers will make each of these three brands stronger and allow new brands developed by the partnership the best opportunity to thrive in the competitive landscape that motorcycle apparel has become.  This coordinated approach will provide dealers a more complete and competitive offering for virtually every segment of their customer base.

 What business benefits to both partners are anticipated by this new relationship?

The benefits to each party are very robust. From more focused and efficient product development and less product overlap across our brands to increased distribution, shipping, sales and marketing efficiencies and future expansion internationally; the benefits to each company are very clear to us both.

How will Fieldsheer products that have been distributed by WPS be handled for warranty claims and/or spare parts going forward?

The warranty function by Fieldsheer will remain unchanged from its current function at this time.   In the future,  the warranty function will be re-examined to better serve the needs of the Fieldsheer brand going forward.

How is Helmet House absorbing Fieldsheer into its product offerings?

Helmet House and Ansai are coordinating the product development and marketing of all of their collective apparel brands to be more focused and distinct while appealing more effectively to identifiable consumer segments so that each brand can reach its full sales and market potential. We feel strongly that our dealers will greatly benefit from this approach.

How is Helmet House altering or training sales staff to add these products?

Helmet House will be adding Fieldsheer training immediately and assessing our sales territories to maximize the market potential of the Fieldsheer brand. We will also be assessing our staffing needs in product development, product design and marketing as well.

What benefits will be realized by dealers and retailers of the Helmet House and Ansai partnership?

Dealers and retailers of Helmet House and Ansai products will benefit in several ways.  First and foremost, they will benefit from having a wide range of high quality, high value, highly developed apparel and gear products with great margins. These brands will be truly distinctive in their market positions, product design and sizing strategy so that each dealer can maximize sales in their apparel department by appealing to a number of distinct consumer segments more effectively. Each brand will be supported by Helmet House’s highly ranked sales support team through training and innovative sales and sales assurance programs in support of each brand as well as Helmet House’s leading marketing and POS resources to ensure high levels of dealer traffic and sell through.

How will the marketing aspects of Fieldsheer, Tour Master, Cortech and any other brands be affected by this partnership?

Helmet House is planning a coordinated branding effort that should provide each brand with distinct market positions and appeals to different customers across all street segments, from performance sportbike to touring, from sport touring to cruisers, each of these brands will have their own voice.