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Howard Kelly on the Legacy & Future of S&S Cycle | One Gang Ep. 091
Manage episode 492628630 series 3556900
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We sit down with Howard Kelly, a true veteran and visionary of the American motorcycle industry. From his days as Editorial Director of Hot Bike Magazine, to launching brands at Tucker Rocky, to leading strategic marketing efforts at S&S Cycle, Howard has seen and built it all.
We walk through his incredible journey, starting in the print world during the golden age of custom motorcycles, to shaping product launches for some of the biggest names in V-twin performance. With a front-row seat to decades of evolution in design, branding, and rider culture, Howard opens up about the wins, the pivots, and the moments that tested everything.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to One Gang Worldwide Podcast
01:30 Howard Kelly's Early Life and First Motorcycle
03:03 From Tire Sales to Motorcycle Magazines
05:02 The Journey to California and Motorcycle Journalism
13:13 Hot Bike Magazine: Transforming the Custom Motorcycle Scene
15:27 The Rise of Custom Motorcycle Builders
21:15 The Impact of Magazine Covers on Motorcycle Culture
33:16 Joining SNS Cycle: From Magazines to Brand Building
44:01 Marketing Strategies at SNS Cycle
47:36 Transition to Multi-Stack and HVAC Marketing
50:31 Global Marketing and Translation Challenges
52:21 Building a Marketing Department at Sasco
54:15 Exciting Projects with Kawasaki
54:52 Challenges of Working Under NDAs
56:03 Transition to Tucker Rocky and Black Brand
57:36 Launching Black Brand
01:00:16 Internal Politics and Moving On
01:00:49 New Beginnings at MiTek USA
01:03:01 Returning to S&S Cycle
01:08:27 Revitalizing S&S Cycle
01:13:56 Marketing Strategies and Core Focus
01:25:04 Advice for Young Creatives and Brand Managers
01:29:51 Speed Round: Fun and Personal Insights
Connect with Howard and S&S:
Howard's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-kelly
Howard's Socials: @howardkelly
S&S Website: https://www.sscycle.com/
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