Heading East

No, I’m not talking about the 70’s rock band who produced the album “Flat as a Pancake”, but about Wisconsin. 

It’s home to the Green Bay Packers, Cheeseheads, Yoopers and (drum roll, please) Harley-Davidson.  I’m jazzed about finally visiting the “Mothership”, (3700 W Juneau Ave.; aka home; Harley Central; the place where it all started) the place that will make this entire trip a possibility on the ‘ol Road King.

It’s been 105 years since 1903 when William Harley and his friends Arthur and Walter Davidson launched the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. This year also marks the 100th Anniversary of producing police motorcycles. So, the factory is planning a number of commemorative events up to the 105th Anniversary weekend in Milwaukee.

I’ve previously posted several articles on the 105th HERE.  It’s still a couple months out, but a sub-set of the “posse” will be riding out…and take in the Juneau Ave store, stop for a local burger at Kopps and sample some real Wisconsin cheese at Seguins.  Nothing says Milwaukee like a butter burger, fresh fries, a Sprecher root beer, and frozen custard.

See you on the road…

 

Photo courtesy of Harley.

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Reconnecting with HOG Tales

Ah-riding. I know it’s a great way to unwind after a hectic work day. But, why not combine a little riding pleasure while at work during the day?  I was enjoying a smoke break at work and reading the HOG Tales Magazine wondering who is behind this glossy publication at Harley-Davidson? 

HOG Tales Magazine is multi-language magazine and mailed to more than 1 million members of the Harley-Davidson Owners Group (H.O.G) around the world.  A subscription to HOG Tales, is included for all full memberships. The inside cover states Christine Adamavich is the Editor, but like so many things these days in corporate America the customer-facing communications and media tactics are “outsourced” to hired guns in the publishing business.

With a little research I learned that the U.S. version of the magazine is produced by GS Design, a Milwaukee-based design firm specializing in graphic design, web and multimedia.  GS Design has been working on HOG Tales since 1996 and provides the graphic design as well as much of the content.  They also do a lot of Harley corporate communications ranging from Annual Reports to multi-color dealer briefs, online content and model information.

In Europe, the publishing arm of Archant LLC (Archant}Dialogue), a family-owned business since its inception 160 years ago and one of the UK’s largest independent media businesses publishes the HOG Tales magazine.  Quite simply they do it all from planning and research, to creating and commissioning content, editing and design, selling advertising space, printing, distribution and marketing.  The Archant Dialogue team manages all aspect of the publishing cycle and distributes to more than 100K members across Europe in six languages.  The Archant Group is the UK’s leading independent publisher and beside the HOG Tales have many specialist magazines and they also publish 90 daily and weekly newspapers.

There you have it.  The companies behind publishing HOG Tales and allowing you to reconnect to riding while behind the office desk!

Photo is courtesy of HOG Tales

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