Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) has always been one of the more popular case studies in branding by a company, as it has developed one of the most dedicated fan bases of any company in the world.
It's now went one step further for their existing fans, and the new ones coming down the pipe: they've now opened their museum to the public!
"Harley-Davidson has dreamed about building this Museum for a long time," said Jim Ziemer, president and chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc. "It adds a whole new dimension to the Harley-Davidson experience."
In usual Harley-Davidson flare, instead of cutting a literal ribbon in the opening ceremony, the company instead cut a primary chain wrapped around a Museum tower with an acetylene torch in place of a ribbon.
Much of the history of the company is displayed at the Museum, as you can discover the history of the company through its many stages of growth and activities; from the launch of the company in 1903 to 1981, when it was bought back from AMF; a major turning point for the company.
One exhibit that sounds particularly interesting, is the one that highlights the customization that is one of the key reasons behind the success of Harley. Included with this specific exhibit is a motorcycle acquired by Elvis Presley just before he became famous from his first hit single, "Heartbreak Hotel."
Empowering users to customize, no matter what industry we market in, is one of the major keys to differentiation that can set you apart from competitors; whether it's an online or offline business. Harley has been doing that for decades.
The stock for Harley-Davidson, since 1987, has skyrocketed, and anyone owning it would have enjoyed a lot of success. This is even after it has lost close to half its market cap over the last couple years in the slow economy.
If you want to visit the museum, you can get tickets here. According to their web site, General admission tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, $10 for children (ages 5-17 years), and children under 5 years of age will be admitted free if they have an accompanying adult.
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