The motorcycle industry is a billion-dollar market. Motorcycle ownership is at a record high in the U.S., with more than 10 million households having a motorcycle. These millions of motorcycle owners will at some point need to repair their bikes. They may even want to enhance them with accessories or customize them to make them more aesthetically appealing and unique.
For motorcycle enthusiasts and savvy entrepreneurs, it makes sense to want a part of the lucrative motorcycle industry. And one of the best ways to participate in the sector is by filling the need for motorcycle parts. In this guide, we will discuss the different ways to sell motorcycle parts and how to get your motorcycle parts business started.
Find Reliable Motorcycle Parts Suppliers
Open accounts with reliable suppliers. Whether you are selling used or brand-new motorcycle parts, you need suppliers you can rely on. Purchasing directly from a parts manufacturer may be the best way for you to get the most competitive prices. When you work with a supplier that you can trust, you can avoid overstocking and dead stock. A trusted supplier should be timely with deliveries and consistent with quality.
Build an Initial Inventory
Select the parts that you will have on-hand. Whether you are selling from a physical store or selling online, it’s ideal to secure an inventory that is comprised of parts that are in high demand. By stocking in-demand items, such as engine parts, electrical parts, body kits, and other motorcycle parts, that are repaired and replaced the most, you will always be prepared. Maintaining inventory also saves you money and allows you to ship orders to customers faster.
Price Competitively
While there are some motorcycle enthusiasts willing to pay top dollar for a part, this usually applies to vintage parts and not to a regular oil tank or air filter. Do your research and know what others are charging for the same parts and accessories you sell. The last thing you want is to price too high and end up driving potential customers away. You also don’t want to price too low and end up hurting your profits.
Create a Website
Don’t limit yourself to a physical store. Today’s consumers turn to the internet to find motorcycle parts rather than drive from shop to shop to ask if the parts they need are available. It’s much easier for motorcycle owners to order the part they need online and have it delivered to their door. Independent repair shops that don’t carry the part also prefer to order the part and have it delivered directly to their shop. Therefore, an online presence is crucial if you want to remain competitive.
Start by creating a website for your shop. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to build a website from scratch. You can use an ecommerce platform and use a template to build your site. Once your website is up and running, don’t forget to market and optimize your site to gain more website traffic, which translates to customers.
Sell on the Top Platforms for Motorcycle Parts
Consider your ecommerce site as your home base for your online business. But to gain access to a wider audience, you should also sell on platforms like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, AutoZone, and other sites that many motorcycle owners and repair shops visit to find great deals on motorcycle parts.
eBay is the top site for selling used items, making it a popular platform for used motorcycle parts and accessories. To sell used parts, OEM parts, or aftermarket motorcycle parts on eBay, you have to set up an account and select the Sell option. As a motorcycle parts business owner, it would be ideal for you to use eBay’s Seller Hub where you can create listings more quickly and use the eBay Motor Parts Compatibility tool for fitment data.
To sell your motorcycle parts on Amazon, you will need to be on the professional selling plan. Only professional sellers on Amazon can sell under the Automotive and Powersports category, which is where motorcycle parts and accessories are categorized. This is where it helps to have an established, independent website for Amazon to review and determine whether to grant you professional seller status.
Use High Quality Product Photos
Take high quality images of your products against a white background. Use natural or studio lighting. Ensure there are no elements in the photo that may distract the viewer from the product. High quality images translate to professional service for consumers, making it more likely that people will scroll through their options to click on your listings. Be sure to take multiple photos of the product to show off the different angles and details of the product.
Write Clear and Complete Product Descriptions
Professional-looking photos are only half the battle. Potential customers want to know more about the product. They will want to read about specs and features to help them determine if that is the right part or accessory.
Don’t Forget About Fitment
Fitment, also known as compatibility, is a crucial aspect in selling motorcycle parts. Fitment refers to the vehicle’s make/model/year. Before a potential customer will purchase a part from your shop, they need to know for sure that the part or accessory is compatible with their motorcycle. Whether you use a fitment filter on your website or the parts compatibility tools on eBay or Amazon, fitment data will help improve your searchability and visibility.
When you skip on providing complete and accurate fitment data, you lose a lot of opportunities. Certain parts may fit more than one type of motorcycle. When people search for parts, they may not realize that there is an aftermarket part out there that is compatible with their bike’s brand. And in some cases, there are also OEM parts that can be used as an alternative. By providing fitment data, you allow potential customers to discover other options for their motorcycles.
Market Your Business
Get the word out that you’re selling motorcycle parts. Build an email list and email your customers a monthly newsletter to keep them updated on deals, discounts, etc. Take advantage of marketing ads on eBay, Amazon, or whichever online platform you use to sell your motorcycle parts. Leverage social media to boost website traffic. Provide excellent customer service so your shop gains a loyal following and benefits from word-of-mouth marketing. By providing superior service, you are also more likely to receive positive ratings and reviews, which will improve your seller reputation and bring you more customers.
Conclusion
Because of the highly competitive marketplace, selling motorcycle parts will come with its challenges. Be prepared to do your research and put in the time and energy to learn about consumer demands and trends in the market. Because online shopping has become the norm, don’t forget to build an online presence so you can gain a bigger audience and attract more customers. Beyond offering quality products, also focus on providing excellent customer service.
