Ducati and Bear surfing apparel?

[nimno]

“Ducati and Bear have cooperated to create the "capsule collection", surf and beachwear items with a distinctive motorcycling inspiration. The unique combination of motorcycling and surfing has created a new style, recognised by the characteristic "curve", which forms a theme throughout the collection. The curve offers a visible tribute to the Ducati logo and the sophisticated and strong red, white and black colour scheme gives a bold personality to the collection, while identifying the colours of both Ducati and Bear company logos. “

Is it me or is Ducati kind of over licencing their brand a bit. I mean I know Harley has their own brand of Beef Jerky which I thought was crazy but it almost seems like Ducati is headed down the same path. Don’t get me wrong I love the clothes by puma but this almost seems like a duplicate effort even though it may be surfing apparel.

[Winter]

This thread is worthless without pics!

[whippersnapper]

saw this release and didn't blog it because what a yawn quite frankly

[My848]

http://www.ducati.com/news/new_colle.../1768/index.do

[bpracer]

This makes up for the whole "no factory WSBK team for 2011" thing...

[markg]

Bear was never a mainstream surfboard brand back in the day, and truth be told very few would know of them if it weren't for the film "Big Wednesday".

I've surfed and ridden motorcycles since I was 12, my life would be much less fulfilling without both, but it would never occur to me to "bundle" lifestyle trinkets this way. Kind of cheapens the Ducati brand if you ask me, which I fully realize no one has.

[Kawtipping]

Honestly, if it brings in some new apperral that is not designed in Italy, I am for it. Hopefully the prices of the co-branded items are below the normal prices. I do not think this cheapens the Ducati experience. Ducati is doing what they can to bring more people into the Ducati family. This is a very niche market when you combine surfing with motorcycles, so it really isn't a big impact. Hell, I am a dealer and I didn't even know about this...so it must be targeted more at the West Coast market than anything. At least this stuff isn't going to be showing up at Wal-Mart!

[Planespotting]

Originally Posted by nimno

Is it me or is Ducati kind of over licencing their brand a bit. I mean I know Harley has their own brand of Beef Jerky which I thought was crazy but it almost seems like Ducati is headed down the same path. Don’t get me wrong I love the clothes by puma but this almost seems like a duplicate effort even though it may be surfing apparel.

I've been explaining this to people for a while now. Harley and Ducati riders are the same.

• Both buy branded merchandise
• Both buy T-shirts declaring which dealers they've visited. Harley guys because the bike broke down again. Ducati guys because its time for yet another costly service.
• Both pay way too much for bikes with old technology. Ducatis just happen to have new technology as well.
• Both ride big twins. Ducatis just also happen to be art.
• Both make lots of noise. Ducatis also make power.

All kidding aside Harley and Ducati are very similar in terms of marketing. They both build brand loyalty/equity through merchandising and in Ducati's case agressive product placement in TV/Movies.