ALGO DISTINTO

Queridos amigos:

Esta es una nota muy distinta a las que relatan los paseos, y los invito a que aprovechemos un blog tan bueno como el que tenemos, para comunicar asuntos que vayan mas alla de una vez a la semana contar el paseo y mostrar las fotos.

A estas alturas ya nadie duda que hemos pasado o mejor dicho estamos pasando la mas grande crisis economica desde el ano 29. Esto nos ha obligado a repensar y redefinir los modelos de negocio con los que fuimos exitosos,, por nuevos que sean capaces de serlo en esta nueva realidad que enfrentara el mundo por los proximos anos. Me atrevo a decir que la economia no va a crecer al 5,5% como venia creciendo en el mundo, lo que nos obliga a buscar nuevas formas de hacer rentable las empresas.

A continuacion va el resultado del segundo quarter de Harley Davidson, que refleja un poco lo que estamos hablando.

Es en este sentido es que yo le sugeri a Guillermo, actualizar al modelo de negocio que fue tan exitoso del paseo de los sabados de 400 klm., con un almuerzo, hartas fotos y un relato. Pienso que deberiamos hacer otras actividades, por dar un ejemplo: hacer una vez al mes un paseo que partamos un viernes a las 14 horas, para volver el sabado a las 18 horas.

Los invito a que le mandemos sugerencias a Guillermo, de modo tal que, incorporemos otras actividades que agreguen valor y de esa forma nos sigamos entreteniendo.

Un fuerte abrazo,
Gianni


Harley-Davidson reports second quarter 2009 results, lowers full-year shipment plans, and provides restructuring updateMILWAUKEE (July 16, 2009) - UPDATED July 16, 2009, 8:00 A.M. CDT to correct hourly workforce reduction numbers and reporting period for cash flow and capital expenditures.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) reported decreased revenue, net income and diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2009 compared to the year-ago period.
Net income of $19.8 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.08 were primarily affected by the planned 27.6 percent reduction in motorcycle shipments compared to the year-ago period and by two non-cash charges related to HDFS: a $72.7 million credit loss provision for a one-time reclassification of motorcycle loan receivables; and a one-time $28.4 million charge to write off the total goodwill associated with HDFS.
Worldwide retail unit sales of new Harley-Davidson® motorcycles were down 30.1 percent compared to the year-ago quarter. Retail new Harley-Davidson motorcycle sales in the U.S. were down 35.1 percent and declined 18.2 percent in international markets compared to last year’s second quarter. Industry-wide retail sales of heavyweight motorcycles in the U.S. declined 48.1 percent for the same period.
“While the underlying fundamentals of the Harley-Davidson brand remain strong and our dealers’ retail motorcycle sales declined less than our competitors, it is obviously a very tough environment for us right now, given the continued weak consumer spending in the overall economy for discretionary purchases,” said Harley-Davidson, Inc. President and CEO Keith Wandell.
In light of the decline in retail motorcycle sales, the Company also lowered its 2009 shipment expectations for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The Company now plans to ship between 212,000 and 228,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles to dealers and distributors worldwide in 2009, or 25 percent to 30 percent fewer than the 303,479 shipped in 2008. Prior 2009 guidance was for shipments of 264,000 to 273,000 motorcycles. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company expects to ship 52,000 to 57,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
As a result of the lowered shipment volume, the Company will implement a further reduction this year of approximately 700 positions in the hourly production workforce. Harley-Davidson will also be reducing the non-production, primarily salaried headcount by an approximate 300 additional positions, including a reduction at HDFS. The Company plans to offer a voluntary separation incentive package to eligible salaried employees. Earlier this year, the Company had announced workforce reductions totaling about 1,100 to 1,200 hourly production positions in 2009 and 2010 and about 300 non-production, primarily salaried positions.
“We continue to take these difficult actions to manage through the current challenges and we also continue to take major steps in creating the operational effectiveness that is essential to our long-term future,” said Wandell. “We are committed to doing what is required to enable Harley-Davidson to operate as a competitive business and employer over the long haul.”
The Company continues to expect full-year gross margins to be between 30.5 percent and 31.5 percent.