Dealernews To Shut Down December 23, 2015

dealernewsRIP Dealernews. UBM Advanstar, an event and marketing services, announced the cessation of Dealernews both in print, online and across all social media as of December 23, 2015. Dealernews was created in 1965 and celebrated its 50th anniversary last June. It was known for being the B2B Dealer Expo organizer – also shut down in December 2014 – and one of the voices of the powersports industry to motorcycle dealers in the US.

Dealernews is another victim of a print industry having lost its relevance, of the magazine postponing too long a digital presence, then failing to adapt,  failing at creating an attractive format and content to be able to compete online. UBM Advanstar’s remaining powersports asset is the International Motorcycle Shows (IMS) with its 10-city Progressive Insurance sponsored consumer motorcycle shows, now also potentially challenged by the Orlando AIMExpo.

11 Responses to “Dealernews To Shut Down December 23, 2015”


  1. 1 maytag Dec 20th, 2015 at 9:21 am

    Advanstar arrogance = fail.

  2. 2 Brett Dec 20th, 2015 at 9:36 am

    And if the AIMExpo would do a multi-city consumer show, what would happen to IMS?

  3. 3 C. Zimba Dec 20th, 2015 at 9:40 am

    The Dealer Expo was almost zero results for vendors. Kaput. Dealernews was trash since a long time. Kaput. Time has changed. Dealers are informed about new products by digital consumer websites like what Cyril does. Advanstar is over the hill for the last 15 years.

  4. 4 Patrick Manson Dec 20th, 2015 at 9:47 am

    Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. Advanstar didn’t realize that the world changed, Trying to do online what was done on paper is a recipe for failure. Others will join the defunct.

  5. 5 Greg Danzig Dec 20th, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    We all know that print news as it existed is a dead business model. Problem is that most of those in the mc industry who understand that digital is the present and future of news are probably not prepared to adapt their content and have no idea about the cost of maintaining an online infrastructure. For ex., It’s a misconception to think that it’s cheaper to publish online. I know because I am doing it in the consumer financial advice sector. Looks like the Cyril Huze Post is doing very well. Good for him.

  6. 6 Brandon Dec 20th, 2015 at 3:40 pm

    Anyway, it has been a shitty magazine for at least one decade.

  7. 7 Donnie Dec 20th, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    I am a dealer and never read it! Just knew the name.

  8. 8 Kevin Mahoney Dec 21st, 2015 at 2:24 pm

    The real story here is that some of the industries most respected people are now out of work.
    It is easy to not look outside your store or office and this is one less place to get the information we need to keep up. Sad to see it close.

  9. 9 JohnyLetGo Dec 21st, 2015 at 2:47 pm

    Dealernews forgot that part vendors do direct email marketing to dealers and that dealers read this website for more immediate news about the motorcycle industry and for new product announcements. Their business model had no reason to last. For the same exact reasons a dealers only show like the V-Twin Expo will not survive a long time. The market is always right. Adapt or die.

  10. 10 Woody's Dec 21st, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    Kevin, JohnyLG and others are correct. It IS bad that some of their employees will be out of work instead of being employed by a strong online Dealernews. As with the Pony Express, “fast” is a relative term and print is not fast compared to the web. Even their shows had become an excuse for the big guys to get together & socialize, not to introduce dealers to product. Good or bad, the web killed that. Nobody waits for a yearly show to introduce new stuff when they can just put it on their web page and send out press releases via email. It’s hard to make it in print regardless of quality because the revenue just isn’t there anymore. A few decades ago you needed to spend thousands (and ten thousands) each month for multiple full page ads, well positioned, in the best magazines. Now you take out 1/8 & 1/16 page ads with a link to your 50-100 “page” website instead.

  11. 11 Voice of reason Dec 21st, 2015 at 11:57 pm

    Dealernews was started by two great guys, Bill Bagnall and Larry Hester. Bill was a walking history book of the Industry in the early days. Advancstar stepped on a lot of toes and alienated most in the Industry. They didn’t have a clue, nor did they care. That drove vendors to the AIM Show.

    Sometimes things run their course, but they just ran it in the ground.

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Cyril Huze