Owned by Santa Ana, California based High End Products, the
Danny Gray seats brand's 17 year relationship with Harley-Davidson as a custom
seat vendor has been terminated, and following withdrawing distribution through
Tucker Rocky, the brand will be sold through Western Power Sports/HardDrive and
Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties - its two remaining distributors.
John Strahl, VP Sales & Marketing for the brand, said
that "we’re going to be advertising in all of the leading publications and
on several social media platforms this year and are planning an aggressive PR
campaign that will help us achieve our goals.
"We have also developed a new, nationwide dealer direct
program that will help them strengthen customer relationships and sell more
custom seats." A "Build Your Own" custom seat program is
scheduled to launch in early spring.
High End has invested heavily in the Danny Gray brand,
including the R&D and tooling that resulted in the 2014 launch of their IST
(Independent Suspension Technology) line of motorcycle seats - a system
designed to eliminate the compression and shock the body receives from riding
on a traditional solid seat pan.
That technology was itself a spin-off from the 2011 High End
Seating Solutions joint venture established with the Bellville, Illinois based
medical equipment industry specialist ROHO Group. HESS was established to
leverage ROHO's Airhawk brand 'Dry Floatation' seat cushion technology. High
End had been a long-time seat maker for Harley-Davidson and operates from a 25,000
sq ft facility at Santa Ana.
HESS owner Don Mahoney went on to fully acquire the Airhawk
brand from ROHO last year. Danny Gray got his start in the motorcycle seats
business in the early 1970s, selling initially to Arlen Ness. Gray and High End
teamed up in 2004.
www.dannygray.com