Ever get caught riding in heavy rain? A “chance of showers” is one thing.  But in a downpour, you need good motorcycle rain gear to keep dry, or water will find a way into every opening. By good waterproof gear, we mean: helmets with faceshield, gaitors, rainsuits, waterproof boots or boot covers. And a ziploc baggie to put your phone in, and some big sturdy trash bags to help keep your larger belongings dry:) And rain gloves! Wet hands get cold, so you have to keep them dry. For those times you get caught riding in rain, here’s how to...

Your hands are the primary connection between you and your motorcycle controls. Proper fit is essential. Yet we hear all the time from riders with a glove fit problem. Maybe their hands and fingers are shorter or wider or longer than average … but even if that’s the case, there should be a glove that fits just right.  Never settle for a poor fitting motorcycle glove … Here’s a guide to gloves that fit, to keep you protected, comfortable, and focused on the road.  Perfect Glove Fit:  What to look for Here are general guidelines to consider when choosing gloves....

Combining tech with riding brings up an interesting debate among motorcycle riders. Some say: “Leave the phone and distractions at home and ENJOY the ride.” On the other hand, A recent reviewer of one of our leather touch screen gloves said: “Wish I had these on my cross-country ride … no more holding one glove between my teeth!” If you ride with a GPS or smart phone – and today, that’s most of us — touch screen-enabled gloves can be a really nice feature. Like anything, there are lots of choices. Here’s how to find the right touch glove for your needs and...

A glove buyer’s job is tough. You watch retail trends, and develop new items to satisfy customer demand. But, forecasting a new item is hard. If you could, you’d start small. Perhaps even fly in a small quantity to test, to gain confidence for a bigger follow-up order.  Your gut tells you there are larger quantities to come, but until you see what sells, how can you be sure? There’s no crystal ball — so to manage risk, you try to keep quantities small. Problem is, the manufacturing world isn’t geared for “small”. That’s why you run into the MOQ...

What are your plans for next year? Are you thinking about new ways to delight your customers? Last week we offered 3 tips for planning ahead for a more successful holiday selling season. Today we want you to take a little longer view … what else can we do to ensure next year’s retail success?  In our experience, planning,  preparation — and a little risk taking — is key to reaching new heights. So here are 4 suggestions to kick off your thinking. more 4 Glove Company Tips for Next Year’s Success 1.  Carefully Watch Trends Most buyers we know watch...

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you…. No, I am not mixed up … though we are still in the heat of summer as the NFL season begins and US Open tennis winds down. So why are we writing this? It’s time to get year-end inventory finalized and marketing plans all lined up, for the most critical time of the year. Take these steps now, for a merrier December 31. Plan Ahead! 110 days to Christmas, 80 Days to Black Friday For most retail businesses, even if the first 9 months of the year were positive, the real level of success...

When you have a motorcycle gear/travel/maintenance question, do you search for answers online? Do you consult forums or motorcycle blogs? That’s what we do … and by now, we have a list of our favorite “go-to” resources for all things motorcycle, from forums to blogs and online magazines. Today, we wanted to share some of our favorite women bloggers — some of the world’s most accomplished women motorcycle riders. Most have a unique passion or expertise — photography, motorcycle camping, motorcycle safety — but in every case, each has ridden extensively and can be counted on for a wealth of...

Forget the girlie pink, flowers, embroidery, and sparkles – If you ride, you need serious impact protection. You also need motorcycle gloves that stay cool in warm weather, add warmth when temperatures drop, and allow you to grip the controls well, without being to big or too small. And an affordable alternative to higher-priced gloves would be nice too, wouldn’t it? Here’s how to get what you need, when shopping for women’s motorcycle gloves. Why Women's Motorcycle Gloves vs. Men’s Gloves? When it comes to motorcycle gloves, women and men’s needs are the same — protective gloves that fit and...

When riders ask us why motorcycle gloves cost so much, sometimes we just want to say “what are your hands worth”? Instead, last week we explained what goes into the making of a glove. To get the best value for your money, it helps to know what you’re buying. But you don’t have to spend your whole paycheck to get a good pair of gloves. Today, we highlight 5 classic motorcycle glove styles, that offer great value. So protect your hands … and save some bucks, the next time you need gloves.  Top Quality Gloves: 5 Pairs for Under $50 Bucks...

Designing a product line takes teamwork — and the more clarity on goals and requirements, the better the results. That’s why we created this multi-part kit for glove buyers, and their product sourcing and design teams. The Glove Maker’s Product Planning Kit is a useful collection of free resources, to help you better manage the glove making process. The Glove Makers Product Planning Kit This kit addresses the following common glove challenges: How to refresh an existing glove line with your customers’ needs in mind? For a new line, how to add the functionality your target customer will value most? Tips to manage project...

Experienced riders know that you “dress for the ride, not for the slide”.  But staying protected is definitely a challenge for riders on a budget. You can find gloves at all price ranges — — but do you know what to look for when buying a glove? What features are worth the money?  How to tell quality? Here’s how to save a little green, and get the best value for your money, next time you go glove shopping! Motorcycle Gear Tradeoff: Safety vs. Comfort vs. Glove Cost When it comes to choosing motorcycle gear, one rider we know recently said: ” …...

In Part I of our “Ultimate Guide to Glove Cost” series, we covered the two most important cost variables, material costs and labor costs. Today, we’ll dig into Dies, Duty Rates, and other costs such as Embellishments, Packaging and Shipping. The goal of our series is to help you weigh your options, and make better decisions. As they say, “an educated buyer is our best customer!”. To learn about what makes up your glove costs, read on! How Much Does A Glove Cost? (Part II) After materials and labor costs, here are the other factors to consider: 1. Hand cutting vs....