While there may be a few bikers still kicking around town today, for all intents and purposes Bike Week is now over. We packed up the trailer last night and we’ll be heading home this morning. Business was off about 25% compared to last year due to rally attendance being significantly off. Everyone was commenting on how quiet it was around town this year. The prices at the pump are beginning to take their toll on the motorcycle industry.

Even though we were down, we still had a decent rally. It’s just that we’re so accustomed to being VERY busy all week long and that didn’t happen this year. We had just one day where we rocked like usual and that was Monday. Every other day was down vs. the year before.

I’ve added another 70-some photos to our Myrtle Beach photo album. To the left is one of my favorite shots. This man and his dog were having a good time. They drew a small crowd when they pulled up next to our booth. I’m always amazed that some dogs don’t seem to mind wearing goggles. Very cute.

Goodbye, Myrtle Beach. See you next year.

We had several customers stop by yesterday just to tell us how pleased they were with their new Boogey Lights after their first night out with them. I was able to capture two of these satisfied customers on video. We appreciate their efforts make to let us know how much they enjoy their lights. We have the greatest customers!

I can’t begin to tell you how it feels to have a customer come back to tell us how pleased he is with his lights. It feels great knowing that you’ve made someone so happy. Check out these videos of two different customers who took a moment today to share their love for our products.

Yesterday was a slow day in Myrtle Beach compared to previous years. The guys took advantage of a lull in business and did a little riding of their own. Meanwhile, a few customers look on as we light their bikes.

Eddie is a customer who had us light up his Harley last year with blue lights. Apparently he got a BIG ticket for riding with blue in his hometown of Columbia, SC a couple of months ago. So, he’s back to see us to change his blue lights for another color. Eddie loves his Boogey Lights so much that he’s going to pay us to remove the blue lights and install another color. We love you too, Eddie!

Traffic around Myrtle Beach is very slow this year. Nearly every hotel has vacancies and the streets are eerily empty. It seems as though a very large number of people have decided not to attend the rally this year. Our business was just OK yesterday, falling short of last year’s sales. I believe the economy and high fuel prices have begun to take their toll on the motorcycle industry.

If this trend continues through the week we may not be attending the Sturgis rally this year. Sturgis is our most expensive rally to attend. Rally fees are high, lodging is twice what we pay in Myrtle Beach, and fuel costs will be very high traveling 3,000 miles roundtrip at 9 miles/gallon. Couple these economic realities with the ever increasing likelihood of low rally attendance and vendors stand to lose big money. I’m thinking we just may sit this year out.

I hate to pass on an event like Sturgis, as it’s the only time we see many of our west coast customers. Customer service is a big part of what we do at rallies and I hate not to be there for our customers. However, to take 3 weeks of our time and travel 3,000 miles with the economy being what it is just doesn’t seem like it’s going to make sense this year. We’ll stay positive and see how the rest of the week plays out before making our decision on Sturgis.

Although we are unable to stream live video from Myrtle Beach (couldn’t get Verizon to install DSL at our Barefoot Landing parking lot location), we are still recording video and taking lots of photos. Here’s some video recorded yesterday.
View all of our Myrtle Beach photos on Flickr.