Parts Magazine: Tell us about your career before you joined Parts Unlimited.
John: “I started
my career working in a dealership in January 1970. I started
calling on dealers for a distributor in 1976. I became a Parts
Unlimited rep in 1992 when my friend Ed Bardoe was hired and
recommended me to Jeff Fox.”
Dick: “My interest in motorcycles started long before my motorcycling career started. I had owned six Yamahas and had been into biking as a recreational sport since the late 1960’s.
A dealer friend of mine, Marvin Wells, mentioned to me that
his Yamaha rep was leaving. I lost no time in pursuing that
potential employment opportunity. I was interviewed and hired.
Frank Byrd was my regional manager. I was just 32 years old
at the time. Sometime in 1976 Yamaha Parts Distributors (YPDI)
put out their first accessory catalog for Yamaha. They listed
accessories, sales aids, specification charts, suggested retail
prices and other valuable information. This was my first experience
selling motorcycle accessories. To say that I was an aggressive
and competitive District Manager would be an understatement.
In California in 1974, I was presented with my first District
Manager of the Year award. Three other guys from other regions
were also presented this very envied award. My career with
Yamaha lasted 21 1/2 years.”
PM: Tell us about your career as a Parts rep.
John: “When
I started in 1992, Parts was not a big force in my area. The
first season was the year that the warehouse was moved from
Edgerton to Janesville, so all of the orders took an extra
day to ship. In spite of that my business grew at an incredible
rate along with the rest of the company. The highlight of my
Parts Unlimited career was being an early leader with the Memphis
Shades line. In 1998 I was the top Memphis Shades rep in the
company, and the top in my region for several years after that.
Other highlights included going to Japan in 2002 and many other
company trips over the years.”
Dick: “I had
not really had time to consider what I might want to do after
working for Yamaha, when I was approached by Walker Garrison
about coming on with Parts Unlimited as a rep. I was hired
by Jett Johnson not long after the initial conversation with
Walker. I started work immediately. I called on many of the
same dealers I had called on when I was with Yamaha. Initially,
I represented some of Virginia, some of North Carolina and
some of Maryland. I started with about $250,000 of business
thanks to Johnny Allison and Fred McMahan.”
PM: What were the highlights of your decades-long career in the motorcycle industry?
John: “The highlight
of my 35 year career has to be the almost 14 years at Parts
Unlimited. Also the many great people that I have gotten to
know. Motorcycle riders and dealers are simply the best people
in the world.”
Dick: “The one thing I enjoyed the most was working for a company that you didn’t have to consider whether or not the products you needed were in stock and available to ship TODAY. The ability of Parts Unlimited to stock and ship large orders in one day was a salesman’s dream. To be able to tell a dealer it’s
on the way the same day was a rewarding experience.”
PM:
What has changed for the better in the industry that you’ve
witnessed over the years?
John: “Of all
of the good things that have happened, computers, better products,
and more professionalism in the people, would be my picks.”
Dick: “The people
at Parts Unlimited were great to work with, from Fred Fox down
to everyone I ever came in contact with. The product lines
Parts Unlimited carries are exceptional. The great quality
of the lines opened up many doors. I will miss the company
and the people. I want to also express my personal thanks to
Tim Bowen who was always helpful, supportive and available
when I needed him.”
PM: What are your plans for the future?
John: “My plans
for the future include lots of Gold Wing and bicycle riding,
learning to play the guitar, traveling to warmer places in
the winter and also helping my wife of 47 years, Dee, spoil
our grandchildren.”
Dick: “I plan
to enjoy my retirement. I hope to take my beautiful wife, Betty,
on many trips with no return deadlines.”
Parts Unlimited would like to express their immense gratitude to John and Dick for their many years of hard work and dedication. 
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Recently retired Parts Unlimited rep John Kiernan says that the highlight of his 35 year career in the motorcycle industry were his almost 14 years working for Parts Unlimited.
eople are the backbone of Parts Unlimited and one of the most vital links to the dealers is the network of hardworking Parts reps; the men and women who go out to meet the dealers and make things happen. After long and outstanding careers, two Parts reps, John Kiernan and Dick Randle, recently retired. We sat down with these legendary and experienced men to talk about motorcycles, Parts Unlimited, and the future.
