NEW IDEAS IN CUSTOM GOLF CAR ACCESSORIES
CONTINUE TO FUEL GMT's GROWTH

  Since GMT, Inc. only entered the custom golf car accessories market in the late 1990s, it could indeed be considered a newcomer to the business. However, for many custom golf car dealers, a near-constant stream of both new products and re-designed accessories like dashboards and locking glove boxes clearly mark GMT as the industry's frontrunner.

  Originally founded in the early 1970s, Elgin, IL-based GMT quickly carved itself a reputation as one of the premier thermoformers of heavy-gauge plastic components and assem-blies. GMT consistently met and exceeded thetough quality standards of leading manufacturers serving diverse marketsranging from heavy machinery, lawn and garden and beverage dispensing, tosporting goods, health care and automotive. With GMT's entry into thecustom golf car accessories market, dealers were duly impressed by levels of product quality that extended well beyond what they had been accustomed to.

  Citing just one reason why dealers recognize a higher level of quality, Mike Dubanowski, who heads up GMT's golf car accessories business, points to the company's extensive investment in CNC trimming machinery. ³In the past, most accessory manufacturers relied on hand trimming after molding the parts. Because of our CNC trimming capabilities, we're able to assure a much higher degree of accuracy and consistency from one part to the next. In virtually every case, that translates to a more precise fit, as well as a big savings in installation time on the dealer end.

  Superior fit-and- finish, excellent customer support and same-day shipping from stock have most definitely played a role in positioning GMT as the world's fastest growing supplier of custom golf car accessories. But thereis another component to the company's success: the ongoing emphasis on new-product development coupled with the continued re-design and refinement of existing golf car accessories.What started out five years ago as some new designs for dashboards and locking glove boxes has since blossomed into a vast array of accessories forClub Car, E-Z-GO, Yamaha and Columbia ParCar golf cars. Today, GMT's line includes everything from dashes, locking glove boxes, and special E-Z-GO trim pieces, to underseat storage trays, steering wheel covers, cupholder-mount universal cell phone holders and much more.

  In terms of rolling out new products, GMT regularly touches on all segments of the custom golf car marketplace. For instance, products such as Brush Guard, as well as dashboads and other accessories in distinctive camouflage finishes, are more directly targeted for off-road applications. By the same token, other newly developed products such as Fender Flares and roof-mounted overhead radio/CD consoles have found their way into custom carts for applications both on and off the golf course.

  Versatile Vehicles, Inc. of Savage, MN, has been ordering GMT accessories ever since they first visited the company's booth at the PGA Merchandise Show four years ago. According to owner Gaby Accad, ...it was GMT's dashboard design that first attracted our attention. A distinct improvement to what was available at the time, GMT's initial dashboard designs offered more standard cutouts for gauges and other accessories, thereby eliminating the need for installers to make their own cutouts, and potentially damage the finish. The GMT dashes also provided improved access to controls such as starter switches, lights and gauges.

  We started with the dashboards and now order the glove box sets and overhead radio consoles as well, says Accad who notes that the GMT products always provide a good fit. Since approximately 60% of Versatile Vehicle's business is lifted carts for off-road use, Accad does not expect to see a big demand for complete Woody kits among his own customers. On the other hand, he says that they were immediately drawn to the Woody kit's light oak dashboard, which they now order separately.

  Introduced just a few years ago, Fender Flares have become a hot customizing option, especially for dealerships specializing in the lited, off-road market like Graham Golf Cars of Myrtle Beach, SC. According to Graham Golf Car's Ed Eckersley, at least 50% of their business is in four-passenger lifted carts, which he admits more often than not end up being used as second cars for shuttling family back and forth to the beach. Many of our customers want the lifted cars because of the way they look...and the Fender Flares make them look that much better, explains Eckersley, adding that most of the units they build are E-Z-GOs.

  In terms of fit, Eckersley gives the GMT product a decided edge over anything else he's seen available in the way of fender flares. That fit is the result of GMT's insistence on producing Fender Flares in three distinct designs in order to match up precisely with either E-Z-GO, Club Car or Yamaha . Check how closely GMT flares follow the contour of the body panels, and it's easy to see why one size fits all isn't always a good thing.

  One thing that GMT has proved to be particularly adept at is responding to a custom golf car market that seems to be in a constant state of flux. This was exemplified by the company's quick response to the lifted off-road cart market. In just the past few years GMT has come out with its extremely popular Fender Flares, and the custom-designed Brush Guard Series 1000 featuring welded lighting mounts. Now the company appears to have come full circle by offering a host of accessories in popular camouflage patterns. On the golf side, one of the most noteworthy events of 2004 was Club Car's introduction of the new Precedent model. GMT is already developing a new dashboard design and revamping its underseat storage tray for the Precedent. And believe it or not, an overhead radio/CD console and Woody side panels specially designed for Club Car's latest model are already being stocked on GMT's shelves. How's that for staying on top of changes in the market? So exactly what else is on the horizon for GMT? Though unwilling to tip his hat completely, Dubanowski admits that they are currently experimenting with a number of different colors and patterns. In the near future we expect to add a teak or cherry color to all of our current dashboard lines, as well as some other accessories.

  Any new standard color for dashboards and overhead consoles will join the existing carbon fiber, black, dark woodgrain, burled woodgrain and the light oak Woody finish. However, for orders of ten or more, GMT does make available a number of custom finishes. And if that weren't enough, don't forget that select accessories such as dashboards, overhead consoles and Fender Flares are also available in a variety of camouflage finishes to satisfy the outdoor set. Custom golf car dealers interested in more information about GMT Inc.'s complete line of accessories should visit: www.gmtgolfcaraccessories.com; or call (847) 697-8161.