Suomy USA announces today effective immediately, it has ceased operation and no longer represents Suomy Spa, Suomy Helmets or its distributors. Suomy USA will no longer be responsible for customer service, warranty, product support, sales training, sponsorships or anything associated with Suomy helmets whatsoever. Rick Marlin, Director of Suomy USA – “We are sad to end our long standing cooperation with Suomy Spa and our distribution partners. However, the 5th consecutive year of a very weak dollar and a slumping economy have worked against us, and while we have made significant sacrifices to keep the doors open, we are simply not in a position to carry on in this manner.” Rick Marlin first imported Suomy Helmets into the USA in 1998 through Gearbox International. Then, Suomy was a completely unknown brand in the USA. “We can take pride of our accomplishments with Suomy. Our initial 5 year mission was to position the brand as a relevant competitor to Shoei and Arai’s best, and establish a national distribution network. With a very modest budget, we successfully positioned Suomy Helmets against the best out of Japan, ranking as the #1 performing helmet in a well known national Helmet Satisfaction study 5 years in a row, and established a nationwide distribution network with Parts Unlimited, Van Leeuwen Enterprises and Romaha Importer and Distributors. We can leave knowing we attained those goals and more.” Those goals and more, indeed – Suomy was the first modern premium helmet to be established in the US market, not with the Snell approval rating, but with the British standard – the venerable BSI 6658 Type A. In doing so, Rick Marlin and Suomy USA demonstrated that the more demanding, alternative European standards could be sold in the USA and effectively knocked down the old myths about Snell and truly started the conversation of alternative helmet standards now so widely discussed in all the major industry magazines. Says Rick, “I am certain that we at Suomy USA, and Suomy Spa put the helmet standard discussion firmly into the minds of the American consumer, and in doing so we leave a lasting legacy to the improved safety of every motorcyclist in the USA. This is an area of which I am most proud.” Suomy helmets will continue to be made available and serviced in the USA directly from it distribution partners. Rick Marlin continues as Director of Modern World Ventures, a world leader in optical insert technologies (www.modernworld.com) and as Director of Maric Group, a consulting firm providing services for overseas helmet manufacturers seeking innovative assistance with sales training, brand development, distribution and marketing (www.maric-group.com). For more information on Modern World Ventures, or Maric Group, please contact Rick Marlin at: E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: 800.436.4248 510.873.8261 F: 510.873.8265 More, from a press release issued by Don Schmidt: Parts Unlimited, Romaha Distributors and Van Leeuwen Enterprises remain as strong Suomy distributors nationwide, along with their dealer network. These outlets will continue to provide sales for our new and current line of products available to the U.S. market. I ( Don Schmidt) am based in the San Francisco Bay Area and have been a direct representative of the Suomy factory in Italy since the beginning of this year. I will continue to provide customer service, warranty and technical support for these distributors and dealers, as well as the end user. In addition to this, I have a plan in effect to re-open the popular “Amateur Racer Support Program” for the year 2009. This plan will become effective later this calendar year. For additional information please contact me at: Don Schmidt Dealer Development/Race Services Suomy Helmets t: 408.568.5016 [email protected] www.suomy.com