Last Updated: Monday, March 19, 2007 1:25 PM CDT
Hodag Honda keeps touch with owner's Rhinelander roots
by Michael Skubal - Daily News Staff - mskubal@rhinelanderdailynews.com
It takes a Hodag to use the famous creature as the mascot of your business.
Jeff Plouff, a 1976 graduate of Rhinelander High School, is the owner of Hodag Honda, 1355 N. Chippewa Drive in Rhinelander.
Though Hodag Honda has only been on Chippewa
Drive for three years, Plouff has been with Honda since 1975. “Mel's was the Honda Dealer for years, I started with them,” said Plouff. When Mel's sold out to Rhinelander Honda / Yamaha, he worked with that company until it went out of business.
“The Honda franchise was gone for five years. When Northwoods Ford brought it back, I went to work for them,” said Plouff, “It changed hands two or three times and finally I decided to buy it myself.”
Plouff started as a mechanic, worked in parts, then became parts and service manager, sales manager, and general manager. “I can work any part of the company,” said Plouff.
The Honda franchise, then known as Wheels in Motion, was located at 806 N. Stevens Street when Plouff decided to buy it and change the name to Hodag Honda.
“I was born and raised here,” said Plouff. “The Hodag is a neat story, a good icebreaker when talking to customers. I go through and tell them the story,” explaining his reason for the name selection.
Plouff gave the Hodag an oriental look to go with Honda, a Japanese Company. “Joel Hausch out of Milwaukee drew our Hodag. His dad lives on Washburn Lake Road and I got to know them through a friend,” Plouff said.
Because Hodag Honda is an exclusive Honda dealer it's known as a Honda Powerhouse.
“That means we can carry the complete Honda line of products, personal watercraft, all terrain vehicles, scooters, power equipment, generators, lawn mowers, snowblowers, brush cutters, and Honda engines,” said Plouff.
All parts and accessories are available at the store and they have a full service department. “We work on all makes and models, we're pretty much the only motorcycle dealer in town,” said Plouff. Hodag Honda also carries the line of Leer truck toppers.
Moving to the new location on North Chippewa
Drive has been good for business.
“North Stevens Street used to be the highway, now it's Chippewa Drive. We're growing, there's been a steady increase in business,” said Plouff, “volume-wise the ATVs are the big sellers.”
Reminiscent of mopeds are scooters, now with up to 600cc engines. Plouff said sales of scooters has picked up with the hike in gas prices. You don't need a motorcycle endorsement to operate a scooter up to 49 cc, but you can't go over 35 miles per hour.
The mileage for scooters and motorcycles make them attractive with higher gas prices, even a Honda Goldwing gets about 42 miles per gallon. The most fuel efficient Honda is the Elite 80, which gets up to 115 miles per gallon.
“Most of our customers are from the area, but some come from as far away as the U.P.,” said Plouff. “We have people in their 80s on scooters and motorcycles, but you've got to be 18 years old to buy a bike.” Motorcycle safety classes are held at Nicolet College. They're needed for a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license.
Hodag Honda normally has six full time employees during the summer. In addition to Plouff, Kendall Karpf is in sales, Christine Ford takes care of parts and service, while Boone Melby, Vince Marten, and Ken Jolin will service your Honda products.
Hodag Honda's Web site is www.hodaghonda.com. The phone number is 365-3820.
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