Interbike, the largest bicycle industry trade show in North America, announced that several Industry heavyweights will be returning to the show after an extended absence, and others are increasing their booth space when the show kicks off at its new home, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center (MBCC).
Giant USA, Colnago, Felt, GTBicycles, Fox Racing Shocks, Chris King Precision Components and more are returning to the show after being absent in 2012 and in some cases even longer. The show is currently sold out on the main floor. Companies that have not submitted contracts who are looking to exhibit this year are being placed on a waiting list. Companies can still gain access to the show by exhibiting at OutDoor Demo and in the newly created Paddock at Interbike area. The new area is located adjacent to the main hall in the parking lot at Mandalay Bay and will contain numerous key exhibitors, an extensive test track, food court and beer garden.
“It’s great to see companies like Giant, Felt and others coming back to the show,” said Pat Hus, Vice President of Interbike. “It says we’re doing something right and that the show is once again bringing real value and ROI to its exhibitors and our attendees. At the end of the day, that’s always been our goal. The added investments we’ve made in the show have brought a ton of energy back and it’s only going to get better from here on out.”
Brands such as Giant USA and Felt have participated in recent years at the OutDoor Demo, but see the on-floor experience as an opportunity to further interact with existing and potential retailers.
“Giant USA is excited to return to Interbike,” said John JT Thompson, Executive Sales Director of Giant USA. “We are thrilled to communicate our brands exceptional capabilities and impress Interbike attendees with what we believe is the planet’s highest level of bicycle engineering and performance. The show is, of course, a great opportunity to connect with our existing retailers; it’s also the best way to meet additional top retailers who operate in markets that are not served well and are interested in partnering with Giant.”
Felt’s Director of Marketing, Doug Martin, sees exhibiting at Interbike as a multi-pronged approach for his brand.
“We felt like we needed to be back on the Interbike floor this fall for a number of reasons,” said Martin. “In addition to a 2014 line-up we consider to be our best ever, we have several all-new product platforms we will be introducing at the show. By having a presence at both OutDoor Demo and the Interbike expo hall–especially with the newly added consumer day–we can be confident that we will reach as many of our customers as possible.”
Hus also mentioned that several longtime exhibitors have either increased their booth size, and/or added space at OutDoor Demo. The Accell Group will now have the single largest booth at the show with more than 10,000 square feet of space in its newly designed campus of brands, and several others have increased their footprints as well including Easton Bell Sports, Opus, Norco and Poc.
Retailers will find some new brands at OutDoor Demo this year, including Niner, Alpinestars, Poc and more. Electric bike manufacturers ProdecoTech and Solex will also exhibit at the demo for the first time to allow retailers to test their latest wares and answer questions.
