RICHMOND, VA (BRAIN)—The sixth annual edition of the Shimano North American Handmade Bicycle Show saw an estimated 6,200 visitors over its three days in Richmond, Virginia.
That trails the show record in Portland, Oregon, from 2008, which saw almost 7,100 visitors. Last year’s show in Indianapolis saw almost 6,500 attendees. Next year’s show is slated for Feb. 25-27 in Austin, Texas.
"I am thrilled by the way the show has gone this year,” said Don Walker, founder of the show and owner of Don Walker Cycles in Speedway, Indiana. “It has been an all-round tremendous experience working with the people here in Richmond, and the enthusiasm for the show has been really great.”
Suppliers to the handmade trade reported good buoyancy in the handmade market.
According to Don Ferris of Anvil Bike Works, who provides manufacturing tools and equipment, his company hasn’t experienced any downtrends in recent years. In fact, he reported a spike during the recent fuel crisis. "2008/2009 was a freakishly high year for sales, now we're back to normal—where we were at in 2007 and earlier," Ferris said.
Terry Bill of the Reynolds tubing company continues to be amazed by the resurgence of demand for steel tubing in the North American market. "It's a very important market for us. It's dynamic, developing, always adding and growing," he said.
Walker said attendance would have been even higher if not for the mid-week snow storms last week.
“But I'm hearing reports of a lot of orders being taken and business has been brisk, so once again we have shown that we provide an unparalleled opportunity for our exhibitors to meet their market,” Walker said. “Looking ahead, I am excited to be going to Austin in 2011, and we are already advancing on 2012 and 2013 venues. This show has built a lot of momentum and I can only see it gaining more."
Visit the BRAIN Blog to see the 2010 NAHBS award winners.
For more on this year’s handmade show, be sure to read the March 15 issue of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.
(PHOTO courtesy of O2 Sports Marketing)
—Jason Norman
