TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN)—With three days down and one to go, exhibitors at Taipei Cycle said they’re pleased with the business they’ve accomplished thus far at the annual trade show.
At just over a year old, new exhibitor Portland Design Works came to Taipei to seek out new international distributors for its aftermarket line of commuter accessories, said co-founder Erik Olson.
The company already has its U.S. distribution network in place and has picked up partners in Japan and Australia. Olson has his eye on the UK next. “We’ve had good interest from all sorts of places,” he said.
Despite his small, 10x10 booth space tucked in the far corner of the fourth floor hall, Olson said the show has been well worth the time and expense for him and his business partner to fly to Asia.
“Next year I think we’ll up it to a 10x20 just because the prices are so reasonable,” he said.
Since most of its business is on the aftermarket side, Japanese tire company Panaracer is using Taipei to gather feedback from customers on the direction of its 2011 line in advance of product introductions later this year at Eurobike and Interbike, said Panaracer’s Jeff Zell.
Zell said he saw far fewer North American product managers this year and more Europeans. That may have to do with the fact that most U.S. product managers already have spec wrapped up by the time Taipei Cycle arrives, combined with the fact that many companies have tightened their purse strings this year.
“With all the budgetary concerns, people are saying, ‘I’m not going this year if I don’t have to,’ even if they might have before just because they didn’t want to miss anything,” Zell said.
Andrea Wu, press coordinator for Taipei Cycle organizer TAITRA, said early numbers indicate the show has been well attended with a 9.3 percent increase in international visitors on the first day and a 7 percent increase on day two. The number of foreign journalists covering the show has increased as well, Wu said.
Taipei Cycle wraps up Saturday, when it opens its doors to consumers.
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—Nicole Formosa
