SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA (BRAIN)—The Interbike Outdoor Demo and International Bicycle Expo on Friday wrapped up a successful week of product demos, launches, business meetings and events as one of the industry's leading trade events.
"Once again, the industry came together and made the show a success," said Andy Tompkins, Interbike show director. "An extremely active show floor with more than 1,200 brands meeting with thousands of buyers, media, athletes and industry professionals demonstrated that the show continues to be an important event for North American, and international manufacturers and retailers."
Interbike's week-long trade event began with buyers and media testing the latest in road, downhill, cross-country, all-mountain, electric, and commuter-style bikes and accessory categories at Outdoor Demo.
Total attendance at Outdoor Demo remained in line with 2009 with an estimated 3,900 retailers, and boasted close to 120 exhibitors including Breezer Bikes, Felt Racing, Giant Bicycles, Raleigh America, Scott Sports, Specialized Bicycles, Torker Bicycle and Trek Bicycles, among others. Total attendance for the two day demo was more than 5,200 people.
"Outdoor Demo was great for us," said Adrian Montgomery, Scott Sports marketing and public relations director. "In the past, we brought 35 demo bikes at the most. This year we brought 50. Our new products, like the Genius LT and our new carbon 29er were out all day, and we saw a lot of business from South American, European and Asian distributors and dealers."
Once in the Sands Expo and Convention Center for the indoor portion of the show, more than 24,000 exhibitors and attendees filled the hall, a 3 percent increase compared to Interbike 2009. Preliminary attendance figures show the number of unique stores represented remained the same at slightly more than 4,000 and the total number of buyers remained the same at more than 11,300.
International buyer attendance was 1,872, a 44 percent increase compared to last year, representing 67 countries outside of the United States, compared to 64 in 2009. Strong growth from all international buying sectors was represented. In particular, a rise in attendees from Latin America suggests that these markets are becoming increasingly interested in cycling products.
New for the indoor portion of the show was an opening press conference featuring welcoming statements from show director Andy Tompkins, and a keynote speech by U.S. Representative and Congressional Bike Caucus founder Earl Blumenauer of Oregon on the state of cycling legislation and future government activity on behalf of bicycling.
Other notable events and features were the return of the "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" Top 100 Dealer Awards and Reception, the S&M Bikes BMX Rail Jam, an eBike specific demo track, the addition of the Women's Product Showcase Lounge presented by Outdoor Industry Women's Coalition (OIWC), Interbike Networking Lounge presented by Raleigh USA, the Interbike New Product Lounge and Urban Lounge presented by Globe Bicycles where the "Ready to Ride" fashion show was held.
"Interbike went really well for us," said James Caldwell, marketing manager for Lafayette, Colorado's Foxtrot Wheel & Edge. "We come here looking for new products, things that will to attract more purchases in this economic climate. People aren't buying as much as they used to, but if we bring in a 'wow!' product, we can sell more. Attending Interbike gives us the chance to meet multiple vendors and see all of the products in one place. It's more of a personal approach."
Also new was the inclusion of Interbike's sister show Health+Fitness Business (HFB), the home fitness equipment industry's leading trade show. HFB was held Sept. 22-23 adjacent to the Sands Convention Center in The Venetian Las Vegas Hotel. HFB hosted 92 companies, nearly 30 more than last year, and was attended by more than 1,300 buyers, compared 380 buyers last year. The total number of unique buying businesses was 665, compared to 200 in 2009.
Due to the impact of holding HFB in conjunction with Interbike, show organizers are determining how to further combine the two shows in 2011.
The 2011 Interbike trade-only events begin with Outdoor Demo (August 8-9, 2011 in Irvine Regional Park), followed by the Interbike Expo, August 10-12 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
