VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN)—The Vancouver Bike Show will return for a second year in 2012 with up to double the floor space as the inaugural exhibition, according to Robin Harvey, who handles public relations for the show.
In its first year, the consumer event attracted more than 50 exhibitors including brands such as Giant, Marin, Shimano and Rocky Mountain Bicycles, set up in 80,000 square feet of the Vancouver Convention Center dedicated to the bike show. The other half of the show, held in early March, was dedicated to the Vancouver Outdoor Adventure Travel Show and Golf Show.
“It wasn’t a huge, huge show, but we’re just getting started,” Harvey said. Next year Harvey anticipates adding at least 10,000 square feet to the bike portion of the show. Cost for booth space starts at $800.
Exhibitors used the event to show current year product in advance of the start of the summer season, and were also permitted to sell product to visitors, Harvey said.
“We will continue to build the show’s reputation as the ultimate pre-season event to buy bikes, meet new suppliers and share information and enthusiasm for cycling,” added Fred Cox, Jr. president of National Event Management, organizer of the Vancouver Bike Show.
More than 17,300 consumers came to the show, and a survey showed that 63 percent of those visitors came specifically because of an interest in cycling.
The show is scheduled for March 3 and 4 of next year at the Vancouver Convention Center, a new venue built for the Olympics.
—Nicole Formosa
nformosa@bicycleretailer.com
