BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Early interest in DealerCamp™ has been strong, according to the event organizer, Lifeboat Events.
The mid-summer expo and demo event, which will take place July 29-31 at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, will bring together bicycle industry suppliers and retailers for a key launch opportunity that is well-timed with today’s changing product and buying cycles.
Ibis Cycles was the first company to jump on board.
"For some time, we at Ibis have been searching for a smaller, more intimate venue as an alternative to the large trade shows for showcasing our bikes. DealerCamp fits the bill," said Scot Nicol, founder and co-owner of Ibis Cycles.
"We like the fact that we will be able to talk to our dealers in the middle of the summer, before they’ve made other buying commitments to the larger brands. The fact that it’s being held in a gorgeous spot is a huge bonus."
Already nearly a dozen companies – including Ibis, Pedro’s, Scott USA and WTB–have indicated they will attend DealerCamp, which aims to include 35 manufacturers and suppliers in all.
A key component of DealerCamp is a Retailer Subsidy Program, which will provide free lodging and a travel stipend to select retailers. Lifeboat Events will work with exhibitors to identify 100 retail businesses who will be subsidized to attend. Exhibitors who sign up by March 15 will be able to contribute to the selection process.
"The retailer Subsidy Program makes DealerCamp unique among trade events in our industry," said Lance Camisasca, president of Lifeboat Events. "We’re creating something akin to the private dealer events that the largest industry players host for their brands. With the DealerCamp model, exhibitors share in the cost of subsidized retailers and can provide lists of targeted dealers."
