A message from Greg Blackwell, VP of Sales Drag Specialties/Parts Unlimited
We would like to advise you that we have decided not to exhibit in the 2013 Indianapolis Trade Show. We have been very disappointed with the turn-out of dealers over the past several years and feel that we can no longer justify the cost to participate. We feel that our own Showcase Events produce a better return on investment for LeMans and our Vendors as we are able to meet with more Dealers on a national level.
We are excited to announce that we will produce a West Coast Regional Showcase on March 23-24, 2013 in Anaheim, CA and a Northeast Regional Showcase on April 6-7, 2013 in Valley Forge, PA. Our plan is to produce a Reno Style Showcase where we will feature over 200 vendor booths in each of these shows. We will host a Saturday afternoon Rep/Dealer preview, a Saturday evening Meet & Greet and a Sunday Showcase. We are very excited about the prospects that these shows offer given the high concentration of Dealers in both of these areas. Preparations are being finalized and invitations will be sent very soon.
As in the past, we will continue to hold our yearly NVP/Showcase in Madison, WI in August, and we are in the planning stages of our 2013 Super Showcase Series. If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact myself or Kathy Sommervold (ksommervold@parts-unltd.com) With best regards, Greg Blackwell, VP of Sales Parts Unlimited / Drag Specialties:
Just the beginning. Now with more shows entering the arena attendance per show will get even worse. People seem to forget how expensive it is to attend these shows. And who wants to go to IN or OH in the winter anyway? This is not the car industry where many of the “players” are wealthy, most in the MC biz are regular working folks. I think many distributors and vendors will follow. They need to go back to one big show for everything, there’s not enough money to support more. And make it somewhere warm and affordable!
Im assuming nothing will change pertaining to the v twin expo in Cincinnati?
Like malls, trade shows need “anchor exhibitors” like Drag Specialties for the smaller exhibitors to participate and dealers to visit. Now these large exhibitors are fleeing the Indianapolis Dealer Expo & Cincinnati V-Twin Expo. A death sentence for both shows. The best trade show for now? SEMA
Dear Drag Specialities,
There are a few of us Biker types in the Southeast. Why not a show in Atlanta somtime?
dmj
We quit showing at Cinci a few years ago. Most of the dealers showing were just “getting out of the house”. The lack of ROI is ridiculous and most of my after-show contact was plating shops trying to sell services. I applaud them for making the decision with Indy, I’m sure Cinci will be soon to follow.
I still don’t understand why Vegas Vtwin Expo did not survive. Vegas sounds like a perfect reason to enjoy a trade show…and you don’t have to walk around in snow boots.
Vegas didn’t survive because dealers came in and walked for 1 day then played the rest of the time. That show was a ghost town after the first day.
These Trade Shows cost STUPID money to attend. It cost strong money to travel as well. You can save a few Bucks by Cheaper Hotels and Food @ I hop instead of steak at Ruth Chris. When you change the benefits of Employees to leave their home and go 3rd class, then your People become UGLY. Ugly people make ugly representation. Also some of the Vendors that have Class, do a additional Dealer Discount for the Show Period or similar Spiffs for not attending……………..
Agreed to a point Mike…Dealers on Friday/Saturday, Public on Sunday, no Monday BS would have made the difference in attendence.
so DRAG, how about cincinnatti ? Also good call on indy.