NAHBS Exhibitor Numbers Strong In a Down Economy

March 12th, 2012 4:07pm

Midwest Warms Up to Make it a Memorable Show Speedway, Indiana - With the economy not looking any better and trade shows across the country canceling, the North American Handmade Bicycle Show is holding firm, and aims to delight and inspire both industry veterans and newcomers at the world's leading handmade bicycle show.

With the show now going into its fifth year, exhibitor numbers are showing a gradual upwards trend, with the 2009 figure presently at 115. While this is not the record 150 set in Portland in 2008, it is up from to the 2007 figure of 105 at San Jose, in a good economy. "It could be that the Portland number was a spike," said industry expert Elliot Gluskin, of Gluskin Townley Associates. If so, exhibitor growth at NAHBS in 2009 would be considered healthy.

Given the concentration of builders in California (in 2008 42 exhibitors came from California), show exhibitor attendance is very strong in light of the fact that a significant number of California builders have decided to skip the Indianapolis show, and many of the Portland builders are too small to travel this far. "Some of the builders couldn't see a market in the Midwest, others said they are ready to skip a year. I respect everybody's reasons, but I still say all those that aren't at the Indy show will miss out, I think a lot of people at the coastal fringes underestimate the economic power of the Midwest," said show founder and director, Don Walker.

With the assistance of retailer Bicycle Garage Indy, news of the show has spread far and wide in the Midwest, and word on the street is that some small towns will not have any bike shops open on at least one of the show days, because all staff will be at the NAHBS. "That's what I've been told," said Tim O'Donnell of Shamrock Cycles, who has been helping distribute NAHBS postcards. "Folks from all of the neighboring cities will be there," he added. Industry rep. Pat Mahoney, who works in the Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana markets, has also been distributing NAHBS postcards to bike shops around his region and says "I've been getting a lot of positive feedback. Everybody I've dropped off cards with says they'll be at the show. I could see that some of the smaller shops would have to close if they're all going to the show." This year several side events are taking place along with the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. One is the Winning Campaigns training for bicycle advocates run by the Thunderhead Alliance, another is the annual meeting of the Hoosiers Mountain Bike Association, and a third is ArtBike! a new community arts initiative that seeks to spread the word about cycling through arts projects. About NAHBS The North American Handmade Bicycle Show moves from city to city each year. It is scheduled for February 27 - March 1, 2009, at the Indanapolis Convention Center. The show is dedicated to showcasing the talents of individuals around the world whose art form is the bicycle. It aims to be a meeting point - online and in person - for frame builders and consumers looking for custom-made bikes, for the sharing of ideas, and promotion of a special industry with a rich history. NAHBS has grown from a show with 23 exhibitors and 200 attendees. For more information, see http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com.