Andy Tompkins talks Interbike
It is now confirmed that Interbike will stay in Las Vegas and keep that familiar time slot. Previously it was announced that the show would move to early August and Anaheim, CA and we had a few words with show director Andy Tompkins to learn more about this decision.
Slowtwitch: So that recent announcement of Interbike to stay in Las Vegas is a fact now?
Andy: Yes. Our recent announcement that we are remaining in September in Las Vegas is accurate and final. We plan to stay in Las Vegas for at least 2011 (September 14-16) and 2012 (September 19-21).
ST: When it was announced a few months back that the show would move to Anaheim and to early August, did the exhibitors or the dealers voice more concerns?
Andy: We actually officially announced the move to August in Anaheim a few days before Interbike 2010 opened (about one month ago), which was intentional as show time is our best opportunity to hear a wide range of industry feedback first hand. Retailers were the most vocal against the August dates, at a level much stronger than our previous research had indicated. And when many exhibitors heard that their retail customers were not in favor of August, it swayed exhibitor support as well.
ST: There were clearly a few serious reasons behind the original decision to move the show in time and space, but how are those concerns addressed now?
Andy: While there is still debate regarding the time and location of Interbike, as show producers we have decided to hold timing and location stable for the next two years so we can do more to solicit a wider range of industry feedback. We plan to conduct more detailed research on the subject of dates and location and look at a longer horizon period (2013 and beyond) to make potential changes. By doing so I feel we can arrive at a more industry inclusive conclusion, and by allowing more time we also can explore more potential options such as different host cities.
ST: During my tenure as director of marketing for several bike brands I spent more money drayaging my goods 200 feet to my booth than I spent hauling my goods 3000 miles to the show. The hope was that maybe in a new location this situation would be addressed. Was that topic even part of the discussion?
Andy: We are very sensitive to exhibitor and retail costs to participate at Interbike. From travel costs to those directly associated with exhibiting, this is a primary concern to us and we are constantly investigating ways to keep costs to a minimum.
The appeal of Anaheim was (and still is) a city with access to a large base of retailers and cycling enthusiasts, but in reality Anaheim would more than likely be more expensive than Las Vegas for both exhibitors and attendees and that was ultimately a large part of our decision to stay in Vegas.
Las Vegas has an airport that can be accessed from nearly anywhere in the world, with a short cab trip to a large quantity of hotels. Food and entertainment options are plentiful and there is a wide range of price options and variety. The Sands Expo Center also has a high quality labor force and favorable union laws (for instance Nevada is a right to work state, California is not) compared to most other cities in the United States, including Anaheim. So ultimately costs were the primary factor in our reversal of decision.
ST: In that same spirit, Las Vegas’ charges once in the hall (hanging lights and banners, and so forth) seemed to be about quadruple Eurobike’s charges. Even some retailers are saying it’s cheaper to take their crews to Eurobike than to Interbike. But how much of that can you actually control?
Andy: Well, I'd like to begin by saying that having been to Eurobike, I have nothing but respect for the wonderful event they stage for the European marketplace. But there are fundamental differences between the American and European trade show systems including government involvement that affect the cost of participating.
However, we believe that Interbike in Las Vegas offers many advantages in time and convenience that Eurobike cannot match for instance proximity to the airport, the vast number and price points of hotel rooms within walking distance to the convention center and the many food and entertainment options Las Vegas offers. All of these advantages make after show business meetings, dinners, networking, parties and entertainment easy and affordable. And I would seriously doubt that a US retailer could make the trip to Eurobike for less than the cost of traveling to Interbike – no matter where it is hosted. It would certainly be a fun trip traveling to a continent so passionate about cycling, but a far more significant investment.
ST: Are there conversations to get brands like Trek, Giant, Cannondale, Cervelo back to the showroom floor?
Andy: We are constantly in conversation with all brands in the industry, including companies such as Trek, Giant and Cervelo that have chosen to focus their Interbike presence at the OutDoor Demo. We can’t speak to all of the reasons that may influence a company's plans related to Interbike, but we work hard to provide a valuable platform to connect with thousands of retailers and reach business goals. In fact, this year notable brands did return to the show floor including Santa Cruz, and Castelli. And, obviously, we notice the importance of Interbike to many such "non-exhibitors" as we can see their staff walking the floor of the show.
ST: Where is Interbike now in terms of incorporating a consumer day, be it indoors or outdoors?
Andy: There is no better presentation of the US cycling community than the display at Interbike, and in many ways it's a shame that the passionate cyclist general public is not allowed to enjoy it. This is a topic of continued discussion with the industry, and I think that we have more industry support for a consumer day at Interbike now more than ever before. While there are still some conversations that need to take place with the industry on the subject and how to best implement it, we are open to the idea of incorporating a consumer day at Interbike.
ST: Does the recent announcement of the move of 70.3 World Championships to Las Vegas the weekend prior change anything?
Andy: We were very excited to hear that the 70.3 World championships have decided to stage in Las Vegas, and coincidentally so close to Interbike’s 2011 dates. It's still a bit early for specifics, but we hope we can develop some synergy with management of the 70.3 and Interbike.
ST: At Interbike an unofficial triathlon pavilion has developed over the years in the left rear corner of the hall, can we expect an official one moving forward?
Andy: We are always interested in helping our exhibitor partners better promote themselves and have worked with various groups over the years to highlight special categories like tri on the show floor. It's sometimes challenging to make changes to the floor plan, but going forward we hope to work with the triathlon community to better recognize, promote and celebrate this important category on the Interbike show floor. We also are excited to hear about the formation of Triathlon America and look forward to dialogue with this new association as well.
ST: Where do you see Interbike in 5 years?
Andy: I think the US cycling marketplace will grow over the next five years, specifically in the urban, commuting and electric bike categories. As a reflection of the marketplace, Interbike will mirror this growth. We also envision the addition of a consumer day in the future, and as previously mentioned we will continue to examine show dates and host cities.
