In spite of trying weather all around Cincinnati, Ohio, the 8th Annual V-Twin Expo delivered an impressive dealer count to its over 500 exhibitors, show organizers say.
"Even with the weather issues and major airport delays the Expo was within 4 percent of its 2007 attendee count. Exhibitors were overwhelmingly pleased with the show, many talking specifically about how serious the attending dealers were about growing their business in 2008" said show producer Jim Betlach.
Exhibitors shared their successes at the show and their enthusiasm for 2008 in general:
"I was skeptical as to how the 08 show would be with the industry on a downswing. Well I'm here to tell you I left that show feeling fantastic- one of the best ever. The people that attended were truly interested. We made great new contacts and on the final day, we actually took on loads of great new top shelf shops. In addition I got to see some really great new stuff, not just remakes of the same old. Hey, the industry has a strong heartbeat and the future looks great" — Lee S. Wimmer, Wimmer Custom Cycle
"The 8th Annual was an experience that will keep us coming back year after year. The V-Twin Expo has become the true hub of our industry a central meeting grounds of sorts" — Bob LePera, LePera Seats
"The sheer quality of the dealers was great. Dealer attendees were serious business people, focused on growth" — Christian Clayton, SuckerPunch Sally's
"We come to build awareness for our products and to attract qualified dealers. This year was no different; in fact, I would go as far as to say it was the best year yet. There were no tire kickers last weekend at the Expo" — Kim Suter, KC Creations
Dealers, who attended the Expo from all around the country and world, were also pleased:
"This is the one show to attend if you want personal time with the companies you do business with all year long. The seminars were filled with experts answering questions my team faces every day. Time at the Expo was well spent. I will be back, but with more employees next year" — Rick Luebeck, Star West, Houston, TX
"This was my first year at the Expo and boy was I surprised. I had no idea of what I had been missing out on. I left the show armed with new product my competitors don't even know about yet, because they weren't there. I have already been showing and selling it to our customers" — Larry Scott, Parts Manager, Carolina Harley-Davidson, South Carolina
"I attend the V-Twin expo every year, it is the single most informative event there is. It gives me and my staff individual time with the people we deal with every day over the phone. It's nice to put a face with a name; also it gives my store the competitive edge it needs" — Duane Easter, Cycle City of Tennessee
Also in 2008 the Expo delivered dealer-relevant seminars. Each seminar was standing room only. Following the seminars attendees completed brief surveys letting the Expo know how else they could be served. The overwhelming response was loud and clear: longer seminars, more seminars and more time with expert panelists in 2009. The panelists represented the very best in their field and spent time after the seminars with dealers to further discuss issues important to dealers and their employees.
Seminars were moderated by Don Emde and included:
Survival of the Fittest, panelists were Randy Aron, Cycle Visions; Bert Baker, Baker Drive Train; Click Baldwin, Carolina-Harley Davidson; Fred Fox, Drag Specialties/Parts Unlimited; Rick Fairless, Strokers Dallas.
Exhaust Systems, What you need to know,, panelists were Darryl Bassani, Bassani Exhaust; Richard Farmer, BUB Enterprises; Kenny Price, Samson Exhaust; Kevin Berger, Supertrapp; Grady Pfeiffer, GH Marketing.
Motors-Motors-Motors panelists were Danny Fitzmaurice, Zippers Performance; Tim Pirone, TP Engineering; Scott Sjovall, S&S Cycle; Ron Dickey, Axtell Sales; Mike Roland, Kuryakyn; Dave Miller, Spectro Oils.
Combating Counterfeits and Knock-Offs in the Motorcycle World was presented by Earl LeVere.
The V-Twin Expo hosted over 500 exhibitors in 2008 and thousands of v-twin dealers in Cincinnati at the Duke Energy Center. The V-Twin Expo remains the one show to attend for v-twin dealers.
2009 V-Twin Expo dates are set, be sure to mark your calendars February 7-9, 2009. Registration is just one click away at: www.vtwin-expo.com.
The V-Twin Expo by Easyriders focuses exclusively on the V-twin motorcycle market, takes place in Cincinnati and is the v-twin industry's premier trade show. It has steadily grown over the past eight years in terms of exhibitors, exhibit space and V-twin dealers attending the Expo. The Expo attracts dealers from the US, Canada and world.
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