PHILADELPHIA (BRAIN) — As of Oct. 1, exhibitor registration for the Philly Bike Expo is up 17 percent, and the annual trade and consumer festival has sold 250 percent more tickets than at the same time last year as this year's edition approaches on Oct. 27 and 28.
Within those advance ticket sales, retailer count is up 58 percent compared with a year earlier. To date, retailers now represent 12 percent of overall registration, compared with 7.5 percent last year, Philly Bike Expo founder Steve BIlenky told BRAIN. "It shows that among dealers, the interest is there," he said.
Bilenky expects overall attendance to grow 12 to 15 percent this year, to 5,500 who will come to the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the expo and side events including demonstration rides, riding skills exhibitions, artisan demonstrations, art and culture, food trucks and group rides.
Some 141 exhibitors had registered by Oct. 1, and organizers were expecting additional signups as the event approaches. "The show has been steadily growing and registration is up. Considering that usually a lot of exhibitors wait until the final two weeks to register, I'm excited about the way it's going," show organizer Bina Bilenky said.
First-time exhibitors include SRAM, J&B Importers, Phil Wood and Altruiste Bicycle Company, the New Brunswick, Canada-based framebuilder that won the honor for best mountain bike at this year's North American Handmade Bicycle Show.
"It's interesting that we're seeing more midtier dealer brands — brands like Jamis, Masi, Cinelli, Bianchi, Breezer, Haro, Wilier — than we have in the past," Steve Bilenky said.
More information: phillybikeexpo.com.
