TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—Two key Taiwan manufacturers have given their support to the snowballing number of mini-trade shows and product introductions that are taking place in early December.
Through their high-end aftermarket brands, Velo and Wellgo are supporting “Taichung Bike Week” from Dec. 2-8. One of the event coordinators said he hopes Bike Week, along with the other mini-show events in Taichung, will persuade the organizers of the Taipei Show to change the show’s dates and possibly its location.
“We don’t want to create an event,” said Piet van der Valde, director of OE sales and product development for the Velo group. “We do want to signal a serious message that we’re looking for another date [for the Taipei show].”
Van der Valde and Katerina Rejchrtova, president of WTB Europe, are the organizers of Taichung Bike Week.
This year, Taichung Bike Week is mostly a marketing vehicle for suppliers that are unaffiliated with the other mini-shows that are taking place in Taichung at the same time, including Ride On Taiwan, Surf-On, Taiwanathon and FirstInPerformance.
Van der Valde said Taichung Bike Week is open to all suppliers, including competitors. Participating companies are setting up showrooms at the Landis Hotel in Taichung.
Brands participating in Taichung Bike Week include Prologo, the aftermarket saddle brand for Velo; Xpedo, Wellgo’s aftermarket pedal brand; WTB and its brands Alienation and Freedom; Cinelli and Pro-Lite.
“I hope for Taipei [Show] to realize they’re too late and they’re in the wrong location,” van der Valde said. The show, he said, “has got to be in January or December, when people are looking for new products.”
The Taipei show is scheduled for March 13-16, 2008.
—Doug McClellan
