LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA (BRAIN)—Lifeboat Events' PressCamp will return June 22–25, 2010, in Deer Valley, Utah, following a successful inaugural effort this year. The event brings together top journalists and a select group of cutting-edge bike industry companies in an intimate setting to talk about and test new products.
As travel and marketing budgets continue to tighten, journalists and manufacturers are planning to capitalize on the 2010 event’s focused schedule and audience.
Lance Camisasca, founder of PressCamp, said Lifeboat Events is making some key adjustments to the agenda based on feedback from attendees.
“The face-to-face segments were a little tight this year, so we’re extending the schedule a bit in 2010 to allow for more productive meetings between manufacturers and editors,” Camisasca said. “Also, we're moving to Deer Valley, which is in Park City, Utah. This will make travel easier and will provide more well-rounded test-riding conditions.”
In 2009, 20 editors representing 28 publications and Web sites joined representatives from 20 industry brands at PressCamp—the first event of its kind in the industry. Journalists from mainstream publications such as Men’s Journal, Los Angeles Times, Wired, Outside, and Mountain Sports + Living attended, along with representatives from nearly every bike industry publication and Web site—including five European titles. All of them praised the event’s format.
Roy Wallack of the Los Angeles Times said, “PressCamp was a great opportunity to get info about a lot of companies and new products quickly and efficiently. I ended up reviewing at least a half-dozen of them in my L.A. Times column within a couple months, and I’m not done yet.”
John Bradley of Outside agreed, saying the event is providing excellent material for both print and web. “I thought PressCamp was great. I never get to spend that kind of time with reps from the smaller and mid-size companies,” Bradley said. “The experience has already led to stories in our magazine [November issue] and online and will help shape coverage in our spring 2010 cycling special.”
Chance Regina of Blue Competition Cycles said his PressCamp attendance is paying off. “After attending PressCamp 2009, Blue has seen more media exposure on our 2010 product line going into the tradeshow season than our 2009 line received all of last year,” Regina said. “This has translated directly to consumer and dealer interest—our phones have been ringing off the hooks and our email boxes are overflowing.”
Exhibitors at PressCamp 2009 included Alpine Bike Parks, Blue Competition Cycles, BMC Racing, Cannondale, Clif Quench, DT Swiss, GT Bicycles, Hutchinson Tire, Lazer Helmets, Pedro’s, Saris Bike Racks, Scott USA, and several other key brands.
“Our goal is to give companies a strategic product launch boost well in advance of fall trade shows without having to spend an arm and a leg,” Camisasca said. “We look forward to offering PressCamp again next year.”
Space is limited for PressCamp 2010 and is available on a first-come first-served basis. Learn more at lifeboatsolutions.com or contact Camisasca at 949-444-8805 or lance@lifeboatsolutions.com.
