DEER VALLEY, UTAH (BRAIN)—Some 30 editors begin meeting today with more than 24 companies to get a peek at new trends and products for 2012.
PressCamp, now in its third year, offers companies an inexpensive opportunity to meet editors from major consumer magazines as well as non-endemic publications like Men’s Health, Outside, the Los Angeles Times and others. Editors from magazines and newspapers at the event represent some 40 publications.
“Overall, this gives companies an opportunity to meet new editors, renew contacts with some they already know or have never had to time to develop a relationship with,” said Lance Camisasca, who founded Lifeboat Solutions, the organizer behind PressCamp.
The event kicked off last night with a reception and dinner at the Stein Erikson Lodge in Deer Valley. At the reception, editors also scheduled meetings with companies like Cannondale, Assos, Blue, CatEye, Fox, Gore and others. In general, editors over the next three days will spend 45 minutes with each company reviewing new lines and products.
The lodge, located at about 8,100 feet, offers access to nearby mountain bike trails via ski lifts and there is ample road riding available for testers. Each editor gets a daily lift ticket to test mountain bikes.
PressCamp is a relatively inexpensive way for smaller companies to meet with editors. Companies like Trek, Specialized and Giant often hold private events for editors, flying them into sometimes-exotic locations. Smaller companies seldom have the budget or the time to meet with dozens of editors. PressCamp helps level the playing field by paying to bring in editors to one location and setting up meeting rooms for individual meetings. Vendor pricing ranges from $9,500 to $17,500.
(PHOTO: From left, Chris Zigmont and Lance Camisasca of Lifeboat Solutions, and Carlton Reid of Bike Biz UK).
—Marc Sani
msani@bicycleretailer.com
