Argus Expo

[Baldrick]

I'm considering buying a new bike in a few weeks. I was hoping to looks at the bikes on my shortlist at the expo. Not one of them to be seen.

 

Why don't the manufacturers use the expo to show off their products?

 

No Scott, Trek, Raleigh, Giant, Specialiized etc

[banna]

i was surprised the upper level wasnt turned into a little test track, so all that shiny bling on the show floor could be put to some quasi real-world testing..

 

Cap, you doing the Argus on the M9 this year? I mean how much harder could it be.

[Pronutro]

I got my number, then headed straight for the exit. Didn't see much.

[GLuvsMtb]

I'm considering buying a new bike in a few weeks. I was hoping to looks at the bikes on my shortlist at the expo. Not one of them to be seen.

 

Why don't the manufacturers use the expo to show off their products?

 

No Scott, Trek, Raleigh, Giant, Specialiized etc

My view is that the Expo is not being marketed properly. Someone needs to go to the States and Europe and "sell" the Expo to the big cycling brands. To sell the Expo, you need to get people to the Expo and keep them there for longer. 2 Venues come to mind, namely the CTICC and the V&A. You are more likely to get exposure to a product if you actually hang around to look at, touch or even ride a bike you are interested in. How many of us spent an hour or less at the Expo yesterday?

[D-Mike]

I can imagine if you have been going to the expos for years that you will be bored by it. there is really only so much that can be done. This is my 4th expo and I enjoyed it. Even just for the browsing between the stalls and people being excited about the Argus I think it is great.

 

I have relatively little gear and kit, most of the stuff the entry level items I bought when I started cycling, so slowly (as the budget allows) I am replacing those with better quality items and dreaming and drooling about the items I still want to replace. If you are at a place where you are fairly happy about your setup and kit, then the expo probably does not offer much.

[Lucky Luke.]

I agree a better venue and better promotion would go a long way. We could make an SA bike show out of it. Right now it does look like a boot sale, and not one that I want to attend either. Rather post me my number or let me fetch it outside.

 

Make a bike show out of it - something like interbike but obviously to the appropriate scale - and SA cycling - the industry and the sport itself - will get a lot more out of the opportunity that 40, 000 cyclists in one place presents.

['Dale]

Solomons had this small lil corner.

Polar had a looooong queue.

CWC was rocking and well-staffed.

Omnico was showing off its Cannondales.

Focus had a dedicated showcase of their machines - looked impressive.

 

On the whole, reasonable expo, not mind-blowing.

['Dale]

I agree a better venue and better promotion would go a long way. We could make an SA bike show out of it. Right now it does look like a boot sale, and not one that I want to attend either. Rather post me my number or let me fetch it outside.

 

Make a bike show out of it - something like interbike but obviously to the appropriate scale - and SA cycling - the industry and the sport itself - will get a lot more out of the opportunity that 40, 000 cyclists in one place presents.

 

Agree!

[Jaco-fiets]

Im leaving for the expo in couple of minutes. Im at least hoping to get one of those ASSOS glasses at a bargain

['Dale]

Im leaving for the expo in couple of minutes. Im at least hoping to get one of those ASSOS glasses at a bargain

 

Going at 3200...

Newly released.

Saw no special deal.

 

They're amazing for racing.

[awesme]

One thing that i think is missing, a prober bike show, something at say the Dome.

get all the makes vendors accessories, everyone together for a wknd, biking is bike in SA, the numbers will be there.

G

 

I agree a better venue and better promotion would go a long way. We could make an SA bike show out of it. Right now it does look like a boot sale, and not one that I want to attend either. Rather post me my number or let me fetch it outside.

 

Make a bike show out of it - something like interbike but obviously to the appropriate scale - and SA cycling - the industry and the sport itself - will get a lot more out of the opportunity that 40, 000 cyclists in one place presents.

[eddy]

I need a new helmet, and was thinking of getting one at the Expo.

 

Can anyone confirm that I would find a S-works one at any of the stalls ?

 

 

Thx

[GrumpyOldGuy]

My view is that the Expo is not being marketed properly. Someone needs to go to the States and Europe and "sell" the Expo to the big cycling brands. To sell the Expo, you need to get people to the Expo and keep them there for longer. 2 Venues come to mind, namely the CTICC and the V&A. You are more likely to get exposure to a product if you actually hang around to look at, touch or even ride a bike you are interested in. How many of us spent an hour or less at the Expo yesterday?

 

Could be, but the issue in SA is the market is just not big enough or has enough spend to have an EXPO only event, in other words the big brands exhibiting only, no sales on the show, as they do internationally.

 

Its actually similar in many sports in SA. Big brands exhibit, they dont sell but shows here try to be a place where there is exhibiting and retailing, personally I think its difficult to do both, one usually ends up been dominant, and obviously we have gone the retailing route.

 

Distributors here mostly (rightly or wrongly) rely on their retailers to showcase the product, however the retailers cant afford to be there in a purely "show only state" they need to sell to recover their costs and that's just a factor of the small industry.

 

I think you are right in that moving it to a better upgraded venue will be good, visually the venue will improve, logistically it will improve and it will add a touch of class sadly lacking now, but then the entire Expo needs to be upgraded, stands need to be improved, new exhibitors need to be incorporated, the show needs to stop retailing or have a separate section where people can go and buy the basics away from the main hall. Big ticket items can be viewed at the show but then you need to go to your local retailer to buy it.

 

I dont say its the right way, but that's the way big shows operate internationally.

 

One way to possibly improve the show and pay for a better venue is to incorporate the Expo with other outdoor activities, maybe rock climbing, hiking, Kayaking, paragliding, and so on, spread the cost a bit more, but as a stand alone cycle show I dont see a way out, I just dont think the industry can afford the better venue.

Edited March 9, 2012 by GrumpyOldGuy

[Tubehunter]

The problem is that there is absolutely no vibe. Everyone wanders around with no real sense of anything other than non cyclists trying to pretend they know what you need in the goods they are pushing. Years ago they had some of the radio stations broadcast from there so that by itself got some buzz going. They could have demos going. How many associated products showcased there sponsor trials riders? this would draw AND HOLD crowds.

 

The reason to consider the CTICC is that the layout at Good Hope is shocking. You spend more time walking around trying to find what you're looking for than you actually care to and by the time you are about to stumble into it, you've resigned yourself to rather go and see it at a bike shop or research it more on the internet from the office.

 

The expo is losing its flavour and it used to be such a wind up to the event itself! Surprised that those involved don't see the extra value they could achieve to the vibe of the event by staging a more engaging expo!

[LOOK695]

Surely they could have something similar to JIMS where they get all the importers involved to showcase their brands? And yes a better venue please.I remember my first expo where I had to park on a nasty piece of open ground with lots of glass end debri lying around. Luckily I was driving a Fortuner. I was expecting better than that

['Dale]

I need a new helmet, and was thinking of getting one at the Expo.

 

Can anyone confirm that I would find a S-works one at any of the stalls ?

 

 

Thx

 

Didn't notice any Spez stuff...