October 13, 2016 (Friedrichshafen, GER) – Eurobike, the world’s largest bicycle trade show, is set to move to July dates for the 2018 edition, according to Messe Friedrichshafen, the German-based exhibition company which organizes the event. The annual trade show is scheduled for Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 in 2017, with one consumer day vs two as previously announced.
But in 2018 Eurobike will switch back to an industry-only show and skip the Festival Days which traditionally take place in the latter part of the show with public access to the event.
While reactions to an earlier Eurobike are apparently favourable from industry veterans, some concerns have been voiced regarding the chronic challenges to find accommodation for the large number of visitors resulting in long commutes. The region’s popularity as vacation destination with Lake Constance nearby has raised eyebrows with mid-summer dates in 2018.
Show statistics indicated a small decline in visitors over last year – 42,720 trade visitors vs 45,870 in 2015 while consumer attendance was on the rise from 20,730 last year to 32,400 in 2016.
“By taking place earlier in the year Eurobike will be even more relevant and strengthen its position as the leading trade show for new trends and innovations. We are aware that this might prove a challenge for certain market players. However, we’re creating the conditions for the industry to present itself in a more unified fashion at the Eurobike show in the future,” said Eurobike officials. – see full press release below.
Eurobike Gears up for New Changes
As one show finishes, preparations are under way for the next. Following the 25th Eurobike, the Eurobike team has announced conceptional changes to the forthcoming editions of the leading trade show. In addition to next year’s Eurobike 2017 dates and schedule (Wednesday, August 30 to Saturday, September 2, 2017 – a concluding Festival Day), Messe Friedrichshafen announced the new dates for Eurobike 2018 – which kicks off on Sunday, July 8, 2018. Whether Eurobike 2018 runs for three or four days at Lake Constance will be decided nearer the time, together with exhibitors.
From 2018, Eurobike moves forward to take place earlier in the year and will focus exclusively on trade visitors. “The bike market is enjoying great dynamism and seeing numerous changes to the value chain. By taking place earlier in the year Eurobike will be even more relevant and strengthen its position as the leading trade show for new trends and innovations. The new dates and schedule have the backing of a large number of industry players and require sufficient advance notice to ensure secure planning for all parties,” explains Klaus Wellmann, CEO Messe Friedrichshafen.
Head of Eurobike, Stefan Reisinger adds: “Numerous conversations with manufacturers, including both exhibitors and non-exhibitors, retailers and the media have made it increasingly clear that further defragmentation of the industry into separate in-house exhibitions and order shows is neither long-term, nor sustainable. Looking down the road, we are changing the future Eurobike in two stages, adjusting the gears to strengthen its position as an innovation driver for the international bicycle industry.”
Eurobike 2017: Four days B2B & B2C
New: Eurobike Media Days at Kronplatz in South Tyrol
The four-day schedule for the 2017 show starts on Wednesday, August 30 and runs for three days focusing, as usual, on business-to-business with a subsequent Festival Day on Saturday, September 2, presenting the most popular topics from 2016 to all cycling enthusiasts. “By shortening the show, there will no longer be the choice of two booking options. In addition, Eurobike 2017 will once again benefit from a large number of test opportunities along the B wing,” says Eurobike Project Manager Dirk Heidrich.
The third Eurobike Media Days ride out from a new location. The media test event takes place at the announced dates, from June 27 – 29, 2017 at Kronplatz in the Eurobike partner region South Tyrol. It offers all sport-orientated Eurobike bicycle manufacturers an early opportunity to present innovations for 2018 to the most important international media publications and websites in the magnificent, exclusive and sunny Dolomites. The winning formula recently saw 210 selected media representatives from 20 countries meet 27 brands.
Eurobike 2018 starts out on Sunday, 8 July
The new show dates for 2018 (starting Sunday, July 8) are a further major change to the Eurobike concept. Whether the event runs for three or four days remains to be clarified nearer the time in consultation with exhibitors. In addition, it has been decided to focus the Eurobike solely on industry visitors from 2018 with the earlier dates. Susanne Puello, Managing Director of Winora Group, supports the move, “The Winora Group welcomes the decision to bring the Eurobike forward in 2018 and will be exhibiting its full brand portfolio with a major presence. Haibike, the global leader of ePerformance bikes will also be attending Eurobike 2017.”
Claudio Marra, Managing Director FSA agrees, “We strongly believe that it is necessary to bring the show forward to an earlier date. September is too late for our business timetable. New bikes and components are already available or have been covered by other events and media. As a result, we miss out on the original nature of the Eurobike, to present new product innovations. We are a big fan of the new changes and are only too happy to support them.”
“We urge others to use Lake Constance as an international platform to premiere new innovations at the leading trade show. The future earlier Eurobike dates for 2018 is a chance to again bring together more relevant market players. This has been echoed in many of the talks that we’ve conducted,” emphasizes CEO Messe Friedrichshafen Klaus Wellmann.
The situation is clear: Eurobike should be the main event where all relevant brands first present their innovations to industry, retail and media representatives.
As a result, Eurobike will have an exclusively B2B focus, so there will be no addressing end consumers from 2018. Stefan Reisinger: “By announcing the new 2018 dates now, we’re giving the bicycle industry the chance to orientate itself, providing planning security and the required advance notice to readjust and regroup for the significantly earlier future Eurobike dates. We are aware that this might prove a challenge for certain market players. However, we’re creating the conditions for the industry to present itself in a more unified fashion at the Eurobike show in future. As such, we continue to provide the right platform to encourage synergies for industry, retail and the media.
In order to overcome the present challenges, the VDZ, the German bicycle retail association (Verband des Deutschen Zweiradhandels) has called to bring together the industry’s forces at one location. Chairman of the board Dietmar Knust and member of the executive board Tobias Hempelmann explain, “There seems to be an unending flow of trade shows for retailers. From July through to September, retailers can literally spend the entire time travelling the length and breadth of Germany, visiting dozens of these in-house shows which are generally more like events. Few retailers have the time – let alone the personnel – to do this during the season. The large number of in-house shows and Eurobike absentees is damaging the industry as a whole. Other industries are only too envious of our central, major trade show. This is why the VDZ is unequivocally in favour of bringing together the industry’s forces at the Eurobike. Having one show location guarantees a full overview of the industry’s new products.”