Erik Buell Racing Looking to Expand Dealer Network

As you may have seen, we made the exciting announcement that Erik Buell Racing (EBR) will be joining us for the inaugural AIMExpo in October. EBR will not only be showcasing its newest models on the show floor, but also hosting its dealers in Orlando. Along with its attendance at the AIMExpo, EBR is undertaking an aggressive dealer expansion initiative in 2013 with financial-backing from GE Capital.

What started as a dream has turned to reality as EBR has seen steady growth through its racing efforts and supportive dealers since its formation in 2009. With the funds from GE Capital, EBR will be able to support its dealer’s showroom needs, like helping stock, sell and market the new line of EBR models as well as the 1190RS model, along with assisting with production capabilities.

Sameer Gaur, the commercial leader of GE Capitals Commercial Distribution Finance of the motorsports group said it like this in their initial press release, “We’re not just bankers, we’re builders. Across business and industries, it’s important for us to contribute to the growth of American manufacturers at every stage of their development.”

As an event that is also making its debut in the U.S. with the backing of a solid, innovative company like Marketplace Events, our team knows the amazing feeling when someone takes a chance on you. EBR is taking full advantage of the AIMExpo platform as a means to both showcase its growing product line as well as gather it rapidly expanding dealer network. We’re thrilled that they have decided to make AIMExpo their show of choice and we couldn’t be happier to be working alongside them.

You can also find coverage of EBR’s plans in Motorcycle and Powersports News (Pg. 10) and in PowerSports Business.

Meet Fluffy…He’s from Florida

The AIMExpo team recently hosted a number of industry companies and media in Orlando to offer a 360 degree first look at the venue and surroundings where we’ll be launching the American International Motorcycle Expo this October. We’ll have more on that visit in an upcoming blog, as it offers a great look at AIMExpo’s new home.

Meet Fluffy

Posting this picture on the social sites I wrote, ‘AIMExpo’s in Orlando. Orlando’s in Florida. Meet Fluffy the gator from Florida.’ Show manager Cinnamon Kernes believed we needed an iconic Florida moment to galvanize and geographically move the industry folk’s mindset to the idea of a show in Florida. Apparently the Space Shuttle fleet, previously at Cape Canaveral, has been retired, or I’m sure she would have arranged for rides – or at least a visit to imprint that Florida icon on their minds. Instead we got Fluffy, courtesy of Wild Florida Air Boats from down the road in Kenansville, FL. Fluffy is about five-feet long, weighs around 35 pounds, and sports a wonderful black racing stripe (electrical tape) on his snout, er, jaws.

The idea that we’ll be gathering the industry together in Florida this fall is a literal way to recognize the changing ‘landscape’ in the B2B and B2C expo end of the motorcycle and powersports industry. When AIMExpo was unveiled just over a year ago, the landscape was static, i.e. nothing had changed in years with trade-only shows in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Since our announcement in January of 2012, we’ve selected Orlando as our host city, the Orange County Convention Center as our venue, and just maybe Fluffy as our mascot!

Also since unveiling the AIMExpo last January, a competitor’s show made an announcement they would move their B2B show to virtually the same time as AIMExpo this year.  They recently announced they have cancelled it and will no longer produce a Fall 2013 show. This has caused some confusion around the marketplace, so let me clarify our message. The AIMExpo started with a clear vision to bring the entire powersports industry – industry, dealer/retailers, press and consumers– together in one place, at one time, in the right place, at the right time – starting October 2013, creating energy and excitement for everyone! And now, with the retraction of the other show, the AIMExpo is set to be the “prime buying event for powersports dealers going into the 2014 selling season,” as Colleen Brousil of Motorcycle & Powersports News put it in her latest column.

To help clear up some of the confusion, and begin to educate dealers that a better-timed show in the perfect location is launching in America, our first marketing effort to dealers is currently in the pipeline. If you’re on our mailing list or our email list, you’ve probably got the piece in your hands. (If you’re not on our email list, click here to receive important news and updates from AIMExpo).

To capture the dealers’ attention, the piece will be inserted into the February issues of both of the leading trade publications, Motorcycle and Powersports News (MPN), and Powersports Business (PSB), with combined distribution of more than 30,000 issues. If you’d like a sneak peek at ‘5 DAYS THAT WILL CHANGE THE POWERSPORTS INDUSTRY’, click HERE.

Along with the upcoming blog that will offer a deeper look into the Orlando surroundings, keep an eye out for a YouTube video that will offer a virtual tour of the OCCC, local hotels, and a great look at the hard-wall booths that will dramatically change the appearance and interaction in the show. In fact, the investment in hard-wall booths is just one of many ways that AIMExpo is changing the ‘landscape’ of the expo business to raise the perception and expectation of the motorcycle and powersports industry.

‘AIMExpo’s in Orlando.  Orlando’s in Florida.  Meet Fluffy the gator from Florida.’

Come join us in October for one incredible experience and you might have the chance to meet Fluffy!

Here’s some folks that have already met Fluffy!

Adam Redford from Twisted Throttle

Garrett Kai from Cycle World

Paul Collins from Givi USA

Pietro Ambrosioni from Givi USA

Ann Willey from National Cycle

Tim Calhoun from LeoVince USA

Colleen Brousil from Motorcycle & Powersports News

Kerry Graeber from the AIMExpo Team

Cinnamon Kernes from the AIMExpo Team

AIMExpo in the Latest Motorcycle & Powersports News Issue

With the inaugural AIMExpo just a short nine months away, we are getting more excited than ever to gather in Orlando for what is preparing to be a great collection of exhibitors, dealers, consumers, and media. And not only are we excited about what is to come, but we’re thrilled to see the trade media recognizing the power AIMExpo represents. We wanted to share a little excerpt from Colleen Brousil’s editorial from the recently released January issue. If you want to check out the entire column in the digital issue, head to Page 7 here.