AIMExpo Headed for Record Registrations and Sold-Out Expo Floor
In early January, MIC vice president of market expansion Cinnamon Kernes announced that they only had "five [exhibitor] spaces left," and by the time this edition of AMD went to press in mid-January, it is understood that an additional area of exhibitor space that had been allocated to the expo had also mostly sold.
Kernes and Kurt Whittington, MIC event operations manager, said that the Las Vegas, February 15-17 dealer expo would boast some 300 exhibitors - "we have had Triumph, Suzuki and SSR on board for quite some time," Kernes said, speaking about OE representation at AIMExpo. "In the last six weeks we've added several more OEMs to the line-up - Kawasaki, KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas and the Piaggio Group, which includes Aprilia, Vespa and Moto Guzzi, and we can confirm Yamaha and Moto Morini."
AIMExpo's three days of education are also described as packed, "from the 'Disruptive Thinking' talks to the MIC Symposium presentations and a variety of dealership management sessions.
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| McAllister of Tucker Powersports, again co-locating its own annual dealer event with AIMExpo. |
"I was talking to one of our partners that will be helping us with education, and he made the statement that when the going gets tough, the smart get going with knowledge," Kernes said. "We want this show to be time really well spent, and you're now armed with knowledge for future business success."
"Registration is trending at an all-time high, so it means hotels are filling up," Whittington said, adding that attendees can still take advantage of room discounts by booking through the AIMExpo website - but the deadline is January 30."
The Motorcycle Industry Council's MIC Aftermarket Member Summit is slated to be held at AIMExpo for the first time, on February 14 from 11:30 to 18:30.
Topics will include: Market Expansion - What role does the aftermarket play?; Innovation and Start-ups; Talent - What can we do to bring in new talent, develop their skills and retain them?; and EV- What resources and information must we develop to better inform and educate the aftermarket about EVs and the opportunity for continued expansion in powersports?
Additional features at AIMExpo will include The Motorcycle Industry Council's Communication Symposium. The symposium sessions will take place throughout the show on the AIMExpo Disruptive Thinking stage and include an always valuable and 'On-Point' Keynote Presentation.
Thursday 16 will see what the future of powersports holds from the distributors' perspective, with Marc McAllister of Tucker Powersports, Paul Langley of Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties, and Chera Gibb of Arrowhead Engineered Products (WPS/HardDrive, Bihr, All Balls etc.) in AIMExpo's first-ever Distributor Panel.
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| Paul Langley of Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties is part of AIMExpo's first Distributor Panel. |
The e-bike market is set to grow from $49.7bn in 2022 to $80.6bn by 2027. To help support this growth and integration into the powersports industry, AIMExpo will have an e-bike pavilion with an indoor demo course where attendees can try the latest e-bike products from some of the biggest brands in the segment.
To help highlight the latest products, AIMExpo will host a centralized place on the floor for new products - New Product Central. NPC will have some of the latest products on display as well as a new product presentation stage where participating brands can show and talk about their latest products with our New Product host.
All MIC members have complimentary access to the MIC Business Center, featuring workstations with charging capabilities, lounge area, access to laptops and printers, use of private meeting rooms on the show floor for up to eight people and a range of complimentary benefits such as beverage service, lunch, Thursday morning MIC Welcome Breakfast and secure luggage storage.
Powered by SP Connect, there will be a centrally located Dealer Recharge Zone on the show floor, where attendees can take a comfortable time out, charge devices and network at the show.
There will be a four-wheel feature on the AIMExpo show floor that will showcase some of the latest products and vehicles in the category and, of course, an AIMExpo Industry Party powered by Tucker Powersports - which is again co-locating its own annual dealer event with AIMExpo.
"Powersports generates over $40bn US dollars in consumer spending each year. An industry of this size needs an annual place to learn, network and keep up to speed on current consumer trends. AIMExpo is that place."