The organisers of leading bike trade show Interbike and major cycling festival the Sea Otter Classic have finalized the content and schedule for the third annual IBD Summit. Taking place on 8-10 April 2014, ten dynamic presenters will each cover an issue or business trend facing independent bicycle retailers, and give the audience specific action items that they can take back to their shop and implement immediately.
“The NBDA, PeopleForBikes, Sea Otter and Interbike are committed to helping retailers find ways to grow and improve their businesses,” said Pat Hus, Vice President of Interbike. “We’ve assembled an amazing group of experts that will speak to important topics such as employee retention and growth, inventory planning, strategies for selling to female consumers and much more.”
The final speaker added to the event schedule is Mike Cosentino, owner of Big Peach Running Company (BPRC) in Atlanta, Georgia. With seven stores throughout Atlanta, 100+ employees, annual revenues of US$10 million and 250 event partnerships, BPRC is ‘the largest specialty-fitness retailer in Georgia’.
Mike’s presentation, ‘Entitlement Selling is Dead; Engagement Retailing Lives On’, will cover the secrets to his success and how his brick & mortar business thrives in today’s digital age.
In addition to newly finalized conference content, a new feature was recently added to the IBD Summit website – short videos highlighting select event presenters’ sessions. Created by the presenters themselves, these custom videos provide a sneak peek into what the session will cover, and why retailers should attend.
Video links can be found at theibdsummit.com/education
Also announced today is the new venue and hotel for the 2014 IBD Summit. No longer held at the Portola Resort & Spa, the event will now take place at the Museum of Monterey, located just a few steps behind the Portola Resort & Spa.
“Several factors contributed to the decision to move,” said Justin Gottlieb, Interbike’s PR & Communications Director. “Our group will take over the entire museum, which has a spacious theatre with more than enough room for our event, and gives us more privacy and less distraction from other small events going on in neighbouring ballrooms (as was the case last year).
“Other than having to walk a few extra steps across the street to our new hotel, we feel that the upside to the move far outweighs any negative.”
With the decision to move, the IBD Summit has secured a block of hotel rooms at a discounted rate for attendees at the nearby Hotel Pacific. Located within walking distance of the Museum of Monterey, the Hotel Pacific is an all-suite property offering spacious rooms, fireplaces in every room and complimentary wireless internet access throughout the property. IBD Summit attendees can secure their hotel accommodations by calling +1 800 554 5542 and mentioning ‘IBD Summit 2014’.
All registered retailers automatically get enrolled in the 2014 Interbike VIP Retailer Program, which offers benefits at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and Hotel during Interbike. VIP Program card holders get free food & beverage during the show in Las Vegas, as well as a host of other perks currently in development.
Retailers can register at the IBD Summit website (www.theibdsummit.com), where they can also find a list of speakers and their biographies, more in-depth session descriptions, video previews, the event schedule and more.
Taking place this year on 10-12 September 2014, Interbike is the largest bicycle trade event in North America – bringing together manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of cycling. Established in 1982, the show gathers more than 1,200 cycling-related brands, over 25,000 total attendees annually and is considered one of the most important global trade events for the bicycle industry.
A four-day ‘Celebration of Cycling’, Sea Otter Classic is regarded as the world’s largest cycling festival, hosting nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 50,000 fans. The annual Sea Otter Classic takes place on 10-13 April 2014 in Monterey, California.
www.theibdsummit.com
www.interbike.com
www.seaotterclassic.com
