BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Following its debut showing this year, Press Camp will return for 2010 from June 22nd to 25th.
The event, which gives top industry journalists the chance to meet with some of the foremost brands in the trade in intimate surroundings, will move to Deer Valley, Park City, Utah in 2010.
BikeBiz executive editor Carlton Reid attended this year’s Press Camp, which saw 20 editors join 20 brands. You can read his reports here , here and here.
Press Camp founder Lance Camisasca said: “The face-to-face segments were a little tight this year, so we’re extending the schedule a bit in 2010 to allow for more productive meetings between manufacturers and editors. Also, we’re moving to Deer Valley, which is in Park City, Utah. This will make travel easier and will provide more well-rounded test-riding conditions.”
In 2009, 20 editors representing 28 publications and websites joined representatives from 20 industry brands at PressCamp—the first event of its kind in the industry. Journalists from mainstream publications such as Men’s Journal, Los Angeles Times, Wired, Outside, and Mountain Sports + Living attended, along with representatives from nearly every bike industry publication and website—including five European titles. All of them praised the event’s format.
Roy Wallack of the Los Angeles Times said, “PressCamp was a great opportunity to get info about a lot of companies and new products quickly and efficiently. I ended up reviewing at least a half-dozen of them in my L.A. Times column within a couple months, and I’m not done yet.”
John Bradley of Outside agreed, saying the event is providing excellent material for both print and web. “I thought PressCamp was great. I never get to spend that kind of time with reps from the smaller and mid-size companies,” said Bradley. “The experience has already led to stories in our magazine [November issue] and online and will help shape coverage in our spring 2010 cycling special.”
Chance Regina of Blue Competition Cycles said his PressCamp attendance is paying off. “After attending PressCamp 2009, Blue has seen more media exposure on our 2010 product line going into the tradeshow season then our 2009 line received all of last year,” said Regina. “This has translated directly to consumer and dealer interest—our phones have been ringing off the hooks and our email boxes are overflowing.”
Exhibitors at PressCamp 2009 included Alpine Bike Parks, Blue Competition Cycles, BMC Racing, Cannondale, CLIF Quench, DT Swiss, GT Bicycles, Hutchinson Tire, Lazer Helmets, Pedro’s, Saris Bike Racks, Scott USA, and several other key brands.
“Our goal is to give companies a strategic product launch boost well in advance of fall trade shows without having to spend an arm and a leg,” said Camisasca. “We look forward to offering PressCamp again next year.”
Space is limited for PressCamp 2010 and is available on a first-come first-served basis.
Contact Lance Camisasca at lance@lifeboatsolutions.com
