Core Bike and The Bike Place to take place a week apart for first time

The UK bike industry’s two key January trade shows – traditionally held on the same weekend just miles apart – are now to take place on separate dates.

Core, held at Whittlebury Hall, Northampton, will take place from Sunday 22nd to Tuesday 24th of January.

The Bike Place follows at the Silverstone circuit, just 3.8 miles away from Core’s venue, taking place from Sunday 29th to Tuesday 31st of January. Organisers have expanded the 2017 exhibition into a third hanger at the iconic racing venue.

The Bike Place organiser Sean Reynolds told CyclingIndustry.News today: “The Bike Place dates were set back in February 2016 to fall between Slide & Ispo the two winter sports shows. Some of the UK buyers, retailers & brands/distributors are involved in winter sports and it was important that they could attend both winter sports and cycle shows at that time of year.

“We have expanded again into a third hall and have new exhibitors and other features to the show, details of which will be released in due course.”

Dealers have thus far reacted with dismay, one telling CyclingIndustry.News: “We won’t be going to both. More than anything, these are more of a catch up with people and a chance to grab some show offers. On that basis we can’t justify visiting both, we don’t get enough return out of it to justify the time away from the business.”

Back in February, CI.N asked bike retailers “Should the shows merge” and received a varied response. You can read the thoughts of those on the front line here.

What does this mean for your business and potential to make it out of the shop? Should the shows merge? Are they at the right time of year for your business? Let us know here.