Wednesday, 4 December 2024
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Registration opens for upscaled Chicago CABDA Expo, PBMA take over workshops

Organizers of the 2018 CABDA Expo announced on Monday that they have opened registration for their February trade show in Chicago.

The trade-only event has seen tremendous growth over the past three years, forcing organizers to move the Expo to the 100,000 square foot Schaumburg Convention Center.

Show Director and CABDA President Jim Kersten said that the new venue allows for a larger floorplan that can accommodate the increased demand for booths and demo space.

“Last year we crammed as many booths into the halls as we could, it was really packed. But we still had to turn away companies that wanted to exhibit. We just didn’t have the space,” Kersten said.

The new venue also allows for larger seminar and breakout room capacity. Clinics and workshops at the CABDA Expo are being organized by the Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association (PBMA).

“Demand for our clinics last year caught us off guard. The rooms were overflowing. Most were standing room only, and we had folks crowding in doorways,” Kersten said. “With the PBMA running the seminars we anticipate even more interest, and this time we’ll have the capacity.”

The CABDA Expo has grown from a small, local show into a mainstay event for shops across the Midwest. The 2017 event drew nearly 2,000 attendees from 485 shops across 22 states.

“In the beginning, I took out a map and drew a 200-mile circle around Chicago, and then I called every shop in the circle. Things have certainly changed.” Kersten said. “We’re continuing to grow our base in the Midwest, but we’re also getting interest from dealers from the East Coast, the Rust Belt, and the South. We’ll be doing direct mail to 38 states.”

The CABDA Expo takes place February 14-15 at the Schaumburg Convention Center. Registration is free to bike dealers and their staffs until January 31st. The event also features a free Industry Party and a free Keynote Breakfast.

Exhibitor information and dealer registration can be found at www.cabda.com.