Spring NVP Product Expo
Louisville, Kentucky, 16-17 February 2019
This year saw Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited set up shop at the recently and expensively refurbished downtown Kentucky International Convention Centre at Louisville, Kentucky, for the spring 2019 Dealer Expo. The excellent and spacious venue could have swallowed the event, but record numbers of vendor and brand booths, and of attending dealers, made it a well-organised and busy business weekend that rewarded and motivated in equal measure…
The Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties Spring NVP Product Expo proved to be the biggest Expo ever put on by LeMans Corporation.
"The event not only hit its highest attendee numbers of any previous Expo, but it also exceeded all other U.S. distributor shows by spanning over 8,000 sq. m with more than 240 leading exhibitors, including 25 brands, that were new to the Expo.
"The expanded show space allowed for larger displays to showcase the newest products and accommodate the record number of attendees."
Jeff Derge, Vice President of Sales, said: "Our first year in Louisville could not have gone better. Thank you to the dealers, vendors and our team for working the weekend with us. This show is such an important part of improving our industry. There are so many great new products on the market this year, and dealers were able to spend quality time talking with the vendors and reps to really get an understanding of these products. In the end, the dealers who attended will deliver a better shopping experience for every customer that enters their stores."
The weekend kicked off on the Thursday with training for the Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties Sales Reps which extended into Saturday and also included dealer training from Alpinestars, Fat Baggers, Rekluse, S&S and others. Expanded Expo floor hours both Saturday and Sunday provided dealers ample time to visit exhibitors and see the newest products.
The 2019 Spring Apparel Fashion Show was a highlight of the show floor during Saturday's Happy Hour. Gracing the catwalk were new collections from over 15 brands highlighting Thor, ICON, Moose, Arctiva, Slippery and Z1R.
Mike Collins, President of LeMans Corporation, commented: "What a way to kick off the 2019 season. I've never felt such enthusiasm and optimism from dealers, vendors and reps. We all need events like this as a reminder as to why we are in this business. It was a fantastic gathering and we've set the bar high for our next event."
The event came amid a slew of new vendor announcements for 2019 from Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited - from Eibach (UTV springs and accessories) to Galfer USA (V-twin and street bike brake pads and rotors) to Fat Baggers (motorcycle parts and trike conversions), Rekluse (clutches), Woessner (pistons) and WildASS seats.
Following the sale of CruzTOOLS by Dan Parks, the new owner, CycoActive Riding Gear (Seattle), became a first time NVP exhibitor, with Parts Unlimited renewing its long-standing relationship with the lifetime guarantee backed CruzTOOLS brand of hand tools and roadside emergency tool kits for most powersports vehicles, including street bikes, dual-sport, adventure and off-road motorcycles - "professional-grade, bike-specific tools and kits designed for reliable roadside or trailside repairs."
Owned by Race Winning Brands, the Wiseco and Pro-X parent company, Boise, Idaho, Rekluse joined the Parts Unlimited portfolio, offering its award-winning off-road and cruiser clutches, including the TorqDrive Clutch Pack and RadiusX.
In other news, Parts Unlimited has renewed its sponsorship as the Official Powersports Distributor of American Flat Track for the 2019 season.
"Parts Unlimited has proven an essential ally as we continue to grow our fanbase within the motorcycle community at large," said Michael Lock, CEO of American Flat Track. "Our fans are motorcycle enthusiasts and will undeniably recognise the value in names like Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties within our family of series partners."
