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We need another show to Happen in Massachusetts suggestions please.

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I always thought about having a swap in Lowell but to find a venue for it might be pricey and a hassle. Losing Monson, Larz Anderson and now Dudley really just leaves us with Fitchburg and then the Seabrook swaps. The best show for me I can remember was the 1 and only swap at Nick Bennetts shop in Arlington MA right off the Minuteman bike path which gave the swap a ton of public foot traffic which isn't common at most bike shows. Over the past 9 years out of all the swaps I been to I've notice 1 major flaw at every bike swap its dealer on dealer action. How come people outside of bike collectors don't go to bike shows? Is it the early morning hours or say location? I believe bike swaps could thrive in New England if more were done to reach out to the public . Any where near Boston would be ideal because of the colleges, Worcester would be good also and any other college based town. I am no organizer but I am sure in any major city a permit is required I could be wrong but I would like to assume so. I always thought Lowell would be good for a bike swap like somewhere off the Lowell Connector Lowell being 40 minutes north of Boston 45 minutes from Worcester short drive from NH.


We also had the Charlestown show. It use to be under the highway overpass by the Neco Factory. That was always a good show.
 
MIT had some bike shows a few years back it was ran by a grad student but they didnt last long since they were down the street from the Cannondale store.
 
In the works now is a Swap in Westfield MA (the home of Pope Manufacturing -Columbia Bicycles) the 350th anniversary of the city.. The date available to us is May 12th and this year that day is Mother's day. I suspect we would loose 1/2 the vendors to Family responsibilities. We have NOT pulled the trigger yet because to make a misstep on the first date of a yearly event presents an uphill battle in the coming years.

I think one day swaps need to be on a Sunday to accommodate the high percentage of shop owners needing to work Saturday. This will be tied into a city wide celebration, but that will not help if the swap starts at dawn and is dead at 11am... when the public is getting out if church.

HELP
Suggestions??

Jim 860 670 4501

Planning NEW LONDON CT (JCT of I-95 and I-395) swap for September 1 or 8th or 15th. Comments???
 
I think one day swaps need to be on a Sunday to accommodate the high percentage of shop owners needing to work Saturday. This will be tied into a city wide celebration, but that will not help if the swap starts at dawn and is dead at 11am... when the public is getting out if church.


One day only. Sunday is the best. Book the date as soon as you can and start promoting the meet !!!!

Make sure the place has a big parking lot, and that the vendors can park on their spots.
 
In the works now is a Swap in Westfield MA (the home of Pope Manufacturing -Columbia Bicycles) the 350th anniversary of the city.. The date available to us is May 12th and this year that day is Mother's day. I suspect we would loose 1/2 the vendors to Family responsibilities. We have NOT pulled the trigger yet because to make a misstep on the first date of a yearly event presents an uphill battle in the coming years.

I think one day swaps need to be on a Sunday to accommodate the high percentage of shop owners needing to work Saturday. This will be tied into a city wide celebration, but that will not help if the swap starts at dawn and is dead at 11am... when the public is getting out if church.

HELP
Suggestions??

Jim 860 670 4501

Planning NEW LONDON CT (JCT of I-95 and I-395) swap for September 1 or 8th or 15th. Comments???

Jim - I would definitely be interested in the Westfield and New London swaps. Keep me posted.

Re: the Westfield swap - It would be cool to have a display area for Westfield built bikes similar to how the Fitchburg Rides event had for Iver Johnson's.
 
I think a late morning bike show would work best something like 8am to 1pm or 9am to 2pm . The excuse of the early bird getting the worm is old since if you stick around longer enough at a bike show you can clean up when dealers are getting ready to leave.
 
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