At Last IFMA ZEG Says To Create New Show

COLOGNE, Germany - Yesterday the bicycle industry said goodbye to IFMA. In 2010 the bicycle show will be integrated into Intermot and the IFMA name will no longer be used. The 2009 edition has been cancelled. But the demise of IFMA will, as it seems now, not bring relief to the busy show calendar.

The ZEG will take the initiative for a new show, as chairman Georg Honkomp said: "We need to create a show as we want it and not according to the show organizations."

The chairman of the biggest dealer cooperation in Europe made his statements at the ZEG-IFMA farewell party last Friday. In his speech, the ZEG chairman stipulated the negative effect of the numerous manufacturers and wholesalers' private shows organized between mid-August and the end of October. These are very time-consuming for retailers and industry. Georg Honkomp called on retailers to abandon this inefficient 'show tourism' and all ZEG members to boycott these manufacturer and wholesaler shows.

"Our industry needs a large show in Germany to gather national and international exhibitors and visitors. Unfortunately Messe Friedrichshafen is too small for that. There is no space for all exhibitors and the fairground is over-crowded."

Afterwards Georg Honkomp was even more specific about his future show ideas: "Several German cities, like Hannover, Münich and Frankfurt have excellent show facilities with sufficient hotel rooms and a good infrastructure with highways and an international airport. Cologne as show location has got a very negative image in our industry. For us Cologne is over and out.  As representatives of the industry, we need to create a show as we want it and not according to the show organizations. Therefore we will take the initiative to get the industry together and create more cooperation for the benefit of all."