The Carole Nash NEC Bike Show Reports High Level of Public Interest From Both Manufacturers and Retailers

4th December 2009

Since the doors opened at The Carole Nash International Motorcycle & Scooter Show eight days ago, Show exhibitors have been reporting a high level of interest in new bike models and impressive levels of retail activity in spite of a challenging economic climate. The forecast for the closing weekend of the Show, which runs until Sunday 6th December, is encouraging with a further surge in visitor footfall expected.

Manufacturers such as BMW, KTM, Triumph and Norton have been delighted with the interest and propensity to purchase with visitors this year. Whilst no direct bike sales can be made at the Show, enquiries have been flooding in across the board, eliciting a sense of positivity across the shop floor.

The show-stopping appearance of the BMW Motorrad S1000 RR has created arguably one of the biggest splashes at the Show. With the brand continually evolving every year, the Show provides the German based manufacturer with the perfect platform to showcase its first foray into modern superbikes.

The motorcycle industry’s new Get On! campaign also has a presence at the Show where its much anticipated mobile unit was unveiled last week. The unit, which allows members of the public to enjoy a FREE taster session on a 125cc motorbike has been fully booked within an hour of the Show doors opening each day. Justification for including the Get On! unit at the Show is clear and supports the industry’s belief that there is a new audience to introduce to motorcycling.

Iconic British manufacturers Triumph and Norton are equally encouraged by their return at the Show through both clothing sales and sales leads. Norton has been a veritable hotspot for celebrities including chef Gordon Ramsay, Top Gear’s Richard Hammond and former Busted singer Matt Willis, whilst Triumph won Manufacturer of the Year as voted by MCN this week.

Ross Walker, Marketing Co-ordinator at KTM-Sportmotorcycle UK, commented: “We have found that the visitors to our stand are not only discerning but are presenting us with genuine purchase enquiries and feel that whilst the Show’s footfall figures reflect the national trend in this credit-crunch time, the Show is retaining a rare feeling of encouragement amongst manufacturers and retailers alike.”

Finlay McAllan, Managing Director MCI Exhibitions, added: “Providing a positive platform to reach what is now looking like an audience in excess of 100,000 underlines the Show’s position as the UK’s premier motorcycle Show in spite of what is quite clearly a stifling economic climate.”