Count Northern Wholesale among the growing number of industry distributors reporting strong turnout and buyer sentiment in early-winter shows.
Despite light precipitation and freezing temperatures the day prior to the Red Wing, Minn.-based event, Northern General Manager John Perron said that the company held its largest annual show to date, in terms of both dealers and vendors, last week (Jan. 11-12).
“It was the busiest show we’ve ever had there. We did a lot of good business, and had a lot of good training seminars that were well attended. It turned out real well. It’s a good start to the year,” Perron said.
Several factors likely contribute to the turnout and overall upbeat sentiment, according to Perron. For vendors specifically, he credits positive industry trends that have drawn more suppliers into the industry.
“We’re always going after more vendors, and trying to offer more for the dealer to make it more worthwhile for them,” he said. “You know, business is up and I think you’ve got more vendors coming into the industry and offering different things.”
While numerous factors also play a role in dealer attendance, Perron said that he strives each year to host a show that provides a social opportunity that is as good as its business environment.
“We put together a good show, where it’s a good atmosphere, so there’s a lot of networking that can happen, and friendships get made between vendors and dealers and us,” Perron said.
In addition to its opening day vendor product and sales seminars, Northern hosts an annual Texas Hold’em event, which filled eight or nine tables, Perron said.
Northern also honored Lippert Components’ Jack-It with its Best New Product award. The Jack-It is a double bike carrier, which installs over the tongue jack on the trailer’s A-frame. The BikeWing carrier holds two bikes by the wheels.
See below for an image of the Jack-It and BikeWing.
As the show’s roughly 130 vendors near filling the Treasure Island Resort’s 30,000-square-foot ballroom, Perron said there is no current plan to seek out a new location.
“So far they’ve expanded when we’ve needed them to,” he said. “We’re not quite maxing it out yet. Each year, we kind of take a look at things and see where we’re at, and right now, we’re planning on going back there (for 2018).”
