Exhibitors Round Out Another Great Show
Ohio Wesleyan University, home to the Battling Bishops and the Ghosts of Stuyvesant Hall, was also temporarily home to IPMBA. More than 300 attendees from 35 states and the District as well as three Canadian provinces converged on the City of Delaware, Ohio, for the 27th Annual Conference and Product Exhibition.
The IPMBA Conference hosts the only product exhibition designed specifically for companies interested in engaging the public safety cycling market. As such, it attracts representatives of the cycling, law enforcement, EMS, and security sectors. Public safety cycling is a niche market, and the fact that these companies include the IPMBA Conference in their travel and marketing budgets is testament to their commitment.
Every year, we welcome new exhibitors to the fold, and this year was no exception.
Our newest Corporate Member, velofix, was also one of our new exhibitors. Based in Vancouver, BC, velofix is North America’s largest fleet of mobile bike shops, providing on-site service, builds, and repairs from fully-equipped Mercedes Sprinter vans. They hope to bring on-site fleet maintenance and management to departments in their franchisees’ areas.
Also joining us from the cycling industry for the first time were Detroit-based Detroit Bikes, which debuted its USA-built, 4130 Chromoly steel-framed mountain bike; Envelo-SRSUNTOUR/NOVATEC, providing product education, demonstrations, sales support, and service for SRSUNTOUR suspension and Novatec wheels; and Magura USA, manufacturers and/or distributors of Magura brakes, rotors, seatposts, Lake cycling shoes, and Supernova lights.
Velofix and Envelo joined veteran exhibitor Volcanic for IPMBA’s first official outdoor demo, which hopefully will expand in the future.
From the EMS side of the industry came Enerspect Medical Solutions. Enerspect sells AEDs/monitors/defibrillators; training aids; airway management tools and supplies; and patient transport and handling equipment. Enerspect offers IPMBA members 35% off MSRP on all AEDs through the IPMBA Product Purchase Program. From the law enforcement side hailed TRU-SPEC, supplier of uniforms, backpacks, and duty gear for military, law enforcement, and shooting sports markets.
In the personal protective equipment/accessories category was SMITH Optics. Willy Breen was back, this time with SMITH MilSpec Protective EyePro, shields, sunglasses, goggles, and bike helmets.
As much as we enjoy welcoming new exhibitors to the IPMBA Conference, we never forget about those loyal companies who come back year after year, always innovating, seeking input, and solidifying their relationships.
IPMBA Corporate Members ISM Saddles, MOCEAN, Police Bike Store, R&B Fabrications, Safariland, and Volcanic were all in the room. MOCEAN supplied the instructors with shirts of “Saint Paul Blue”; Police Bike Store sponsored PESC and IC Night Operations with demos of the C3Sports light systems and provided both pens AND water bottles for the welcome bags.
R&B Fabrications supplied bright red, reflective striped bags to hold those pens and other “swag.” Safariland generously donated a Safariland-Kona patrol bike, a raffle prize that found a new home with Erik Green of the NYPD. Volcanic provided hours of hands-on bike maintenance, helping ensure everyone had a smooth ride. They were supported in this effort by newcomer velofix. All attendees were also given Volcanic lanyards to ensure their namebadges remained in place.
Also returning were Bellwether Technical Apparel, Kryptonite, National Association of School Resource Officers, and Patrol Bike Systems. Rounding out the hall were two unique exhibitors: IPMBA Instructor John Staskiowski with his impressive collection of bike patrol unit patches, and Carla Jennings, printing out professional-quality conference photos on demand.
Although absent due to schedule conflicts, Bratwear (part of Sound Uniform Group) made sure Barley Hopsters quenched attendees’ thirst with locally brewed beverages during the receptions, which were also sponsored by MOCEAN. They also outfitted the members of the Command Staff, bringing back the once-traditional “redshirts”.
Corporate Member Cygolite was also unable to attend; however, they continued their sponsorship of Nightlife District Operations and Tactics and sent lights to demo. And iFORCE Patrol Bikes maintained a virtual presence and contributed product for the Silent Action.
Speaking of the Silent Auction, just over $4000 was raised to help fund IPMBA’s programs, thanks to the generous donations of the following:
Bern Unlimited, Bernie Hogancamp, Borealis Fat Bike, Bratwear, CERA Products, Cycle Siren, Cygolite, DETOURS, Dual Eyewear, First Spear, Gary Strang, iFORCE Patrol Bikes, ISM Saddles, Mike Harris, Night ProVision, Olympic Uniforms, Omaha Police Department, Patrol Bike Systems, Performance Bicycles, Police Bike Store, R&B Fabrications, Rance Okada, Rock Bar Cycling, Rudy Project USA, Showers Pass, SMITH Optics, Swagman, TOGS, Volcanic Bicycles, and ZOIC.
Rounding out our list of supporters are Corporate Member Cera Products, Clif Bar, Dirt Rag Magazine, EMS World, HeroKit, Law Enforcement Technology, LEPN, Nugo Nutrition, and Police Magazine, all of whom contributed giveaway items for the welcome bags.
IPMBA thanks all those industry partners who participated in the 2017 IPMBA Conference.
Remember: sales matter. Please show your appreciation by patronizing these companies whenever you are evaluating products for personal or on-duty use.