First-hand news: HARTJE hosts exclusive Press Day as an industry meet-up
The HARTJE Exclusive Brands Press Day 2026 took place at the end of January as a focused meeting point for the bicycle trade press and the partners of the brand and wholesale distributor.
On January 28, 2026, HARTJE hosted an exclusive Press Day for the trade press at its centrally located Bike Experience Center in Augsburg. Together with the exclusive and premium brands Campagnolo, Fizik, Fulcrum, Selle Royal, Silca and Stan’s, the company offered the brands the opportunity to present their innovations and product range developments for the upcoming season. The Press Day was designed as an industry meet-up and created a space for in‑depth exchange – both between the brands and the trade press, as well as among each other.
Trade press gathers for the HARTJE Exclusive Brands Press Day
Representatives from a total of 30 relevant trade media outlets accepted the invitation to the Bike Experience Center Augsburg. The strong media presence has underlined the importance of this successful format for industry communication for several years and highlights how valuable personal interaction is at the start of the season.
Added value for exclusive brands and trade media
The Press Day proved to be extremely valuable for both sides. Participating brands were able to present their innovations personally and, above all, at an early stage, deepen conversations, and receive direct feedback from the trade press on relevant trends and market requirements. At the same time, their presence at the event strengthened visibility and positioning with the most important media in the industry.
For the editorial teams, the day was equally beneficial: They received a compact overview of six strong brand worlds, solid product information, and the opportunity for interviews and background discussions. These impressions and insights formed a strong foundation for editorial planning for the upcoming season.
International brand representatives offer exclusive insights
The Press Day also provided deep insights into the world of HARTJE’s exclusive brands. Numerous international brand representatives traveled long distances to actively participate in the event. Not even the severe blizzard raging in the USA kept Silca President Josh Poertner from attending – he was available to the trade press for conversations and interviews throughout the entire day.
Steffen Fischer, Category Manager Exclusive Brands at HARTJE, guided attendees through the event and summarized: “Before the peak season begins, we create a focused forum for dialogue between industry and media. The HARTJE Exclusive Brands Press Day was a very successful day for us because this industry meet-up offers the ideal platform to engage directly with the trade press. For our brands, it is particularly valuable to present their innovations in person, while editorial teams benefit from discussing trends and developments directly with the responsible experts.”
