MIDLANDS MODEL ENGINEERING EXHIBITION

Jason ;

Moan , Me moan ? But thank you for pointing out the subliminal influence on purchasing , brought about by Arcs involvement with the forum , however , I really do think that it’s too much to claim that the forum might fold should they not continue to take advertising space , Nor do I consider it necessary for them to increase prices in order to be present at the Shows , and the suggestion that disturbance , logistics , etc , cause them , and not just them , such financial discomfort that it’s impossible to attend, seems a bit weak when you consider Tracy’s situation , or RDG , who I believe also have interests to satisfy outside of the modelling fraternity.

Rather than shrink away , this year , RDG actually increased their stand area by introducing their proxxon range . I have no connection with RDG , or any of the others , but I respect them for attending shows with goods relevant to my needs .

Circlip : sorry but I would have to pay with the old silver threepenny piece , I have already ditched my euros , by the way , What is CNC ? 🧐.

I think Arc’s reputation amongst hobbyists would not be particularly further enhanced by their attendance or not.

Even though they are only 30 miles or so from this exhibition the expenditure, of time effort and money, would likely only attract a few possible new customers, while adding pennies to all our orders - the cost has to come fom somewhere!

They retain their high regard, by customers, by other means (competitive prices, helpful and generally good to deal with).

I wonder what exactly they might gain by attending? Only Myford and Chester attended as hobby OE machine suppliers (if we can call myford ‘original&rsquo. As I see it, the most useful thing might be using the show as a collection point (of previously placed orders) by those attending the show!

Well, I attended on Sunday... and enjoyed it as usual. It would have been nice to see Arc there, Reeves, and Warco... but I do know the costs for transportation and staffing etc etc... so I get that. To be honest, I'd just order the bits that I'd like online anyway, and with good prices and free postage from some suppliers, that really isn't an issue. It's a great show anyway. I don't worry about the fact certain businesses aren't there, but yes... it would be nice.

What does annoy me is the fact that I go there with a list, see some bargain eclipse hack saw blades that were not on my list, and because I can't remember stuff, I now have 15 spare blades that will probably see me out at the rate I use them :D lol

I attended the show on Sunday, which I thought was really very good, I was as always very impressed with the exhibits, there are certainly some very talented folk about.

One reason I went (but there were many) was to look at the Myford stand, which was as usual really good, and the staff were well informed and very helpful, I compared the refurbished super 7 to a new 'made in Asia' equivalent, and the quality is no where near that of the Myford machines, so it certainly proves that you get what you pay for ! (not detracting that the 'Asia origin' machines are more than capable of producing some very accurate results !

It was also great that the sun decided to come out, the rain stopped, and the live steam Traction engines showed how good they are at managing to remain mobile in quite soggy conditions.

In particular I thought the 'Young Engineers' displays were top notch, it is so nice to see that the younger generations still enjoy Model Engineering as a pastime

Edited By Steve Neighbour on 21/10/2019 10:40:50

I was there on Thursday and would agree that it was vey busy. Long queues for food & drink at lunch time - so I ran on my over-substantial reserve until the queue shortened. I miss the large traders, Chronos, Warco etc and some of the smaller ones such as Hemmingway. Having said that, attendance for a trader is a commercial decision, no more or less, so criticism is pointless. I mainly go to see the exhibits and talk to like minded people. I was not disappointed & look forward to going next year.

Andy

I went on Saturday with my 11-year-old grandson and there were a lot more families around. Maybe if the show was at the end of the school summer holidays there might be a larger young attendance. What was pleasing were the number of people exhibiting on club and individuals displays who took the time to talk to him and explain how things were made. As for lack of traders I rarely buy anything from shows as I prefer someone else to carry the heavy weight items around and drop them at my doorstep. In fact, my only purchase was a pack of M2 screws to repair my wife’s FitBit bracelet.

Shame about the ground conditions reducing the number of traction engines hope none of the campers got bogged down but they would have plenty of pulling power if they did.

Dennis

I think it's a bit much to suggest anyone not attending the show is treating hobbyists with contempt.

Each and every business serving the hobby is, in the first place, there to make a living for the people who own and work for it.

If attending shows loses them money and interferes with their trading to an extent that exceed the benefits they get from exposure to more customers, then they are not going to attend.

The big problem is not for companies like Tracy and RDG who focus on tooling and accessories or a few smaller machines.

It's the companies like Chester, Warco, Arc, etc. who used to be able to bring along a wide selection of large, expensive machines, accompanied by various other bits. These days people don't go along to a show to buy several thousand pounds worth of machine any more. They just want to browse, then go off and search for online deals.

It may well be that hundred (or even thousands) of people like to see your stand, but if you are relying on selling several machines to cover your costs and now you are only likely to sell one or two, it becomes very hard to justify in an ever-more competitive market.

I would love to see more machine demonstrations etc. at shows, but to get there, I think we will have to see if the shows themselves start to think its in their interests to provide free or very cheap access to the shows for traders who can offer some form of 'added value' for visitors. The downside, of course, is that ticket prices would have to go up to finance this...

Neil

One quick question; could those who bemoan the lack of exhibits have brought items of their own to display if they did not already? Maybe one constructive suggestion would be to make it easier for individual models to be displayed. I appreciate that for this to happen one would need to be at the show from the start and to remain there until the end...

Jon I would like to and my fellow enthusiasts but our request for a club stand was declined, never told us why.

Jon, there is no problem displaying individual or even 2 or 3 models. You simply enter them in the competition or display class. Would need to attend twice to drop off and collect at the minimum but no need to attend all days.

JasonB, that is the problem, having to attend twice. It cost me eight gallons of diesel to get there and back on Friday, yes I know it’s my choice to drive a gas guzzling Land Rover but I have to have one because I am also a so called Shed Dragger (I tow a caravan), to have to do that journey again just isn’t worth it to exhibit a couple of models. Maybe when / if the Model Engineer magazine decide to do another Brooklands show I might consider it as it is only an hour up the road from me.

During my working life as a service engineer I worked for a machine tool supplier, a Robot maufacturer and finally a industrial washing machine manufacturer who build industrial machines that you could fit a small car in, they all attended bi annual and annual shows, never did they actually sell equipment from the stand, they were there to put themselves into the market place and show business's their wares, occasionally letters of intent were brought by the customers to the stand but the stand was to show case, it cost many thousands of pounds and us service engineers used to spend days assmbling the stands and installing the machines and we would then work late into the night taking it all apart on the last day. I would think the machine suppliers who attend MEE's think the same way and its a way of reminding the likes of us that they still exist.

Martin P

I worked for one of the big UK and European plastic pipe manufactures when I first started we did all the shows and each division had a stand but over the years they dwindled one stand for all the UK divisions. We I retired they didn't do the shows would support our distributors and the rest of the marketing was internet based.

Baz, I know the feeling having used a similar amount of Super Unleaded getting there and back.

I've done the two trip method with Sandown, Brooklands and Guildford all of which are about an hour away so not too bad particularly Guildford as you used to be able to drop off models early before the show opened to the public rather than the day before I would not have thought the logistics too hard for the organisers to accept 1 day exhibits which would encourage more people to display their models.

But if you have a mobile shed why not take that and stay up there, I know at least one exhibitor who did that, Mike Cole of the IC Engine Builders Group found a cheap place to park locally and stayed for the duration.

Yes, but it's a very different for manufacturers marketing direct to businesses compared to companies who (mostly) are selling badge-engineered (even if to their own specs) machines to a public many of whom are perfectly happy to go online and but anything that looks the same but has a smaller price tag.

Neil

In the commercial world I've been involved with customers who have gone for a cheaper inferior machine because the bean counters who run the company have restricted the budget, its not different with us.

Martin P

Neil , I quite understand you defending , what apparently is a major advertiser , and with the MMEE being organised by a competitor of the magazines , and thus the forum , to be expected , however , to claim that Arc took massive bits of kit to the shows , does not ring true with me .

At the shows where I met and talked with Ketan, I found him pleasant and knowledgeable, I have absolutely nothing against him personally, but I don’t agree with his absence at the shows ,the very place he gained such standing from, begining with just a couple of tables , and my beef is not just Arc but all others who rely on other traders to stimulate interest , from which the absentee benefits .

Your argument about cost , disturbance etc etc , holds no weight , since those who do attend have just the same , or proportional effects to contend with, yet manage to overcome these . The service levels of most of the recognised suppliers is equivalent, none significantly better or worse than the rest , and it would be misleading to suggest otherwise , and lastly, their prices are comparable.

Whats at risk here is the future of Exhibitions, and as Martin Perman says , the presence of the major players, who those attending can meet and discuss past , present and future issues with in addition to buying items .

Tracy Tools have a vast range of goods , but they don’t bring them all ! , they bring what they know their customers will want to buy at the show , who will then go home and order more at a later date . It really is about being there , keeping in touch , helping to keep our pleasure in going to a show a few times a year , alive , and that’s why I say we should make every effort to support this type of trader by making our purchases with them , and not those who can’t be bothered, whoever they are .

I certainly won't be buying items from a supplier just because they attended the show. It would be very sad if the shows did stop but every trade supplier has the commercial right to choose how they market their products. As I didn't attend the show this year maybe I should point out that I have previously bought from Chester, RDG, Tracy Tools and ARC and will continue to do so regardless of their attendance or non attendance at shows.

At the Harrogate shows the arc stand was always busy. When they initially reduced their presence it was a machine only stand so it is unlikely that the cost of transporting machines was an issue.

I am sure that any supplier that has withdrawn from the show circuit would soon be back if their business suffered because of it, I can’t think of anyone who has reversed their decision. There is much similarity between many of the suppliers equipment so a visit to your nearest showroom will familiarise you with the machine of interest, then you can decide what colour you would like or who offers the best service or deal and make your purchase accordingly. I think most people will develop a list of trusted suppliers and buy from them anyway.

Mike