Hemingway Discounts

Hemingway are not attending the Midlands show so are offering discounts of 10 and 15% until next Friday October 25th Hemingway

That's a sign of the times.

It's the Hemingway ahead...

(Sorry)

More seriously, I know Ketan and others will disagree with me, but shows are part of what keeps the hobby alive and kicking. We need to find ways to make sure traders can attend affordably and easily enough to be worth it for them, whilst still ensuring the organisers can turn a profit.

I don't know if there's an easy answer, but perhaps attendees having less expectation to physically take away large items might help?

Neil

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 18/10/2013 08:57:59

I think a lot of traders will be going down this path spoke to some recently and they all said the same these shows are pricing themselves out of business only Bristol which is is run by ME's for ME's not bean counters.
gives and I quote from a trader, "a fair rental"
Bob

Hi There

I think you will fnd that the venues such as Sandown Park are pricing themselves out of business.

It may not be the Exhibition organisers overpricing, they have to get their money back.

regards David

"I think you will find that the venues such as Sandown Park are pricing themselves out of business."

Change the venue ?

I can never understand why the major exhibition is held at Sandown rather than a more central location.

The Midlands showsite is OWNED by the show organisers, they just want to make too much money.

Not only Hemigway and Arceurotrade, I failed to see Chronos and Reeves at the Midland M.E. Show either. Despite a growing metalworking inventory, much of it Sieg, the Axminster stand was disappointingly small. I'm not in business but I'm guessing that RDG and Warco must be rubbing their hands together with glee.

A newish van with Myford signage was parked for all to see quite near the entrance, I thought to myself that someone understands the psychology of marketing here.

After the closure of the northbound A34 at East Ilsley we arrived late, the car-park was almost full. A friend was running 'Paul the CAD's' stand for the owner, he was kept very busy.

Problem is Bob that it's not just the trade stands as regards cost.

Say a big show charges £1000 a stand and Bristol only charge £400 which is a massive saving of £600, this is only a drop in the ocean compared the truck hire, extra wages, hotels, meals, diesel and the lost revenue whilst you are away..

OK you are selling to a dedicated section of the community but what about the rest who don't want to travel to the venue, or can't plus the overseas sales.

I was at Bristol this year and spoke to one trader who has been going years and he told me it would be his last time because of time restraints more than actual cost.

Interesting quote from Springbok in Mr Stevenson's post above, but it doesn't seem to me that Springbok has contributed to this thread yet.

Have a look at the time stamps, Niloch. Not too surprised by who was the next poster after that invisible message from Springbok. Heck, he must have written some really upsetting words...

Rgds, Frank

Just for the record Springbok's post has just been inserted. Explanation? Motivation?

It's not just the ME shows that are charging the trade out, the same is happening with the 7mm gauge shows which I attend. The way forward for us is our WEB sales I'm sorry to say.

Simon

No idea it was showing for me and still is ?

The quote I included was Bob's whole post, nothing removed.

looks like a glitch - Springbok's post wasn't edited, nor was it inflammatory.

Neil

It would be nice to see a balance sheet from the organisers. With a breakdown of how many visitors @ £????p each how many traders @ £????p and how much it cost to organise £???????p. but I don't suppose we'll ever see one.

Dave.

I can't see why any commercial organisation would make such information public. On the other hand, if I was an exhibition organiser, I'd spend a good while talking to punters and exhibitors at and beyond the show, and also arrange some 'focus groups' to look at how it could be made better.

Neil

When I was part of a computer show organisation 35 years ago we balanced the cost to the exhibitors with the hall and infrastructure costs so that all gate receipts went to the business either as profit or to pay the wages to organise the next show. I remember our show at Central Hall Westminster turned over £15k.

Do you remember how back a few decades the shows were plush with carpet and expensive stand shells. Then a 'new kid' came along and had no carpet and plain tables or bring your own but our type of punter didn't care about such friparies. That's how they got into the market.

At our club meeting last week (about 40 attending) not one person planned to go to this weekend's show though we got a small bus load to Bristol.

Thankyou Stub

I was only reporting from personal experiance,
Niloch could you be so very kind as to elucidate on your comments.
John it was interesting that you mentioned time restraints and not cost.
Bob