Thread: Working With Wood Shows

Why do you go?
To catch-up and see what is new, compare products, extend the wish list, Hopefully reduce it as well )

Why don't you go?
- Sydney Venue is not suitable, too small, Parking is a pain, and very crowded and cramped. Better venue would be Homebush at the Olympic Park.
- Obvious absence of major exhibitors.

What would make the shows more attractive to you and others?
If you cannot remove the non-woodworking displays, because of lack of exhibitors, costs etc. Then restrict the number of non-woodworking displays, after all it is a woodworking show and we pay an entry fee to woodworking exhibits not other stuff.

What is missing from the shows that you really would like to see?
- More of the big guys.
- New released, innovative stuff.
- Show specials.
- Someone mentioned it before, a display where something is constructed for the duration of the show, maybe a competition making x item, given to charity or raffled off.
- Hands-on Workshops.

Cheers
Wayne

In Perth the show is Ok but not comprehensive. The demonstrations are good but could be a better sales tool than at present. I bought from Colen Clenton at the last show only because he was clear and descriptive about his products. The same goes for Roger Gifkins. A bit more organisation could lead to demonstrations of the various processes from the rough sawn to final finishing - and boost overall sales as well. The main demonstration area was not well laid out, with just a few chairs thrown about and the view for some was very ordinary -and thats at a time when the pavilion was not particulary busy.

I have to agree with Wild Dingo - I missed seeing the UBeaut stand. I will just have to look harder next year.

For me the quality and price of the food is irrelevant to whether I go or not.

I will go again but I can well understand those who won't go each year for reasons mentioned earlier in this thread.

Regards

Never gone, only because of timing. Even this year, I will miss the show because of renovations.

I would appreciate an email mailing list or snail mail stuff from the Woodworking Show organisers keeping me upto date on the progress of the show throughout the year.

Unfortunately I have never been to any of the wwws, this is not by choice but merely my programs have never aligned with the dates. This year I was in New Zealand with work for the Sydney and Canberra one. Maybe next year.


Corbs

I go most years, because it gives me the chance to see the wares of most suppliers in one place, rather than driving all over the country. I guess the other main benefit is in seeing 'new' things and catching up with fellow woodies.

I sometimes complain that it's the same every year, but I guess it's a woodwork show every year.

I sometimes don't spend much money there, but I do make up my shopping list.

I only get to www show occasionally as there always seems to be some other commitment interfering! I do enjoy the shows but can understand the costs for exhibitors, only chance for country woodies to see new machinery, ideas & tools in one place. Hope to make it to next year's Adelaide show. Cheers, Les.

I don't make it every year, but I certainly go if I'm 'in town'.

Why?
Usually, I'm on a mission, and the chance to "scratch 'n' sniff" a bunch of competeting vendors' machines, etc., all within a few paces of each other, is a valuable timesaver, and the best way to compare. I'm old-fashioned, and hate buying stuff from catalogues unless I've seen it in the flesh, or am very, very sure of what I'm about to get. It's not so much price I'm comparing, since the same sort of thing is much the same from stand to stand, but there are often subtle differences (and sometimes not-so-subtle) in what looks at first blush like the same machine with a different paint job. I'm in the process of gradually replacing some of the machines I bought 20 odd years ago, when choice was limited, so I'm taking my time, have a very good idea of what I want, and the shows are the place where I usually decide what to buy next - maybe not there and then, but usually.

Why would I not go?

When all the smaller stands disappear, and/or the club stands. The small stands are always good for a few 'showbags' of stuff to take home to add pleasure to the day (always pick up my 'ubeaut' supplies for the year ahead, 'cos it's convenient), and it's where you get little bits and pieces that I'd have to drive all over the city for, otherwise.

The club stands seem to have dropped off in number and quality in Bris. I'm feeling guilty, here, because my day job got in the way & I had to drop out of the group I was in, so haven't been doing anything lately either, but the demos and keen woodies on the other club stands were an important part of it all for me. We used to have a couple of pro cabinetmakers doing an actual job for all to watch - don't know why that has fallen off, but it was probably a big ask to have someone set up their w'shop miles from home just for a few days.

And I don't care about the non-woody stuff - they always seem to attract a crowd and reduce the congestion around the places I'm interested in.

So, In summary - I'll probably go for the next couple of years, but if it keeps degenerating into just a machinery and tool sale, I will not bother, after I replace the one or two items left to go. I'm happy to buy my Ubeaut supplies by mail, since I know I'll be getting good stuff!

Originally Posted by ubeaut

Why don't you go?

Mate, i don't go because my ol holden wouldn't make the distance. Secondly, I cannot afford to fly and thirdly, wood is basically a hobby although at times have been known to use some of these skills as a part time handyman.
If i were closer to a major city and they had a show on there, i wouldn't hesitate on checkin it out. It pays to shop around for tools and ideas.

Later.....
Mark.

G'day,

I'll be going again this year. I don't have a list of things as yet and if I do it will only be small stuff.

I go because:

• it's much easier to walk from one distributor to the next to compare similar products.
• I enjoy the demonstartions and learn something from them, with the exception of mops etc., which drag down on the reason for the show being there.
• I like catching up with other blokes from the Forum.

What I don't necessarily like/agree with:

• mops or other displays - what's it got to do with wood?
• it seems that there have been a number of distributors pulling out from the shows around the country. Is this because the shows are too close to each other and take more commitment than some distributors can give to organising to attend, and more money to attend?
• $15 entry is my limit. Anymore than that and I wouldn't go to the show. Couple the ticket price with a train ticket and it's pricey for me.
•I don't think the idea is good that distributors have to fork out so much for floor space and that Tom, Dick or Harry have to pay $15 for entry. What's the answer? I don't know, but if floor space goes up too much and entry remains at it's current price then we'll be seeing more mops and less of those like Hare & Forbes.
• the above leads me to my next point, show specials on tools/machinery. Are we seeing less of this because of increased cost to eg. H&F and C/T for floor space? IF so, then this will result in a reduction of distributors at the shows, which in turn will lead to fewer punters.

Like I said, I'll be going again this year. But it's just as easy to compare like machinery from X and Y on the net, just not to see it in the flesh.

I've been to every one of the Perth shows for the last 5 years.

Reasons:

- To meet fellow sufferers (including members of this BB).
- To meet really good blokes like Terry Gordon, Roger Gifkin and Colen Clenton and have a look at their gear.
- To buy some bits and pieces that I wouldn't necessarily see in other places (decent old tools, for example, which are like rocking-horse poo in this town )
- To have a look at machinery etc that I can't afford and don't have space for but we all like a good tool drool, don't we?
- To have a look at the exhibits of finished work.

Comments:

- Sometimes the exhibits are a bit thin on the ground and disappointing (but I've occasionally been surprised and very impressed).
- It would be great to see the UBeaut team over here. (Although I entirely understand the cost constraints and - if it's a choice between maintaining the forums and coming to Perth for the WWW Show - forget Perth, Neil!)
- I don't mind the non-woodie exhibits if by including them, the organisers can spread the costs a bit. This can only help to keep the shows going.
- One of these days, the catering companies will amaze us all by supplying something that looks and tastes like food. I'm not holding my breath, however.

Col

Went to the show at Alexandra Palace a few years back. Would attend Auckland show - but travel, distance....

Haven't read any other posts so excuse any duplication.

I go to see new tools and methods and to get a discount on any new tools I need to buy.

I can pick up lots of bits and pieces too (like Ubeaut stuff) without all the hassle of post and freight and at a discount.

I can talk to assorted vendors and (hopefully) get questions answered in an informed and intelligent manner.

Hopefully can try before buy, tools etc.

I like to see the exhibitors plying their trade and skills, ie the woodturners, scroll sawers, box makers, finishers etc. I'm still learning.

Good to see all the timbers on display in one place.

Love the minor bits and pieces vendor's stands, like the fabled McJings

Not interested in any of the social, meet and greet stuff.

One whinge, time is often short and it's common for a queue of people to be waiting at a stand whilst the attendant(s) spend too much time with one (or more) punter(s).

At the last N'castle show I saw people walk away whilst vendors gossiped endlessly with assorted old farts, who showed no sign of buying anything. It should be remembered that this is a business exercise, not a social outing.

One final point, if the vendors ceased the show discounts I would loose some interest

I normally go to the Canberra Show. Like most people I like to see a number of things including the display of work, to meet fellow woodworkers and forum members, to buy stuff - always seem to spend too much. Good to see the timber, talk to people on stands, catch a few demos, and to see whats new.

It would be good to have a whats new and interesting things at the show. I think Les Miller used to do a segment like this.

I tend to agree that some of the others have said there there is some stuff that is not really appropriate for a wood show.

Cheers

I have been to one show in Sydney and two in Canberra. The one in Sydney had the stalls I wanted - second hand tools. I must admit to being pretty chuffed when one stall holder complimented me on my 'eye for good quality tools' as I bargained him down just a little on a dozen or so hand tools. I must fess up and say that I have only restored a couple of them so far.

Now another confession. I am a gadget man. I have the soldering/brazing outfit, the tile cutter and the angle finder and have never used any of them. I wonder if there is a gadgets annonymous club?

The only thing I bought this year at the Canberra show was a double sided diamond stone from McJings. Any chinese merchant who calls himself McJing gets my vote as having a real Aussie dry humour, so I always buy something from him.

I can do without the shoe polishers and secatuer salesman etc I think they have their place at other shows.