VEK TOOLS @ Working with Wood Shows

[VEK TOOLS]

Hey everyone, we are kind of in a cross roads with how we do the wood shows & wanted to see which way would best suite your market for stand layout. currently we go with over 50 pallets to each show which takes us forever to pack up & creates massive cash low issues if we don't sell
Most of the stock. We were looking at a plan of taking 1/4 of the pallets & increasing our demonstration areas & shipping the stock directly to you at nO charge from our shops. We would have approx 4 website terminals where you can do your own order with our assistance or just order at the counter.

My main worry is that a true woodworker would like to take the tool home straight away to play with it

Or do you think they would wait till around Monday afternoon- Tuesday to receive there new toy

[fubar]

My main worry is that a true woodworker would like to take the tool home straight away to play with it

Or do you think they would wait till around Monday afternoon- Tuesday to receive there new toy[/QUOTE]

This is my expeirience of the shows I have attended.

There seems to be a special feel in getting that bargain at the show then dragging it round with you till its time to leave Parcel pickup needs to be very streamlined as theres nothing worse than having queued upto park, then to get in, then to buy, then to pickup and then to get out.

[wheelinround]

Fubar is right

I know many go to various Car shows, Van shows etc and come away with nothing or have placed an order during the day.Vek tools idea is not new many have gone that road before and some no longer attened the show.

The cost of going to the woodshow here in Sydney this year would reduce my spending by close to $100 so I have decided its a non event. Many vendors now have specials during the period at their stores.

Its not just the tools or vendors I go to shows for its the people I meet up with the social sceen if you like. That I will miss this year.

[Geoff Dean]

As I live 4 hrs from the nearest wood show, my focus on going is so I can touch and feel the item, pick it up, put it down, come back in an hours time and ask the questions that I forgot to ask the first time and watch the demo a second time. Then move onto the next 35 or so stands and repeat the process.

If I can take one home with me, good and well. If I could get the same deal, with free delivery, then I would have no problem with not being able to take it with me right then.

My only concern is that I have been burned in the past (not you guys, I hasten to add) with a "guarantee" of delivery "as soon as we get back to the shop" and then having to wait over 6 weeks to receive the item. If you can solve that issue, then I don't see it as being too much of an issue for you.

Of course, there will always be someone who will have a whinge, and one of your competitors may have one at the show that they can sell right then and there, but overall I guess your focus is to reduce your costs of being at the show, and that means you may have better bargains for those that attend. Win win, I'd say. :D

[corbs]

I'm probably going a little against the grain a little here but I think it could be a good idea if done properly. I think there might be a real opportunity for some good show specials which I haven't seen a lot of for a while and the ability to have a large range of gear to play with and demo without what seems to be an ever increasing cost for the retailer for minimal return.

I really don't like the retailers who have in store sales rather than have some presence at the show and have found there sales aren't really very special anyway.

[NCArcher]

I think it's a great idea. Especially good for those who arrived on public transport or rode the bike to the venue just to have a look.

[Groggy]

Why not take reduced stock and also offer inducements to ship from other stores ie. free shipping + an extra 2-3% off. Win - win.

[crowie]

Why not take reduced stock and also offer inducements to ship from other stores ie. free shipping + an extra 2-3% off. Win - win.
That's very similar to my thoughts...though I'd like to see a little sweeter offer to encourage the purchaser to wait a day or two for the new tools/goods.
So lets say BOTH....
BUT give the customer who's prepared to wait
FREE SHIPPING plus the EXTRA 5% discount to make the little wait worth the new customers purchase worthwhile.....
That makes the offer something extra special and helps the VEK Tools "SHOW COSTS".
Cheers, crowie

[lesmeyer]

Well, Groggy wanted the extra 2-3% discount, Crowie upped that to 5%, so maybe, just maybe I can up the ante here and request the discount be 10% :D. Just kidding. I am in Perth and VEK do not do the Perth wood show, but the idea is a sensible one. It has been sad to see a reduced number of WW retailers at our show, making place for sham-wow sellers. If what was suggested by VEK takes hold with more retailers, it may just be how the future of WW shows pan out.
Les

[VEK TOOLS]

Don't know how we would go with the 2-5-10% extra discount but we would obviously try our best, I know that these days there is a lot of people taking shortcuts with online orders & shop orders giving everyone a bad name, the main thing for us is to get that enjoyment of getting to try the tool out & create that atmosphere on the stand that has the right mix. If we got this right I'm sure we can easily do other states Round the country too

[bsrlee]

"extra discount"?? I would hope the prices offered at the show were pretty good to start with, and unlikely to have any further margin. I suppose some people like to dicker for a better price, but I prefer to have a firm price stated up front and not waste my (and the dealer's) time.

I think the main problem you will face is that those who have been going to the shows for a 'few' years have either been bitten personally or know someone who has been bitten by a few dealers who promise the world (Yes, we have plenty of them back at the warehouse, we'll send it out next week) and then conveniently 'forget' to send the goods until they get shamed in public forums such as this one.

Vek has a Sydney office, so I can go & camp on the footpath outside if I don't get my shinies :B. You will need a pretty good 'live' inventory system that tracks the goods in the your warehouse, and don't sell on the promise of a wholesale distributor - after all its not HIS reputation that is on the line.

[A Duke]

Don't know how we would go with the 2-5-10% extra discount but we would obviously try our best, I know that these days there is a lot of people taking shortcuts with online orders & shop orders giving everyone a bad name, the main thing for us is to get that enjoyment of getting to try the tool out & create that atmosphere on the stand that has the right mix. If we got this right I'm sure we can easily do other states Round the country too
Why not go the other way charge the person who wants it NOW extra. It will come to the same thing because you can not sell at a loss but the psychological idea of paying more for the privilege will swing more people in the right direction than a discount, even if it is the same thing in the end. You could call it a transport surcharge.
Just a thought
Regards

[corbs]

Why not go the other way charge the person who wants it NOW extra...

There goes my show special :rolleyes:

[VEK TOOLS]

I think we would always still need to have show specials, maybe having 10- 15 show mega specials & the general ranging being left to a try out style demo on the stand & us shipping that item out. Would love to see most the stand turned into a massive demo zone, if any guys want to help I would be glad for you to showcase your skills & ideas on the stand

[wheelinround]

I feel privlidged living with in a 40k radius to
2 Vektools stores
Trend Timbers
H&F
McJings
5 Bunnings
3 Mitre10
2 Gasweld
4 Supercheap
2 pen dealers Timberbits and Addictive
1 Blackwoods
1 Home Hardware
2 Total Tools

[Pac man]

I feel privlidged living with in a 40k radius to
2 Vektools stores
Trend Timbers
H&F
McJings
5 Bunnings
3 Mitre10
2 Gasweld
4 Supercheap
2 pen dealers Timberbits and Addictive
1 Blackwoods
1 Home Hardware
2 Total Tools

and soon to be 2 Masters

[wheelinround]

and soon to be 2 Masters

Yes forgot the one we drove past yesterday still have not been to it yet.:2tsup:

[VEK TOOLS]

I feel privlidged living with in a 40k radius to
2 Vektools stores
Trend Timbers
H&F
McJings
5 Bunnings
3 Mitre10
2 Gasweld
4 Supercheap
2 pen dealers Timberbits and Addictive
1 Blackwoods
1 Home Hardware
2 Total Tools

Don't forget the 3rd Vektools store opening in mcgraths hill in the next couple of weeks:doh: more work for me

[lesmeyer]

I know many people hang out for the wood shows just to get that special price. Everyone loves a bargain. However, the wood show gives something that only once a year can deliver. That is having a great collection of tools under one roof that can be compared. In Perth we also get specialty tools and their makers from the east. I know we can purchase over the internet from them, but trying out the tools or seeing it in action before buying, is so much better.
Les

[VEK TOOLS]

How about the customers that elect to pick up from store get to go into the drawer to win tool prize kit of approx $1000 value, this would also help getting customers into our showrooms to see what we are about.

[NCArcher]

Picking up from the store is not an option for many. A 6 hr round trip is ok every now and then for a special event like the wood show but I'm not going to drive back to pick up a couple of tools.
If you include free delivery from store to go into the draw then all good :U

[Geoff Dean]

:whs:

Unfortunately, I am in the same boat.

Nice initiative in any case, hope it works for you and you get lots of "new" people through the shop.