between a rock and a hard place
yes, the shape of retail has changed. people buy online and dont go to shows. Shows used to be great because the retailers did demos and let you play with the toys. Now they dont, because if they are allowing people to use powertools on their displays then their insurance premiums would be so high that they could not afford to do it.
Exhibitors have been forced to change what they can do at shows because of cost. If the exhibitors were able to do more demos and let people use the gear hands on, then they would probably make more sales. but they cant, so its just like shopping online - look but cant touch, or no different to visiting carbatec or hare and forbes etc at their showroom. All the exhibitors do is put their showroom in a container and unpack it at the show. Its not just the internet its their insurance that stops them doing more at shows. They would be paying heaps of public liability insurance just in case anything happens at the show in general and the individual exhibitors would be paying heaps to insurance companies as well,
the insurer of the organisers would have a clause in the policy requiring that the organisers insist that each individual exhibitor have insurance as well, so they pick up bucketloads more business from policies purchased by exhibitors. Other insurance companies would benefit as well but they all work the same way and that is where most of the money from exhibitors and entrance fees for working with wood shows goes.
Another reason that businesses are choosing not to be exhibitors is the way that they assess the success of a show. I bet most of them would look just at the sales they have made at the show offset by the cost of exhibiting. They would not be looking at people purchasing items post-show only because they were able to see and touch them at the show.
If these issues can be addressed, them exhibitors could afford to exhibit, could do more to show off the features of their products and the organisers, exhibitors and general attendees would all get more out of the shows and they would once again be successful.
a bit late to the party but my 2 cents anyway
I didn't go to the 2012 or 2013 Sydney Shows because they clashed with an out of town commitment I couldn't move -- my problem not that of the organisers or exhibitors
Before that I think I've been to every Sydney show since the first at which Colen Clenton exhibited his first squares -- in about 1996, IIRC
In part I have been to so many shows that I have run out of "toys" to buy and recent shows have been a lot about saying hello to exhibitors met in years past. For me, more a social event that a retail day out -- which is appalling situation from an exhibitor's perspective.
I understand that the timber sellers did a reasonable trade at Sydney, but not so other exhibitors.
Another factor is that the show scene has evolved. 10 years ago, there was the wood show, the occasional Sunday market with a tool dealer or two, and Carbatech's show room. Now we have the show plus one or more "boutique" tool displays/ demos each year, plus the Sunday markets PLUS the "Bay".
Perhaps, we need to recognise this and accept that for the shows to survive, they need to become special again.
In turn this may require that the shows be less than annual events.
other thoughts?
just trying to answer all questions and responses
There are many comments, suggestions that I have to answer, and apologies for being off the scene, at no time was it ever meant that I was disinterested in comments made through the forum rather for the last 6 weeks or so I have been home nursing my mother - sadly we lost her 3 weeks today.
Please excuse me if I sound like I am repeating my remarks once again, but it seems on the forum we tend to go over and over the same ground. I am going to try and remain positive, give the facts and generally the way the land lies....... so here goes
Canberra Show: a disaster - in my time as an organiser I have never run such a poor show. Not only did exhibitors get a bad return we were 50% down yes I repeat 50% down on gate sales - that hurts us as well as exhibitors. Opening day of the show imagine how we felt when the headline news in the Canberra Times (not word for word) was Canberra Heads for Recession - the article went on to point out how many Public Servants were going to loose their jobs and the flow on to the community as a result. The show was positioned a week before the elections and Canberra was grey! I don't mean the clouds here but rather anyone in Canberra you spoke to. One visitor told me of his business of how he was waiting on sign off for major government projects and nothing had happened since Gillard announced the election.
We are still at the collating stage of all of the figures, but quiet simply if the public doesn't want a show and don't turn up well we can't put on that show and put both our exhibitors and ourselves at risk. Canberra has great similarities of Adelaide (we lost 60k there on our last show)...............watch this space!
One comment on the forum was that you didn't know whether the show was going to be staged until a few weeks before the show - that is absolute rubbish and I am sure the person who made that comment belonged to the ACT Woodguild - if I am right the Woodguild suffered not one but several misfortunes and nothing was done to the stand or organisation until the acting president Dan returned from the US.
Exhibitor Costs and Numbers: You know I can name at least 6 companies who exhibited last year at multiple shows and for various reasons are no longer in business - the economy has/is been tough..............just look around your shopping centres to see how many long term businesses are no longer there - yet you blame us for exhibition costs being cost prohibitive. Agree sometimes we may be too expensive for some small companies to exhibit, but we always try and work with our clients, and don't shut the door in their face without trying to work with them.
Another reason for the lack of exhibiting companies................we have exhibiting companies 'on selling' their space to companies who used to take their own stand.......they get the revenue for that not us and take another stand off our floor and then we get criticised for failing exhibitor numbers.
Marketing: when someone states that we can't get to them because they don't read industry mags, don't watch tv, don't read newspapers, don't listen to radio....what am I meant to do - honestly!! For those of you who do all or part of those aforementioned we do all of the main stream marketing for every show, as well it is supplemented with e marketing. I have listed this all before and I am not going to bore forum members again with the repeated message except to say again it hits where it hurts when we don't have people turn up to our events. Sturdee you better check with your club president I can assure you all clubs get emailed and if they don't have an email address we send material to allow you to pre purchase tickets at a discounted rate. I find it insulting that we are accused of 'sitting back and waiting for people to come in' - how far from the truth this is. You know we take pride in what we do, and to have to walk the show floor when our exhibitors are having a hard time is not one bit pleasant I can assure you.
Getting the new generation to the shows: Again previously I have outlined our program, so in haste it includes schools programs, which include discounted student tickets, free teacher tickets work sheets and follow up/thank you with every attending school at the end of the program.
IIATE in Sydney provided a fantastic student program and had high quality work displayed by students on the floor, as well as the student challenge which was between schools from all over the state.
This year we have also embarked on a major promotional campaign with Men's Sheds. I can tell you their attendance has beaten any Woodclub or Forum offers by miles in all shows.
Last year in Melbourne we included the Marimba's and kids were heavily involved in that. Thanks to the introduction from Neil. They also want to come back this year!
Ideas put forward: I have always stated that we are open to any ideas and believe it or not we are listeners, and as already said we take pride in what we do and want to keep on improving. It was mentioned a shed or a trailer would be a good prize - we did have a shed full of tools worth $9,999.00 sponsored by VEK Tools at both Sydney and Canberra. We didn't have a trailer but did have the wheelbarrow. I like the trailer idea and will take that on board for next year, and will endeavour to get the Shed for all shows.
Carrying on with the shed theme love the idea of having a photo display of sheds and getting the forum, clubs, Men's Sheds involved with that - on the agenda for next year!
Build a box competition - I reckon we could do that as well - leave it with me and I will talk to our exhibitors about the pros and cons of that.
The national Competition was mentioned - there was also a Woodworkers major competition in Sydney. We withdrew from that because the sponsorship was withdrawn and it meant we had to double our financial input to the competition and I wasn't prepared to do that. It also meant that it took one admin person at least 4months to prepare for the comp. We have received one complaint in the 3 years it hasn't been on.
Workshop titles: nrb mentioned several different workshops - taken on board and again will discuss with our exhibitors to stage these. Just while we are on workshops, this years shows have more presentation/workshops than any other years. We don't just present the same program every year we request from presenters that the program change - you would see that Stan, Guilio and Theo's programs as well as many of the exhibitors involved change the program so there is something new at every show for you.
A Turning Challenge: mentioned by tea lady - thanks it's on the agenda as well - great idea and now we just have to make it work.
I think that's it................I don't want to whinge but really we are trying to work with you instead of against you after all I have always said in this game without exhibitors and visitors we don't have a show - we do value you