My Bright idea(s) to rejuvenate the T&WWWShows

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Originally Posted by Master Splinter

Advertising-wise, these forums are the one and only way I'd ever hear about the wood show. .

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Not all advertising is going to get to everyone but none won't get to anyone. The ABC radio is a great resource and it is surprising how many people say they have heard people I know asking questions or giving feedback and in previous years, even I heard the advertising and I don't listen to the radio hardly at all! As part of the exhibitors fees and contracts, advertising is included in the package and limiting advertising in different platforms because one doesn't think it works obviously won't work. How anyone knows what platforms work is impossible anyway but I reckon it is better to try everything.

The Canberra working with wood show lands right on Fathers day which is a great opportunity for families to do something together and Dad can go and enjoy his toys. There are demonstrations for the kids and a cafe where the women can take 5 mins and have a cuppa. That creates an awesome opportunity for promotion.

Advertising and effective use of it must drive Liz mad and I faced the same problem. Years ago BI (before the Internet) it was easy as the only source of WW information was via magazines as a rule. Put an advert in one and that was about the best you could do apart from a few radio/tv ads. Now print media is waning, not every WW is a member of this forum or even uses the internet and even less use social media as we are mostly old farts.

I know this is supposed to be about new ideas etc but unless you can get the message out there any new ideas become null and void a bit like the cart before the horse. The idea of promotion through the Men's Shed organisation is an excellent one but I found it to be one organisation that was very hard to deal with en masse for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately promotion through schools does not put many dollars into the trade's pockets though hopefully it keeps a small number of students interested enough to continue on, the chance of it being any more is unlikely, lack of young people here atest to that so maybe the idea is a dead end? Liz may be able to comment further on that.

I don't see criticism of the organisation behind the shows being warranted as I am sure they pedal as hard as they can, no one wants to fail in their chosen job but it never hurts to have commentary and fresh views put forward. Advertising & promotion is going through a huge metamorphosis at the moment and coming to terms and using it is a very difficult task for some segments of industry.

We are all experts but few have had to actually do it, that is get out there and make a business work.

The trouble is there is too much advertising rammed at us at this time, and those who do not switch it off electronically or with a 'No junk mail' sticker just subconsciously blank their minds to it all, so we miss the tid bits we would like to know.
There are not enough hours in the day to read or listen to it all even if we did nothing else.
Regards

We are only days out from the opening and the nerves and sleepless nights have kicked in.

The change of venue and presenting a show of this size and the huge outlay of funds it requires is nerve racking - so its got to work. We have put everything into this show and hope you get to enjoy the venue and the presentations offered - after all where else could you go at the cost of your entry ticket and be exposed to so many experts, learning techniques, being able to 'have a go' and not too mention the 1000's of products available.

Often on the forum it has been said that there is nothing new at the show, so I thought on this post I should outline everything that we have new at the show. I have taken the copy of E News number 6 which won't hit everyone's screen to Wednesday. It's a condensed version and more details are available on our website www.timbershows.com.au or if you are a 'Club Woody' member and receive E News you will be able to read it when it hits your screen next week.

Well of course we have a NEW venue and NEW parking arrangements all of which you can find out from the web. I must say to date the venue staff have been fantastic and would have to be the most professional and helpful of any of the venues we use for Timber. They have even invited you to call if you have any questions/queries what's so ever surrounding operational issues or parking concerns for the show!!!

So NEW programs and presenters for the show include:

Guilio Marcolongo | International Woodworking Expert – New Program
Theo Haralampou | Woodworking Expert – New Program
Col Hosie | Gifkins Dovetail – New Program
Stan Ceglinski | Billinudgel Woodworking – New Program
David Foster | Howard Products – New Program
HNT GORDON – New Program
U Beaut – New Program
Kevin Inkster | Arbortech NEW Product launch at the show
Laguna Nation –New to the Show
JD Marketing – New Program
Japanese Tools- NEW Program
Woodcraft Agencies – NEW Program and new to the Show
Carba Tec – New Product Launch at the Show
Screw It Screws – New Program

New Exhibitors for the Show include as listed below - you would also be pleased (I hope) that as suggested we have reduced the stand cost for some of the NEW smaller companies who wanted to try the show - so new to the show are:

Laguna Nation,
Woodcraft Supplies,
Swarts Tools,
Screw It Screws,
What is I Wood Like,
Bench Standard,
Turbo Sawmill,
Marcus Art,
Joseph's Workshop.

As well we have 2 NEW presenters Stephen Raffo joins Woodcraft Agencies (RDG International) demonstrating the Sand Flee products and Phoebe Everill is a beautiful fine furniture maker - they are both NEW to the Melbourne Show.

We have a NEW competition on the floor run by the VWA which is entitled Create from a Crate, this type of competition was one that was suggested from a forum member earlier this year. So I reckon that's about it.

It's pleasing to see so many of you have already signed for roster duty on the forum stand................the forum attendance has fallen significantly this year for all other states, so Melbourne we hoping you are going to show them and all turn up to the show......................I believe we have a great show to present this year. Hope you all enjoy the show!

Liz

PS sorry about the set out of this post somehow it won't let me paragraph!!!!

Thank you for your efforts Liz, I look forward to attending and seeing what's new.

Thanks Liz, be interesting to see some new exhibitors at the Show.

I'll be there on Friday, coming down on the train from Bendigo.:2tsup:

(I have broken up your post in to paragraphs to make it a bit easier to read. You are probably using Internet Explorer? If so that browser has a few problems with this forums' software (vBulletin). If you can, use either Firefox or Chrome and you will find that those editing problems disappear)

Thanks Big Shed, we do use Internet Explorer so will take your advice and switch. Look forward to seeing you at the show Liz

Pleased to see TV advert for the Show on Gem last night. :2tsup:

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Originally Posted by Trav

Chris

I agree with all you've said - it is too easy to simply jump online and buy whatever you want/need. There is a surplus of info as you said.

What strikes me as odd in this whole thing is that we work in a tactile hobby. Our products are not homogenous. As small shops (like woodwork shops in Canberra for example) go out of business in favour of carbatec and lee valley etc, there is nowhere to see/test/taste/fiddle with/drool over some of these higher end machines where we are literally spending thousands of dollars. It seems to me that the more we move online for purchasing, the more important shows like this become for vendors to demonstrate different products in places where it is unviable to have a real shop. But instead of becoming more important, they are dying off. Less people go because there are less vendors and less vendors go because there aren't enough people.

Personally, I'd be happy to pay more for entry tickets if it meant that more of the major (and minor) suppliers were present. I'd love to see clearvue at the shows. I'm very interested in improving my dust collection but I've never even seen a clearvue in the flesh, let alone seen one operating. But I take your point about the cost of visiting the shows and the number of sales to make it worthwhile.

As others have suggested, the model we have at the moment seems fundamentally flawed, and something needs to change or these things will simply disappear off the map, to everyone's detriment.

Trav

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I too agree with what Chris says and what you say Trav. Maybe the answer is to hold shows in cheap venues without so much emphasis on selling product to pay the high costs of stands in prime locations. If the suppliers accepted that these shows were an opportunity to demonstrate and let customers touch and feel they would not be so concerned about the need for prime locations for shows. Maybe the show could be incorporated with another event so that the cost of a stand could be kept to a nominal amount.

Steve

I have been receiving regular Club Woody updates leading up to this show. They seem more regular than previous years, and they help to build on the anticipation.
There looks like a lot of changes have happened since the last show in relation to program and exhibitors. I am looking forward to Friday and hope the wait has been worth it.
Good luck with it all Liz, and thanks for listening to everyone.

Hi everyone,


I attended my first T&WWW Show in Brisbane this year and thought I might offer some of my impressions.


First, as someone completely new to woodworking it was great to see what is out there, to find sellers I wouldn't have otherwise known existed, and to get a feel for what tools are available. As I am hand-tools only I am afraid I don't have much to say with regards to the displays of machinery, but it was great to see the stalls by Henry Ekert, Vesper, and HNT Gordon among others. Although I didn't make any purchases from these vendors at the show, I have since done so. They now have my custom because I saw their product at the show, and I was confident in making a purchase from them online. From this point of view, the show was a great experience, and I will be returning next year.


Related to the issue of vendors, I was glad to be able to see a range of timbers available for purchase and get a feel from what is out there. Although I didn't take advantage of it, the 'parcel-pickup' facility was a great idea. I don't know how long that has been done but I'm sure it was greatly appreciated by those purchasing larger items, and who were parked a little further away.


I also like that there was a space to sit and eat. This is especially important for those of us who bring family members who are not as enthusiastic about woodworking as the rest of us (they can be a dull bunch can't they?). For the rest of us, it is a place to sit and relax before heading back to look at the various stalls and make our purchases.


One area that could be improved is the non-sales aspect of the show. I compare it to the annual conference of my other hobby - Bonsai. That event is quite large and attracts people from all over Australia, and the Asia-pacific. Whilst I recognise it is a very different model for organising and hosting of an event(it is run by and for not-for-profits, and is a national conference) it leads me to make some suggestions for introducing more vigor to the shows. A large part of the attraction of the Australian National Bonsai Conference is the demonstrators, competition, and workshops that are available for participants -- sales makes-up a very small part of the weekend. The main focus is the demonstrations by several guests covering different techniques or styles. For the T&WWW it could mean a turning demonstration on Saturday morning, with someone else demonstrating marquetry or inlay techniques in the afternoon. Alternatively, you could develop a program involving the different vendors demonstrating some related specialty. For example, ask Terry Gordon to do a session on sharpening and setting up hand-planes. Whilst I am sure most vendors are happy to answer any questions about their product, specific talks or workshops would allow for a level of focus than standing around a stall simply does not. Furthermore, if it was organised into a program (available on the website before the show itself) then attendees could plan their day (or be encouraged make a weekend of it) and would be able to see all that was on offer.


Also on the education front, seek-out instructors to run small workshops covering specific topics related to woodworking. For example, a hands-on marquetry session where participants would assemble a small panel of marquetry to learn the technique. It might be something participants would have to pre-book and pre-pay, and other show attendees could observe, alternatively charge a participant price and an observer price.


Competitions and other activities are great. I realise that vendors and sales are a large part of these events, but for some excessive commercialisation can be a bit of a turn-off. There needs to be enough other activities to balance this. To ease organising you could encourage the individual vendors to run competitions or organise prizes -- great publicity for them, and could ease the expense for show organisers as all you need to do is ensure that those competitions and activities are promoted before and during the show.


Whilst I recognise that increasing the content of these shows almost inexorably increases the cost of running them, it is a trade off. I would be happy to pay a larger entry fee if I am getting more 'bang for my buck'. A more expensive show means I spend less in the show room, but I am more likely to attend, and I am more likely to purchase, at a latter date, form those vendors who exhibited, than those who did not. I make this observation as a member of the younger generation which many of the above commentators say they would like to see involved in the hobby. I hope these suggestions are of some use to the organisers - we need more in the Australian woodworking calendar, not less.