Thread: Canberra Wood Show

All shows are expensive and the floor space is only a portion of that expense.

There is also the expense of:

• 2 lots of stock. 1 for the show and 1 for the shop.
• having to staff a shop and show, with show staffing often at much higher rates of pay.
• losing a week or more preparing for a show
• cartage/freight of goods to and from show often well into the thousands of dollars
• displays, lighting and other stand paraphernalia
• Signs, banners and other advertising, promotional material
• Fuel to and from show often for a number of vehicles and possibly also over $1,000.
• Accommodation often for a number of people and up to a week Average price 2 br unit for 7 days $1200 - $1600
• Meals often for a number of people and up to a week
• Parking for vehicles at show and sometimes accommodation
• Loss of more time on return from show setting up shop

Then there's the biggest expense of all:

• Lack of visitors to the shows
• Apathy on places like these forums, clubs etc.

Everyone has a complaint. We see people over and over again on here saying they're not going to bother to go for one reason or another.

The downfall of these shows will be the visitors. Not the organisers or the exhibitors (or lack of them) but the lack of visitors to the shows and the lack of spending by exhibitors.

Bottom line: If the visitors/purchasers don't come neither will the exhibitors. Especially the big ones who put in a major effort and bring hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods only to take home almost three quarters because no one was spending.

We personally didn't go to Canberra this year because we barely cover the cost of accommodation, meals and fuel, and I can honestly say that it's not from lack of trying. We have given Canberra 3 goes and it has been a massive wipe-out for us at each of the 3 shows we did up there. Not saying we wouldn't do them again but there would need to be a dramatic turnaround for us to seriously consider it.

If it was up to me (which it's not) I would have stopped running annual shows in Canberra a few years ago.

Exhibitors can't continue to make major losses, neither can the organisers. The continuation and success of the Timber and Working With Wood Shows throughout Australia is your hands as is the continuation of the wonderful number of woodworking shops in Australia. Stop supporting them and they will cease to exist and all you'll have left will be Bunnies, Masters and the few Mitre 10's they haven't managed to run out of town.

If the organisers and exhibitors keep banging their heads against brick walls, sooner or later something is going to give and I can guarantee it won't be the brick wall.

Rant over....

Cheers - Neil

Originally Posted by ubeaut

Bottom line: If the visitors/purchasers don't come neither will the exhibitors.

That is possibly the best example of "cart before the horse" that I have ever seen in my life.

"Ok everyone, lets all go to Jeff's Shed on the same weekend and see if someone will organise for a whole bunch of exhibitors to be there."

Fer gawdsake, until that attitude changes amongst the exhibitors we might as well not bother.

Cheers

Doug

Yoda1949 has made four posts since joining the forums in 2010 and each has been to bag the Canberra wood show. I've posted my opinions on the show elsewhere but from what I can see, the original poster is a sporadic troll and should not be fed.

This thread should be joined onto the end of the current thread " Canberra Show" and not started as a new thread. Rather ridiculous to have two threads on the same subject running concurrently, rather confusing and the same points needing to be made twice.

The show is on a steady decline as visitor numbers are not increasing and those that come don't need to make major purchases as they have bought them at previous shows.

Thus it needs to either reduce it's costs to the exhibitors or improve the model so that new visitors are attracted. That is solely within the ambit and scope of the organizers, not the exhibitors but also not the visitors. It's their business model that needs to change and improve.

Neil, you started a wonderful thread on forum members " Bright Ideas to improve the Shows ". This attracted a lot of ideas as most of us would like the shows to continue and be successful. Alas, despite asking, there has been no feedback. In fact an utter silence of the organizers. Not even a simple acknowledgment that they are even looking at the ideas.

This lack of response, despite earlier assurances that the organizers were receptive to new ideas, makes forum members disillusioned. No business can remain viable without change or improvement and not listening to customer feedback do so is at their own peril. Sad but a fact of life.

So blaming the lack of visitors is like being an ostrich and sticking its head in the sand. Instead a thorough review of the current business model would be more productive. This should start with a proper analysis of the venue location, the layout and program, the added attractions that could be used and the type of advertising used.

Just my considered 2 cents worth.


Peter.

Originally Posted by doug3030

Fer gawdsake, until that attitude changes amongst the exhibitors we might as well not bother.

Cheers

Doug

Doug,are you serious?Have you ever exhibited at one of these shows ever before? Do you fully understand how much time,money and effort goes into just getting to these events,as an exhibiter? I think not ...MM

Originally Posted by doug3030

That is possibly the best example of "cart before the horse" that I have ever seen in my life.

Some of the exhibitors have religiously attended these shows for the past 25 years, they make the effort, some continued on through good times and the bad with almost Herculean efforts to get to the shows. Not only financially but mentally and physically for some. As for cart before the horse statement the exhibitors have dwindled or changed and in some cases combined because the shows are becoming commercially unviable for them. Low attendance = low sales/turnover = loss = consolidate, perish, or give up. Those with the fire in their gut continue on or have consolidated. The others took another way out, some no longer exist.

We have seen the shows almost driven into the ground and sold off only to be revived by a crew who had a burning desire to make the shows what they were once again and mostly all they have got was whinging and whining from the likes of you. How and why they continue on has got me beat.

I doubt you or many others have any real idea of the sacrifices made and of the hardships endured by all involved in these shows, exhibitors, organisers, demonstrators (at least some of them) and many of the loyal patrons.

You have been complaining about the Melb show ever since you heard it was going back to Jeffs shed and you have the hide to say "Fer gawdsake, until that attitude changes amongst the exhibitors we might as well not bother." Pretty easy to see where the attitude change needs to be.

These forums seem to generate a feeding frenzy whenever there is something negative mentioned especially about the shows.

Fer gawdsake, stop whinging, get off your but and go to the show in Melb. Pay for the parking or public transport use your free entry (via the forums stand as you have before) and shut-up with the negatives.

Originally Posted by doug3030

"Ok everyone, lets all go to Jeff's Shed on the same weekend and see if someone will organise for a whole bunch of exhibitors to be there."

Pathetic!

The way I seit is, if a business wants customers, be that a wood show or any other form of business it must provide a product that the customer wants at a price that they are prepared to pay. Hurling abuse from one side to the other can only make matters worse.
Cheers Frank

Originally Posted by MAPLEMAN

Doug,are you serious?Have you ever exhibited at one of these shows ever before? Do you fully understand how much time,money and effort goes into just getting to these events,as an exhibiter? I think not ...MM

No Mapleman, I have never exhibited at a working with wood show. However when I was running my landscaping business which I did very successfully for 10 years I attended one large Garden Expo per year and a number of other shows and markets as well. I know how much time and effort and money goes into reshaping a 20 x 20 metre space of ground into a luxury garden and then man it for two or three days talking to customers, getting leads and selling products, demoing products etc and then pulling it down again.

And if I did not do as well as I wanted at the show, the only person who I looked at to blame was ME! If the visitors did not come to my site it must have been something I was or was not doing. I didnt blame the organisers or the public. It was up to ME to make it a success.

So I suppose you are right, I know jack $H!t about it.

Cheers

Doug

Originally Posted by doug3030

So I suppose you are right, I know jack $H!t about it.

Cheers

Doug

Doug,don't patronise me,just man up...you were WRONG in saying that the 'exhibitors' should change their attitude,absolute nonsense ...MM

Originally Posted by MAPLEMAN

Doug,don't patronise me,just man up...you were WRONG in saying that the 'exhibitors' should change their attitude,absolute nonsense ...MM

No worries mate, you and the exhibitors continue to live in your funny little world and I will continue to live in the real world where people take responsibility for their own actions and not blame their failures on others.

Remember the famous quote:

"If it is to be it is up to me."

If the orgainsers dont like the result they have the power to do something to change the show.

If the exhibitors dont like the result they are getting then they can do something to change their part of the show.

If the public dont get the result they want the ONLY option they have to change it is to not attend.

Its all very simple really. I am not patronising anyone. I am just stating facts.

Love and kisses

Doug

Originally Posted by ubeaut

You have been complaining about the Melb show ever since you heard it was going back to Jeffs shed and you have the hide to say "Fer gawdsake, until that attitude changes amongst the exhibitors we might as well not bother." Pretty easy to see where the attitude change needs to be.
...
Fer gawdsake, stop whinging, get off your but and go to the show in Melb. Pay for the parking or public transport use your free entry (via the forums stand as you have before) and shut-up with the negatives.

Pathetic!

So I have been complaining about the Melbourne show? Maybe so. Maybe I have also provided a lot of constructive input as well, to quote form another thread or two ...

Originally Posted by doug3030

I am keeping an open mind about the change. I have been to the last three shows in Melbourne, having only lived here for nearly three years. I have never been to the show at Jeff's Shed...

...My concern its the bigger stuff, which is the part of the market where I fit in. What is the cost of parking a car and trailer at the venue for the day? I usually attend two days.

Since the Show has been held at this venue before, I am hoping someone can answer this for me and put my mind at rest. That is the only real concern that I have.

Nothing negative about keeping an open mind and expressing concerns about how the change will affect me, is there?

Originally Posted by doug3030

Honestly, I am trying to find the positives in this and my suggestions are aimed at making it work. It is in the best interests of all of us for the show to work...

...I was asking about what arrangements were in place when the show was at Jeff's shed before for picking up large items, parking for trailers etc. Surely Neil or Liz know what was done or what is being planned for this year...

...All I want is acknowledgements of my concerns and an honest answer that addresses them. Nobody wants to have their opinions and concerns brushed over like you have just done to me.

Still looking for the positives and being ignored on my concerns...

Originally Posted by doug3030

Ok, Now that DJ has put his fireman's hat on and hosed everything down, can I bring some attention to my original inquiry which remains unanswered and unacknowledged. The relevant sections are quoted below. Surely the organisers would have this information. This is after all a big decision, not one made lightly, so all aspects including any impact on patrons would have been researched and evaluated.

In a nutshell: "What is the cost of parking a car and trailer at the venue for the day?"

Still looking for the answer to a simple question that the organisers should have researched BEFORE making a big decision...

Originally Posted by doug3030

Thanks DJ, once again. So if you take a car in on Saturday or Sunday it is only $14...

...Now that all the irrelevant stuff has been removed I feel that we have come a long way towards answering things that were concerning a lot of people. Thank-you DJ for doing such a good job in cleaning up the mess.

Doug

Me thanking a moderator for his good work and researching my question...

Originally Posted by doug3030

...Lets try again for the fourth time:

"What is the cost of parking a car and trailer at the venue for the day?"

I must have the patience of a saint...

Originally Posted by doug3030

Firstly, the "and trailer" part of the question still remains unanswered and has been asked four times.

Secondly, within the context of the thread, the organisers moving venues and trying to keep the show going, etc; looking for deals and better value for exhibitors and patrons is what it is all about and should have been part of the negotiations that went on BEFORE deciding to move...

...It is their business not mine, and I do not know what research they have done before making the big decision to relocate, but since over the years, parking, including disabled parking and package pickup have featured heavily in the issues that have been raised by attendees, I am surprised that apparently the issues of parking with a trailer was not part of the original negotiations...

So hard to get an answer to a simple question... Another forum member did ask why, if is so simple that I did not look it up myself. Read on for the answer...

Neil, if you want to trawl through the forum looking for something negative that I have said about the show, I am sure you will find it. If you, or any of your butt-snorkeling sycophants choose to do so please also extend me the courtesy of posting them in context. Also post some of the good suggestions I have made as well. Just because you dont agree with them it doesnt mean that they have no merit. I am sure you will have to dig deeper to find the criticism than you would to find the positive input or constructive criticism.

My famous quest to find out what the local parking arrangements are - I knew the answers to the question before I asked it. So why did I go to all the trouble of asking and following up until I got an answer?

Think about it - why did it take so long for the organisers to provide an answer at all? Probably because they did not research anything properly before deciding on the move? Parking, particularly disabled parking has been a major issue at the show and by asking one simple question that I could find the answer for in 5 minutes shows just how little thought the organisers put into the move. What else did they not look at that is important to us? Not only did they not look at this one important aspect before deciding on the move, they could not even spend five minutes finding out the answers and posting them. Yes now I AM being critical. I have tried pointing this out more subtlely in the past but it seems you need a big hammer to drive a large nail.

Now dont get me wrong, there might be a positive spin to this too. The move may well be the best thing for the show but if it turns out that way it will obviously be a case of good luck rather than good management. I certainly have not seen any evidence of the principals of good management in any of the replies by the organisers, and that alone tells me where the problem lies (and incidentally, I dont mean that it lies with the organisers. At least one forum member knows what I mean. Some of you might just be able to work it out)

Anyway, this will be my last word on the subject, and Yes, Neil, I will be attending the Melbourne show this year, dont worry and I may even purchase some of your products like I do most years. I will only be attending on one day and I will be paying my own way in. You cant buy my soul for $14/day. While I am there I will call in to the Forum Stand and catch up with some friends. I may even help out if there are a few people around. When I have attended for free by putting my name down to work a couple of hours I have always devoted more time to the forum stand than I was rostered to and have filled in for no-shows several times cheerfully and without complaint and without being asked.

Post what you like, do what you like. I have said my bit and thats it.

Love and kisses

Doug

Looks like Doug wants to run the show... he seems to know everything about how to run one.

Say what you like about my response Doug... I'm unsubscribing from this thread which has been started by a troll and has added nothing new or significant to the discussion other than give jaded people another thread to bitch in.

Am I just imagining things or are there more seagulls in here lately?

goodness, Doug, how dare you have an opinion! Jim Carroll seems to get it - give the customers something and they might come. We can't buy your products if you are not there, Neil. If Corbs would look at criticism as constructive, which most of it is, instead of resorting to rudeness he might see some light, but it is a bit difficult with your head in the sand. If I am correct, I believe the organisers are event arrangers, not necessarily woodworkers. I would think that comments, both positive and negative would be helpful in improving the business model for future shows.

Any comments which have been interpreted as negative are borne out of disappointment, not malice, and if they are read in this light, and accepted, we can look forward to an innovative show next year.

Originally Posted by keen1880

give the customers something and they might come.

Remember doing Sydney show some years ago,my stand had arguably the best wood on show...and guess what,i couldn't GIVE it away ...had one bloke try and haggle me down $5 on a turning blank,which was only $15,for hours and hours...needless to say,he didn't buy it after all.All the exhibiters,past and present,have given their all in trying to be successfull and dynamic at these shows.To suggest like Doug did that the exhibiters need to change their attitude is bordering on the absurd.I bet you haven't participated in any of these shows either keen1880...As for Dougs opinion,who really cares?