Thread: The Future of the Wood Show

Originally Posted by Allan at Wallan

.
.
.
Perhaps the organisers could include wool/craft within the exhibition and
therefore make it a day out where both husband and wife could view
the exhibits. Who knows, we may get and Ken Wraight doing a
display of knitting for the ladies.

Perhaps worth considering.

Allan

That's what the Perth show had this year. I don't like crowds so the last time I went was in 2006 so I have no idea if having the craft exhibition combo was an improvement in attendance over recent years. If there is show still running I might go in 2018.

How about encouraging some of the big boys - Mitre 10, Bunnings, Masters etc - to come in and demonstrate that work can be done with the stuff they sell. I'd love to see them tuning the planes they sell for a start.
Cheers,
Jim

Originally Posted by Allan at Wallan

WWW (Working With Wood) Show.

Some fellas might even call it the WWW (Walking Without Women) Show
as they like to stroll and purchase without the missus in tow.

However I observed many womenfolk strolling around, on their own, who
obviously have a keen interest in wood. I introduced a few to the Forum
activities and feel confident some will join up and participate.

Perhaps the organisers could include wool/craft within the exhibition and
therefore make it a day out where both husband and wife could view
the exhibits. Who knows, we may get and Ken Wraight doing a
display of knitting for the ladies.

Perhaps worth considering.

Allan

Don't they have something like that at the Newcastle Showground ?

They used to. Haven't had it for a couple of years. I think they struggled to get exhibitors to commit and numbers were declining. sounds familiar

Hi to you all,
I wasn't going to buy into this, & I have only read that last few replies from #25 on.
Wool & Woodwork will not go together, as I was virtually shown the Door at the recent Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, Vic. as I was a Woodturner amongst all these Ladies with their Woolen Products, as Complaints came in apparently, because of the Dust I made, & the Smell of the Wood.
I said I didn't think that was possible, as I mainly Made Tops, Eggs & Scarf Pins, all small stuff, which was spaced out over the weekend, & there was no Turning done on the Friday.

Even in the Past, I've had a bit of dislike of me being near The Lace Making Ladies, Absolutely Detest the Dust of any Kind.

So If you still think it will work I would Provide the Knitting Needles or Crochet Hooks for & Ken.
I get the feeling they just may back out, though??.

So while I'm on it, I thought it was a fair Show, with plenty of Room to move, & could not have been to bad, as when I went to have My Lunch, I was battling to find a seat.
I still managed to spend a few Dollars, not hard, was it.

Awhile back a Lady said something about what would be at the Show, so I Sent a PM & said how here in Geelong we will be having Our Annual Woodcraft Show, in Nov. Sat.17th. & Sun. 18th., & could I please put some A4 Flyers on a few of those Vacant Black Partitions.
The Reply was, " There will be a Notice Board, around. & you can PUT ONE ON THERE".

I could say more, but, I will hold my Tongue.

I don't think that I'm adding much to the discussion, but it all seems a bit sad - I think one of the earlier posters was pretty close to the mark when they commented that they rushed out, spent $2,000 in the early days and since then don't need to buy as much. Not having a show in Adelaide, I came over specifically for the Melbourne Show, spent $150 plus whatever Jim Carroll is going to charge me for a bandsaw upgrade (bloody Ken!) and I had a great time. My wife went shopping while I was at the Showgrounds and did not buy a thing! How's that for a cheap day out?

I hope that the show lasts, but cheap imports and the internet...........

Originally Posted by issatree

Hi to you all,
I wasn't going to buy into this, & I have only read that last few replies from #25 on.
Wool & Woodwork will not go together, as I was virtually shown the Door at the recent Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, Vic. as I was a Woodturner amongst all these Ladies with their Woolen Products, as Complaints came in apparently, because of the Dust I made, & the Smell of the Wood.

At the perth show the craft was separated from the wood by a wall with a double swinging door.

Originally Posted by issatree

Hi to you all,
I wasn't going to buy into this, & I have only read that last few replies from #25 on.
Wool & Woodwork will not go together, as I was virtually shown the Door at the recent Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, Vic. as I was a Woodturner amongst all these Ladies with their Woolen Products, as Complaints came in apparently, because of the Dust I made, & the Smell of the Wood.

I accompanied my girlfriend to the quilting show at caulfield on the thursday after the www show. All boring stuff until I came upon a stand with a lathe and some trition gear set up. There were a couple of woodies there who I did not know but they were promoting that new manspace magazine and Stu form Stu's Shed was one of the organisers although he was not there thursday morning when I was.

I am wondering if they were allowed to do any cutting or turning at all over the four days as 10 minutes after the doors opened the rumblings about dust and mess and smell had already started. If Stu or any of the woodies who were there over the weekend read this they might like to let us know how it all went.

But lets face it, the real problem is just that women cant stand to see a man enjoying himself. Thats why they always close their eyes when they ..... Umm ... when is that again?

Doug

I think we need to look at this in a different perspective.

What will you tell your next generation and the one after that? Will it start with the words, "Back in my days we had a working with wood show." Will they ask, "What are those?"

So if we do not support them and they close how do you expect the next generation to show any interest in what you do? We share our experiences with the next generation and this is just one experience.

At the Sydney show it I was able to observe on Saturday and Sunday quite a few father and sons attending.

Been giving this subject some thought.

I went to the Sydney show for the first time this year and was not overly impressed.

The wood turning section was worth looking at as was the hand made planes.

A couple of interesting new tools but some very gimmicky ones too that no self respecting wood worker would buy. The majority of the tools you can access on line or at the outlets.

The majority of the people there were those coming up to retirement or are retired.

The majority of the work examples were hobby or special interest / unique type.

In short, there was nothing there to grab the masses or even the young budding ones.

Have a look at some of the thread topics, they are wide and varied, everything from bandsaw boxes to how to build a shed or wall or modify a kitchen or school projects.

All require different tools, methods, mind sets. You have to cater to all these aspects and make them look / feel sexy / I can do that too.

I wood explore the possibility of a lead up competition aimed at several areas and levels so by way of suggests, here are a few ideas

1 Projects by high school students
2 Photos / poster display of best workshop (3 different categories - pro, compact, hobby
3 Photos / poster display best DIY reno
4 Model / toy display 3 categories (simple (basic) advanced and detailed replica / model

Have a judging panel and peoples most popular award on the last day

Have a 6 month lead up with media advertising, TV morning shows with some 2 or 3 minute special interest segments, get some corporate sponsors to kick in for worth while prizes

I hope you get my drift here, anyway, just some thoughts and observations

I will keep this part separate as I think the wood shows need to be targeted towards the family.

Alternately,the Maleny wood show goes from strength to strength each year...beautifull location...free parking...roving musicians...milling demos....timber...and a pleasant vibe....a show really worth patronising

There are two interlinked marketing challenges here re how to reach an audience with offers that they might be interested in.

One is at the level of the Show. I didn't notice any effort to get data from prospective or actual punters. There was no exit questionnaire.

The second is at the level of exhibitors/sellers. Again, no attempt to acquire data (and of course sales is useful info but clearly doesn't capture data from 'tyre kickers').

In a minor way I'm in the business of selling, and I usually ask enquirers how they came across me and of buyers how they found the experience.

(As a by the way observation, the Melb. Show wasn't even listed on upcoming events on the Showgrounds website, to which the Show website linked.)

Hi All,
Ern, I think you may find that most of us were saying, in a round about way, that there was next to no Advertising.
Can't say I saw anything on TV about The Show.
I was always under the Impression, " you had to spend money to make money ".
Apparently that is not the case anymore.
Yeah, so the Sites are Expensive. Maybe if they filled the Venue, Sites would be Cheaper.
I realise, I know nothing about Site Fees, but I'm aware that they are Astronomical, & of course I think that kept a few away.
What Jim, Irene & Carbi-tec had to pay, I just wood not care to think about.