Jeff's Shed, You're Joking. But I'll be there anyway.

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Originally Posted by Big Shed

Did you poll your exhibitors and target audience before making this decision?

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Probably not but instead listened to a few outspoken wingers.

Peter.

Don't really care where it is - I will still go.

But the thread was getting too heavy - so here you go.

When your at Jeff's Shed - there will i be,
with a fist-full of fifties and a smile of pure glee.
there's toys to be looked at and bargains to plea
no time for loitering, no time indeed
and only when finished - then can I......:D

so if your walking around and happen to see
a bloke whose wincing, standing knock knee
please give a thought to the pure misery
of holding it in, just so he can see
the latest and greatest in his chosen hobby


ahhh - at least there's tomorrow.
oops - I think i channeled Dr Seuss for moment:roll:

I thought that the move from Jeff's Shed to the show grounds was a positive move as the "Shed" always appeared to be too crowded on the times that I went, twice over years & coming from WA I loved the ride out to the showgrounds in the tram as well!
The show grounds venue offered the breathing space for displays and demo's whereas with the "Shed" trying to watch a demo was in effect crowding what limited space there was in the aisles.I remember saying that I doubt that it would entice me back there again.
Possibly there are other factors in play here with regards to the move that are not readily known such as venue costs or whether the organisers have been targeted by those running Jeffs Shed with an attractive opportunity to once again use that venue & if so you could not blame them for trying to keep costs down!
Melbourne still needs a WW show irrespective of the venue and it needs local support to continue .

Cheers:)

Like issatree, I have now received the email advising of the change in venue.

Went to check their website and it now also reflects that change.

In this "interweb" age it would have made more sense to do it the other way around, change website - then send out emails.

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Originally Posted by Liz Falloon

No we are not joking!! I can't believe you all - cast your memory back to the comments when we were at the showground - in fact just after the last show how many people said they thought it would be the last! We received after every show complaints about the show, getting smaller, no visitors, fewer exhibitors, parking, wrong side of town, catering, the smell,' it was so much better when it was a Jeffs Shed' etc etc etc.

So we make a move - which costs us more (however keeping exhibiting rates the same) - this move has been made because of visitor and exhibitor feedback!! We pride ourselves in our customer service and listening to our clients whether exhibitors or visitors and after four years listening to complaints about the show and the showgrounds and watching our attendances fall despite what we did to address all issues we have made this decision and you start complaining again - we can't win!!! Question has to be asked do you want a show in Melbourne at all???

The website will be changed today!
Liz

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Treating or viewing us all as ungrateful complainers is a pretty unusual pr tactic for a business in my view.

If you had truly listened to client viewpoints over the last 4 years, then you would know that there will always be those who hold differing views. You can't please everyone all of the time comes to mind.

If you want to treat us all like petulant little kids, good luck to you and your business. Don't make the mistake of thinking that because some people have voiced an opinion, everyone else thinks the same way.

I suspect that part of the reason behind the pushback you are getting is because of the total silence there has been about this change of venue. I understand the need for commercial confidence before the deal gets done, but to then stay silent on a platform that is used by a large chunk of your market slice is a mistake.

You have missed an opportunity to explain the reason first, now you are playing catch up and treating everyone like a whiny little nuisance is only going to drive people away further.

But hey, what would I know, I'm just a patron. For the moment.

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Originally Posted by enelef

Don't really care where it is - I will still go.:roll:

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I'm with enelef here. I look forward to the show each year even with the dwindling exhibitors. I look on it as a day out with other woodies, and get to see new ideas and equipment in person. It is easy to look at "things" on the internet, but to be able to handle or try these "things" gives a better understanding about your purchase or experience.
I don't usually spend a lot of money on new equipment at the show unless it is a real bargain, but rather stock up on supplies from multiple suppliers (no shipping costs that way). I just evaluate equipment whilst there and hopefully get a show price which will extend out past the end of the show. That way I can think it over and buy later rather than an impulse buy.
It was easier for me at the showgrounds and I was happy there, but if the move back to the Exhibition Centre lifts the long term appeal, then great. Yes, transport and parking will be an issue, and I don't have any answers for that.
At least Liz and her team are trying to do something positive, rather than rest on their laurels and let it fizzle out as some people were predicting. I hope they can attract back some lost businesses and introduce some new and exciting things for us.

It is a no brainier for me. I stopped going to the show at Jeff's Shed, because of access issues for disabled people, the venue access is fine it is just that the organizers tried to fit too much into the space they had hired resulting in it being too hard to maneuver a wheelchair around the venue. After a few issues with disabled access at the Show Grounds were sorted it was a pleasure to go and spend the whole day there.

I don't think that that moving venues will improve attendance, because I can see what I want through the year Ie.. the Lie Nielson tool event, Carbitec has some good demo days and a sale that coincides with the show, and of course there is the internet where purchases can be made. To survive the show must evolve from a sales venue to something else.

My personal view is that the show has run it's course, there is so many businesses supplying the woodworker now that were not around when the shows started, why bother to be overcharged to park the car get jostled in a poorly ventilated overcrowded venue, where the food is overpriced and predigested.

I had started to attend the shows again when it was moved from Jeff's Shed, I will not attend the show at the Shed. :C

Could we keep this thread on topic please?

Liz talks about exhibitors falling by the wayside, wonder how many of those exhibitors are still in business I would suspect that the actual number of suppliers in the market has decreased over the years.

Also, I remember that the show use to open on Friday and Saturday evenings these were always well attended and because it was evening it was always pleasant to attend after work on Friday, I believed that these evening sessions stopped because the exhibitors complained that they wanted to get home, this staggered me, pay good money to exhibit at a show where people ARE paying to come in and see the exhibitors goods and they wanted to go home! I remember thinking that business must be really good to have a such a contemptuous attitude toward the customer and, at the time I wondered how long a lot them would stay in business. Seems that not enough stayed in business to make the show viable or have the spare money to allocate to the show or are able to close their businesses for three days so that they can exhibit.

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Originally Posted by Big Shed

Could we keep this thread on topic please?

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There seems to be at least one post missing. It contained a fair and reasonable question about the venue, so why not answer in the thread ?

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Originally Posted by MAPLEMAN

As far as i can asertain,no one has strayed from the topic!!

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Originally Posted by dabbler

There seems to be at least one post missing. It contained a fair and reasonable question about the venue, so why not answer in the thread ?

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Several posts that went off topic in to historical Victorian politics were deleted.

I repeat, please keep this thread on topic, which is the change of venue back to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Hello,

For country people who catch the train in to Melbourne, access and parking for Jeff's shed isn't an issue.

Would some of you city folk consider catching the train or bus or tram ?

A day ticket on the Met would probably be less than your petrol and parking.

My day return on V line includes Met trams and trains and buses and all up costs me less than petrol and parking.

I will definitely go to Jeff's Shed in October.

I remember in one of the previous years at the shed there was another interesting thing going on at the same time at the same venue and for me it was a bonus.

Bill

Bill

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Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

It is a no brainier for me. I stopped going to the show at Jeff's Shed, because of access issues for disabled people, the venue access is fine it is just that the organizers tried to fit too much into the space they had hired resulting in it being too hard to maneuver a wheelchair around the venue. After a few issues with disabled access at the Show Grounds were sorted it was a pleasure to go and spend the whole day there.

<snipped the rest>

:C

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Hello,

This seems like important feedback that should be given due consideration by the organisers.

Any comments from organisers ?

Anybody would be quite irritated if they made the effort to go somewhere and paid entrance only to find they are unable to move around comfortably and access the displays once inside.



Bill

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Originally Posted by steamingbill

Hello,

This seems like important feedback that should be given due consideration by the organisers.

Any comments from organisers ?

Anybody would be quite irritated if they made the effort to go somewhere and paid entrance only to find they are unable to move around comfortably and access the displays once inside.



Bill

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Unfortunately Bill disabled people don't count, it is my wife who has the disability and she usually spends more than me, seems to me they are overlooking an important market segment.

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Originally Posted by dabbler

There seems to be at least one post missing. It contained a fair and reasonable question about the venue, so why not answer in the thread ?

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Yup, I am from FNQ & had no bloody idea.
Is OK now, I found out using google.
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia