Sydney Wood Show is next month but is the forum having a stand??

[Pac man]

With all saleable goods being bar coded these days, you could imagine all sorts of order and sales 'trickery' such as ordering via a barcode reader, just like the Bunnings self-checkout? I think it's got legs.

Lie Nielsen Aus were doing this with items they didn't have with them and offered free postage. They told me that in the US LN don't bring stock at all and do what you are suggesting.

[crowie]

Maybe a venue change like that of the Melbourne Wood Show??

Rosehill Raceway has been suggested as there seems to always be some sort of show or trade fair happening when the horses aren't...

[Midnight Man]

Being relatively new to woodworking, and in the process still of researching and slowly buying equipment to fit out the workshop I have "acquired" since we moved late last year (previously no space for a workshop at all), I found the show well worth attending. Got to chat with a good few suppliers, put "hands on" to several items of gear that are on my research/to buy list, and even just doing that has clarified many decisions for me. I had previously, a couple of years ago, driven up from Sydney to attend the show in Newcastle - ironically, our move has taken us near Newcastle, so there was a drive to get down to the Sydney show. Well worth it in my opinion, though I cannot compare the show to what it was like in years past.

I did make some purchases at the show - stuff I'd been researching and had the opportunity to see in action, so hopefully that made some traders happy. I found the parcel pick up service to be extremely useful - it's a great idea, and makes it a no-hassle buying experience.

I found that my main interest this year was in equipment and equipment suppliers - which stands to reason as I'm kitting out a workshop. Trying to put on the hat of someone who had their equipment, I would still go to the show, including the drive and so on needed to get there, as there were quite a number of places that had very nice timber for sale, and it's great to see a few of these all in one place. Apologies at least to Mal & Greg, I had wanted to head back your way to introduce and catch up with you, as you're now my "local" supplier, but time got the better of me.

Overall, I spent 3 hours at the show on Saturday, I only left really because time was running short for other commitments, but I strongly suspect I'd have spent another 2-3 hours there without glancing at a clock.

Thank you to the organisers, and exhibitors that attended!

[Sawdust Maker]

Worst lunch ever frozen pizza and soggy chips. Bloody kids everywhere and the over 60s. When will they ever realise they do not belong? Triton is doing great. Best invention ever right?

Got some Mackay Cedar from my good friend Greg. Bought 1L of Tung oil for $45 it has to be the most expensive oil in the world.

I will go next year as long as the show needs me.

Keep that up and you won't get a lift next year! The frozen pizza was a highlight!

Assuming they paid entry then they belonged there just as much as you. I really don't understand this kind of thinking.

Don't worry mate he was just having a dig at me - next year I'll drag his beloved Mackay Cedar by chain behind the car

[robbygard]

Maybe a venue change like that of the Melbourne Wood Show??

Rosehill Raceway has been suggested as there seems to always be some sort of show or trade fair happening when the horses aren't...

doesn't matter where for me ... i would still go ... but as i stay at rydges rosehill, that would be a winner in a way

if (and only if) it would attract more suppliers, i would think an increase in entry price and a reduction in exhibitor costs would be ok ... to me an extra dollar or three on the entry wouldn't turn me off at all

regards david

[Turtle81]

Some thoughts from a 35yr old backyard woodworker who has never been to a show like this before.

This is the first time I have ever attended an event like this and was waiting 9 months for it after only finding it by accident by stumbling on a post about it online last year. Over all i was reasonably impressed.

So your idea of ordering at the show would be a viable idea with maybe the incentive of free shipping.

this idea definitely has merit although i suspect a lot of the suppliers already did it - i know Lie-Nielsen did that as they had run out of No.62 low angle planes by the time i bought one and so I'm getting it shipped to me free of charge.

I totally agree that the advertising was seriously lacking, i have not seen any advertising for it and that was with me knowing it was coming up, even signing up to the email notifications i only got one reminder from the show. I got more from some of the suppliers saying they will be attending than the show itself. Even on the website you could buy the tickets from the information available was shocking, the video was very short and looked very old, and there were hardly any pictures of the previous years, younger guys don’t know what they are missing out on unless they can see some pictures – Guys are visual creatures !

As for content i found the stalls that did go to be quite good although i was surprised at how small the space was for some of the bigger companies like carbatec, obviously the cost of the site is an issue. This then limits what they bring and therefore the range of things on show.

I Thought there was a good mix of old and new tools available and i found everything i was looking for plus a bit more, i was surprised at the lack of small stalls that i expected to find at an event like this selling just one or two weird and wonderful things a guy had come up with and was making in his garage as a hobby.



The big surprise for me (although it most probably shouldn’t have been) was the timber available! I went not expecting to buy any timber at all and ended up lugging a 5kg slab of Inland Rosewood home on the train that i just couldn’t leave behind and seriously wishing i had driven so i could have gotten more. The timber available was eye opening after having really only bought from the big green box store before, and the burls !!! i was literally drooling over them, i have NEVER seen so many in one place before, i was like a kid in a candy store. I can seriously say it has changed my perceptions of timber forever! And would be devastated if it closed down


I do agree with what a few other people have said and maybe move it from Olympic park to another location, as far as i know Olympic park has a reputation of being horrendously expensive, at least the parking is ..... This would allow them to offer cheaper sites. Also offer free sites to woodworking clubs/websights or at least a loungeish area for them to meet up it and advertise. Maybe a shared lounge area where all the clubs can advertise/meetup/socialise etc just look at the number of people trying to set up meetups on this thread. Its not like the area was chock a block full of stores anyway. Think about it, the clubs get a free area then they advertise it to all their members and it is free advertising to the target audience the show is trying to attract!

Any way just thought I'd put my 2c in

[Scally]

Another good day at the Show.
Always good to catch up with the guys from Major, Trend, Vek/Festool, Lei Neilsen, Mr Mogy, Colen Clenton, Terry Gordon, Col Howsie, Craig at Cedarworks and others. They all have received some of my money over the years.
I had to work with a couple of customers to select timber for future projects. They slowed me down a bit but it is always fun to buy more timber.
I had a good shopping list for Mal and Greg at Boutique Timbers and spent good time and money with them.
There were a few thing I wanted to see and buy and managed to get most of them but some unfortunately hadn't been bought to the show.
Fletty might have a good solution by using bar codes and the suppliers can post them out after the show......at a show price.
I only caught up with a few from the forum as I was on a mission to get what I was after. Even with all the school kids and old farts like me I don't know how I didn't see Wongo. Hopefully next year Scott.
My extravagance was a Bridge City Kerf Gauge from Major. They have always interested me since I saw a timber on at our Forum stand a few years ago. Now I have a new toy to play with.

[bryn23]

Assuming they paid entry then they belonged there just as much as you. I really don't understand this kind of thinking.

Im thinking it was a joke between a few of the forum members

[Greg Ward]

Ummm...... Wongo's comment on the kids and over 60's was tongue in cheek........ I look forward to the day when he brings his delightful children to the show, the young can be useful in carrying large bits of timber the older can't handle anymore......and he's got to be at least 40!

It was a great show and everybody seemed happy, smiles everywhere.
I know all the outside timber sellers had a good show, sales similar to previous years.
The afternoon Sydney sun was marvellous and it didn't rain and wash away Mal's pricing.... so that was another positive.

Massive thanks to Gordon Joseph for his wonderful gift of a napkin-holder, made using his new dovetail gear. My wife said. 'How beautiful' and the argument now rages about whether it is destined for the farm or for her Sydney house!

Barcoding? Mal still hasn't got past chalk!

And my market survey again showed that attractive women are attracted to wood and those who buy them some.
Greg

[fletty]

Hi Turtle81, and welcome to the forum. I'm afraid there are a lot of people who only know of timber for sale at Bunnings but, in Sydney, we are blessed with a number of excellent suppliers of REAL timber. I don't know where is convenient for you but the locals include Anagote near Marrickville, Matthews (Mathews?) near St Marys, Trend near Windsor and, my favourite, Boutique Timbers who you would have seen at the Show. Boutique are based on the North Coast of NSW but, if you ask nicely, they will bring timber down to Sydney during their fortnightly sabbaticals?

[Wongo]

Keep that up and you won't get a lift next year! The frozen pizza was a highlight!

Goodness your not over 60 are you?

[I_wanna_Shed]

Hi Turtle81, and welcome to the forum. I'm afraid there are a lot of people who only know of timber for sale at Bunnings but, in Sydney, we are blessed with a number of excellent suppliers of REAL timber. I don't know where is convenient for you but the locals include Anagote near Marrickville, Matthews (Mathews?) near St Marys, Trend near Windsor and, my favourite, Boutique Timbers who you would have seen at the Show. Boutique are based on the North Coast of NSW but, if you ask nicely, they will bring timber down to Sydney during their fortnightly sabbaticals?

We are lucky once you get your head around Bunnings and Radiata Pine not being the only sources of timber. There's also All Class Timbers who were at the show, their shop is down at Mittagong, conveniently next to a brewery!

[NCArcher]

Assuming they paid entry then they belonged there just as much as you. I really don't understand this kind of thinking.

Ignore Wongo. He is over 60 with the mentality of a school kid

[bueller]

Haha yeah I guess sarcasm doesnt really come across online ☺️

[crowie]

There's also All Class Timbers who were at the show, their shop is down at Mittagong, conveniently next to a brewery!

If that's Eden Brewery it may be my niece and husband, Jacob and Deb Newman.. even more of reason to visit the timber shop...