Thread: Timber and Working With Wood Show - Adelaide

I was not disapointed with the show, diferent people expect different things I guess. I spent over $1000, mainly on interstate items that I normaly have to wait for. What did concern me was the the lack of patronage, every one complained when it did not happen last year (myself included)
WHERE THE BL%$DY HELL WERE YOU I was at the show with a mate for 41/2 hours on Saturday if I was diapointed with the turn out I can only imagine what the exhibters were thinking. Lets hear from some of the exhibiters on what they thought of the turn out maybe over the three days it was worth it. One thing I would like to see at the shows is a judging of locally made items

I wouldn't say that the number of stalls was anywhere as high as Melbourne however the variety of stalls was similar. For example Melbourne may have 5 timber stalls, Adelaide 2, which is to be expected at a smaller show. Melbourne does however have a big display from one or more of the local clubs demonstrating what has been made and often the ability to speak with the makers or purchase items. There is also the hand tool preservation group.

In previous years they did have displays from the local woodworking schools which provided that next step up in quality and design to a lot of the hobby work around. This was quite interesting to be able to look over and it may be something that the organizers can look at trying to get back for future shows. Perhaps if the space is given for cheap/free it may be rewarded in increased door numbers.

Hear, hear. You have put the finger on what I believe is the main point of difference with last week's show and the main reason why the local guilds have opted for that one.

The killing factor in a small place like Adelaide is that the number at any given time of potential buyers of long lasting items is insufficient to justify exhibiting on short term commercial grounds: if the exhibitors come, they do it because they write off the immediate loss as a cost of long term advertising to establish their name.

And I do not mean necessarily the thousand dollar machines: as I was apologetically telling Neil, I have one of each of his main products, but it takes years for me to go through them.

And maybe I was more aware of the absence of some of the exhibitors I saw in Melbourne because they were those I was most interest in: Arbortech, Dremel and Sherwood.

IMHO the way to ensure the survival of the show is for the producers (i.e. Neil ) or importers of specific items, especially those that are new on the market (Scooner's point), to have them demonstrated non stop by people who know very well what they are doing (not like the guy who relieved the Tormec girl during a break. ). The local retailers would do well showing the full range of what is available locally, but I can not see how coming to Adelaide would be worth an interstate retailer's time: if they are importers of specific products not marketed locally, they need to exhibit just those as said above. Timber from WA or Tasmania are cases in point. No much point having there three retailers of Pfeil chisels if they do not have the specific one I am after: I'll just drop in on Magill Road at the first opportunity. Demos not related to products become less important to attract people and two days will be ample time for the targeted customers to pop in, but the area needed will be smaller and the cost of entrance can be reduced to a bare minimum to maximise attendance.

For example Melbourne may have 5 timber stalls, Adelaide 2

I counted 4, no wonder the poor Glowacki people looked so depressed hiding behind that back wall!

i enjoyed my three days at the show. It was great to catch up with mates from way back and it was beaut to meet new folk. I thought that the organisers did a fantastic job considering that the chance of them coming out on top financially wasn't great. It am very impressed that they still put on the best show they could with rest areas, promos, demon demonstrators and lots of small things that the general public don't notice. It was also interesting to hear exhibitors discussing how they could improve their own stands, displays and demos.
I think that South Australians, which includes me, should be thankful for what they received, amen!

I suppose the question should be asked of the SA public who are quick to condem the show as to why we should come back after such a low response, just lucky to have 4000 people over the 3 days.

We did approach the show with a very low expectation as there was not a lot of pre show interest.

We do the shows to promotote ourselves to one and all and let everyone see what we have first hand.

There was the largest amount of demonstrations and demonstrators at this show compared to other shows in adelaide in the past.

Demonstrators do need a rest during the day and the fill ins are obviously not going to be as well versed in the product but they do try to do their best.
If you want more info it will not be that long before the main demonstrator or informed person comes back.

The general talk is that there was a great dissapointment that the guilds were not there to show their wares and have finished goods for sale. They had been asked by one of their local representatives but decided that they did not need to fly their flag because they were not gaurenteed to have a show every year. Even heard one person complain that they were not given anything in writing, but did they try to call the organisers to clarify anything, again a big NO.

You would think that any opportunity to show themselves would be a big plus.

The general concensus is that the show will still be every second year with maybe condensing it down to 2 days.

My thoughts are that this would be good as the crowd will still come and the feeling will be more upbeat.

We thank all the people that came to the show, it was great to meet old freinds and put faces to the people we only talk to on the phone and to meet a lot of new people. We thank you and do hope to see you all again.

Regards Jim & Irene
Carroll's Woodcraft Supplies.

Thanks for confirming my analysis, Jim. The same 4000 people would come through in 2 days. Still think that two years is a long time to wait though, especially for whose who hope to catch the guy who has been saving for the big occasion. We are mostly of an age group with shorter term expectations. My apologies for the little humour I tried to insert about the Tormec guy, it was not meant as a criticism. I should not have assumed that it would be obvious to everybody that it was of no consequence in the big picture, thank you for spelling it out for anybody for whom it was not.

I would like to say that Mel the lovely Tormek lovely was worth waiting for! A very nice young woman, easy on the eye too.
It was also worth the wait 2 year for Doug the Whittlin' Wonder even if my wallet left lighter and my pocket heavier.

Liz's demo was really good... and Stan was super loud and funny as usual!

This was my 3rd show, all in all it was the smallest but I think it was the best. Yes there is a lack of new products but this is the amateur woodwork industry not much changes really its not like the computer/technology industry where there's innovations galore to gawk at.
For people like me having all the larger WW shops there doesnt make all that much difference, to me looking at carba's and Timbys etc etc is the same products just differing colour scheme's on the stands! I still buy what I need from them.
More missed seeing competition pieces, casting your vote is good procrastinating fun.

I managed to not spend several thou this time and spent more time watching the demos rather than melting the CC.(still spent 1k... not including the speeding fine on the trip home )

Originally Posted by Harry72

....(still spent 1k... not including the speeding fine on the trip home )

Funny you said that, I also copped one on the way back from Melbourne last time...too eager to try our new toys?

Nah in my own stupidity passed 4 "Im scared to overtake" cars at once, lucky nice mr police man was in good mood otherwise I would have lost the lic on the spot...

AAAAhh Harry, you thilly thauthage you. By the end of 3 days at the show I was so buggered I travelled home to the sunny(?) southeast at 10 k's below the limit. Not only did I avoid the fines but I used F' all fuel in the mighty Hoondai.
I spent not very much buckaroonies at the show, bought a nifty knilfe from the Whittlin' Wonder, bits and pieces from McJing. Had a brilliant Satdee night at Chateau Chandelier with U, the beautiful Beaut, nifty Noelene and her shy retiring hubby "Big Stan", Stans gorgeous checkout chick, my sorta daughter Rosie and other beautiful people.
Harry, which customary public visiting type bloke was you? I saw lots of beautiful people and some real ugly buggers to boot. Which one was you?

Harry, which customary public visiting type bloke was you? I saw lots of beautiful people and some real ugly buggers to boot. Which one was you?

G'day Christopha, Harry and I sat next to each other on Friday and watched Ubeauts polishing on flat work demo. Does that help?

Nup! Me short term memory is kinda buggered... Tank who?