Thread: Timber & Working With Wood Show - Have your say, revisited

Budgets only go so far I guess from both sides It would be nice to see all those vendor faces again.

I don't recall reading anything about displays and demo's by groups/clubs/TAFEs from the Melbourne show here on the forum. When I first visited the Sydney show in 2005 that area was fuller than it has been for the last two years, partly due to Pro demos.

Speaking of Pro demos its great to see what they can do with green wood how about some dry burls or hardwoods.

Another vendor who might be worthwhile is Hammer/Felder. Their gear seems to be pretty good and they are keen to sell

www.hammer-australia.com

Craig

Timbecon - bought my drill press off them a few years back because they were there. I know its as expensive as hell travelling across our country, so I understand their absence from the Eastern shows, especially without any store fronts over here.
Overpriced parking (not to do with EEE though)P
Professional Woodwork Supplies, and Hare and Forbes are missed.
The seminars can largely be distracted by a chainsaw, bench grinder, angle grinder or something loud. Dead right there.
More publicity surrounding a two or three daypass (I didn't know it existed).
The Carbatec stand just isn't the same at its much smaller size. However they're selling more than ever before and the smaller stand is saving them money. Can you blame them for downsizing the stand.
I really really miss Richard Vaughan's entertaining and very informative presentations. GET HIM BACK TO THIS SHOW!!!!
The ticket lines can be long. Not really a bad thing though. We get upset when we have to line up at Coles or Woolies nowadays though. And at Sydney you have people walking along the line selling tickets (so I guess this can go in the 'pro' column). Sydney this year you could pre buy tickets early at the show and there was coffee and food available for all who were there waiting. I believe the same thing will be available in Melb this year.

Some people and businesses have done the wrong thing and burnt their bridges behind them. I doubt they will ever be asked or allowed back again. Some may have just got sick of the price wars that used to go on especially with machinery being sold below cost to beat the opposition out of a sale.

My personal view is that the shows are growing and becoming a more stable and better environment, the strongest and most persistent have survived the upheavals of the last few years, some of the weaker ones have fallen by the wayside, allowing for new exhibitors to enter the fray and I'm sure there will continue to be changes for the better over the next couple of years. This years shows have been the most pleasant I have been at for the last 10 years or more.

The new broom has swept clean there is an air of excitement and enthusiasm that I haven't seen for many years. People are working together instead of against each other and the thrill that was there 20 odd years ago at the first shows is coming back. Visitors and exhibitors alike all seemed to be genuinely more happy than I can remember for a long time.

No matter what happens not everyone will always be happy. Then there are some who thrive on finding fault.

By the way we pay $4.70 for a pie at the local bakery so I really don't think $5 at the show is too exorbitant. Even if it was it should be a complaint taken up with the venue not EEE.

Originally Posted by Morbius

Another vendor who might be worthwhile is Hammer/Felder. Their gear seems to be pretty good and they are keen to sell

www.hammer-australia.com

Craig

They were at the shows, dont know why not anymore.

Just a thought for Melbourne show coming up and those super deals everyone should be getting due to the almighty US AU $. Go for it screw them down they can afford it.
If a $1500 camera can drop by $250 a machine of same value Melbourne show should be a steal of deals.

Just because the dollar's high now doesn't mean it was when all the orders were put in and paid for up to 9 mths or more ago.

Besides that, just how much mark-up do you think most carry in machinery etc. You may be surprised to find out how little there is. Many only carry around 20% mark-up on a lot of their goods.

People need to get over the thought that everyone who sells woodwork gear is out to rip them off. In most instances that's far from the case.

You want them to come to the show pay a small fortune as (already outlined) to be there then give away a sizeable portion of their profit. Strewth!

We've had an 87% increase in the cost of shellac in the last month due to crop failure. Much of what we sell is petrochemical based including most of our container and has gone up in price horrifically over the last 8 years. Yet we sell at the same discounted rate at the shows that we had in 2000 and still have people reckon they're getting ripped off. Recently we lost almost $60,000 worth of shellac due to being given the wrong hardener. It all had to be dumped and no recourse on the dumb buggers the supplied it, we had to take that on the chin, suck it up and get on with it.

Easy way out for us would have been have a heap of price rises as some others have done. Last rise 2002. So look out because it could come sometime soon.

Rant over.

Re Hammer/Felder

Think they don't come any more for the reason many others don't. It's not a trade show and you just don't sell many big machines like theirs at what is basically (hate to say this) a hobby show, a high end hobby show, but a hobby show none the less.

Originally Posted by Morbius

Another vendor who might be worthwhile is Hammer/Felder. Their gear seems to be pretty good and they are keen to sell

www.hammer-australia.com

Craig

They were at last years Melbourne show as I collected some business cards and catalogues.

Originally Posted by I_wanna_Shed

• I really really miss Richard Vaughan's entertaining and very informative presentations. GET HIM BACK TO THIS SHOW!!!!

I agree get him back! One of the most enthusiastic, entertaining, educational presenters. He should not be lost to the woodwork community. I do know much of the history of what has gone on and it is just that - history. To my way of thinking it should be relegated to the past and forgotten - move on, it serves no purpose to continue dredging up the past and making gossip inducing comments like 'some people and businesses have burnt their bridges...' .I think most people are over it and just want to see the best people and the best shows.
my 5c worth.

Cheers
Michael

I do know much of the history of what has gone on and it is just that - history.

G'day Michael - My comments about burned bridges were in general and not aimed at Richard, my apology to anyone who thinks it was.

However, some who no longer attend the shows have done some serious bridge burning and I'll warrant it definitely isn't for any of the reasons or the history you or anyone else may think you know.

Pretty sure you'll find the entire staff of EEE are very forgiving people and not the type to hold a grudge. Water under the bridge, etc. Even burnt bridges.

Let's get back on track again with helpful ideas.

I have done quite a few shows now, the last 3 or so for all three days. From my perspective as an attendee I reckon the Melbourne show is in the best shape that I have seen. I remember the crammed shows in Jeff's shed, very little aisle space and getting stuck behind people who seem to just stop in the middle of nowhere to have a rest. That caused mayhem with the crowd, they couldn't move and did not want to stop themselves for fear of causing the same problem.

The new location offers space and that in turn relieves a lot of the frustration of the crowd. You can stop and look without a bunch of people muttering curses because you have blocked the aisle. Most importantly, those in wheelchairs or requiring a frame or similar can move, and others are able to flow around them.

The food is easy to get to and there is space for people to put down packages while they eat. The prices of the parking, food and coffee is beyond the control of the organisers so that leaves the entry fee. I do not think the entry fee has risen in recent years although floorspace has.

Last year's show seemed to be a bumper year for some vendors, I saw one with empty shelves and knackered staff on Saturday! As for the bigger vendors, if I were them I'd probably be doing what they are doing, that is, looking carefully at what sells at the show and making use of the space available to bring the items that sell. It seems they are tuning the stock they bring every year. Big machines cost a lot to transport, take time to set up and people expect a discount at the show so margins are not likely to be great. Having a number of stands selling similar items keeps the prices reasonable.

One thing that could be improved is signage to the toilets. I seemed to have a lot of people ask me where they were. Maybe a red ribbon strung from the big black overhead number boxes to the toilet walls or something like that may help.

Overall, I am just hoping for more of the same as I think they have achieved a very good balance.

How about a woodwork competition? There isn't one is there?(in Brissie at least)

Neil, apologies for misinterpreting your post

CHeers
Michael

From an earlier post of mine.

Besides that, just how much mark-up do you think most carry in machinery, etc. You may be surprised to find out how little there is. Many only carry around 30% mark-up on a lot of their goods.

Jim Carroll and a couple of others have informed me it's actually around 20% and not 30% as I said. So the earlier post has been amended.

I'm glad I don't sell machinery and the like.