Thread: Working With Wood Shows

I go every year because i am in the powertool business and like to know whats going on in Australia. I take most of the magazines ang get good info from those, but there is nothing better than handling the goods. I also restore antique furniture as a hobby and purchase Items to help with this passtime.
Me2

I usually go every other year as I find year in year out that that the differcence is not so great.

We are a little starved in Adelaide for companies providing the stuff of woodworking sheds (with obvious deference to Mik International).
I like to see new products and would like to see more variety in techniques and demonstrations.

I am not a great fan of shoe polish, window washing, the latest miracle all in one water desalination plant, toe nail clipper, woodlathe and knife sharpener advertised by a slick presenter with an amplifier. I do however understand the commercial imperative of attracting as many exhibiotrs as possible.

This years show in Adelaide was smaller than last years and seemed to be over run by the secret society of scroll saws .

But I will go again

Bernie

went to my first one last year, for some reason I kept missing the previous ones.

The main thing that irked me was a couple of organisations who were running "register for further information" things, I'm still waiting for the information I requested (actually I went elsewhere of course)

I'll go again to see what's around and maybe get some new toys

Went to my very first one (in Canberra) this year with SWMBO. Made the mistake of parking on the wrong side of the showgrounds, so had to go through the Pet Show to get to the Wood Show... 2 hours looking at cats and 1.5 hours at the wood show! Anyway enjoyed the show, bought some bargain quick clamps and SWMBO bought a lump of Purple Heart and a round of Silky Oak at very good prices! Will go again next year and go in the right side this time.

I try to go each year.
Why do I go?
I enjoy going to check out the new tools and equipment also the woodworking products. Chatting with the exhibitors and learning new things. checking out the displays and shows. Being with others that share the same interests, and of course picking up some goodies

Would like to see more room between the stalls as it does get crowded at times.
Would like to see less stalls with non woodworking related stuff.

I go occasionally. I went to Brisbane this year, but I doubt I'll bother next year. My interest is principally in seeing the manufactured timber products and the slabs and so on that are on show. Machinery and tools aren't of interest as there is nothing that can't be seen elsewhere at vendors' premises. Even less interest are the various purveyors of non-woodworking #####, although i recognise that they probably help to defray costs. I would exhibit, but the price of a stall is simply unjustifiable based on the reports I have heard about actual business that is conducted as a result.

I suspect that your woodworking shows in Oz are running into a similar problem that we are encountering here in the US.

Three to five years ago, any of the wood working shows (Wood Works or The Woodworking Show here in the US) were a time and place to get some real bargans in timber, tools, power tools and accessories. With the availability of Internet shoping, the margins at the brick and mortar outlets have been reduced to be competitive.

Today there isn't really much difference in Internet vs. brick and mortar pricing. This price squeeze has hurt the profitability of the vendors that frequented these shows. The model of a group of people on the road several months of the year selling at these shows just isn't as profitable as it once was. One of the biggest supporters of these shows, The Woodworker's Choice, actually went out of business last year. The company was one with very honest pricing and great customer service but their primary sales venue was these shows. As their primary sales venue became unprofitable their only option was to close and sell their inventory to competitors.

Here in the US, the vendors at these shows have substantially declined in number. The slack is somewhat being picked up by tool manufacturers and the local brick and mortar vendors. I'm not certain if it makes financial sense for the local brick and mortar vendors to support these shows. It is just an additional expense in renting booth space, transporting goods to the show and extra personnel wages.

What will draw woodworkers to the show?

Low prices for goods? Unfortunately, the margins are so thin right now that there is no room left. I recently saw a brick and mortar have a huge sale on a significant power tool. The margin was slightly more than 2%. Typically a credit card sale costs the merchant at least 3%. So much for profit on the sale.

Free Education? Learning something new is always a good reason to atend a woodworking show. However the education needs to be more than 'Here is my product and this is how you use it.'

Pay for Education? Perhaps a minimal fee type of class sponsored by tool manufacturer. As an example, Jet offers a series of turning classes. A material fee for the turning blanks and fees for wear and tear on the lathes. Perhaps three, one hour classes over three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) with each one slightly more advanced. The classes could be repeated several times daily.

Alternative activities for other family members? As an illustration of the concept I'll use a Formula One race. The F1 US Gran Prix used to be held on the streets in Long Beach, California. About the third year that I attended, I realized that a gentleman sitting near by had attended all three events also. He had traveled from Hong Kong with his family to the race. He told me that this was the only F1 event he could attend because of the family. It seems that the family would go do all the Southern California things (Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Rodeo Drive Shopping, etc.) while he was at the race track. The point to consider is, Does the woodworking event need a series of companion events for other family members?

i like it because it is as close as i get to feeling a part of the woodworking community (other than the forum). None of my freinds are interested in woodwork (neandathals), so i cant talk to anyone about it. I also love drooling over things i cant have, like for the other woodie in me . its also a great way to catch up with new things, and techniques, and to handle the things i intend to buy without running all over town. i also use it to justify spending too much money, "its only once a year dear".

I hate the "sideshow" vendors, but realise that from a commercial point of view, they are important to help keep costs in check and subsidise the people we want to see.

as difficult as it would be, it would be great to have some interactivity. I would like to have a go at turning, but it will never happen cos i dont know anyone with a lathe.

The Adelaide Wood show... I LOVE IT! I usually buy what I looked at last year & look at what I will buy next year. I like to haggle over a price & the wood show is just the place to do that with the same or similar item just over there.

I went to buy a Bandsaw this year, & a 14" for $600 was just inside the door. I looked at it & was pretty impresed, but went to look at another before I parted with cash. The next one I looked at was $900 also a 14". I asked the bloke to show me why I should spend $900 when I could get a 14" just over there for $600. AND HE DID. In the end, I decided to wait until next year & spend about $1500 & get a 17" The poin is, I could compare the 2 & make a decision, because they were almost next to each other.

It is also the biggest social event for me. This year, my Brother & his wife came down, my Sister & her Husband came down & my best mate who I always go with, it was great.

I do feel the Adelaide show could be a little bigger, but I have never been to any other States shows, so I can't compare. but I would like to see Woodpecker at Adelaide, & maybe a few more suppliers from Vic or NSW.

Steve

Looking forward to July for the next WWWshow

I have never been to one.. because im only a newbie at woodworking, and have never heard of it before. Next year i'm moving to Brisbane, so i will definately go and chack it out

I have been going to the Melbourne show for years. Originally I was lured by the display of fantastic designer furniture that filled half the Exhibiiton Building. Since then I have seen the show gradually cease being a display of top quality one off designs produced by talented people using high level woodworking skills and become more of a "Sunday Market" affair.

I'm surprised at how many people say they like to go to chat to exhibitors. On the occasions that I have found people I know on stands they have been far too busy pushing products into eager hands to stop and chat. Some of the more popular stands are so busy that I have given up trying to browse and just move on.

I usually make the trip in from Bayswater and spend most of Friday at the show. It has become a bit of a nightmare to get in, what with regularly having to park off site, walk a bloody long way and queue for ever to get tickets.

As has been said by many of the contributors to this poll, the once exciting buzz created by "Show Specials" is history. The only plus these days is that the Carbatec stand is more likely to have some of the more esoteric catalogue items on display than the local store is to have them in stock during the rest of the year.

I think that to keep people paying up their hard earned to run the gauntlet of a herd of leather lunged floggers of tat, the show needs to offer a unique value proposition. More than just an opportunity to compare widgets of different origin. How about a deal that purchasers of expensive machines at the show are eligible for interest free terms for a few months, or some such enticement that gives people a hard reason to go?

I can't see the point of complaining about the cost of food as every entertainment venue from the MCG though Telstra Dome, the Exhibition Building, the Showgrounds etc. to Jeff's Shed is covered by contracts to outside caterers (most held by Spotless) to provide food. It is all crap and overpriced, so knowing that, bring a sandwich and a flask of tea if you don't want to risk high priced ptomaine poisoning.

I am still entertained by the opportunity to see the latest gear on display and being demoed. Much of the wood on sale is green, wet and overpriced, so that is not enticing. The show features such as the log sawing race are becoming passe. It would be nice to see an attempt to have a central theme to each show, different each year, so that the major demos are really worth seeing, and not repeated annually.

I understand the economics of participating in these shows, and the fact that there are so many of them now could easily dominate a retailer's year. However, I fail to understand why, if the sales from these shows represent 60% of the profit made in a retailer's year that it is not worth their while giving them a red hot go and trying to keep their stalls fresh and interesting.

I'm sure that it is hard, for the same reasons, to keep a sense of excitement going when any new items released at one of the shows are quickly discussed on bulletin boards such as this one, and by the time the show finally gets to, say, Melbourne, months later, it's all stale news.

I would really like to see more outdoor displays, such as the original idea of mobile mills slabbing timber on site, and chainsaw carving, burl carving with handheld power tools etc.

Having said all that I look forward to the show and will keep on going until, like the Australian International Engineering Exhibition and many other formerly huge shows, it finally shrinks to the point where it disappears up it's own orifice.

I only go occasionally as the Melbourne one is too small and kind of boring. Not enough variety and very little new stuff. More interstate vendors are required so we can see their goods. Internet ordering is OK for smaller stuff, but I want to see & touch the big stuff before buying.

$15 ($9 if a woodpecker) entry is a bit steep to see mostly local shops "selling" stuff which I can do for free normally. A showbag of sorts would be nice with interesting catalogues and price list etc in it.

About entry price.

It doesn't matter what the entry fee is, there will always be complaints(simply don't go if overpriced).

I for one am happy to pay, as it is much cheaper to see it under one roof rather than driving all round town or even around the state.

Non woodworking displays......get rid of them!!
My 2 bobs worth

Cheers

I just like to go to the shows to have a look at the new machinery, tools and gadgets. The last one I went to was in Brisbane which seemed a bit of a let-down after the Melbourne ones I had been to. But I'll go again in 2007 and have a look around and maybe buy a couple of things. Generally I have to agree with other respondents and say that these days we can get almost anything at a decent price via the internet, but it's still nice to actually touch the goods before you buy. Because I now live in a regional town, anything beyond the very basic stuff has to be ordered in, whether it's by me or a helpful retailer, which can be a hassle. I think the only really useful purpose these shows have left is that we can compare various brands of big-ticket items, such as bandsaws, jointers etc. under the one roof.