Thread: Working With Wood Shows

Hi Greg,

I'm not sure that I agree with you on some retailers having sales just before the WWW show being a bad thing.

Actually I think that it promotes competition, because all of the vendors are after the woodie dollar, and if they can come up with a way to promote their goods and so gain some sales, then they make a dollar and the woodie gets something that s/he believes to be good value.

There's also the probability that a new woodie will go the "entry level' route first, and so will be unlikely to venture into serious kit right away. The corollary of this is that vendors of decent kit will only be of interest, generally, to those who are already aware of who sells what, and what that's like.

Anyway, and for what it's worth, I'm quite happy to explore the possibilities offered by pre WWW show sales

Originally Posted by Auld Bassoon

Hi Greg,

I'm not sure that I agree with you on some retailers having sales just before the WWW show being a bad thing.

Actually I think that it promotes competition, because all of the vendors are after the woodie dollar, and if they can come up with a way to promote their goods and so gain some sales, then they make a dollar and the woodie gets something that s/he believes to be good value.

There's also the probability that a new woodie will go the "entry level' route first, and so will be unlikely to venture into serious kit right away. The corollary of this is that vendors of decent kit will only be of interest, generally, to those who are already aware of who sells what, and what that's like.

Anyway, and for what it's worth, I'm quite happy to explore the possibilities offered by pre WWW show sales

Why don't they have their sale in December, ready for Christmas pressies? They time it for just before the show so they can avoid competition, especially from interstate companies that are not normally in the state of the show.

It appears the retailers want the shows to disappear so they have the market to themselves, if they achieve it then we will not get to look at a lot of new stuff.

For the market to be competitive, it needs a lot of players. I like a bargain as much as the next guy, but I am wary of the effect these "sales" running at the moment will have on the show.

Only been to one here in Brisvegas and other than to visit with all you folks in the forum I can't really think of a good reason to go back to one. Prices being offered weren't anything special as far as I was concerned. I was hoping to pickup a lot of exotic woods when I did go but came away very disappointed.

Been to a few wood shows around North America and can only think of one that would have me going back and that was the American Association of Woodturners annual show. Their demos and gallery are well worth the high price.

I go to a Show every year. The last two years I have beeen away when the Sydney Show was held, so I have attended the Canberra Show instead.

Yes the Canberra Show is smaller but it will still keep you occupied for an entire day, depending on interests.

The shows are an ideal opportunity to buy tools, machines and woodworking related products, to buy timber, to look at latest developments in tools and machines and related products, to watch demonstrations of machines, listen/watch talks/demonstrations by talented people like the late Les Miller, Richard Vaughan etc and to view some of the fine woodwork usually on display. The opportunity to talk to like-minded people plus the many machinery/equipment/tool experts is also very beneficial.

Some don't like the non-woodworking related stands at the show. If the floor space would otherwise be vacant, let them take stands at the shows as it will help keep stand space rentals a little cheaper. If you don't like the nature of the product being flogged on a particular stand, it's not hard to walk past it.

How can the show be improved? I think more demonstrations of equipment would attract more people and result in more purchases of tools and equipment. Yes there are space/noise/safety issues, but more demonstrations of tables saws, bandsaws, jointers, thicknesssers etc etc would be popular.


Therapy

Generally go every second year, but this year realised how bad my memory is becoming .

What I like;
Out the back-Club, TAFE and School exhibits, real people.
Trade/Industrial suppliers, I don't usually buy stuff at the show, but it is great to catch up in person with the people at the other end of the phone.
New products-especially that blue, squat, large diameter dust extractor that I could not convince the salesman to pull apart so I could get a good look inside and build myself .

Dislikes;
The cheap rubbish, tools, mops, pruners etc
Crowding of displays
Paying entry to see displays that have been advertised and they are not there:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: &:mad: .
Salesmen that won't let me pull their product appart so I can build one for myself .

Suggestions; Move the show to Ag Quip at Gunnedah , seriously this would be a fantastic combination for all.
No Gunnedah is not a suburb in Sydney!

After this years Perth show I wont be going again. Nothing new, same old same old. I did post something about this so I wont go into it again. I was surprised to see the cost to put up a stand, and that would probably explain the lack of new talent. DMG should do a bit more of a sell (to exhibiters) rather than just take the easy money from both ends.

I've only been to one show but loved it. Distance is the main problem.

I have to do most of my shopping on the internet, and only get to browse through Carbatec Brisbane occasionally, but their range is limited.

It's good to see what other suppliers sell.

Its even better to see experts demonstrate how to use their products - must get to next year's Brisbane show as I've got a few things I want Neil to demonstrate.

I don't mind some of the "extra" stalls so long as they are not too far removed ie the pruner's stall can be useful and is still associated with trees (ie wood)

The one show I did go to I bought a bandsaw and a trend airshield plus a few other items from a variety of suppliers.

When I go again I would consider it a waste of time if I didn't get myself a few supplies. For example I am looking to upgrade my bandsaw to a larger model soon, so I will be looking at a number of different saws from a number of different suppliers all at the one location, then looking for the best deal I can get (I love haggling, even though the suppliers may not like it). At least this way all the suppliers get a go at getting my business, otherwise only 2 or 3 Brisbane dealers would have the opportunity.

I know how much these shows cost to set up a stall. My wife sells handmade glass beads at the Brisbane Bead and Glass Show. A 3 metre by 1 metre stall for 3 days costs $1000. We keep costs down by travelling there by caravan. However the important thing is exposure. She gets a lot of follow-up sales as a result of these shows.

I probably would not know about this forum and U-beaut except that I saw their stall in Brisbane.


Don

I go when I can. Not around for the last one in Tassie, didn't have one this year did they? Wasn't around anyway. I like to see the new stuff that's around and where possible demos of gear I have in the shed to see if I use it properly. Sadly there are not enough demos of equipment. The Giffkin stand is great, wish I had seen that before I bought another brand The last show I went to in Tassie had some real nice wood available, wish now I bought some. I will go to the next one if there is one and part with some coin.Must agree some of the stands are crap and should have stayed at the flea maket.

have only been the last few years but always look foward to see what new on the market, pick up new ideas

I think the Woodshow in Perth is terrific. It may not be as big as the ones in the East but it's what we have: bargains, demonstrations, and vendors showing goods that we would otherwise have to travel all around Australia to see. It's only because of the Woodshow that I am a little bit familiar with some of the tools that are recommended on this forum. Seeing them in action is very different to seeing them in glass cases, if they are even stocked over here.

The show costs the sponsors a lot to put on and I know that next years show is in doubt because of these costs. Whinges don't help either. Don't tell me that the organisers don't read these forums.

It is one thing to choose not to go.

It is another thing entirely to have no choice.

Main reason I attend show (in Melb) is to:
- see what is new/get ideas for new tools to buy, what to make, hardware, improved techniques, etc
- compare like tools from different suppliers. It is a lot easier when all suppliers are at one site, and if I miss something I can go back and check easily.
- see product. I like to see before I buy. Then feel more confident buying online/phone.

I don't wait for 'show specials' because I think there are good deals all the time if you look around and ask for discounts and in a lot of cases prices seem to go up before the show eg I bought a bandsaw at start of this year @ $300 discount to current advertised price. I will wait for the show if I am not sure and want to compare.

Geoff

This might be too late but I'd like to share my thoughts on the show. We went to Sydney this year for the first time and spent quite a lot of money that we weren't intending to (over 2k). We bought timber to make a dining table (thanks malcolm) and some tools. My significant other is currently doing a great job on the table.

Whilst sig other was supervising the sanding of the slab I did the rounds for the tools. Some companies were great, I am a newbie - generally I do the research hubbie does the work, and I suffer from a girls school education - ie no woodwork. I didn't hide that I was a newbie but kudos to Ryobi and Makita for not being condescending and treating me equally with the men. Some companies who shall remain nameless ignored me totally when I was standing there to ask questions and interested in buying power tools - even when they weren't serving male customers. If there was a male customer around they totally ignored me. Needless to say they didn't get my business.

There were a number of us with babies there, but the facilities were woeful for changing a baby - inside a cramped ladies loo! There was no where to sit and breastfeed a baby so a number of us sat at the talk areas and did it - embarrassing a few guys when bubs came off the breast to look around and showing a lot of breast. The other major drama was no microwave to heat a baby's food - at 7 months they certainly can't have the stuff you can buy at the show. Homebush has a lot better changing facilities but still needs a microwave! This would have allowed us to stay much longer and probably buy more.

Thinking about when my son gets bigger, an area for kids to try woodworking under supervision would have been fun. Not sure how it might work but could allow parents to spend more, plus get the next generation interested.

Colleen

My reasons for going:
* See and buy timber
* See and drool over new machinery
* Watch the odd demo from stallholders
* Watch demos from experts if i can sit still that long

Concerns:
* Cost of entry
* gradual demise of shows especially Canberra
* gradual demise of 'specials' from big companies

Carry Pine

I try to get to Brissy for a while each year. It's not a shopping trip for me.

Living outside the metropolitan area, I don't get to browse the gear shops at other times. I rarely buy stuff at the show (although I did come away with a swag of UBeaut stuff this year), but usually get enough info to make follow up purchases later. eg this year, I had a lovely chaar t with a nice man at the Peacock Saws stand, and discovered they will recut, set and sharpen my old Disstons with the missing teeth, for less than the cost of me driving to Brisbane! (three saws will be done by them before Christmas).

I particularly like catching up with the blokes I only meet once a year, at the Woodenboat Assn and Musical Instrument Makers Assn, as well as the forum chappies (and chappiettes).

I'd like to see more quality "stuff". The boat guys and the music guys who usually have great examples of their craft, the woodwork clubs do a great job in encouraging all comers too, but the standard of work displayed is inconsistent (which is a good thing).

How about a serious awards programme and a serious display of QUALITY work in different categories?

What about a few contests like the Pallet contest or a 2x4 Contest to drag some serious content?

Cheers,

P