Thread: Working With Wood Shows

Good one Neil.

First off they need to get rid of the "squishie pillows", "the magic tree pruners" and the "magic paint pad" sellers.

It should be a show dedicated to timber an tools only.

Al

And the bloody shoe polishers!

Why do I go?

To stock up on UBeaut supplies
To check out any newly-released tools and equipment, new (to me) inventions and ideas
To stock up on any other supplies needed, check out the supplier and goods before purchasing online from them
To find new suppliers
To pick up some interesting pieces of timber
To support the woodturning/worker clubs by buying something from their stands
To meet & catch up with fellow woodworkers
To keep up to date with what's around, what's happenening, get new catalogues and training brochures
To get new ideas
To pick up any great specials I just can't be without


Why wouldn't I go

Too sick to drive
Act of God


What I'd like to see more of?
Displays of woodwork
More interesting & rare pieces of timber
Artists in Action - eg someone building something throughout the whole weekend

Cheers & Thanks for the chance to give some feedback.

Wendy

I first started going to check out the machinery and tools that were on offer.
This was the most important thing to me when I started to set-iup my shed.

Nowadays I find I go more to get those pieces of timber that are not usually easily available and also to catch up with fellow forumites.

Of course, replenshing my stock of Ubeaut products is always a priority as well.

I really think that the Sydney show has gone down hill since I first started going and I think that a lot of the reason for that is the rise of the non-woodworking exhibitors (think comfort pillows et al ) together with a fall off in woodwork exhibitors (Henry Bros and Hafco for instance).

It would also be good to see the major players offer some genuine show discounts.

ABove all I reckon that they have to boot out the non-woodwork exhibitors or it runs the risk of just turning into an annual "Paddy's Market".

Ours was cancelled this year. (Tas)
Ozwinner.and wendy summed it up perfectly.
I was always at the Brisbane ones and a definite decline in
the shows was seen
And the cost to exhibitors is outragious !
Its not worth having a stand.

Ditto for Al and Wendy. I love going to find show specials and learn about what's available.

CHeers

Originally Posted by ozwinner

Good one Neil.

First off they need to get rid of the "squishie pillows", "the magic tree pruners" and the "magic paint pad" sellers.

It should be a show dedicated to timber an tools only.

Al

NO way :mad: :mad: :mad:

I spend half my time watching those guys, buying star mops and miracle gutter cleaners.

The magic paint pad is actually an excellent tool. So are those fibre cloths.

:mad:

And I think offering show discounts is just enhancing the problem for suppliers. You only have to rad posts in here all the time advising people to wait until the show before buying - it will be on special etc. They make a rod for their own backs. The people put off buying until the show, they sell more at the show because of it and less in the shop for the same reason. Then they have to keep going to the show because they can't afford to miss out on sales. So they get committed and the show organisers put up the fees because they have a captive audience.

If the show wasn't there, we'd all still have the same tools we have today. No extra sales are created at the show, just transferred from elsewhere.

But I like going to buy the mops.

I have been to two, last year and the year before in Sydney. It's a half day drive to get there. I usually time a work-related trip to Sydney to coincide but this year I was too busy with the house building to give up a weekend. I will probably go next year.

I had thought of going to the Canberra one but had heard that it's not as big as Sydney (the show, not the city ). Had no money to spend around the time of the Canberra one this year anyway.

What I like about them is checking out all the stuff I read about in mags or here that I don't normally get to look at, like the HNT Gordon and Lie-Nielsen stands. I like looking at the second hand stuff and checking out the work on display. I don't bother with the demos and the timber looks overpriced to me, but then I'm a cheapskate. I usually catch up with some forum members, but I can take that or leave it For some reason, I always seem to be hung over when I go too, I don't know why.

I don't care too much about the non-woodie related stuff in that it wouldn't stop me going. If it takes over, I would steer clear though. I can go to Paddy's Market for free. You do have to ask yourself what's in it for DMG to have those exhibitors in there. Are they having trouble making up the numbers from the woodwork related businesses and organisations?

Never been to one, which I'm a bit embarrassed about...having worked in the industry, and it continues to be a passion. Main reason I guess is it means a 4 hr round trip, which has to be added to other costs like parking and entry, food etc.
Why haven't I made the effort, despite the advertising:
I guess if it sounded more like a "festival" of like minded woodworking enthusiasts, with displays of a wide range of woodwork and people actually working, and some historic stuff (that side of it interests me greatly), and not just a marketing exercise, with emphasis on the latest gimmick, I'd make a day of it. More on the inspiration, the "how-to" or even "what-to", than "what-with", but that sounds pretty naive!
The recent woodfair I went to up here was a case in point...all woodworking related, gold coin donation entry, with only the odd bit of merchandising. Timber for sale, and artisans showing their wares, so it was more about woodwork than the machinery and supplies, not a tradeshow.

Cheers,

I would go to each and every one but for the distance/time/money factors. I have been to two and bought UB products at both, drooled over almost everything else in the joint (except the magic mops and pruners) and will go to them again, when time/money concerns are no longer an issue.

Dan

I have only been to the most recent one but I think it is unlikely that I would go every year.

Why go?

1. A great selection of suppliers and the chance to do comparison shopping on a wide range of wood stuff
2. A number of good prices on things you want to get
3. Interesting timber to look at
4. Good people to talk to
5. U-Beaut products
6. Intersting demonstrations and exhibitions in the non-trade section (esp the wooden boats)
7. The one or two exhibitors whose products you didn't know about

Why not go?

1. Internet shopping enables good comparison shopping and often gives as good a price as Show specials
2. I tend to be too concerned about making impulse buys, so I leave without the thing I really need - exhibitors would do well to allow 2 month rain checks to show shoppers at the show price to avoid this
3. The entry price is high - you feel you need to pick up a great bargain to make up for the cost
4. The number of non-wood exhibitors
5. If any more of the most desirable exhibitors decide not to turn up

Will I go next year? Probably so long as I am free on the day, the price doesn't go up too much and the exhibitor list doesn't get too short on "true wood" and the exhibitors I want to see. But for me it is a year by year proposition and after next year, I will probably only go if I have a reason to go (BTW part of the reason not to go is that Neil's postal service is so good and you don't have to queue!!! )

I travel 650km to see the wood show and wouldn't miss it as long as there is breath in my body!!

The displays that are not woodwork related, need to be banned. As I pay my entrance fee to see what the advertising tells us, it is a woodworking show.

The static displays don't interest me that much. The working displays are of most interest to me, eg, Richard Vaughan, Terry Gordon, Givkins, Bush Tucker Man(Les Hiddons).

Woodshow specials that I am Interested in would be handy, as I would actually buy something!!

Cheers.

I go 'cause I deliver a load of stuff to there and get a free pass.
I also save up so I can spend up there.
Nice to look around.
Wish I had more money to spend there.

Being new to this woody stuff, I had never really taken much notice of the wood show ads. Then, after doing a few wood courses at TAFE (WA) I was asked to go as a demonstrater for Women in Wood stand - turning. WOW the wood show was fantastic and the only thing that stops me going each year (it's only 450 km round trip - nothing here in the west) is other committments.

I found some great 'new' things, often good prices, fantastic new ideas.

Some have mentioned the 'other stalls' - they help reduce costs by hiring a stall remember!

JD