Boat Show — Hit or Miss?

[lanason]

Went yesterday and HIT

1) Road directions and signposting to ExCel were terrible - but found the car park - easy tot park and a few mins walk in.
I happened to be nearby yesterday but much further drive but easier M11 etc was empty.

2) Nice and big without all that pushing and shoving at Earls Court.

3) Only made it around the Boats Display didnt have time to look and the Swindery stuff. Was there for 5 hrs. All the boat sales staff were helpful, but of varieiny standards of ability. That included Aquador, Galleon, Montery, Crownline, Sealine, BMB, Four Winns. Didnt bother with the Big Boats. Fairline, Sunseeker, Princess etc.

4) Excellent company - Cheers Hagrid and Geoffs, and my mate Shane who nearly bort a boat.

5) Easy drive back to M40 right through the middle of London - but that was at 8pm.

Overall - will go again but for longer next time


<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>Kelisha</A> I never snub anyone accidentally

 

[jpceir]

Your questions prompt a different question in my mind.

But yours first

We flew into LCY, and stayed in the Tower Thistle. DLR and Thames Clippers provided the transport to Excel - all worked very well - plenty of departures, no crowding.

Best bit is the extra space, and the central walkway with plenty of food outlets - food was better than Earl's Court - everything from a pkt of crisps, to spanish tapas, to self service (not necessarily in that order). Waterways feature is a good addition. Sail Scotland get my vote for best stand (the scallops with black pudding was delicious - and together with smoked salmon, and oysters was the best value lunch at the show!!)

Worst feature? 'viewing by appointment' - brought down on us by sales training providers, who insist that sales staff 'prequalify' prospects. Also, I'm not sure that staging rounds of the indoor sailboarding chanpionships at LIBS is the most creative idea that BMIF could have come up with (didnt work that well say my friends). Outside section useless (trying to view pristine boats via a gale swept dock? Idiotic. SIBS for the boats LIBS for the......). Do we really need all of the one kind of stand to be in the same area - engines, chart plotters, chandlery, charter companies?....why not spread it out across the space?, and create even more room to wander across a wider section of the inustry (not just get stuck in the corner with all the charter companies together)

Improvements? Now my question. What does BMIF think LIBS is for? If its a boat show, then lets have more boats we can actually play with (ie get aboard).

If its a showcase for the British Marine industry, then lets showcase - more razzamatazz, gee whizzz, and dancing girls, awards for best this and that, fanfares of trumpets(BTW the acoustics were dreadful - could not hear the announcements) - wouldnt get my vote but hey.....

If its an opportunity for the industry to meet and exchange dialogue with its customers (who buy the products), then lets find better qualified stand personel (ones who understand that this is their role), and refuse attendance to sales guys who want to fill their prospects list with as little effort as possible. As examples of the former, my thanks to Dave at Barden, and Mike at Adverc, among many - the latter dont rate a mention<g>

There is no point in being for or against Excel. Its going to be Excel for the foreseeable future. What makes more sense is how best to use the opportunity LIBS@Excel presents to BMIF, and its 'real' customers.

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[traceyandsteve]

Definite hit for us. Sooooo much better than Earls Court in just about every respect. Granted we do live a 20 minute drive from Excel, and I knew exactly how to get there so signage (or lack of) wasn't an issue for us, but even so, I thought it beat Earls Court hands down.

I do agree with lots of other comments posted, especially about catering facilities, which, for such a good venue were rubbish (IMHO).

We found all the sales staff were friendly, although not all were particularly knowledgeable. Broom and Fairline staff were especially friendly and helpful. Didn't bother with Sunseeker because they had been snotty with us at previous shows and from the comments already posted on here, it didn't look as though they'd improved much, so gave them a wide berth.

Agree with most everyone else about the outside bit. Wet and windy on our visit, and we didn't spend much time out there. Either make the show later in the year, or make it all indoors.

Parked in the West car park, and was impressed with buggy ride to the entrance. Wasn't so impressed with scraping my exhaust on every down ramp getting out. Complained to the guy at the exit, who told me I should complain. Err, I thought I was......

Tracey

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[oldgit]

Re: Hit hit hit.

Dead easy to get there.
Easy to get in (those A8 Audis are Ok I suppose./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif
Sunseeker are ace etc.
On all stands we visited,salesmen helped when asked and shoved off when no longer needed.
Much better than pokey old Earls Court with regards to layout and space.
Our food in the tapas bar was excellent and could not be described as expensive under any circumstances.
Best boat overall IMHO was Rodman 1250.Proper boat with no p...xy white carpet and scratch me laquered woodwork.
Best interior use of space combined with vile ugly exterior award to Sealine.
Best quality interior finish Fairline.
Gadget award to Transas for fast service finding my dongle number and sorting me a new chart and not falling over in shock when people want to pay in cash.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[kindredspirit]

Just back from show.

Definitely much better than Earls Court. Thought has gone into the layout, the aisles are wider, entry system is good.

Paticularly like the concentration of related products in one area. Much more sensible when one is looking to compare different manufacurers lines of the same product.

Long drag down to the loos, though!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.begleys.com/kevin/weather.htm>Useful links for when cruising in Irish waters.</A>

 

[powerskipper]

Hi
Went to the boat show on Friday, so much easer to find things, all grouped together, plenty of room to move around./forums/images/icons/wink.gif
Felt that I could easily go back to an area that I wanted to see again, with out the wading though seas of peaple. [ not a great crowd person/forums/images/icons/frown.gif]

One thought , why do you not run a vistitor book at your stands , a kind of mini forum visitor book. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Julie ,
IMOSHO of course,/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Mike21]

Never went to Earls Court so can't comment on difference.
Like wide aisles and grouping similar exibitors together, much easier for getting round.

Dislikes found it bit stuffy

Getting to Docklands no probs, finding Excel ....well a few more signs would have been helpful

Everyone I know thinks it better

Would probably go back

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[gonfishing]

Hi
We spent the weekend at the show and found the layout brilliant much preferred it to Earls court,I did find the Chandlery section a bit cramped though, they could have done with a bit more room.
The food was an outright scandal, and the caterers need to be made aware that £5.00 for a small roll/ baguette is nothing short of criminal profiteering!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Parking was easy,and for a change sensibly priced.
However travelling in from the city and getting back to the city could do with better sign posting by the Highways dept there are pitifully few signs offering directions from the city(and coz I got lost for an hour and 40 mins!!!)
All in All 7/10 well done !!!

Julian

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[DogsBody]

Hi Tom,

My thoughts having visited on the Friday just gone.

Getting there - no problem, just a quick drive down the M11 for me about 40 minutes in all compared to a couple of hours to get to Earls Court. Parking at £8 for the day split between 4 of us makes the journey far cheaper than Earls Court too. Signposts could have been a little clearer but I sort of knew where I was going anyway.

I liked the way all the stands were grouped together as it meant I could look at just the areas I was interested in and not have to see the bits I have no interest in (Saily boats!) or trapse madly from one corner to another all the time. Found having all the chandlery stores together made life much easier when comparing the various prices and kit on offer.

Didn't try the food as I'd brought a packed lunch but there appeared to be a good variety and not all expensive stuff either. Was nearly tempted by those pizzas though, they seemed much more appertising than my squashed ham rolls.

Best bits of the show - Missing the crowds by going on a Friday instead of our usual Saturday which meant we got on to almost every boat we tried to including the big Sunseekers. Everywhere seemed much less crowded than at Earls Court undoubtedly some of that was due to us going mid-week but it felt much more spacious and better laid out overall.

Was really impressed with the staff on the Galeon stand, left us to wander around unmolested when we told them we were only looking but were very helpful and almost sold me a boat when I took a liking to their 280.

Worst bits - the ever increasing number of boats with "Viewing by Appointment only" signs - most off-putting. I may not be able to afford their expensive boats now but I might in a few years and certainly use what I see at the shows when considering the second hand models that are in my price bracket.

Having said that, I found that an appointment was usually unnecessary despite the signs if you found a salesperson to ask (the ease of getting a salesman's attention varied from stand to stand some of them seemed more interested in talking to each other than any potential customers). Only got turned down on the Fairline stand when I made it clear that I wasn't buying but asked if I could look at the biggest model they had on show (I'd already wandered around most of their smaller ones without problem) - was told we're a little busy now but might be able to fit you in if you come back later which I thought was fair enough (I didn't get round to going back anyway). Worst stand for me was Princess, "Appointment Only" signs seemed to be on all their boats and got the distinct impression that they didn't think we were worthy of a look onboard.

One of our party was most upset that the action on the water sports pool didn't go to plan and gave up trying to watch any of it.

Overall I thought it was a far better show than any I've been to at Earls Court and would definitely go again (can't not really as I usually get free tickets!). Might even need to go for two days next time as I found it a struggle to see all I wanted to see in one day (arrived just after opening and left not long before closing).

Best way to improve it would be to ban "Viewing by Appointment Only" signs. It is a boat show after all and I want to be able to look around the boats. I can understand if you have a serious prospect onboard you would want some privacy but if not let people on to have a look around! If you're worried about things going missing / being broken put cameras on the boats and ask people to leave their bags outside as some stands already do. Those of us who can't currently afford a new boat may well be able to do so in the future and will remember which makes were friendly and helpful in the past when that time comes. Appointment only signs just serve to make you feel they don't want you there even if in reality you don't really need an appointment and just have to ask.

Think that about sums it up,

DogsBody.

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[TomIsitt]

Re: Thanks Everyone

Thanks for your feedback (curmudgeonly old PBO readers notwithstanding)...it's appreciated.

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[Medskipper]

Hi Tom,

I went twice!

I live in Epsom Surrey, It took me 2 hours and several train changes to get there. It only ever took me 35 minutes and one train change when it was at Earls Court. So its more of a chore for me to get there.

I thought the show was OK, but I didnt feel that is had the same atmosphere as Earls court! I used to like the fact that you could view the show from the balcony and see were everything was. I also liked the height of the place, somehow the show felt small to me! I know that everyone says its bigger but that was my impression! I was dissappointed to find so few boats out in the dock! I thought the whole idea was to have a much larger selection of boats on the water? I also was disappointed not to be able to see the water sport section! no one was allowed in unless you booked!

I am sure that the show will grow on me and that it will not affect my attendance.

Regards Barry



<hr width=100% size=1>I just want to retire with my boat to the Med!