Boat Show Attendance

capnsensible

capnsensible

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The Story so far.... I was asked if I could find out, just for interest.

Friday, 6869 -11%

Sat, 11617 -12%

Sun, 9921 -12%

Mon 5957 -1%

Tues 6311 -4%


Total 40675 -10%


I reckon Wednesday will be about the same as the day before, but Thursday very successful, probably coinciding with the other show opening. Going for a nosey there soon.

You can get these direct by emailing fjackson@britishmarine.co.uk

CS
 
Twister_Ken

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Speaking with a somewhat disgruntled exhibitor yesterday, she commented that immediately after Christmas, just about when the big credit card bills arrive, is a silly time to have a show; that it would be better in March when the season is about to kick-off and people have itchy wallets.

Then I got home and in the back of the RNLI mag it lists where they will be exhibiting in the near future: Dinghy Show, Crystal Palace and Dive Show, Excel. Both in March. Why not combine the three. Excel, March. Problem solved.

PS - As you leave the pleasure palace there's a banner saying "See You Next Year" with 2013 dates. So the disorganisers obviously believe there's a least one more year's milk left in the cow.
 
Koeketiene

Koeketiene

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Twister_Ken said:
PS - As you leave the pleasure palace there's a banner saying "See You Next Year" with 2013 dates. So the disorganisers obviously believe there's a least one more year's milk left in the cow.
Click to expand...

I think they have to sign up for so many years...
This week, I've received at least on e-mail daily informing me that there's still time to buy a discounted ticket.
 
jac

jac

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Still don't know what LBS is for!!

I first went late 70's with my dad and uncle. It was a day out - seeong some great boats you might buy. This applied in the 80's and 90's as well.

Since it went to Excel i've been twice and cam't think i'll go again. I sometimes work in London on Thursdays so might have thought the late evening session was worthwhile but wasn't in town and can't see the value of going in - even though it's probably only an hour and a half door to door.

There are now so few sailing boats that you can never get any decent time on any of them, dont remember much in the way of deals from chandlers, charter companys etc.

It strikes me that the organisers are measuring their success by how many come through the doors, forgetting that for the exhibitors ( and i'm not one) success is measured by how much business they do. The big boat builders wouldn't care if they only saw 1 person an hour if every person bought a boat.( Well they might worry about meeting the orders i suppose!!)

Why link it to other weird and wonderful shows - I'm not buying a lifestyle but i do want some new footwear, the children need waterproof clothing and i'm trying to organise a charter at the moment but is more convenient and cheaper to use Google

The organisers need to understand what "we" might want to buy now or in the nearish future. Where are the "Family" boats - e.g. smallish cruisers - 30 - 35 feet that are accessible to large numbers. The odd millionaires boat is great to gawp at but what % of the crowd can buy a £250k + boat?

The organisers seem to have created a vicious circle whereby serious visitors have insufficient reason to come, so the business done falls, so the exhibitor attraction falls, so the organisers try to suck in more punters for a gawp that make it more unpleasant for the serious buyers. once the attraction reaches critical levels, the exhibitors stop coming and bang goes all your visitors.

So organisers - some suggestions

1) Cut your costs - restrict advertising to dedicated magazines, cut the special offers, bin the "non boat" stalls and have a smaller, leaner, more focussed show.
2) understand what the serious buyers want
3) Give some incentives to "lost" exhibitors to make it PROFITABLE for them to come back and give us what we want

In summary - go for a smaller show - but with better quality customers for the exhibitors and exhibitors selling thingds we might buy
 
B

bedouin

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Twister_Ken said:
Speaking with a somewhat disgruntled exhibitor yesterday, she commented that immediately after Christmas, just about when the big credit card bills arrive, is a silly time to have a show; that it would be better in March when the season is about to kick-off and people have itchy wallets.

Then I got home and in the back of the RNLI mag it lists where they will be exhibiting in the near future: Dinghy Show, Crystal Palace and Dive Show, Excel. Both in March. Why not combine the three. Excel, March. Problem solved.

PS - As you leave the pleasure palace there's a banner saying "See You Next Year" with 2013 dates. So the disorganisers obviously believe there's a least one more year's milk left in the cow.
Click to expand...
I don't agree with that - surely for sailors Jan is the ideal time. With Christmas out of the way it is time to start planning the year, be that choosing a marina, planning a holiday, buying a boat, ordering a new sail, or preparing for any other of the jobs that need doing before the season kicks off again.

March is just too late for all that.
 
M

mjcp

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Simples... Its in the wrong place.

Excel might be OK for east London and East coast. if you live on the south coast, Thames Valley, M40 corridor etc its a pain in the to get to east end.

When it was in Earl's Court at least the tube meant taking the train form anywhere south, west or north was possible. Now its train, tube and the DLR or a 2 hour drive form west London :rolleyes:

Then the number of exhibitors started going down too.... cue death spiral and a move to the NEC?

mjcp
 
Twister_Ken

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bedouin said:
I don't agree with that - surely for sailors Jan is the ideal time. With Christmas out of the way it is time to start planning the year, be that choosing a marina, planning a holiday, buying a boat, ordering a new sail, or preparing for any other of the jobs that need doing before the season kicks off again.

March is just too late for all that.
Click to expand...

Not (necessarily) my opinion but that of an exhibitor selling nice to have kit in the £500-£2000 price bracket.
 
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BlueSkyNick

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capnsensible said:
The Story so far.... I was asked if I could find out, just for interest.

Friday, 6869 -11%

Sat, 11617 -12%

Sun, 9921 -12%

Mon 5957 -1%

Tues 6311 -4%


Total 40675 -10%


I reckon Wednesday will be about the same as the day before, but Thursday very successful, probably coinciding with the other show opening. Going for a nosey there soon.

You can get these direct by emailing fjackson@britishmarine.co.uk

CS
Click to expand...

What are the percentage figures supposed be telling us?
 
S

Submariner!

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I used to be a regular, but have only been once since it moved out from Earls Court.

Many organisations used the boat show as an excuse for a social. The RNSA used to hold the AGM during the show. Sailing Instructors would trawl the sea school stands lining up work for the coming season.

Its to expensive for many of the smaller exhibitors as well, so they don't set up stalls any more.

The show has lost its purpose. It needs to go back to its roots because at the moment, the only winner is BMF.

For the show to survive, do the following -

Reduce the price for visitors
Reduce the fees for exhibitors
Move it back to EC
Have more useful stands.

Its a shame the alternative show at EC never took off.
 
S

SAMYL

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Twister_Ken said:
As has been said repeatedly, they can't get big boats to the NEC.
Click to expand...

It must be a very small percentage of people who go to the LBS at Excel who go to see big boats so the NEC would be much better suited to the average boater/yachtie.

Actually I thought the show was quite good, much easier to see around than Earls Court, the food wasn't too bad, but the Guinness was sh*te. (why do they freeze it in England, it is supposed to be served at 55 F.)

Sadly Excel is much more difficult to get to and puts many people off going. I really cannot justify going back.

I have to say though the best exibit on show overall was the 1912 Rolls Royce Phantom in that wonderfull red colour. Does anyone know the name/number of that colour? I would like to use it for a project I have.
 
Searush

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Beers are served cold in order to hide or eliminate taste. It's a way of selling alcohol to people who don't actually like the taste. That's why it's so popular with young people. As you rightly say, ales & stouts should be served at room temp so you can benefit from the full flavours such brews have. Lagers & Aussie beers on the other hand are generally served cold.
 
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