SailorFrank
Well-Known Member
maybe a case of over sold under delivered?
Earls Court a trip down memeory lane
- Thread starter SailorFrank
- Start date
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
I hear what you are saying I really do, its a topic we could discuss all night (which we wont as I have a bottle of red on the go and Napoleion dynamie (the film) on in the back ground.......)
I guess what I am trying to say is I cant decide if its a show to go to as I dont know what people exepect, I was thrown a curve ball by most today, it was dead there is no denying that but all viisitors I spoke to had a good day and all carred goodies home (apart from my mags.....).
Southampton is going great guns at the mo, London (s), well who knows what will happen.
I guess what I am trying to say is I cant decide if its a show to go to as I dont know what people exepect, I was thrown a curve ball by most today, it was dead there is no denying that but all viisitors I spoke to had a good day and all carred goodies home (apart from my mags.....).
Southampton is going great guns at the mo, London (s), well who knows what will happen.
SailorFrank
Well-Known Member
I'll leave you to the red wine - the danger is we end up with no London show - which would be dire for the UK marine industry - looks like I may need to return to EC next week, if I do we can continue this over a Guinness!
SailorFrank
Well-Known Member
oh and I am buying!
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
I would welcome a Guinness and a good chat, I am there on Wed, Thurs, Sat and Sun.
Our stand is on the right as you come in Warwick, come say hello and we can put the world to rights.
As you said we need a london show and what ever you view is there is no escaping the fact that two london shows make life very difficult (did I put that as diplomatically as possible)
Our stand is on the right as you come in Warwick, come say hello and we can put the world to rights.
As you said we need a london show and what ever you view is there is no escaping the fact that two london shows make life very difficult (did I put that as diplomatically as possible)
rr_123
Well-Known Member
Well I rather enjoyed it.
Went on a whim with no 1 son (who goes in for free being under 16), found a tender that i want to buy, looked at plenty of boats, met some interested and enthusiastic people.
Going again with a friend later in the week, looking forward to it.
I don't think its there to seed your enthusiasm, its there to feed it!
R
Went on a whim with no 1 son (who goes in for free being under 16), found a tender that i want to buy, looked at plenty of boats, met some interested and enthusiastic people.
Going again with a friend later in the week, looking forward to it.
I don't think its there to seed your enthusiasm, its there to feed it!
R
Mudplugger
Well-Known Member
Richard, Glad you mentioned Northshore, Pretty good at marketing?, on the occasions that I have wanted to look at a Fisher37 have been told to make an appointment! What am I at a Boat show For?? other than to look at Options! In regard to Hanse...UK Manufacturer? Without going into the overall scene of aspects in the saily boat marketing. You only have to see how effective UK manufacturers, were by the lack of presence! OYSTER totally totally NOT included in my comments!
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
Just saying they are there as for thier strategy at shows then I dont know....dont know the answer for getting on boats I guess they have their reasons for what they do at shows.
But I cant see why they would turn anyone away? and I know that both dealers and owners of both read these forums.....
But I cant see why they would turn anyone away? and I know that both dealers and owners of both read these forums.....
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I am not going in to the in's and outs of what show to go to but ask your self what do you expect to see at this show? there are two shows run by the BMF each year this is an independent show that has try to capture what Earls court used t be, whether they have achieved this is up to the visitor to decide.
[/ QUOTE ]Richard, I can start to tell you what I don't expect: "What Earls' Court used to be". I do not go to boat shows to experience show halls (however bad or good they would be, and Earls' Court was up there among the very bad ones in this world...).
What I expect in a good show would be primarily a very good presence of the major marine suppliers of this world; be they boat or equipment suppliers. It means I can get all my questions/aquisitions handled in one place. Great expediency! In addition, it is nice to have good food and a nice black stout as you exchange tall stories with your old cruising friends... Adds to the athmosphere.
The recent development in London has compromised this. There is no way all marine suppliers can be at two boat shows at the same time. Therefore, why go there? The equipment you are looking for could probably be at that other show. Don't bother!
In the present climate I would recommend the Paris and Dusseldorf shows instead. Those are true Boat Shows with a good selection of boats and all the equipment available in this world. Neither of the London shows can presently do that.
It is a pitty. I love coming to London and I enjoy the fantastic offerings available in the restaurants and shows in this great city. But it will be Paris and Dusseldorf Boat Shows instead for me this year.
I am not going in to the in's and outs of what show to go to but ask your self what do you expect to see at this show? there are two shows run by the BMF each year this is an independent show that has try to capture what Earls court used t be, whether they have achieved this is up to the visitor to decide.
[/ QUOTE ]Richard, I can start to tell you what I don't expect: "What Earls' Court used to be". I do not go to boat shows to experience show halls (however bad or good they would be, and Earls' Court was up there among the very bad ones in this world...).
What I expect in a good show would be primarily a very good presence of the major marine suppliers of this world; be they boat or equipment suppliers. It means I can get all my questions/aquisitions handled in one place. Great expediency! In addition, it is nice to have good food and a nice black stout as you exchange tall stories with your old cruising friends... Adds to the athmosphere.
The recent development in London has compromised this. There is no way all marine suppliers can be at two boat shows at the same time. Therefore, why go there? The equipment you are looking for could probably be at that other show. Don't bother!
In the present climate I would recommend the Paris and Dusseldorf shows instead. Those are true Boat Shows with a good selection of boats and all the equipment available in this world. Neither of the London shows can presently do that.
It is a pitty. I love coming to London and I enjoy the fantastic offerings available in the restaurants and shows in this great city. But it will be Paris and Dusseldorf Boat Shows instead for me this year.
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
Thank you for the comment but Boot and Paris are different shows, fantastic as they are they are not accessible to all and in my opinion yes mine not IPC or anyone else's but mine you cannot compare them.
They are huge BUT they carry fishing, diving, windsurfing, water-skiing and much-more which is why they are so big.
On the up side you can drink all day long and eat huge sausage.... oh and get a cab straight away and find a place to eat for less than 110 quid....
And yes they do often have the whole range of most manufactures there so I guess you are right...
They are huge BUT they carry fishing, diving, windsurfing, water-skiing and much-more which is why they are so big.
On the up side you can drink all day long and eat huge sausage.... oh and get a cab straight away and find a place to eat for less than 110 quid....
And yes they do often have the whole range of most manufactures there so I guess you are right...
Seanick
Well-Known Member
If anyone has read this lot and are wondering whether to go or not, there is a video on You Tube that might help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhYhI5lxT...4207ymnews.html
We ARE going next w/e! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhYhI5lxT...4207ymnews.html
We ARE going next w/e! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
AlJones
Well-Known Member
Re: Earls Court a trip down memory lane
Although I have replied to Richard, this is for all.
As an exhibitor at the show I have found that the first two days were slow but steady. We sold, and also received some very good contacts and enquiries for later.
'What do you expect?' - The show has had some good and bad publicity. Not having the support of some of the federations has I feel kept some media publicity at bay.
I have a day off from there today, colleagues at work this day /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, however I have had a call from them and have been told that today is a lot better for 'through traffic of visitors'.
A real show of how good the show has been, I believe, will be after it has finished.
Some other exhibitors were complaining at how slow it was yesterday, but with Chelsea playing at home, Rugby on the TV, and three Saturdays before christmas and the 'Your not going to look at bl00dy boat things, you can jolly well help me sort the kids out christmas presents' things going on I wasn't expecting a fantastic Saturday. Think to yourself, if you were walking towards a 'trader' and you saw a face like a smacked backside and no enthusiasm to speak to you, would you visit? Or a smiley happy stand with 'traders' willing to answer any enquiry and spend time with you? I know what one has worked for us over the last two days.
Anyway, good healthy conversation which I hope I have added to.
Al.
(A happy exhibitor at the said Show) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Although I have replied to Richard, this is for all.
As an exhibitor at the show I have found that the first two days were slow but steady. We sold, and also received some very good contacts and enquiries for later.
'What do you expect?' - The show has had some good and bad publicity. Not having the support of some of the federations has I feel kept some media publicity at bay.
I have a day off from there today, colleagues at work this day /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, however I have had a call from them and have been told that today is a lot better for 'through traffic of visitors'.
A real show of how good the show has been, I believe, will be after it has finished.
Some other exhibitors were complaining at how slow it was yesterday, but with Chelsea playing at home, Rugby on the TV, and three Saturdays before christmas and the 'Your not going to look at bl00dy boat things, you can jolly well help me sort the kids out christmas presents' things going on I wasn't expecting a fantastic Saturday. Think to yourself, if you were walking towards a 'trader' and you saw a face like a smacked backside and no enthusiasm to speak to you, would you visit? Or a smiley happy stand with 'traders' willing to answer any enquiry and spend time with you? I know what one has worked for us over the last two days.
Anyway, good healthy conversation which I hope I have added to.
Al.
(A happy exhibitor at the said Show) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
snooks
Well-Known Member
Pics from the show are here
From a personal point of view (i.e. not the view of Yachting Monthly, just mine, Graham Snook, not IPC)
I liked what they have tried to do, it was good to go back to the old place (yes built in 1937 makes it old in my book) It's good to see the facade lit up at night again, although coming out of the tube in the morning on the first day, I did feel it was like the new year and someone had stole Christmas and the new year from under my nose!
OK it wasn't as big and bold as I was expecting, and £16 entry and £5 for the guide with no timings for any of the displays in, is expensive, (you have to pay £7.50 to go to the NMMC in Falmouth), but if I had to pay £16 to get in to EC I might have felt a little hard done by...Luckiy I'm press so I didn't /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
It's not Christmassy (which might be a relief to some) except for Santa coming down from the celling today, bit of a shame really as they could really picked up the xmas theme and run with it.
Numbers are down, but as one visitor metioned this is excellent because he could go round and speak to all of the people he wanted to without having to wait, and to quote him "it's been the most productive boat show I've ever been to". So if you want to get quotes for sails, charters etc or get one to one advice with Raymarine (one of the few big electronic peeps there) it's the show for you...It also means you can get round the show with ease. If you want to see and be seen on the latest big british power boat you'll be dissapointed...Likewise if you want to see a number of mainstream marques in one place, it won't be your show.
The fashion show is back!...nevermind eh? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Another good thing about the lack of visitors is that the people who do visit are interested in boats! Strange I know! Another happy side effect is that there is plenty of seating around in the various bars, the lack of which is a constant complaint of all the previous UK boatshows
You can, however, be humbled at the James Caird, which if you haven't see her before is a sobering thought...And I found looking at her more than a bit uncomfortable as I sat in Pizza Express stuffing my face with italianesque fodder.
The gallery space upstairs with Kos's pics and Peyton's Cartoons is worth a looksee, as is the view from the balcony, something sadly missing from ExCel.
End of year lines of clothes are available from a few places, and the little line of "Cowes high street" shops give a cosy feel to a big space, there are also some nice pics by Rick Tomlinson if you're a piccy sort of person /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Numbers are less than expected, which is sad because it deserves more visitors, but with a £16 entry fee it's not hard to see why...Shame really
From a personal point of view (i.e. not the view of Yachting Monthly, just mine, Graham Snook, not IPC)
I liked what they have tried to do, it was good to go back to the old place (yes built in 1937 makes it old in my book) It's good to see the facade lit up at night again, although coming out of the tube in the morning on the first day, I did feel it was like the new year and someone had stole Christmas and the new year from under my nose!
OK it wasn't as big and bold as I was expecting, and £16 entry and £5 for the guide with no timings for any of the displays in, is expensive, (you have to pay £7.50 to go to the NMMC in Falmouth), but if I had to pay £16 to get in to EC I might have felt a little hard done by...Luckiy I'm press so I didn't /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
It's not Christmassy (which might be a relief to some) except for Santa coming down from the celling today, bit of a shame really as they could really picked up the xmas theme and run with it.
Numbers are down, but as one visitor metioned this is excellent because he could go round and speak to all of the people he wanted to without having to wait, and to quote him "it's been the most productive boat show I've ever been to". So if you want to get quotes for sails, charters etc or get one to one advice with Raymarine (one of the few big electronic peeps there) it's the show for you...It also means you can get round the show with ease. If you want to see and be seen on the latest big british power boat you'll be dissapointed...Likewise if you want to see a number of mainstream marques in one place, it won't be your show.
The fashion show is back!...nevermind eh? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Another good thing about the lack of visitors is that the people who do visit are interested in boats! Strange I know! Another happy side effect is that there is plenty of seating around in the various bars, the lack of which is a constant complaint of all the previous UK boatshows
You can, however, be humbled at the James Caird, which if you haven't see her before is a sobering thought...And I found looking at her more than a bit uncomfortable as I sat in Pizza Express stuffing my face with italianesque fodder.
The gallery space upstairs with Kos's pics and Peyton's Cartoons is worth a looksee, as is the view from the balcony, something sadly missing from ExCel.
End of year lines of clothes are available from a few places, and the little line of "Cowes high street" shops give a cosy feel to a big space, there are also some nice pics by Rick Tomlinson if you're a piccy sort of person /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Numbers are less than expected, which is sad because it deserves more visitors, but with a £16 entry fee it's not hard to see why...Shame really