Earls Court Boat show, BMF reject offer.

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If anyone recently went to the Ideal Home you will see that the venue has not changed whatsoever since the last EC Boat Show, the aircon is still as bad but there will be loads of places to sit as there wont be any boats there...........

All they have done so far is sold you the old days of EC's court we dont live in that age anymore things have moved on, markets have changed , chandlers dont get a return at major shows anymore etc etc.

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I think you are missing the point. Excel is simply rubbish and short of naked girls on the boats, food sold at prices I can afford and a bit of atmosphere, 2005 will remain my last visit there. Visitor numbers are down because no one like the place, so you can 'spin' it as much as you want but LIBS is dying.

We used to have one of the biggest video games shows (ECTS) in the world at Olympia. It moved to Excel and was dead in three years.
 
I agree Excel does not work NOR does EC as I mentioned in the market has changed.

I have had a LOT of experience in a lot of venues globally (mostly marine related) and seen the change.

Back to my original post is there a need for a show that caters for smaller boats / equipment for the average man in London.

Yes there is but there is not the infrastructure in place to put it on that will benefit both exhibitor and visitor alike.

If EC is supposed to cater for this person then why are Edminston (large superyacht brokers) having a dedicated area which is supported by one of the worlds most expensive scotch
 
The numbers were falling FAST at EC FACT the numbers are falling fast at XL FACT, the numbers are falling fast at almost every consumer show in the country FACT the only other fact is that boat shows are bucking the trend believe it or not.

And as for being miserable, not me I am just being realistic and stating FACTS.
 
The numbers at ALL consumer shows are falling, people have better things to do with their time and simply cannot afford to visit these exhibitions.

Do you not think NBS do research?
 
I assume you mean UK exhibition attendance. I'm not sure it's falling across Europe, at all. But then, they generally know how to run them. Excel is a new location, not really a new format.

Your comment seems very defeatist. Also, I'm not sure that research is an alternative to creativity which seems to be the challenge for both EC and Excel offers.
 
Thats the trouble with the tinterweb my comments do not match my personality, if you met me you would see I am one of the most enthusiastic people going (I have to be I am in media) but I probably have more knowledge about these two shows than anyone on this forum ( a bold statement I know) and I am only reporting what I know which are the facts.

Lets wait and see but I would hate for everyone to think they are going to a boat show at EC when all they get is a slightly marine related cross between the ideal home / caravan and motor show.
 
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Back to my original post is there a need for a show that caters for smaller boats / equipment for the average man in London.

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Erm, there some of us who live outside London, but I think you are behind the times. There is a show for smaller boats and it is growing bigger every year. It is the Caravan Show at the fabulous NEC and it will creep up on LIBS and bite it on the bum! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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It is the Caravan Show at the fabulous NEC and it will creep up on LIBS and bite it on the bum!

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Semi-naked Brummie women draped over a caravan. Now that I have to see.
 
I totally agree and the NEC is doing exactly that and 08 will be even better if what I have heard (and seen) is to be believed.

I have only heard things about EC and not seen.
 
OK lets just step back and recap for a minute.

you say "The numbers at ALL consumer shows are falling, people have better things to do with their time and simply cannot afford to visit these exhibitions."

I take your word on that, I have no data to draw on and no one would disagree that they are too expensive. Lets stick with boat shows, after all that is what is of interest to us. SIBS, still gets a good attendance, yes? It has a good mix of new boats and 'bits and bobs', chandlers, if your not at the show to buy a new boat, that's what you there to look at, all the suppliers at one venue.

No one is going to dispute that LIBS has falling numbers. NBS do everything it sees right to draw the crowds, this year it was billed as being a 'show' aimed (IMO) at Mr & Mrs nonboater, as a day out. A lot of chandlers were not there, there was a real shortage of marine hardware companies present. Now was that because they had poor return on investment last year? If what you say is true, then SIBS this year will as poorly attended by exhibitors, we shall see.

I think what I have seen posted, and talking to others, it seems that Excell, is not only a bad location for many (out of interest, I find it OK to get to) but is going in the wrong direction. It will finish up being just a 'boat show' a show case, where you can buy a new boat from what will be a declining number suppliers but more dominant large suppliers. It will kill itself.

The Dec Earls Court show, does have a very tough job. Forget the location for a minute, what the organisers are IMO trying to do is to bring back to life the market that used to exist for the marine trade for out of season sales. December is probably to early, but after LIBS in Feb would fare even worse. BMF and NBS are trying to kill the 'new' show because it is a threat, it will dilute the numbers even further, but the customer always gains where there is competition. For that reason the new show needs the support of everyone. The first one will not be great, it will take several years to develop and establish itself. NBS can either listen to what the customer wants or declining numbers will kill Excell.

The customer, us, need choice, the BMF and NBS currently have a monopoly, that is not good. Anyone who believes in a free market should support the new show.
 
>Anyone who believes in a free market should support the new show.<


Hear, hear!

My fear, though is that EC might only partially succeed and XL will therefore partially fail, and both will go to the wall. But what the heck - BMF have a fine track record of running unappealing LBS's, so let the new guys have a shot.
 
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Anyone who believes in a free market should support the new show.

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Unless it results in both shows failing miserably.

Having read quite a few threads on this, my fear is that it isn't possible to have a 'winter' show in London that suits all people and both sohws will die. Next year, I won't be going to either and will head to Düsseldorf instead.

Rick
 
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As I said a few months ago, I feel this will be a non event or a very different event to what most of the forum members are expecting.

I would like to be proved wrong I really would.

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Far be it for me to question whether you really would like to be proved wrong - but pretty much your only posts, other than a handful, have been on this subject with consistent rubbishing of the Earls Court show and its chances. Such single subject focus seems a bit strange to me.
 
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It may take me longer to drive to EC, but at least it feels like a boat show....

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Last time I went to EC it felt like a concrete cavern.
Southampton feels like a boat show, because it has boats on the water, even Excel has some.
 
Enjoyed a nice boat trip to get to Excel last time and once there , I only looked forward to the trip back , SIBS is a lot further to go but at least there was a chance to go out for a few trips and get the feel of other boats , so maybe they need to add this little perk to get attendances up at whichever London venue they choose , but if I'll still be going to EC not Excel
 
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Small boat builders will get far better help from their federation than from a company that wants a boat show for no more than profit in their back pocket. Show me an argument that disagrees with that comment I will take it all back! The Federation works for the industry and is supported by the industry big and small.

The question has to be asked, is there a need for a London boat show for small craft and chandlers alike, the market has changed not the boat show

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With that comment, I have to fundamentally disagree.....

My father owned and ran a chandlery for many years... he was a BMF member.... they did bugger all to help him...

If the BMF was so supportive of the smaller players, then explain why LIBS has consistently seen less and less small exhibitors, along with more and more 'mega stands'.... and a significant number of posters on here that are in the industry have openly stated that they can't even get close to affording to exhibit at LIBS..... hardly what you would call supporting them is it?...

For thoses reasons alone, I really really hope EC devastates the BMF show, and wakes them up to the fact that the few big guys don't own the industry.....
 
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