Fairline MD on BBC News

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Has just said sales slow and 20% of staff laid off... boat show also looked empty!!

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We live near Oundle......he has...........and we were at the show today.......it was!!!!!!!!!!!
 
What do you expect if you don't let anyone look at your boats! When I first started looking at boats a broker showed me two that were in my 'price range' and a third one that was almost double 'my budget'. A few weeks later we bought the third one. I have heard brokers say that you can always tell if someone has the money or is just a dreamer. Wrong. When I looked at the first two I was just another dreamer. A month later I had sold my house, moved in with my partner and we had enough money to buy our first boat. The arrogant snobs who work on some of the stands at the boat shows make me laugh now. They haven't a clue who does or does not have money. Most of them don't even own a boat. Having said the above there are three firms IMHO that do know how to treat a 'client', Discovery, Oyster and Sunseeker. And, for a lot of dreamers, when their numbers come up that's where they will head for. It's called business. End of Saturday night Rant. Goodnight all. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Completley agree. Although I have a Fairline and like the marque I didn't bother with thier stand because of the off-putting barriers etc. To be fair I have negotiated 'security' in previous years and found them to be helpful and friendly but I simply don't like having my 'local' dealer breathing down my neck.

As a complete contrast the Princess stand yesterday was staffed by bright, friendly and welcoming people. We paused momentarily between two of the flybridge boats and were immediatley invited aboard one with a smile. Makes all the diference.
 
Everytime I walked by the IPC stand yesterday - it was empty, and the seating cordoned off?

I signed up for a PBO subs and was the only one there.

I think by busy most boatowners are comparing with Earls Court where it was always heaving...

Whatever you think yesterday was, it was made to look more empty by the wide walkways. Shame they just didnt down the price of stand space so the smaller companies could exhibit?

Praise due to Princess, Jeanneau and Haines for hospitality. Curry on board the battleship smelled wonderful!
 
Eh? the seating in the middle has been roped off as you get everyone and their mother sitting on it eating lunch etc. It has been used a huge amount today and will do in the week for constructive meetings which is what its for NOT as a general seating area.

I am afraid I disagree with you completely on being the only person on the stand either you came at the very beggining or end of the day or it was a freak moment.

In fact all the staff have read this post in disbelief, but thank you for subscribing!

I
 
Come on guys, give Richard a break.

He's gonna have to fill out his expenses return shortly - wouldnt do to say that nobody was there as he will have to claim for less crisps and peanuts! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Keep talking it up Richard, I'm sure somebody must be listening. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I am beggining to wonder if we all attended the same exhibition? to say our stand was empty was the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!

Maybe the cleaners have stolen nearly 3000 magazines in the last 3 days..

BUT the show is very queit now and has been for the last hour or so prob baout 50 in the bar so I have been told
 
Dream on. People like me would have gone to the show if there was any point. We are the backbone, the diy keep your boat on the water by hook or by crook type.
You need to re-address your readership or you wont have anyone to impress with your fantastic reports!
No offence intended but the people buying at the show as in new, will be very rare over the next few years.
Someone will no doubt try and prove me wrong but! I dont think so.
The majority of your authentic forumites are asking how to do things, or how can I get the best deal, not where can I keep up with the kit the Jones's have . Does that not tell you something?
Oh sod it I should have been a scuttlebuttler. Maybe thats where my calling is?
Ready for incoming!!!!!!
 
Think you hit the nail on the head. Theres the folk in it for the glamour of a new boat, which lasts a year or maybe two. Then theres the folk who are in it for life and it dont matter to much if the boat is new or old. Just as long as it does whats expected.

I think the glamour market is dead.
 
So what about the good folk of the forum who do attend do I listen to them? thing is this place is split 50/50 those that do attend an get something out of it and those that dont, I met many today who said they have had a cracking day BUT I also met some that did not.
 
I dont think changing boats is necessarily anything to do with glamour. Its a question of whether 1. you are satisfied with the present boat, 2. for, maybe no rational reason, you fancy a different one.
I dont think that means that you are not genuine about your boating interest.
I m going to the show, just because I like boats. I very happy with my present boat, but I doubt it will suit me indefinitely. I think I first saw this boat at the show about seven years ago.I never imagined I d ever own one, but it was always a boat I admired each time I went to a show.
Might happen again.
 
I attended and I speak as I find, it was very quiet. Sorry if that upsets people but what should I say?

As motayotty has said, people like us are the backbone and will be the ones that still attend in 20years time, ( I have not missed one since 1974)

Boatshow was moved from EarlsCourt to suit the big players that now have their 2Million pounds enormous stands, but that has been at the cost of the much smaller companies that gave the show its variety.

I can understand why the BMF did that, but those 0.01% of people with 3Mill to spend will probably expect a private showing at another time anyway? If I had that kind of money I would.

Now the novelty of Excel has obviously worn off, maybe BMF should do a rethink?

By moving to a smaller location, the pricing might encourage back more of a cross section of the market rather than just the big three?

This year we lost Sealine stand, and for me personally Lancing Marine, (that must be the first show they have missed in donkeys years)

The saddest thing for me, was back when the whole of the top floor of Earls Court was gadget suppliers be they chandlery or spice sellers. I know the Internet is to blame for that but I miss it all the same and I did buy on the back of it.

This is the first boatshow I have gone home without a carrier bag full of brochures and leaflets. Some years I even had three bags of bumpf on products that interested me.

Thats a missed selling opportunity which the market cannot afford to pass up.
 
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