I wonder how much longer LIBS can survive?

gerry99

gerry99

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www.freedom.co.uk
Just out of interest, I researched the attendance figures for the London Boat Show from when it first moved to Excel. I then plotted them to see what they looked like and the result is in the attached.

The declining trend is very clear. If this chart represented the share price of a company then shareholders would be calling for radical action, I wonder if there are similar such calls from within the BMIF?

How many more years of declining attendance before the show becomes unsustainable?
 
gerry99 said:
How many more years of declining attendance before the show becomes unsustainable?
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If you ask me, it's all wrong anyway. The Southampton Boat show does boats and gear. You only need one of these a year (for boats), but more gear shows would be handy. I went to LIBS, but didn't go near the boats.

A better idea would be a number of smaller shows, without boats, with a nominal fee to vendors and for entry. Something like a jumble on steroids: mainly populated with gear vendors.
 
nigelmercier said:
If you ask me, it's all wrong anyway. The Southampton Boat show does boats and gear. You only need one of these a year (for boats), but more gear shows would be handy. I went to LIBS, but didn't go near the boats.

A better idea would be a number of smaller shows, without boats, with a nominal fee to vendors and for entry. Something like a jumble on steroids: mainly populated with gear vendors.
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You mean like the old London boat show? :confused:
With city shopping handy for those that where not interested in boat bits :eek: or Guiness? :p
 
What is this fascination with how long LIBS last will last for? I guess it will carry on as long as it makes money, and as long as it continues I will attend along with SBS occasionally. Surely it's better to have a choice of shows to attend?
I also used to attend earls court from about 1984 till it moved and must say I much prefer being able to drive straight into the venue and going in and not having to put up with cramped conditions and long a long Q
 
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As others have mentioned on the several threads about this, in today's world of internet shopping the attraction of discounted kit at the show has gone; the only winning card that LIBS can play, in my little opinion, is to have lots of kit wired up and functioning ( if only in demo mode ) to try out, with technicians not burger flippers or bimbo's to chat with !
 
On the day I went - Wednesday - there were very few folks looking at boats. The few people who were there, were in the market hall area. I found the Kuranda stand and purchased a new Wallas unit within 10 minuets and spent only another hour or so due to the lack of any real ambiance.

I have been every year since it moved to excel even though I live near Bath and agree its days are probably numbered. I won't go again.
 
xyachtdave said:
Come off it mate.....you were about 12 in 1984...assuming your parents took you??!!

Either that or you have aged well :-)
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Thanks for the compliment, I was 13 actually :)
And yes I used to go with dad each year and eat a packed lunch in the champagne lounge......very embarrassing !!!!!
 
Shopping - Westfield City at Stratford is a probably much better shopping experience than Oxford Street though Earls Court also has a Westfield at White City
 
oldbilbo said:
Oi! Wind your nek in!

I quite like chatting to bimbos - even if one of 'em's called RichardS....!

:D
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Bimbo's certainly have their place, and I don't mean to be disparaging to any half naked suspisciously tanned girlie I may find on a marine electronics stand, it's just I'd like her to stop dazzling me with her smiling & attributes and explain how the thing actually works...:)
 
Seajet said:
Bimbo's certainly have their place, and I don't mean to be disparaging to any half naked suspisciously tanned girlie I may find on a marine electronics stand, it's just I'd like her to stop dazzling me with her smiling & attributes and explain how the thing actually works...:)
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Youngsters! Doncha know nuttin' yet...?

Feminism's all about dazzling you with their smiles, waggling their 'attributes' at you, and persuading you to reach for your debit card.

If you need to have it explained how the thing actually works, you come on here and ask. Capeesh...?

Some mothers.... :cool:
 
Did order some wine there, but wont be doing so again as still trying to get delivery shotages sorted out!
 
The one thing that worked this year was the warm weather which encouraged me to the used boat marina. Developed the thought that LIBS might be far more succesful in March or April. Why does it have to be in January now that the post Christmas bash at Earls Court is no more?
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Depends on the operating costs. Should be a market for it as a piece of entertainment, mid winter, in the wealthiest and largest city in the UK.
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Well, we have now done all the sums as an exhibitor this year (not our first time by far)
and can say with confidence...never again!!

Did meet a recent Miss World though.
 
The clock is ticking...

Apparently the organisers have a contract with Excel which expires in two years. There is sure to be a penalty clause for early cancellation and I assume they are holding on till the end of the contract before admitting it's a failure and giving up. If LIBS is making a loss I assume it's a smaller loss than they would incur in penalty charges. My hunch is that there may well be a 'leisure' show to replace LIBS but expect the emphasis on caravans, camping, minor boating etc.

The UK can only support one boat show. Southampton does an excellent job and with the demise of LIBS it can be the focus of the marine trade and will grow.

RIP LIBS.
 
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