LIBS - a bit pathetic really

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I went on Saturday and although numbers were definitely down on previous Saturdays, I thought there was a reasonable number of visitors considering the weather. I met up with a couple of mates and we all reluctantly agreed that the Show was hardly worth visiting in terms of the number of boats being exhibited. I'm not knocking the organisers or the big 3 mobo builders, all of whom had obviously made every effort to make the Show a success, but, apart from them, there was hardly anything to see. No Sealine, no Cranchi, no Grand Banks, no Trader, no Boston Whaler, no Karnic to name a few plus a whole host of other boat builders that exhibit at SIBS but don't go to LIBS. It seemed to me that there were very few sailing yachts too and the inland waterway section looked much reduced.
It just seemed to me like a show that was dying on it's feet, squeezed by the recession and other bigger or more successful shows. IMHO, if one of the big 3 mobo builders pulled out, the whole thing would collapse. Anyone else agree or am I being too pessimistic?
 
No, I agree. I'd be surprised if Prin/Fair/SS didn't have long discussions about whether to attend this time, and i'd bet one or more of them only did so on the basis of "lets give it one more chance". I think quite a lot of people who buy boats at LBS would have gone to SIBS if there was no LBS, so I wonder how much the builders gain by being there. Also, with the currency advantage they're currently enjoying, I wouldn't be surprised if they put more resources into the Dusseldorf show, to try and attract foreign buyers, and of course anyone that lives close to London, is not far from an airport than will whisk them off to Dusseldorf for the day.
 
Absolutely agree, although I have not attended this year I have many friends who have and have been disappointed. A number of things contribute I believe.

1). Obviously the recession.

2). The need for two shows in the UK?, spaced as they are only four months apart.

3). Atmosphere, Earls Court was crowded, short of facilities, and like a Turkish Bath, but it did have a spark to it. I believe the move to the current venue was driven by manufacturers wanting to take ever larger boats to the show, you could ask where are they then?.

Conclusion the UK should stick with one major show (Southampton), exhibitors could then concentrate there resources (and ease their planning headaches) on one show, which as a consequence should be even better.
 
All the tricks have been used - the walls moved in and the isles widened - so that you don't see empty space that would be around with fewer exhibitors. You can forget there used to be a 3rd hall.....
Why didn't they just give exhibitors extra space for nothing?

I have always hated excel as a venue, it is just too far east unless you live in Kent or Essex. It's hard to get to by public transport, and poorly signposted and just difficult by car. Birmingham would be far easier to get to for most boaters, though I'm told the doors are too small and of course you can only take boats that can go by road anyway.

Excel don't make things any easier, for example you can't give out beers on a stand as they charge corkage. And the chaps on the ladder stand weren't allowed to stand on their ladder due to health and safety.

At least this year another there's one complaint I usually make that I can't make this year. You can easily find a seat.

Despite that small improvement (for all the wrong reasons of course) I just can't see how it can survive. We'll see.

For those who haven't been yet there is still plenty to see and that that's there is easy to get to once your in so make an effort and go.
 
Deleted User said:
I went on Saturday and although numbers were definitely down on previous Saturdays, I thought there was a reasonable number of visitors considering the weather. I met up with a couple of mates and we all reluctantly agreed that the Show was hardly worth visiting in terms of the number of boats being exhibited. I'm not knocking the organisers or the big 3 mobo builders, all of whom had obviously made every effort to make the Show a success, but, apart from them, there was hardly anything to see. No Sealine, no Cranchi, no Grand Banks, no Trader, no Boston Whaler, no Karnic to name a few plus a whole host of other boat builders that exhibit at SIBS but don't go to LIBS. It seemed to me that there were very few sailing yachts too and the inland waterway section looked much reduced.
It just seemed to me like a show that was dying on it's feet, squeezed by the recession and other bigger or more successful shows. IMHO, if one of the big 3 mobo builders pulled out, the whole thing would collapse. Anyone else agree or am I being too pessimistic?
Click to expand...

I can't comment on LIBS as I have never been, we prefer Southampton because it's easier to get there (for us) and I like boat shows which are on the water.

AAMOI are Broom at LIBS and if so do you know what models they are showing?
 
On that Carlsberg note, it would be interesting to make a perfect show. The best parts of all the shows put together- the water at Fort Lauderdale, the class of Cannes, the space at Dusseldorf etc...A bit of a thread drift, apologies Mike
 
yes Broom are at the LIBS show
I think they are showing three boats; 390 with a new galley, 420 with a new third cabin, and 450 mk.III with glued windows

seeing no Sealine, Cranchi and Grand Banks participate I think we are looking at the demise of this London boat show...
good luck, but with five major boat builders and one of them not competing I think it is fair to say that Southampton is enough for them
even Italy which has about a dozen big builders gets only one big show, and the US has two big shows but concentrated on two different size with FL for the big toys and Miami for the smaller ones
 
Although there's no water and I agree about the transport by road, the show in February at the NEC is always well worth going because there's so much more to see; no wonder the boating section is growing in popularity every year.

Despite what the snobs will tell you, (and I can hear the sneering now) boats do have a lot in common with caravans and camping equipment, as many of their equipment suppliers are the same.

OK so the size of boats will always be limited at the NEC, which may stifle the showstoppers but they can always exhibit the bigger stuff at SIBS; for me it seems crazy to have two boat shows only ONE month apart; LIBS in Jan: hard to get to, poorly attended, and NEC in Feb: good transport links, high visitor numbers, big potential for new customers? It's a no brainer.
 
Deleted User. You feel the same as me then. It was small, and very short of sail boats too I thought. Lack of crowds and wide alleys did make it easy to get about and I saw / spoke to who I wished when I wished which was pleasant.

I enjoyed my day and even the tube/DLR worked fine although a bit of a slog with 3 changes

Lets see the vistor numbers
 
Come don’t be so negative. We visited the Boat Show yesterday and had a great day’s enjoyment. I think the show offers you the chance to dream of the things you would like and to aspire to the challenge of obtaining those items. I have given swmbo the idea that we could sell our boat and buy a property around Gocek in Turkey, see couldn’t sleep last night, but has given her some extra fuel to take her through these miserable days. Another option through the show, improve on our own boat by changing the upholstery.
On the boat seen loved the Sessa C38 had a stunning finish, had look around the Pearl 60 and several other boats. Because of the weather not so many people, which made it a bit more leisurely.

David
 
How about two shows? but each with a different focus, a boat show and a marine equipment show? People who have a keen interest in boating will quite happily visit two shows a year if they are offered something different in each. At present LIBS is just a small version of SIBS trying to cater for all boating exhibits.

A marine equipment show could be in a cheaper venue than mayflower park without the need for large temporary structures/tents. They could encourage the small growing equipment suppliers with cheaper rates than London has currently, it could be an early season show around March ideal for a shopping trip with a week or two to get parts fitted, or just a time to get inspired as you look forward to the coming Summer. I think it would be a far better time for charter companies or training schools who can get direct benefit from shows.

What do you reckon? anyone up for financing a new show?
 
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