LIBS - show guide

[Wandering Star]

And I was probably there, drooling with you. Those for whom a forty footer these days is their first boat, simply don't know what they're missing.
Getting a 22 footer across the Channel left you feeling like a King.

I used to live across the Road from Earls Court and we used to be given free tickets to all the shows as "compo" for the inconvenience caused by inconsiderate motorists parking their Ford Zodiacs and Mg's whilst they went to the show. I loved Earls Court and since the age of about 12 visited every show without a miss - I remember Shrimpy on display and was thrilled to get my copy of Shane Actons book signed by himself and Iris his girlfriend.

I agree Excel is much less convivial but I still go just for the delight of looking at boats, power and sail. Also for the opportunity to meet some other forumites and of cours Richard. I can't even dream about buying new though I do normally spend a few pounds on electronics and chandlery, new boats are out of my league, but I still love going and don't begrudge paying an entrance fee for all the work that has to be put into the show.

 

[Steve Clayton]

Quite a few on here who would not go back but haven't been back for a while.
I didn't go last year.
Is there anyone on here who went last year and are encouraged to go back this year?
Alternatively, anyone on here who went last year and as a result is put off from going this year?

Almost: when EC was on then for a number of years we would (now) be planning which were the best offers for the package deal (2 tickets, car parking at EC and an overnighter in a local hotel, brekkie included, etc); signing up, usually via the YBW offer, and then looking forward to the whole deal.

Did the same for the first Excel; checked all the small print for car parking (which was included) and breakfast (which said was included but the hotel denied this) and when we arrived we had no booking and no entry tickets ready for collection, despite my showing our paperwork so were forced to "upgrade" rooms - so breakfast and upgrade cost us another 60notes!!! - they relucantly gave us 2 complimentary entry tickets after I lifted off at the reception desk in the morning at checkout.

Complaints fell on stoney ground; didn't enjoy Excel as much as EC - first experience left a really sour taste - not been back since

Always finish on a positive: enjoy SIBS - go every year; recently finding the P&R Premier/Swanwick deal good value.

 

[[70521]]

The fact is - you did not buy anything did you (you being " the public" not a dig at you personally)
You wandered all over boats - took leaflets - wasted salespersons time & costs
That is why no body wants to exhibit at excel

Well that is one view...

I had a long talk with a chap last Friday who spends a lot of time at trade fairs and said that he sells very little at these events, but he meets his customers and sells things between six to eight weeks after.

Now, I am not a fan of the LBS, but I am going this year, guess what - I shall be wandering all over boats, taking leaflets and wasting sales persons time and costs. Because one day once all the planning is done and the cash is ready to be spent, I'll be making phone calls and doing deals - and as Ko-Ko in the Mikado sung "I have a little list". The relationships that I will have started at LBS and other events will be an important component of that list.

 

[Gymnopedie]

Quite a few on here who would not go back but haven't been back for a while.
I didn't go last year.
Is there anyone on here who went last year and are encouraged to go back this year?
Alternatively, anyone on here who went last year and as a result is put off from going this year?

Yes, I attended last year as I had to be in town that day. I SHALL attend this year in order that in 20 years (DV) I can say "Oh yes; LBS I attended the very last one"

 

[rotrax]

I was involved as part of the Lucas Marine stand at the 1982 Earls Court show.

I was Assistant Manager at the Lucas Service auto electrical depot in Park Royal-the biggest one in the UK with 70+employees.

We were asked to put on a tool and accessory sale during the EC show, sharing the Lucas Marine stand.

I ran the small area with help from my three sales guy's and my wife.

Despite critisism for "running a market stall like a barrow boy" from the Lucas Marine staff we took over 3K on the last day of the show selling boat related stuff and tools.

I remember my wife being worried about having the cash in her handbag as we had a curry in Southall on the way home.

The whole event was a blast-tight, atmospheric, and with good stuff on display downstairs.

I remember being taken with the Cornish Shrimper-it seemed so much bigger then!

Happy days...........................................

 

[TonyBuckley]

Quite a few on here who would not go back but haven't been back for a while.
I didn't go last year.
Is there anyone on here who went last year and are encouraged to go back this year?
Alternatively, anyone on here who went last year and as a result is put off from going this year?

I went last year. It was good in the sense that it was empty so lots of access to boats. I remember coming away thinking I had only seen one new yacht with a chart table; drinks cabinets seemed to be in.

Sales staff were not snotty at all (apart from Oyster), and it was an OK day. But a good test is that I came home without spending a penny. Compare this to the SBS where I spent about £500. The SBS seemed so much more friendly for looking over boats even though every salesman with his sixth sense new that I was never in the market for a brand new boat.

Am I going this year? No, I don't think so; it has lost its practical aspects. As someone else mentioned, I enjoy the myriad of stalls selling tat that turns into Gold.

And lets face it; the area is desolate and wind swept. Earls Court pubs have fond memories with open fires and bags stuffed with boxes being eagerly opened across a couple of pints.

 

[Resolution]

The fact is - you did not buy anything did you (you being " the public" not a dig at you personally)
You wandered all over boats - took leaflets - wasted salespersons time & costs
That is why no body wants to exhibit at excel
they are not there for fun. They have to make a living
What is the point of Oyster letting a load of paupers wander all over boats with their grubby fingers making greasy marks everywhere
Far better to follow up someone replying to an an advert, send a taxi to the station to collect them, take them for a sail than let the public muck every thing up. Much cheaper & has a higher hit rate.
The small companies with their small stands are not there because they do not exist anymore
I really do miss the Thomas Foulkes of this world, but anything they sold can be bought off the internet ( but not lovingly fondled first) ( If that sounds like an asian wife - sorry)
The friends you met in those days are either dead & gone or cannot be a..s..d to come & see you- excel or no excel - They have better things to do. An exhibition is no longer the novelty it used to be.
if we had bought those Hunters, Parkers, Jaguars & Westerlies ( no not them they had carp management & would have gone bust anyway!!)
they would still be there . As for "proper" boats - You stopped buying them because the bennies & Bavs of this world offered what the buying public wanted or could afford & left the outdated marques in their wake. My hanse is miles better than that contessa 32 with no room, heavy helm, dark cabin, lack of headroom-shall I go on?
Excel as an exhibition site is excellent It is the changing buying public that has messed it up

Face up to it guys, this is a really accurate summary of what has changed and why. Let's move on and stop harking back to the good old days.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The fact is - you did not buy anything did you (you being " the public" not a dig at you personally)
You wandered all over boats - took leaflets - wasted salespersons time & costs

They subsequently bought a secondhand Westerly. Strong secondhand sales mean strong residual values, which makes new boats more valuable. Public shows are about far more than selling stuff on the day. There's a lot of long term, slow burn brand awareness to be done as well.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Face up to it guys, this is a really accurate summary of what has changed and why. Let's move on and stop harking back to the good old days.

It doesn't explain why Southampton is still so popular with builders, traders and the public, or why the Düsseldorf show is thriving. It's not the case that boat shows are dying, it's just the case that the London one is dying.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I went last year. It was good in the sense that it was empty so lots of access to boats. I remember coming away thinking I had only seen one new yacht with a chart table; drinks cabinets seemed to be in.

I went last year. We were late getting to London vecause of the snow, so arrived at 4pm instead of the planned 2pm. Which was nice, because we got cheap tickets, but I was worried we wouldn't have time to see everything. Worry unnecessary. We were round and out in a couple of hours. Bugger all boats to see, no particular bargains to buy though I did get my crew a nice Guy Cotten so'wester. I'm going to be in London for business one day during the coming show, but I honestly don't know if I can be bothered to trek out there.

 

[oldvarnish]

Let's move on and stop harking back to the good old days.

There's nothing wrong with harking back to the good old days. It's harmless.

The real problem is for those who mastermind the LIBS who have failed to offer us a 'bright, new future'.

Everyone knows that boat owners are simply daft when it comes to spending money on our boats. if the LIBS can't tap into that there's something seriously wrong somewhere.

 

[Daydream believer]

They subsequently bought a secondhand Westerly. Strong secondhand sales mean strong residual values, which makes new boats more valuable. Public shows are about far more than selling stuff on the day. There's a lot of long term, slow burn brand awareness to be done as well.

Do you really believe that all those small stands,- that everyone says they miss,- promoted "brand loyalty"
I can remember the bloke selling tomato slicers & cucumber whatsits - but the "brand?"
I had a go at drilling holes with the worlds sharpest drill bits - Now let me see-- what brand was that !!!!!
i recall captain O M watts & Thomas Foulkes - but the brands they sold ??
Yes we can all remember Beneteau, Bavaria & that other french company - what's its name- but seeing their boats did not get me to buy one
In fact when i bought my boat I saw an Elan 31 at the show - liked it, decided I wanted a 31 footer & bought a Hanse
& they were not at the show.
Yes I agree that if my wife had not gone on the Elan at the show i would not have started looking for a new boat.
But does that justify Elan Co from showing at LIBS?
i think not

 

[Steve Clayton]

Yes, I attended last year as I had to be in town that day. I SHALL attend this year in order that in 20 years (DV) I can say "Oh yes; LBS I attended the very last one"

PMSL

 

[JumbleDuck]

Do you really believe that all those small stands,- that everyone says they miss,- promoted "brand loyalty"
I can remember the bloke selling tomato slicers & cucumber whatsits - but the "brand?"
I had a go at drilling holes with the worlds sharpest drill bits - Now let me see-- what brand was that !!!!!
i recall captain O M watts & Thomas Foulkes - but the brands they sold ??

Now I am confused. I thought you were previously saying that it was the big yacht manufacturers who were wasting their time. They were and are the ones there to promote their brands. There are still plenty of small stalls selling things. The fat man with the Zyliss vices may have gone, but the charming old chap with Le Tonkinois varnish is still around. Most of the complaints one sees about the London show are that there are too many stalls selling stuff.

To display or not is a commercial decision, and I don't think you are in any position to say that those companies who display or displayed are mistaken, any more than anyone else is in a position to criticise those companies who didn't or don't.

 

[jdc]

Speaking up for Exel

I LOATHED Earls Court. It was just so so 'british'- ie shabby, amateur and doomed to decline and lack of international competitiveness. And staffed by ghastly men in blazers who were every bit as unwelcoming to those they didn't judge to be part of their buffties 'club' as any Oyster salesman might be today. The famous bar was rammed full of fat blokes all dressed up in sailing shoes and brick-red trousers boasting at the tops of their voices and laughing like the donkeys they were - as a young man it almost drove me to embrace red revolution, and it certainly drove foreign visitors away.

In contrast I really like Exel. Purpose-built, modern, well lit and airy. Access is excellent, by DLR or by car (I can be in the show in less than an hour from leaving work in Cambridge). Parking is plentiful and secure. Food is now quite good although it was dreadful some years ago. The venue is spacious and and one's not always fighting through crowds.

However as a show it does need to rethink its focus. It's not the premier show for looking at boats - that's Southampton - so it has to peddle other things. Nonetheless I have always found experts there on the stands and been able to discuss things and make purchases or place orders so will be going again this year. But instead of moaning without proffering any useful insights (again so very 'british') how about turning this thread into a constructive set of suggestions for what a London show might try to become? What would it have to have to encourage visitors, and preferably a new generation of younger visitors?

One suggestion: Make it more of an entertainment (Lectures and Master-classes, great video footage of sailing on big screens, more participation things like sail-board simulators).

 

[Twister_Ken]

jdc,

I think the process of evolution might be at work, with the two UK shows becoming more distinct:

Southampton for looking at boats.

London for fixtures and fittings, especially electronics, plus a good show for those looking for sailing schools, charter companies.

This year London seems to have abandoned the lectures and master class (Knowledge Box?) element which it has had for the last three or four years.