Liverpool Boatshow Cancelled

nathanlee

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To be honest, I saw that coming. The website had no mention of what was on and who was exhibiting, which suggested a poor response.

A great shame since I think it would have worked well given a better economy.
 

nathanlee

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Who nicked it?

While there is no doubt that there is a subculture of scousers who would nick anything given the chance, I think you'll find that Liverpool city centre is, generally, a very nice place full of very nice people.

I know it was only said in jest, but the stereotypical opinion people seem to hold about Liverpool was probably a slight aid to the downfall of the show. It is a shame, because I think it would have made an absolutely cracking venue for a boat show.
 

Coaster

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The UK has room for one major boat show, namely Southampton. There is a second fairly major boat show hanging on by the skin of its teeth, i.e. London. Apart from these there are various local and minority interest shows.

I never understood where the Liverpool show was positioned. The little I heard about it suggested an attempt to create a third national show. If so it seemed fairly obviously doomed to failure.
 

Williwaw

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A great shame, if true. I was hoping Liverpool would be a success and kill off Excel, which to me has always been a boring barn in the wrong place.
 

Signed Out

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East Coast Boat Show in Ipswich always seemed to do well through my yoof in the 80s. Shame Liverpool couldn't have been more like that, but considering the density of boating activity up here in the NW compared to back there, let alone the S Coast, I am not at all surprised it got canned.
 

Alfie168

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I think its just bad timing. Liverpool is a great venue for a Northern boat show, but for a new venture the economic background is just dire for the industry and nobody has the money to take the risk. I've not been to a boat show for decades, but I was leaning towards a day out in Liddypool to see it, so thats scuppered that :(

Actually I'm not so sure it was a new venture..just the first time i'd bothered to look..

Tim
 

Ubergeekian

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The UK has room for one major boat show, namely Southampton. There is a second fairly major boat show hanging on by the skin of its teeth, i.e. London.

The Liverpool Boat Show website has an article announcing the cancellation. I saw it after your posting, so this bit seemed very pertinent:
This negative trend accelerated sharply in late January, with many contracted exhibitors citing a commercially disastrous London Boat Show as the catalyst for their decisions to withdraw from Liverpool, said Mr Mackenzie.
I wonder how much longer the London show can survive?
 

Sandgrounder

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While there is no doubt that there is a subculture of scousers who would nick anything given the chance, I think you'll find that Liverpool city centre is, generally, a very nice place full of very nice people.

I know it was only said in jest, but the stereotypical opinion people seem to hold about Liverpool was probably a slight aid to the downfall of the show. It is a shame, because I think it would have made an absolutely cracking venue for a boat show.

+ 1
 

Coaster

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...I wonder how much longer the London show can survive?


Thanks for the link, UG. I hadn't looked at the show website before. Having been to the London show this January, after a gap of about 3 or 4 years, I have doubts about its medium term viability.

There seem to have been a number of actual or proposed boat shows with rather grandiose ambitions, for example the "new" Earls Court show as well as Liverpool. I know next to nothing about organising and promoting such things but, if there is demand for a reasonably large northwestern boat show why not start small and build it up? Or attach it to something else, like the NEC one?
 

chinita

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A good decision.

Having the balls to cancel now instead of risking a complete disaster has my approval, as does the staging of a Northern Show if the economy ever improves.
 

Joker

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If you wanted to buy a sailing boat, London wasn't the place to be. They were mostly hidden away in a hall full of gigantic mobos.

Southampton - well, the trouble there is the amount builders are charged to exhibit - literally tens of thousands, and you won't get that back by sales at the show. I suspect most builders exhibit there in order to be seen.

Why is the industry in trouble? Here's my 2d worth.

First, boats last longer - GRP isn't indestructible, but it goes on and on. More second hand boats means fewer new ones.

The second point is that the industry has moved onto to producing big and expensive boats - there isn't much below 35 ft in the market. The small boat market is not so profitable, and has been ruined in part by the second hand market.

The marine industry isn't suffering - just try getting a pontoon berth anywhere in the Solent - but boat building is.
 

Major Catastrophe

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To be honest, I saw that coming. The website had no mention of what was on and who was exhibiting, which suggested a poor response.

A great shame since I think it would have worked well given a better economy.

The response was very good and there was a buzz amongst the public and the trade. But, the exhibition area was not not enclosed properly and too many companies had rented alternative and cheaper space, couple this with people being able to stand on the dockside and view all the boats without paying for a pontoon pass.

But, I have spoken to an exhibitor and he alleges that having negotiated a good deal, he was hit with a new bill last week that almost doubled his costs. It is alleged that too many deals were done and exhibitors were sent additional bills to make up the shortfall.

There are a lot of disappointed people up here.
 

LittleShip

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Liverpool Maritime Festival

Has the Maritime Festival also been cancelled, I attended this in 2005 and I have to say it was a great weekend.

They had many displays including a fly past by a Lancaster and a Spitfire. I was considering a trip there to attend the boat show and or the Festival.

Anybody know if it still on.

Tom
 

Richard Shead

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The response was very good and there was a buzz amongst the public and the trade. But, the exhibition area was not not enclosed properly and too many companies had rented alternative and cheaper space, couple this with people being able to stand on the dockside and view all the boats without paying for a pontoon pass.

But, I have spoken to an exhibitor and he alleges that having negotiated a good deal, he was hit with a new bill last week that almost doubled his costs. It is alleged that too many deals were done and exhibitors were sent additional bills to make up the shortfall.

There are a lot of disappointed people up here.

Was due today good job I have been off for a few days....

I have a very good insight as to who was going, who was not, who paid what and who did not but today's not the day for going into it. (as in for me and not criticising anyones post)
 

Garold

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Always a bit sad when anything is cancelled. So, commiserations to the organisers and those locals who may have benefitted from a boost in business.

However, is there really a market for a glitzy replica of the bigger boat shows in Liverpool? On the evidence so far, clearly not, at the current time.

Would a broader based 'outdoor' show not have had a greater market for visitors and exhibitors alike? More of a 'regional agricultural' type format, which has a bit of everything for people who want to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. At the London Boat Show, I quite enjoyed going next door to the outdoor/bicycle show. And from chatting to a few people (visitors and exhibitors) I wasn't alone. Though I didn't feel the same when visiting Excel to see the London Motorbike Show last week, which had the Wedding Show on at the same time!!

I agree with most other posters in doubting the long term future of the London Boat Show, so what hope for a third UK boat show?

Shows maybe have to move with the times. Smaller shows have to have a USP. They have to be free, or specialist, or assemble an audience from diverse markets to have enough oomph to work commercially. And unless boat shows/events are massive (Dusseldorf) or specialist (Atlantic Multihull Show), they just don't seem to work. Maybe joining them up with other leisure activities is the only way.

I may have unwittingly contributed to the demise of the Liverpool Boat Show in a small way. When asked by my broker if he could use our boat for the Liverpool Boat Show, I told him that I wasn't keen on my boat having so many extra miles of useage to get all the way to Liverpool (i.e. Solent to Liverpool). And then there was the time needed for the journey there, the show and then the return journey (probably a whole month without the boat). So, I declined. I wonder how many other exhibitors were put off by the same logistical hurdles.

Cheers

Garold
 
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