SIBS 2013 - 4 things not to like

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1) The organisers didn't publish a map on their website this year. Presumably this is to encourage visitors to buy their vastly overpriced showguide. I declined.
2) Why don't they have a second entrance/exit point for visitors on the Town Quay side to save them from having to trudge over 2 high bridges to get in/out. Some of us just want to see the boats anyway.
3) Why aren't all the bridges down to the pontoons 2 way for visitors as well as exhibitors? I object to being routed miles away past the Sunseeker stand just to get off the pontoons.
4) Fairline's gatekeeper system is as irritating as ever. I object to having to waste 10mins having to phonetically spell my name, address and email address to some airhead bimbo on the front desk, then having to waste a further 10mins whilst they go and find 'my' dealer before I'm allowed to step on board one of their precious boats. Every other exhibitor we came across allowed us to jump on and off boats at will, subject to visitor numbers on board of course. Anyway, the Princess 56 was nicer than the Sq60. So there:p
 
The girl on the front desk probably finds being referred to as an airhead bimbo as irritating as ever. Thats life I guess. ;);)
 
With you on all of these especially #3.

There is a reason for #2 though. These shows are all about footfall for the stand owners. They divide their sales by the number of people who passed by e.g. one item sold per 1000 of footfall. If we were not forced to walk past their stand we would not stop and think "Oh, actually, that is quite good I'll have one". So the stand owners in the first two sections would be up in arms if they did not do it the way they do.
 
Mike your right, when my dad was with us he had a really bad knee, we asked if we could get in via the ferry terminal entrance as we too didn't want to see the other side, they said no so we asked why, there was no real answer so we rang our sales agent who duly came to meet us and let us in, ridiculous I know.

Last year it was a free for all look around fairline, I didn't even ask for Trevor. Seems they have changed tactics bak to appointment. I my view the show is or everyone lets face it we have paid to get in to see there boats, I know they have paid thousands to sow them off but that's business, they are the winners not us.

Personally I have not bothered going this year, same old same old every year, I've given 6 tickets away. I would have gone last Saturday but had a sea trial on my boat so that had to take priority over show days.

I have also noticed in past years that the bridges to the pontoons have a lane for exhibitors only, I do wonder what would happen in the event theybhadvo evacuate the pontoons quickly.
 
Why do Fairline do it? There was a barrier all along the pontoon to stop you getting too close to the boats. Then you had to pass the clipboard test at the desk and then pass a written exam in the marquee behind. They do realise it's a boat show, right?
In stark contrast, the Mastervolt sales lady offered us a beer for just looking at shore power leads.



<oops, I think Mastervolt can now expect a queue of forumites looking at shore power leads>:D
 
adey said:
Why do Fairline do it? There was a barrier all along the pontoon to stop you getting too close to the boats. Then you had to pass the clipboard test at the desk and then pass a written exam in the marquee behind. They do realise it's a boat show, right?
In stark contrast, the Mastervolt sales lady offered us a beer for just looking at shore power leads.



<oops, I think Mastervolt can now expect a queue of forumites looking at shore power leads>:D
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I understand the the tactics / strategy behind it and in years gone by (the good ones) it was a very successful one but in this environment I am not sure it's the right one.
 
We were initially annoyed about being forced through the two satellite parks but, on our way through, we found several interesting things which we would not have seen otherwise!
 
We were there last weekend...can confirm the least welcoming stand was Fairline, both SS & princess were very welcoming to all, only restrictions were on the 40m where they occasionally had appointments booked. Princess in particular were excellent, prepared to chat & asked sensible questions, really liked their attitude.
I understand from a business perspective why Fairline were doing it, but frankly most of the leads they picked up would be a waste of time, better to talk to the stand visitors & work out the potential first, I did not want to wait in line whilst they took details from everybody. Hope someone from Fairline follows this forum, can do it better!
Pan..
 
I've always fancied looking round a really big Mobo - though absolutely no interest in purchasing one - guess i'm the kind of person they are trying to keep away!
 
I'm not in the position to buy any large(ish) new motorboat for the foreseeable, but I own a share in a fairly successful company and I have a 28' boat now. One day though, I might decide to sell ups and treat myself.

I would imagine, in that instance, I wouldn't be banging on Fairlines door if I had been "vetted" at the door before I was allowed to look at one of their precious boats. Surely they all have to sell the dream a bit.
 
rhino_mac said:
I would imagine, in that instance, I wouldn't be banging on Fairlines door if I had been "vetted" at the door before I was allowed to look at one of their precious boats. Surely they all have to sell the dream a bit.
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In Fairline's defence, I don't think it's a case of vetting and I think I know what's behind the policy. They see every visitor to the stand as a potential future customer and they want to build up a database of those people for future marketing purposes (although having said that I've been giving them my details for years and never received any marketing material from them but then maybe I'm not the kind of customer they want!). When my company exhibits at trade shows, I impress on my salesmen the necessity to record the details of every visitor to our stand but its done on an informal basis and if the visitor doesn't want to leave his details or the visitor is plainly not a future prospect (ie a kid hunting for freebies) then we don't press them. I think Fairline should do something similar in that if they want to build up a database of potential prospects, it should be the staff on the boats who record visitor contact details in an informal manner whilst the visitors are walking round the boat and then the staff who should submit those details to the girls on the front desk. That might take some staff training and management but it is better than putting up a physical and virtual barrier between your products and your potential customers
 
Customers will manage perfectly fine without the dealer. The opposite is not the case and some are going to learn the hard way.

Eg. Fairline would do themselves a favour by building a generally positive attitude towards existing, future or even remotely potential customers.
Even those looking for a used Fairline actually make way for a sale of a new, in next or next-next level of the food chain.

A friend (younger and somewhat casual in style) was ignored big time by some exhibitors at Hanse Boot in Hamburg a few years back. I was welcomed, apparently due to a more senior appearance..(?)
He was in the market for a boat in the £300.000 range... I was just looking, at the time.
 
I know what you mean, Mike. The one-way only system on the pontoon bridges is most frustrating, along with the single entrance point.

From an exhibitors perspective, I have a few gripes about the show, the main one being the duration. 10 days is absolutely insane and a strong deterrent for a small company like mine. I understand it, but wow it is a heavy load. Makes it hard to keep your pecker up near the tail end of the show. (no innuendo intended).
 
Maybe I'm just sore about my whole boat show experience last year. Utterly ignored by Fairline looking at their smallest Targa, a boat I would very much like to own one day. Then completely ignored by Gibbs Marine when I was looking at a 25' Cobalt as a potential replacement for my Monterey 250cr. I must have been on the stand for about 30 minutes in total and had to ask a bored salesman for more information who was disinterested in me unless I was looking to take up their "show offer".
 
I don't think they have ever published a map online. If I were an exhibitor I would complain.

The bridges: I am reasonably fit, and my wife is very fit (some form of exercise class 5 days a week). For some reason we have always found that the steps on the bridges are exhausting. Yet we both walked up the stairs to Level 14 of the West Quay Car Park no problem.

Got stopped by the Nazi on the pontoon who refused to allow me to cross back, even though there was nobody walking the other way. If I had been on my own I would have been more insistent.
 
Got drenched yesterday whilst looking to buy a 30 ish footer. Met not complete but almost complete indifference. Did not bother to ask me my intentions, needs or details . Clearly decided I was not a prospect.
 
nigelmercier said:
I don't think they have ever published a map online. If I were an exhibitor I would complain.
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Last year, one of the boaty mags published an interactive map online. V useful but not published this year
 
Deleted User said:
In Fairline's defence, I don't think it's a case of vetting and I think I know what's behind the policy. They see every visitor to the stand as a potential future customer and they want to build up a database of those people for future marketing purposes (although having said that I've been giving them my details for years and never received any marketing material from them but then maybe I'm not the kind of customer they want!). When my company exhibits at trade shows, I impress on my salesmen the necessity to record the details of every visitor to our stand but its done on an informal basis and if the visitor doesn't want to leave his details or the visitor is plainly not a future prospect (ie a kid hunting for freebies) then we don't press them. I think Fairline should do something similar in that if they want to build up a database of potential prospects, it should be the staff on the boats who record visitor contact details in an informal manner whilst the visitors are walking round the boat and then the staff who should submit those details to the girls on the front desk. That might take some staff training and management but it is better than putting up a physical and virtual barrier between your products and your potential customers
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Tells me one of two scenarios
1- they are snowed under at the factory and afford to be " picky "-for Christ sake don,t come back with more than x orders -put a few off
2- sales falling and spent £££ on "marketing consultants " who have advised this for the UK market along with other strategies to justify fee,s for the advice
We will see
 
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