SIBS Exhibitors closed for business?

[zoidberg]

I've been toddling along to SIBS for decades, even mooring a boat brought round from The Hamble among the old rotten piles that cluttered the area where the pontoons are now.... and slipping in by dinghy!

Like many others, I made a friend of old Brian who peddled his 'Le Tonkinois' varnish from a tiny booth and who just retired after 32 years....

Like many others, I marvelled at the number of exhibitors who were only marginally interested in doing any business, preferring to gossip with others in their trade while studiously ignoring would-be customers. "It's a Show, not a Shop" muttered one under his breath. The few who came to sell, such as Jimmy Green Marine and YouBoat - and that great ice-cream van beside the roped-off pedestrian crossing - are doing roaring business.

I thought to buy some boat paint. Several exhibitors each refused to take an order, inviting me to contact them a couple of weeks after the show. Two different sailmakers, when asked about a storm jib ( an easy and straightforward order ) and a 'Solent', talked themselves out of an order using one specious reason after another..... "You'll need to use THIS larger size of furler - which is quite expensive. Probably TOO expensive. That'll cost, with VAT, over £2000. The sail, less than £500. I don't know anyone making a furler that's the right size and break-strength for your task...."

Just three booths away, Barton were producing the right size and price product, as were Karver nearby. Someone clearly doesn't get out much....

I offered the thought that one's choice of sailmaker should be able to talk productively to one's rigger...... I was 'blanked'! No sail sale....



OTOH, the togged-up security bunch operating the 'roped-off' pedestrian Crossing Point were having fun, swinging their ropes in synchro like girlies in a school playground-of-old. They were clearly itching for someone to start 'skipping' in and out..... until some jobsworth spotted them on a spycamera and gave them a bollocking....!

OTOH, the tired old Explosives Sniffer Dog was VERY interested in my ice-cream and was 'indicating' for all he was worth.... I offered to buy him one, but the severe and overheated handler refused. "If I can't have one on duty, neither can he..."

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Maybe the company directors should put their show staff on commission for the week at the show. My experience of my one and only visit was very positive: Raymarine, via Hudson marine on the Raymarine stand, happy to discuss and offer discount on auto helm package with no upselling. Jeckells The Sail Maker, super happy to discuss and massive discount, the bloke that sells the evaporating water air coolers was very persuade and keen to sell his product, the yacht (am I being too up arrogant) mattress folks were very knowledgeable and understood my boat and needs were not pushy. RYA and YBW couldn't give me the time of day. Hallberg Rassy were accommodating and interesting, CA were very friendly and I joined as a result.

All in all I found it very informative and got some bargains on big purchases. This was 2018.

 

[Neeves]

I find 'industry' shows something of a contradiction. They charge the exhibitors a King's ransom and do the same to the punters. Are the shows about, say, the marine business or is it all an excuse to pay of the debts of buildings built for shows or is the show simply a means to to pay for a few unnecessary salaries.

But it has always been a place for the industry to share news with each other, when or where else will you get all your competitors in one bar? I increasingly despair at the absence, in the case of boat shows, of starter boats - every thing is huge, with a price to match. I wonder about the absence of the struggling entrepreneur who has a really good idea but needs to sell 1000 of them to pay for the booth fee (forget about all his other costs).

In Australia the industry is voting with its feet - most of industry was not there or had a token appearance - as if to check whether they will bother at all next year. Interestingly the CEO in Australia of one of the biggest international marine component supply companies was an attendee, but not his company - he was there to simply meet the few or his customers - all in one place at the same time, cheaper than visiting each one in turn (we had breakfast together ). I'm not critical - its the sign of the times - its sad.

There is something wrong.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

Maybe the company directors should put their show staff on commission for the week at the show. My experience of my one and only visit was very positive: Raymarine, via Hudson marine on the Raymarine stand, happy to discuss and offer discount on auto helm package with no upselling. Jeckells The Sail Maker, super happy to discuss and massive discount, the bloke that sells the evaporating water air coolers was very persuade and keen to sell his product, the yacht (am I being too up arrogant) mattress folks were very knowledgeable and understood my boat and needs were not pushy. RYA and YBW couldn't give me the time of day. Hallberg Rassy were accommodating and interesting, CA were very friendly and I joined as a result.

All in all I found it very informative and got some bargains on big purchases. This was 2018.

The empty spaces at the Sydney show were also full of mattress suppliers - is there more money in mattresses than anchors....?

Jonathan

 

[Wansworth]

…….could exhibit…ride on lawn mowers,lawn sprinklers,garden sheds and solar panels.

 

[vyv_cox]

It's years since I went to any of the shows. At one of them I went specifically to look for a new windlass. On the Lewmar stand five sales persons stood at the back chatting amongst themselves. I was unable to attract the attention of any of them.
At Maxwell the salesman could not have been more helpful. I was impressed, ordered one and have subsequently bought another.
Rob Kemp, as ever, was helpful and attentive. The company's great attribute is that they make what you ask for. I ordered a stackpack, which has worked perfectly ever since. Later I bought a new Genoa.

 

[Graham_Wright]

I confess that, when we were exhibiting, chatting to stand visitors was a most enjoyable experience and did get in the way of sales.
Sigh!

 

[zoidberg]

…….could exhibit…ride on lawn mowers,lawn sprinklers,garden sheds and solar panels.

Yes.
I'm thinking that SIBS should be renamed the Southampton SmallMotorboat-BigEngine and Garden Jacuzzi Show.

 

[Wansworth]

Yes.
I'm thinking that SIBS should be renamed the Southampton Small Motorboat-BigEngine and Garden Jacuzzi Show.

…..forgot the Jacuzzi

 

[webcraft]

It's years since I went to any of the shows. At one of them I went specifically to look for a new windlass. On the Lewmar stand five sales persons stood at the back chatting amongst themselves. I was unable to attract the attention of any of them.
At Maxwell the salesman could not have been more helpful. I was impressed, ordered one and have subsequently bought another.
Rob Kemp, as ever, was helpful and attentive. The company's great attribute is that they make what you ask for. I ordered a stackpack, which has worked perfectly ever since. Later I bought a new Genoa.

Kemp are a great company to deal with.

- W

 

[Trident]

The problem is shows are way too expensive to exhibit at and you have to either be big enough to have it in your marketing budget or selling enough to make a profit and the internet has killed that last category by and large.
I used to go to the Ally Pally Road Race show with my motorcycle business and we always made a profit and had a great time and met a lot of pretty girls on other stands (two of whom I ended up dating for a while ) - one year we even made so much money I had to go to another stall doing leather goods and buy several extra wallets to stuff all the cash in... but the last year was a tiny profit and the comment from punters was that most things were "cheaper online now" so we never went again and instead did show offers online for the period of the show. Within a couple of years orders online would come with "what show is it for" as it slowly dies away

They also extended the show to 9 days (10 including press) rather than the original 4 which made it a much bigger investment in time away etc. I expect SIBS will need to re-format, shorten its length and save money somewhere if its to survive long term.

 

[Gixer]

I have to hand it to the people who work SIBS, I can't image how hard it is to be on the ball for two weeks, all day, everyday. Dealing with all sorts of people and requests.

I've done more trade shows than I can think of (in a different field) and know I've made my fair share of mistakes with advice. I've literally just come back from a 4 day pro video event, which was 7 days including traveling and set up. first hand I can say it's an exhausting game.

 

[ylop]

The empty spaces at the Sydney show were also full of mattress suppliers - is there more money in mattresses than anchors....?

Jonathan

Probably - most boats have an anchor which does the job OK. Perhaps an alternative could be marginally better but in many cases the trend is to anchor less, and in less severe conditions so a new anchor adds little to the overall experience. They can also be bought on-line easily and seeing one at a show adds little to the purchasing decision. There are copies and clones and me2 options keeping prices relatively keen BUT most boat mattresses are poor, presumably have a finite life and are odd shapes that need “made to measure”, but a good mattress can transform the experience aboard, but at a show you can feel it, discuss the process for measurements etc.

 

[Chris CJ]

Kemp are a great company to deal with.

- W

That’s not my experience of Kemps - an expensive mistake , resolved by having a new inmast main made by Cruisader that works beautifully

 

[Bristolfashion]

I've done a few trade shows - I guess my key thoughts were,

1. Only take people who enjoy talking to people and are good at it
2. Brief the team as to the purpose - brand awareness, sales, technical advice, spying on competitors etc and how that info will be used
3. Have a supervisor of some sort to motivate the team and issue the "get out there and talk/ get off your phone/stop talking to each other" instructions - and to check the team's ok and deal with any problems.
4. Make sure people get breaks and enjoy the show a bit.

It is hard work, but there is an easy "no work" option available!

 

[Alicatt]

I have to hand it to the people who work SIBS, I can't image how hard it is to be on the ball for two weeks, all day, everyday. Dealing with all sorts of people and requests.

I've done more trade shows than I can think of (in a different field) and know I've made my fair share of mistakes with advice. I've literally just come back from a 4 day pro video event, which was 7 days including traveling and set up. first hand I can say it's an exhausting game.

As an engineer working for the marketing dept., going to tradeshows was an exercise in herding sales people, frustrating and tiring at times, When I was hired by the company I took up my role at a trade show, watching the sales persons running around like headless chickens with no organisation, got them under control and got the show set up. After that I got promoted and moved to head office in London, so for me it was a big success, and I was not on commission either.

 

[vyv_cox]

That’s not my experience of Kemps - an expensive mistake , resolved by having a new inmast main made by Cruisader that works beautifully

Unfortunate. All my sails were made by them (Hood), main, genoa and spinnaker. Stackpack much later on and replacement Kemp genoa later still. Every one has been excellent. In each case there was useful discussion before purchase.

 

[Chris CJ]

Unfortunate. All my sails were made by them (Hood), main, genoa and spinnaker. Stackpack much later on and replacement Kemp genoa later still. Every one has been excellent. In each case there was useful discussion before purchase.

I wouldn’t have minded that the sail would furl without snagging in the mast , if Kemps attitude hadn’t been so aggressive and basically responses to see you in court. nothing wrong with the sail , user error. Well the previous UK sail worked really smoothly on furling and unfurling as does the crusader sail. This from a local company to me , where I know some of the guys, they were very embarrassed by this attitude. Wasn’t worth the hassle , I just wanted to go sailing , this was a £6k mistake at my expense.

 

[jane444blue]

What a shame, I went yesterday and had great advice, problems solved and samples ordered from
Cactus
Raymarine
Beta
Mirka
Robbins
Dragonfly
Permateek
Flexiteek
And after chatting to the Boatfolk guy guarding the stand got offered drinks and a sit down even though I don't moor there

*Updated to add, agree with random stands, jacuzzi etc, realise the only thing I bought was Doggy bag for sons dog

 

[wonkywinch]

I went armed with a list of specific people I wanted to see and had a good day.

I noticed Duncan Wells not there this year. Yanmar gave excellent advice re the oil issues I'd had recently.