SIBS

[Bigplumbs]

As above, the halls have just been moved together.

I didn't notice any difference in big yachts on the hard, what had gone?

A huge row of sale boats had gone. Still well worth a visit though and who wants to look at sail boats

Dennis

 

[Blue Sunray]

Went yesterday & seemed to be populated with self important guys in 'smart suits' talking in groups cluttering up the pontoons. Although was invited to view the Hardy 65, even though I said "no way can I afford it". Very knowledgable & friendly guy showed me around. Very impressed with his attitude.

I had a similar experience with the Hardy stand, though I'm not in the market for a 65, a 36 or 42 is defiantly on the cards in the future and their attitude makes me like them more and more in comparison to Aquastar who were completely disinterested last year and Northline who had a couple of staff on their boat who were just sat there playing on their phones when I tried to make eye contact. It's just a pity that Elling are as welcoming as Hardy so I'll have to look for other criteria.

The Sunseeker salesmen I assume are just there for our amusement as they couldn't look more like a caricature if they actually were Swiss Tony.

 

[henryf]

To be fair to the guys on the Sunseeker stand can you imagine the number of people they have had on the stand just there for a day out. If you were seriously interested in buying one at any point in the future you would register with the reception and then get escorted round by a Sales bod. Ditto Princess.

It is a really fine line at the shows, restrict people and you get flamed, leave people alone and you get flamed and all the time you do have to remember it's a very expensive boat with easy to damage if you're a muppet stuff inside.

At Cannes you had to register with the reception and got shown round by someone. In some cases it was a bit disorganised so in the case of Azimut I got one of the girls from the reception who proved to be great and liased with some of the factory staff mingling around the boats if I had a technical question.

Henry

 

[Blue Sunray]

To be fair to the guys on the Sunseeker stand can you imagine the number of people they have had on the stand just there for a day out. If you were seriously interested in buying one at any point in the future you would register with the reception and then get escorted round by a Sales bod. Ditto Princess.

It is a really fine line at the shows, restrict people and you get flamed, leave people alone and you get flamed and all the time you do have to remember it's a very expensive boat with easy to damage if you're a muppet stuff inside.

At Cannes you had to register with the reception and got shown round by someone. In some cases it was a bit disorganised so in the case of Azimut I got one of the girls from the reception who proved to be great and liased with some of the factory staff mingling around the boats if I had a technical question.

Henry

I certainly wouldn't do their job at a boat show, it'd be my idea of hell, but why they are made to dress like that (apart from providing amusement) escapes me. The stand staff member I felt for most though was the lady on the Fusion stand who seemed to have to spend the whole day either inflating aliens or answering questions about when she would next be so doing.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

No big Yachts on the hard and one less hall. More non boating stands

It is meant to happen. Southampton has wrong dates (1 weekend competing with Cannes).
BTW Same is going with Genoa, it is to close to Cannes. It is a logistic nightmare for the builders who go to these show themselves, not as dealers.
Which usually are the big companies not the small ones.

Southampton and BMF think it can compete with Cannes, which is something that can never happen.
Genoa can do it, if the Italian industry becomes healthy as it was pre 2010.
Still the logistics of Cannes (airport connection) is better but viewers in Genoa are double to Cannes at 150k.
Quality of people atm is better in Cannes especially with Russian, East EU, and US buyers which are (have) been more cash rich then W EU and most have no hurdles behind (no part/ex).

 

[jfm]

I can't imagine Jeremy's buying choice would be swayed by the quality of the sales assistants' busts...prolly more of a leg man.

Firing on all cylinders there M :encouragement:

 

[MapisM]

Southampton and BMF think it can compete with Cannes, which is something that can never happen.
Genoa can do it, if the Italian industry becomes healthy as it was pre 2010.

Agreed.
I believe that coming back to the previous decade market on steroids is just wishful thinking, and not only for IT builders.
But this year, it strikes me that everyone and their dog seems to be planning to go to Genoa rather than Cannes - and I'm not talking only of IT boaters, though even for those, several which I met lately told me that they attended Cannes in the last few years but will now go to Genoa instead.
Not saying this for patriotism btw, I just say it as I see it.
Fwiw, I will attend neither, because the few interesting things to see are not worth the hassle and the inconveniences - not to mention the awful food at ripoff prices...
And if I really should think of going to a boat show again, I'd rather combine that with a trip to the US and return to FLIBS.

 

[ari]

I certainly wouldn't do their job at a boat show, it'd be my idea of hell, but why they are made to dress like that (apart from providing amusement) escapes me.

They were wearing ordinary suits weren't they? What would you like them to be wearing? Pyjamas? Big fluffy cuddly jumpers? Dungarees?

Sorry, not quite following why you found this so amusing but keen to be enlightened (about that and your preferred Sunseeker staff dress code).

 

[benjenbav]

Firing on all cylinders there M :encouragement:

I'm channelling the late Les Dawson...

 

[henryf]

I presume there's an implication of sharp suits and a flash Harry attitude. Although clearly more of a Princess man I have to say that the chaps from Sunseeker Torquay have always been nothing but charming towards me despite never having bought a screw from them.

They always smile & say hello, email to see if I need tickets and even had me over to the factory a couple of years ago.

I do think you have to put in a little bit of effort as a potential customer and particularly if you are a boat owner it's possible to get a lot out of the shows. There will always be bad apples and sometimes the gatekeepers can be a bit officious but I've always managed to see what I want to on the Sunseeker stand at Southampton.

Henry

 

[Portofino]

But this year, it strikes me that everyone and their dog seems to be planning to go to Genoa rather than Cannes

Funny you should say that --- we are actually taking our dog to Genoa .Mrs PF carries him in a bag aboard .
Italians seem to like "piccolo canine "

Done Cannes to death and uninspired by Sibs being Med based .

 

[Blue Sunray]

They were wearing ordinary suits weren't they? What would you like them to be wearing? Pyjamas? Big fluffy cuddly jumpers? Dungarees?

Sorry, not quite following why you found this so amusing but keen to be enlightened (about that and your preferred Sunseeker staff dress code).

No wish to see them change, the're all part of the entertainment as far as I'm concerned.

Sunseeker training video

 

[MapisM]

Italians seem to like "piccolo canine"

I'm not sure that's a valid generalization, L.
Some do, some don't, I guess.
What I'm sure of is that anyone trying to sell something at a boat show (regardless of nationality) will always be complimentary towards our best halves, their shoes, clothes, bags, and whatever they might carry around inside them...

Are you going to look at anything specific?
So far I resisted the temptation to ask you a ride in your fine Italian vessel, but if you would go for something like a Millennium 50 next, I could see myself BEGGING for an invitation.
But only as long as you aren't going bigger than that, mind.
There's a size limit above which fast boats are just fast, but not so much fun anymore.

Regardless, looking fwd to hearing your impressions.

 

[petem]

Funny you should say that --- we are actually taking our dog to Genoa .Mrs PF carries him in a bag aboard .
Italians seem to like "piccolo canine "

I'd like to take our "piccolo canine" on the plane but would need to go private to do it. Note quite in my budget .

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I'd like to take our "piccolo canine" on the plane but would need to go private to do it. Note quite in my budget .

Are you sure about that? I've seen one quite recently on BA to Nice.

 

[lionelz]

Went yesterday & seemed to be populated with self important guys in 'smart suits' talking in groups cluttering up the pontoons. Although was invited to view the Hardy 65, even though I said "no way can I afford it". Very knowledgable & friendly guy showed me around. Very impressed with his attitude.

I had exactly the same response from them myself, I told them I could never afford it but he was excellent with us, spent time with us showed us around and was pleasure to talk too. Well done that man

 

[lionelz]

Well as said went today and had my second look at a boat I really fancied from last year, the marex 310. Got on boat at about 1705. I asked if it was ok as the guys was busy doing his paperwork. I went on expressing how good I thought the boat was having seen it the previous year. I asked about the build time, the options that can be added, finance, part ex on my boat, what the process would be for buying the boat. The guy answered all my questions whilst still doing his paperwork. I continued to ask very salient questions about buying the boat, so much so that my friend thought I was going to do it and buy one, which I am and was very tempted to do so. I continued to ask questions and then after about 25 mins, I left. I asked my friend what he thought of the sales man. Because after all the IDIOT that's all I can call him I think he is supposed to be a salesperson. Did not even have the common decency to ask for my name and take my details. Shocking behaviour from a salesman who how now potentially lost a £220k sale. I pretty gutted to be honest, because I think with a little bit of proffesinalism I may have taken the plunge.

 

[petem]

Are you sure about that? I've seen one quite recently on BA to Nice.

Difference is that leaving from other countries you can take small cats and dogs in the cabin. For UK departures they have to go in the hold which can be traumatic. I'd be interested if you saw a pet in the cabin for a UK depature.

 

[Portofino]

Iirc, under 4 kg,s they sit on your lap like a toddler for intra europe .You put them in a flight bag .
For Uk , then Pete,s right ,they go into the hold in a box .
How ever I vaguely remember KLM easing up a bit , when we were un the uk .
Genoa is a less than 4 hr Drive any how ,

@ MapishM --- just looking ,but will pay attention to rare breads , and get some pic,s

Which pic hosting are you using as I have not replaced P bucket yet ? For the latest I pad ps .
If I can get re sorted I will do a separate thread on the show

 

[mcanderson]

Which pic hosting are you using as I have not replaced P bucket yet ? For the latest I pad ps.

I’m now using imgur. Appears good and they have apps for iOS.