Southampton Boat Show 13th - 22nd September 2013

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Richard Shead

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Morning All (well it’s morning somewhere in the world)

Well it’s here again - Southampton Boat Show!

As always we will have a stand at what is one of my favourite events of the year.

E001 is the stand number in case you have never been before and we are opposite the entrance to the marina. We have more logos and flags than you can shake a stick at so you can’t miss us!

Once you do find us you can pick up the very latest issue of your favourite read

Yachting World PLUS SuperSail World
Yachting Monthly
Practical Boat Owner
Motor Boats Monthly
Motor Boat & Yachting

You can enter our fabulous competition to win Motor Boats Monthly’s “Best Buy” folding bike the Tern Link D8!

Sign up for an annual subscription saving you £££££!

Ask advice from one of our many editorial team member s that will be in and out / off and on throughout the week.

Or simply come along to say hello, moan, praise or all three.

I shall be there all week so please do make yourself known if visit the stand.

See you there.

Richard
 
Richard Shead said:
Morning All (well it’s morning somewhere in the world)

Well it’s here again - Southampton Boat Show!

As always we will have a stand at what is one of my favourite events of the year.

E001 is the stand number in case you have never been before and we are opposite the entrance to the marina. We have more logos and flags than you can shake a stick at so you can’t miss us!

Once you do find us you can pick up the very latest issue of your favourite read

Yachting World PLUS SuperSail World
Yachting Monthly
Practical Boat Owner
Motor Boats Monthly
Motor Boat & Yachting

You can enter our fabulous competition to win Motor Boats Monthly’s “Best Buy” folding bike the Tern Link D8!

Sign up for an annual subscription saving you £££££!

Ask advice from one of our many editorial team member s that will be in and out / off and on throughout the week.

Or simply come along to say hello, moan, praise or all three.

I shall be there all week so please do make yourself known if visit the stand.

See you there.

Richard
Click to expand...
Will do Richard. Will be the on Friday 20th.
 
Just returned from the boat show today Monday 16th having not been for the last couple of years.....well the place looked deserted compared with the pre recession years, at £20/head on the door its low on VFM.

Stands with signs like "viewing by prior booking" frankly don't wash with me.

After 5 years of financial difficulties in the UK the boating community seem to have learnt nothing about going the extra mile with regard to service and giving true value for money.

Eateries were also devoid of customers due to the ridiculous prices being asked for very basic fare!

My view would be save the £20 and put a bit extra fuel in the boat...and enjoy your self!

Sorry, but it needs to be said how it is as most publications will talk the event up as they need the advertising revenues, but I remember when this boat show was worth attending.

Yours disapointed of Southsea
 
Have to say, it's the smallest SBS I've seen ( last 20 yrs) . Trouble is, you can search & buy all ancillary kit online, boats were great , weather s**t.
Not too many punters there, but I enjoyed it. C'est la vie.
S
 
Ross Young said:
Just returned from the boat show today Monday 16th having not been for the last couple of years.....well the place looked deserted compared with the pre recession years, at £20/head on the door its low on VFM.

Stands with signs like "viewing by prior booking" frankly don't wash with me.

After 5 years of financial difficulties in the UK the boating community seem to have learnt nothing about going the extra mile with regard to service and giving true value for money.

Eateries were also devoid of customers due to the ridiculous prices being asked for very basic fare!

My view would be save the £20 and put a bit extra fuel in the boat...and enjoy your self!

Sorry, but it needs to be said how it is as most publications will talk the event up as they need the advertising revenues, but I remember when this boat show was worth attending.

Yours disapointed of Southsea
Click to expand...

Really ?

I mean really ?

Weekend was turd but today very busy.

As for advertising revenues do you you really think that's how it works ? We would be laughing if it did.
 
Richard Shead said:
Really ?

I mean really ?

Weekend was turd but today very busy.

As for advertising revenues do you you really think that's how it works ? We would be laughing if it did.
Click to expand...

Well, maybe that's a bit unfair...the point I'm trying to make is reduce the prices and hopefully the place would be better attended, so reduce the pitch fees to the eatery exhibitors and they could offer more sensible rates to customers...I could go on!

The absence of trade exhibitors is as a result of high pitch fees and the lack of customers which results in reduced sales, which is why they are not attending in numbers ... its nothing to do with the internet.

I see this as a waisted opportunity for the UK Marine industry because they are not getting real with the economic enviroment they are trading in, you can't keep working on a reducing market.
 
I do think you have a valid point. We were talking to a small company on a small stand & they payed near 20k for a 20x12 foot pitch which seems extortionate in the current climate & how much will they need to sell to warrant being there for 10 days?
I wonder at the logic when considering the potential customer base for your average boater in the UK. I appreciate that there will be many wealthy visitors to the show & maybe that's the key market place from the vendors point of view but I wonder what it provides for the average marina dweller.
 
Exhibitions are always expensive to attend, particularly large international events. There is a limited amount of space available and so to lower the prices significantly would simply mean the event was over subscribed and possibly over run with non boating stands.

You have to accept that with the advent of the internet there are no longer boat show "bargains" to be hunted out in the Chandlery department. You find the odd saving but the big benefit is being able to see and touch products. The problem is lots of people look touch and smell then scurry back home to search on line. We will never see the "good old days" again I'm afraid. You still see manufacturers at the even so it is a great place to compare products.

Food - You could not put a catering unit on there even if you wanted to. Catering is the biggest earner at any event and as such quality & value for money have nothing to do with it. It's all down to money and who you know.

Every year the same old complaints get thrown around. Too expensive, nothing to see, wrong time of year and horrible food. "It will be the last show I ever attend". Yet still people keep coming. Numbers vary from year to year but the core people who genuinely have money to spend keep coming. Casual day trippers ebb and flow with the weather or economic mood and some exhibitors hanging onto financial viability by a thread don't manage to make it back but in the main I think it still warrants a day out.

I haven't been yet, we are here Saturday and Sunday but I'm sure I will enjoy myself as I always do. A fantastic opportunity to compare lots of stuff under 1 metaphorical roof. I also enjoy seeing things I wouldn't ordinarily consider.

Henry :)
 
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