Southampton Boat Show - Bavaria

[xcw]

Just been looking the Clipper website and see they have announced that they will not be exhibiting at the SBS this year, instead they will have their own private showing at Swanwick. Citing cost as one of the reasons. This is significant given that they are one of the larger manufacturers and exhibitors. I guess it's a sign of the times. I wonder what the longer term impact will be on the SBS?

 

[Pinnacle]

SIBS will eventually have to close - or at least scale down a lot.

 

[ashtead]

If you were looking to buy a new 12 ish m boat you would make your way to Clipper surely to have a look . We bought from Opal who at the time offered Bavaria and Island packets and Hunter. We were very happy to buy pre show though. In those golden days however bavaria were selling hundreds if not thousands of yachts per year. Those prosperous years are long gone however in now we are in a recession with falling property prices and a tight employment market leaving aside petrol/diesel crisis I can see the wisdom of Clipper in not exhibiting at SBS . Even filling the Volvo xc60 today caused Mrs A a shock at Tesco . Let alone tanking up a Bavaria.

 

[Concerto]

If you were looking to buy a new 12 ish m boat you would make your way to Clipper surely to have a look . We bought from Opal who at the time offered Bavaria and Island packets and Hunter. We were very happy to buy pre show though. In those golden days however bavaria were selling hundreds if not thousands of yachts per year. Those prosperous years are long gone however in now we are in a recession with falling property prices and a tight employment market leaving aside petrol/diesel crisis I can see the wisdom of Clipper in not exhibiting at SBS . Even filling the Volvo xc60 today caused Mrs A a shock at Tesco . Let alone tanking up a Bavaria.

The continual shift of manufacturers becoming larger manufacturing groups, the huge reduction in UK boat producers, the increase in boat sizes away from the majority of boaters, the rise of internet sales of equipment, all point to a shrinking market of potential customers for all stall holders at the boat show. That is all before the current financial constraints for many of the population. What is surprising is the motor boat sector should be hardest hit with the rise in fuel costs. Are any of them deciding not to exhibit?

 

[Bobc]

As with a lot of industries, trade shows are becoming history. Go back 30 years and if you wanted to research products and make a short-list, the quickest and easiest way was to visit a show. These days, you just use t'internet.

Attending a show for a boat builder/agent is eye-wateringly expensive, and the likelyhood of them making any sales that they wouldn't have made anyway is minimal.

Also, on the basis that Swanwick is only a few miles away from the show, it's cheaper for them to put on free courtesy buses to/from Swanwick than to take a stand.

 

[wonkywinch]

I always thought trade shows have had their day compared the the 1980s when if you weren't exhibiting, everyone would think you'd gone out of business.

The SBS was always a bit depressing with hot tub and garden furniture stands then I went to the Dusseldorf boat show and have now done that every year for last 4 years. Almost every stand is relevant and there were around 1500 exhibitors across 17 huge halls this year. One full day was not enough and I didn't even get near the mobo halls.