London Boat Show 2013

[Poly]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Wow I didn't realise it was quite that much. Pretty big investment for the little firms that is.

Google is my friend... I might have over estimated but its still big £

so lets assume you want a space 8m x 4m. Thats quite big, but would only fit one 6m boat on a trailer and have space for a table to sign the deal! So in rib stand terms its not that big. So 32 m2 = £ 7680+VAT for a basic "shell stand". That means you get some carpet and 2 or three flimsy white walls. Electricity installation is extra. Any design / backdrop etc is extra. There are schemes to save money e.g. small boats, etc. which are charged per boat. Also BMF members get discounts for the number of years they exhibit for, discounts for paying early etc. A big rib stand could easily be 20k all in, but you could probably do a credible job for £5k.

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by Poly

Google is my friend... I might have over estimated but its still big £

so lets assume you want a space 8m x 4m. Thats quite big, but would only fit one 6m boat on a trailer and have space for a table to sign the deal! So in rib stand terms its not that big. So 32 m2 = £ 7680+VAT for a basic "shell stand". That means you get some carpet and 2 or three flimsy white walls. Electricity installation is extra. Any design / backdrop etc is extra. There are schemes to save money e.g. small boats, etc. which are charged per boat. Also BMF members get discounts for the number of years they exhibit for, discounts for paying early etc. A big rib stand could easily be 20k all in, but you could probably do a credible job for £5k.

Very interesting. Thanks for that

[falcon0310]

poly lets change the tack here
iam 38 soon be 39 and started at 13
14 first boat show
in 88 went to boat show b...shi.. got test off sealine 285 siad i was buying for my uncle
meet flatacraft and tonys boys were maybee 16 17 the took me out on force 3 gt with 30
and force 4 gt with 60 and i had change my pants
in 1990 meet tim ribtec he chatted to me told him had couple speed boats and sib,
so he said do you want drive knocked him off and off i went
not realy he said can you drive 585 with 100 suzi i said yes
he was at the back and said dont you want go faster
this is my point all the above knew i was kid and probley just liked me bit for getting train to boat show and wanted talk to me
where blokes like that now ?
is tony lee eliot still alive ?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by falcon0310

this is my point all the above knew i was kid and probley just liked me bit for getting train to boat show and wanted talk to me
where blokes like that now ?

They are all broke because they kept going to boat shows and playing with toys instead of selling boats ;-)

I'm not saying the nonchalant customer service is the way to sell boats either but the internet has changed the way people buy things. Certainly in my world (not boats) >80% of business at tradeshows is prearranged meetings with serious customers (often repeat business or people we have been "talking" to electronically for a while but needs a face to face to close the deal) - the 'walk ons' make up 80% of the visitors to a stand but only 20% of sales at best. Our best sales guys can tell within 2 minutes if you are a real customer or a time waster.

[RAZZER]

We pulled out 3 years ago I think.
The reason being the visitors really dropped off and when we totted up the costs in excess of 30K vs the actual inquiries it did not really stack up we could have chartered an aircraft and flown the potential customers to the med and run them around the bay in the ribs and still had change left over !
Things that get overlooked with shows are the hidden costs transporting 4 Ribs to London and all the gear over Christmas & the accommodation costs for 3 People for 10 days is 3k at London rates.
It all adds up !
I don't think we will be back to London as Seawork and SIBs are really good for us and I don't think the UK market warrants 2 major boat shows...

[C2 RIBS]

Interesting, as view not shown by BMF this week when this location was discussed. Suggests some are telling BMF is all wonderful as they appear to be signing contract again for Excel .
BMF listened when expressions did not meet that feedback about location . I wonder how many will not display in future years?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by RAZZER

we could have chartered an aircraft and flown the potential customers to the med and run them around the bay in the ribs and still had change left over !

Did I mention I was thinking of buying a new boat? I guess I would consider a rib craft

[willk]

Originally Posted by Poly

Did I mention I was thinking of buying a new boat? I guess I would consider a rib craft

Hopefully Razzer's saleguys are as good as your's...

Originally Posted by Poly

Our best sales guys can tell within 2 minutes if you are a real customer or a time waster.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

I went on the Sunday and was a little disappointed.

We woz there too. Surprised we didn't spot you as we had a good wander around. Overall, I didn't think it was too bad considering the usual mixed reviews I'd read before attending. Whilst there wasn't a huge amount of rib stuff, the hard boat stands looked good and there was a selection of the smaller companies that often get lost amongst the melee in Southampton.

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by Erin

We woz there too. Surprised we didn't spot you as we had a good wander around. Overall, I didn't think it was too bad considering the usual mixed reviews I'd read before attending. Whilst there wasn't a huge amount of rib stuff, the hard boat stands looked good and there was a selection of the smaller companies that often get lost amongst the melee in Southampton.

Oh that's a shame, I was a bit lonely over lunch!

[Erin]

Ahh, was the crèche a bit empty?

[Bigmuz7]

oooohhh cutting

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

oooohhh cutting

Ah but thats what friends are for