Earls court

[Doug Stormforce]

Thats all for now, hopefully get some of the RIB Zone tommorrow once all the boats are in. Ribs have pride of place just inside the front door.

[Tony]

Ooooh thats a nice looking rib...

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

Things are starting to take shape

How have you managed to take such small pix?

[RAD]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

How have you managed to take such small pix?

Looks like a camera phone but I would like larger pics too!!!

[Doug Stormforce]

Yes they are from a camera phone, sent down by the advance party yesterday (Monday). The rest of the team went up this morning to finish build up. If any one of them have a better camera we wil get you some bigger pics if not you are going to have to visit the show to see for your selves.

In the mean time here is some more small pics from last night

[Chris]

Popped in today for a couple of hours was suprised how small the show was as its only 1 hall this year mainly due to none of the big boys (sunseeker, fairline etc) being there . However most of what I wanted to see was there and the RIB zone at the entrance was good to see. Everyone very freindly and easy to talk to. I prefer this show to excel, much more down to earth !

[Scoobysnax]

I visited the Show
RIB zone - most stands deserted and those there just seemed interested in chatting to their mates so definately low key sales technigues employed
Redbay literature didnt include price lists and representatives preferred to chat on the phone rather than engage potential clients
Racing powerboat area deserted and no info
Round Britain Rib Rally 2010 no-one seemed to have a clue about it on the Scorpion stand
Compared to Excel there is little to entice anyone imho and quite frankly i do not know the relevance of this Show or who it is really aimed at
SS

[Carl]

sounds just like last year

[Doug Stormforce]

Chris, Scooby

Amazing how 2 people can have such a different experience of the show.

The show is quiet, a lot quieter than organisers and exhibitors would like it to be, however this is surely good for buyers. I can’t comprehend shoppers that like to shop at busy times and be in the middle of a huge Saturday crowd.

I know a few of the stands got fed up as yesterday evening (no excuse but it’s a long day exhibiting 1000-2100) as it was pretty empty and wandered of leaving their stand unmanned. I fully agree they let the show down and themselves down.

Today on all accounts seems to have been somewhat busier. Although the footfall has been low, I’ve processed more credit card sales than our daily average at the Southampton show.

I think to try and compare it with Excel you looking at a different beast. Credit Crunch/recession whatever you want to call it reduces foot fall.

However location is location whatever anyone says, Earl’s Court is better for most people. Excel is stuck in the middle of no where. Indoor pool, more features, nicer venue (in my opinion), only on for one weekend. These are all plus features for exhibitors and visitors alike.

So the big motor boats are not there, lets be honest some of these companies could not afford to be there anyway but whose buying them anyway.

I hope for the sake of the show more people visit this weekend, Saturday is traditionally the busier day, however if we keep to today’s sales figures for the next two days I will be content.

[Scoobysnax]

Doug
Like most blokes I do not like shopping,worse still I hate shopping in crowds, my philosophy is to be spend as little time in such emporiums. I do however like boys toys, so my main point was the Show was quiet so why weren't sales people/representatives of the exhibitors utilising that opportunity and talking to potential clients instead of chatting to mates/ and being on the phone. Granted being at a show for 4 days can be tedious but surely there were opportunities.
I do not include the Radio Caroline stand in that summary as these guys seemed to be the most enthusiastic and had plenty of time for the public. Interestingly in my observation they also seemed to be the busiest.
This also not a dig at your stand Doug -Hope you have a busy weekend

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Scoobysnax

I do not include the Radio Caroline stand in that summary as these guys seemed to be the most enthusiastic and had plenty of time for the public. Interestingly in my observation they also seemed to be the busiest.
This also not a dig at your stand Doug -Hope you have a busy weekend

Did you meet Pandora there?

[Chris]

I guess thats what it boils down to I go to a show generally with the intention of buying one or two things a handheld VHF last time and a Musto Fleece this time. I find that a show like Earls Court is ideal as there are several shops in close proximity covering all the brands.

I did see a few people on their phones and I just found that if I walked onto the stand they would finish their conversation and especially if I looked like I wanted to talk to them.

I have done shows like this myself as an exhibitor and really feel for these guys especially if it is quiet as it feels like every minute lasts about 10 minutes and it really can be the most boring experience ever.

[Powerboats]

Quick bit of feedback from our end.

Disagree a little with Doug's comments about quietness - may just be where we are but there seems to be a steady flow of visitors and I have not heard any exhibitors complaining about the quantity or quality of visitors - certainly as the show has only been open during week days so far.

We did business at last year's show and we are doing business at this show, definitely more per visitor than at Southampton!

In my opinion there is a good selection of product at the show - as well as boats there are some innovative new products that I have not seen at boat shows before and the chandleries have got good displays and some geat deals.

The organisers have worked hard to pull this show together against minimal support from the media and I think all the exhibitors have made a strong effort to show their products in the best way in these difficult times.

If you can support this show I think you will have a good day out and it can only help it to grow in coming years.

[Tony]

We were at the show on Thursday. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Here is a few pix

[Tony]

A few more,,,

[Tony]

more..
( sorry about the last one.....)

[Alan Priddy]

I visited the show for a couple of hours and thought it was very well planned and laid out. Speaking to some of the Exhibitors they all commented on good sales and feed back so I suspect that it is the quality of the customer and not the quantity. Re Redbay. It would have been Tom, The owner of the company that was on the phone and having known him for some years he would never not speak to a potential customer. That is why Redbay are one of the biggest Rib builders in the world with a turnover around the £4M mark which is mind blowing compared to most of the Rib Builders around. If Tom was on the phone, it would have been to one of his customers, past or present as all his customers become his friends.
As for pricing, what is a price? how much you want to pay for what you see or how much you want to pay for something that you think you mght want?
The boat Tom had on show only has one price and spec. £37000 take it or leave it. Give him a call, he is one of the nicest people around in the business.
I couldnt get my head around the Arctic Blue boat, all very pretty, not very functional and a bow thruster to help berthing??? The money would have been better spent on boat handling course.

Alan P

[Doug Stormforce]

A few camera phone images of the great man himself on the Stormforce Rigging Challenge, he scored a pretty respectable 36.4 seconds, however top of the leader board at the moment is 23.4s

If your not sure who Tom is, he is the author of the Shell Channel Pilot, The Complete Yachtmaster, Celestial Navigation and various other books as well as a pretty well known yachting / navigation journo. I would suggest he the best known author in his field. He is for his sins a raggie.

[Scoobysnax]

Originally Posted by Alan Priddy

As for pricing, what is a price? how much you want to pay for what you see or how much you want to pay for something that you think you mght want?
The boat Tom had on show only has one price and spec. £37000 take it or leave it. Give him a call, he is one of the nicest people around in the business.

Alan P

Price = what the manufacturer wishes to sell at, less any negotiation
The Redbay Rib I was interested in wasn't the show boat
It was in the brochure.
The brochure did not have a price list
Would have been nice to have the opportunity to chat through even to get an indicative price, and to discuss pragmatic aspects of the design.
Interesting point about phone calls, not just the boat show but any sales environment. Who should receive priority service, should it be the person who has bothered to go to the sales outlet or the person that just picks up the phone to make an enquiry

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Scoobysnax

The Redbay Rib I was interested in wasn't the show boat
It was in the brochure.
The brochure did not have a price list

if you are still interested phone them or email them

Would have been nice to have the opportunity to chat through even to get an indicative price, and to discuss pragmatic aspects of the design.

i find it hard to believe that if you were genuinely interested in spending upwards of £30K on a boat that you would be in such a rush that you couldn't hang around the stand for long enough to get attention.

Who should receive priority service, should it be the person who has bothered to go to the sales outlet or the person that just picks up the phone to make an enquiry

the person who "got there first" whether physically or virtually...