boat show ideas

[chocolatemoose]

hey guys. boat show season is near and im just wondering what would make you all go "oooh. i have to go see that" at a show. whats something interesting you would look at?

Moose

[Noelm]

Something actually new, and maybe even at a special price, rather than the same or dearer than you can buy it for any old day, boat shows have got rather dull and "same old same old"

[StevenM]

Sunday afternoon at about 4pm makes me ho ooooo aaahhhhh. After 4 days of any show you have had enough

thing is then I need to back up a week later up at Farmfest.

[shaungonemad]

If you give me free stuff that works.

[Darren Mc]

I find there's not many specials to be found at the boat show's. Sure there are some but nothing to write home about.
There might be some cheap and nasty fishing tackle or t shirts etc. If dealers and other stands actually did some real specials on quality stuff the word would definately spread and i bet more people would go shopping there.
Other than that, it's great to get a good look in person at a few boats in the one place.

[Coontakinta]

You nailed it noelm.
Find that there are usually better discounts at places not displaying at the show.

[wayno60]

They have to sell a shit load just to cover the cost of the stand , but you would think they would use it as a promotional tool for business for the rest of the year.. buy looking after us... ;D

Having said that, alot of the stands are from out of state and are just there for the 4 day money grab.:-X

Having said that ill be up there again this year..;)

[Noelm]

I know how much it costs to exhibit at boat shows (especially Sydney) and I also know its a great place to see lots of "stuff" in the one place, I also know that it is hard work for the dealers to smile and greet an endless parade of people for a week, but, that said, I really cant remember anything really new or interesting at the Sydney show for years, maybe at a pinch, the first touch screen sounders?? but then, the technology had been around for donkeys years anyway, always good to wander around the Marina and look at the zillion dollar "toys" and have to take your shoes off to have a look, and some snobby suit clad salesman looking down his nose at you thinking you are just a tyre kicker... that gives me a bit of a lift.

[grinner2]

Titty girls

[Noelm]

Yep, that would probably raise attendance numbers, especially at the stage "shows" that seem to have the same old presenters, babbling on about the same stuff they babbled on about last year, some scantily clad assistants would sure liven things up.

[Still_Dreamin]

I believe the boat show concept has become dated. Too expensive for exhibitors to offer any good discounts, same talks/displays year in year out. I think the tinnie and tackle guys were on the right track with what they attempted this year. Granted they fell a long way short of the mark which may kill the concept before it gets a chance to take off but they tried something new. Having on water displays/test drives available on the day was a great idea. The problems that the tinnie and tackle show had as I see it
1) hardly any chandlery
2) no rods/tackle/accessories etc (except for the cheapie tent and even it was tiny)
3) exhibitors had limited range on display (granted there were one or two boat yards that a range but most had only a few eg AMC only had 4 or 5 boats)
4) parking was shocking and what parking was nearby taken by the exhibitors.

Maybe they should have offered a few key exhibitors (allround angler used have a great stand at t&t) reduced or free in the first year or so to anchor the event.

But something has to give. The organisers milk the exhibitors and pillage the punters with entrance fees and food costs. A lot of stores such as whitworths have sales during the boat shows to attract customers and save money by not going to the shows.

[The Woo]

Yeah we're only going because we kind of feel "forced" into it.
We're wanting to double check our choices and prices on the fairly significant purchase of electronics fit-out for our game boat refit.
We'll have to go early as possible though, as the salespeople tend to get very annoyed and jaded as the week wears on.

I'm dreading it.
I used to look forward to it.
Maybe I'm just jaded? LOL

[Noelm]

hhmmm, so for the general public, the boat show is a fizzer?? I wonder what the future holds then? perhaps more kind of small local shows, with just a handful of exhibitors from the local area, we used to have one like that near me, but the main organiser lost interest and the whole thing just died after a few years, I doubt I will go to Sydney show this year, and I usually get free tickets, so its not a cost thing.

[Crunchy]

Always good to pick up essential items: sunglassees with removable lenses (Even when you don't want them to be), serrated knives that can cut through tin cans, latest in potato peeler technology, hats with built in fans, single use knife sharpeners, prunning shears that can cut through sticks, pocket hand warmers...the list is endless

[scottar]

In the good ol days, LOL, boat shows were about showcasing new products primarily but with the internet being what it is, anyone with a computer knows all about products before they even make it to Aus now. Couple this with greater competition - once again - the internet, means that dealer margins, as hard as it is for some people to accept, are in general very tight. Hence - same price or minor difference at boat show time unless the wholesaler/manufacturer gets in on the act. Couple this with some retailers using accessories as loss leaders - good for the punter in the short term but not a great business plan (see thread on Bias Grey's online) and the only good idea I have for you Moose is DON"T GO.

[Crunchy]

I take part in exhibitions in a unrelated industry - it is bloody hard coming up with new stuff for each show, they are bloody expensive to exhibit at both the cost of the booth / space but also staff hours, travel, exhibition stand builds, props and givaways etc etc and when your on tight margins not a lot of room to move on price for specials. Why do we go? Get the brand out into the market, make contact with current and persepctive customers and of course good excuse to drink piss in the evenings.

[Chimo]

Crunchy et al

It seems that the most reasonable excuse for attending exhibitions / boat shows and the like was best expressed by Crunchy in the last words of his response...

I would really like to see a cost benefit done on the value to a business gained by attending. The SC boat show could be a hard one to justify except for the peer group pressure imposed on the trade.,

It sure will be interesting to see how the two shows fare given that they are both on at the same time at the Gold Coast later this week.

Cheers
Chimo

[Moejoes]

In the good ol days, LOL, boat shows were about showcasing new products primarily but with the internet being what it is, anyone with a computer knows all about products before they even make it to Aus now. Couple this with greater competition - once again - the internet, means that dealer margins, as hard as it is for some people to accept, are in general very tight. Hence - same price or minor difference at boat show time unless the wholesaler/manufacturer gets in on the act. Couple this with some retailers using accessories as loss leaders - good for the punter in the short term but not a great business plan (see thread on Bias Grey's online) and the only good idea I have for you Moose is DON"T GO.

I'm going to look at the new Garmin range and what's new out there in the big world.
Been about 5 years since I last went, so hopefully some noticeable changes about.
Looking at doing some upgrading.
Agree with Grinner2 tho ;)

[StevenM]

The SC boat show has been sh it for the last few years.

20 bucks to get in and parking up the creek.

The GC marine expo started great but it will be interesting to see how they go head to head.

one ticket does not get you into both so you will be up for 30 bucks if you want to do both.

one a good note got my roster and only have to do Friday and Sunday now...happy days

[sandbank pete]

I'm with grinner2 as well, here's a thought.. maybe "Sexpo" could organise boat bits with titty bits.. ;D

[scottar]

Boats shows used to have bikini clad girls everywhere but you get one sheila in charge of the BIAQ a few years back and........ well you know the story.

[frosti]

heres what i don't want to see , ski boats , jet skis , big ###### take your shoes off before you are invited to board boats , yaghts , shoe polishers , kitchen gadgets for sale , remote control helicopters , time share , aluminium welding rod displays , wine sales , cheap shit chineese fishing tackle dumping , car parking fee and a charge to enter at the door . doesn't leave much does it ????????????????

[Noelm]

While I do agree in principal, ski boats and so on are in fact still boats! they may not be your or my "thing" but lots of people do buy them, the other stuff, yep agree, who wants a Shamwow that will soak up a spilled wine glass, or a food processor that whizzes carrots in 2 seconds (well unless they are selling it as a burley maker) toys and shit cheap rubbish tackle is just another stand I just walk straight past.

[chocolatemoose]

true. i have three shows coming up within 2 months. the explore australia show "where boating/fishing doesnt get a lot of love compared to the 4x4 and camping but still its something different. then the melbourne boat show.. a MAMMOTH undertaking. all under one roof syle... this is a boat show so to see ski boats, cruisers etc is to be expected. and then in augusut is the fishing show. where as the nsae suggest will be mostly tackle etc.

i have some ideas for the boat show. . . . keeping them secret atm :P

[oldie]

interesting

[Almako]

Free entry and big ass door prize like a massive luxury boat. lol
But what's mostly frustrating is local dealerships lose there staff to these shows, so when you contact them during this period they are short staffed. The inconvenience must be worth it or they wouldn't bother.

[scottar]

A lot of the time it is simply expected by the manufacturers/wholesalers that the retailer for that area will attend. If you don't you run the risk of them taking the agency off you or appointing another dealer in your backyard. You can look upon these events as "flag waving" exercises and networking junkets but the amount of costs involved in a single show could well fund an internet campaign that will last all year. The guys that sell boat/motor packages will still make money as they generally never sell exactly the same set up but if you are a small independent accessories specialist that has to compete against a multi-store discount chandlery, what typically happens is the punter comes to your stand first to find out what he needs and then screws the salesman on the other stand where they have little to offer apart from the lowest price which may well be cost if they are using a loss leader strategy.

[The Woo]

How about water tests of boats and engines?
The big US shows have a constant stream of boat traffic in and out of marinas showcasing the latest to the punters.
Obviously all this costs money, but it genuinely sells boats and motors too. There's nothing that sells the new flash hear like going and experiencing it.
But alas, getting a test in Australia is like pulling teeth.

[Still_Dreamin]

How about water tests of boats and engines?
The big US shows have a constant stream of boat traffic in and out of marinas showcasing the latest to the punters.
Obviously all this costs money, but it genuinely sells boats and motors too. There's nothing that sells the new flash hear like going and experiencing it.
But alas, getting a test in Australia is like pulling teeth.
hey Woo I take it you didn't go to the 4x4 and marine expo at Manly in early March. That is exactly what they did and it was the only part of the show they got right for the boaties. Good show for 4x4

[JEWIENEWIE]

Mate of mine ordered a massive caravan not to long ago, from a dealer. He was promised a delivery date from dealer that both agreed on, he needed it before easter as family holiday organised, paid a deposit, total spend about 58k. While he was waiting, sold his current van. He then got a call from dealer saying his van wont be ready, they need it to take to some expo up the coast. Well he wasnt happy and said "no way", deal is a deal, I need my Van. Dealer then replied that ths manufacturer demands that they must have on display at least one of every model, or they may lose the right to sell them. Mates reply was, bad luck not my issue. I want my van....he stuck to his guns, called head office and said, I am about to pull out of a 58k cash deal with you guys because you might sell one at the expo, are you guys serious. Come ba c k was they need to display it, dont have time to build another for the show, sorry. Mate said, so am I, you can keep my deposit, I will spend my cash over the road at the competitor, thanks for your time and hung up. Got a call back in 5 mins saying he can have the van, its ready, come and get it??? It was always ready, made him wait for weeks for nothing, just in case they sold one at the expo......
JN

[The Woo]

hey Woo I take it you didn't go to the 4x4 and marine expo at Manly in early March. That is exactly what they did and it was the only part of the show they got right for the boaties. Good show for 4x4
I did not mate. Had a newborn to contend with.
Good to hear though.