21 May 2010 by leigh swann Last edited 21 May 2010
Having been to the 'Midlands Trade Show' At Izaac Walton Golf Club, Staffordshire, I would like to discuss the future of such events.
First of all a big thank you must go to the trade for making the effort to show off their 'latest and greatest.' I, for one, enjoyed the show and so did our staff.
I feel i must ask this question, WHERE WERE ALL THE CUSTOMERS? My boss allowed all the staff to attend, which meant there were 5 of us. When we turned up, the car park was nigh on empty, all i could see were traders and not many people looking around their 'stalls' After registering i asked the person how many had turned up, after shrugging his shoulders and curling his upper lip he retorted "about 50". Ok he may have been under exaggerating a little, so lets say 100 people turned up. There were five of us in total, 1 was my boss who has buying power. Using this formula 100/5 = 20. 20 people with buying power!! Is this the reason companies like Burrows came to the show? I think not! It must have cost hundreds if not thousands to transport all of the equipment and to staff the 'stalls'. I am also led to believe that the other trade show over in Conway was pretty much the same too! Im sure if my boss wanted to see a machine he would arrange for a demo of said machinery on our course. So we can see it perform on our own course.
Why doesnt the Trade stop wasting their money and stick with the two major shows - Saltex for Amenities landscaping and sports, and Harrogate for the same plus Educational events + networking etc etc.
Please don't get me wrong, this isn't a dig at the Companies showing off there equipment. Im just wondering how something as large as this could attract so little attendees?
21 May 2010 by Torch
Um. It's May?
How can anyone really spare the time to do anything other than work on their course at this time?
I heard the Welsh show was poorly attended also. The problem is: outdoor shows need to take place when the weather is good but at that time we are all focussed on our jobs.
I have worked these kind of shows as an exhibitor and they are never much cop from the trade's point of view.
The answer is None more black.
This may be the future of Trade Shows:
TurfNet review of IGCEMA's 1st Virtual Trade Show
GOGGA
to be honest, why should we grace any of these trade shows..??...when we make an enquiry to a company and they dont have the deceny to follow up the enquiry....this has happened to me and my mate on various occasions, with all trades, machine dealers didnt come back to me when i had £30k to spend on a tractor, seed and fert merchants when i asked for pricing on products, drainage firms on a job we were asked to deal with...
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
I am with Ticky on this, why bother going to any show to see a machine you cant use or speak to the sales rep about ( as they are being monopolised by other people) , yet, if you want to see the machine, phone them up, they come out, demo it on your own ground, with your own staff using it, and give you their total attention for as long as needed, it seems to me a no brainer.
Any decent rep would ensure new machines /products are availble to customers, so i dont buy the " product release" angle.
for networking, great, to compare different machinery?????????? good, if you can speak to the reps, if you cant........
23 May 2010 by leigh swann Last edited 23 May 2010
Neil-Thats one of the points i was getting at. If we want to see some machinery we'll get it on demo. Why do the 'trade' waste their money on putting on small 'roadshows' around the country, well 1 in Conwy and one in Staffordshire, when only approximately 200 people turned up to both? Out of those 200 i could guarantee only about 50 of those will have had buying power.
As for networking, there was no one there to 'network' with!
Ill know to stick with HARROGATE next time!
Have a nice summer guys.
Leigh
Both of the shows yu have mentioned arent a million miles form us but we knew nothing of them, whether we would have gone anyway is doubtful but if you dont know about it in the first place then people definately wont go.
As for the Conway show, someone sees it as a success....
http://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/turfcare-conections-in-conwy.html
I think some may be forgetting
The idea of a Trade show is so you can veiw whats new, whats on offer from each manufacturer and other service suppliers on the same day!
which allows you to see more machines, more choice and enables you to make a better choice for you and if you dont have the so called Buying Power but a member of the all important staff then this is your chance to help advise the one with the power! with your opinions and views on what you see.
You can have a demo on your own home ground but how many do you have one, two or maybe even three. At a trade show you can see them all even the ones you wouldnt normally bother with which may be better than you first thought. plus you may spend a afternoon all even all day having a couple of demos on your own turf a chat to the rep and what not.
A day spent at a show will result in seeing a whole lot more.
Help The Trade Shows Help You.
Faster! Cheaper! Simply Better
26 May 2010 by A J Last edited 26 May 2010
I agree,
Always come back from saltex with some new idea or other. We normally go down every two years now purposely to catch the big machinery boys. But with a open mind theirs a bit there for everyone. And of course theirs always a old face to bump into.
Best ones, accidentally bumping into the burser the next day with my xmas list.....
Grow in grace...........
26 May 2010 by gary cunningham
Missed the point
Onsite Service
I don't think anyone has knocked Saltex or BTME infact quite the opposite, its the road show type event such as last week and the one at Conway. I know the greenkeeper at Izzak Walton GC, a top guy. He went to a lot of trouble grtting ready for the event and setting up demo areas, the trade lads were superb and the whole thing looked like a mini Saltex flags and machines everywhere. So after great expense only a few turn up.
These road shows were being pushed as the future only a few months ago. Although great for those who do visit which is not many they are also a disaster for the trade people that exhibit. I know for some of us its the wrong time of year for events such as this, but when is the right time. For me January/ February, the golf season is over and winter construction projects are well underway if not complete.
I will be at BTME 2011 with pennies to spend
Trade shows are useful - but as Lee said above, ONLY if you actually know about them.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
26 May 2010 by leigh swann Last edited 26 May 2010
Onsite Service,
I find your response somewhat condescending. I know well enough that the IDEA of a trade show is so we can see what's on offer from various manufacturers.
My point in creating this thread was to discuss the future of such events.
As said in my first post it must have cost the 'trade' thousands of pounds to set up. In this day and age, when money is of short supply, is this the kind of thing that should keep happening? How many more Roadshows does the trade have to turn up to before deciding its a good or bad idea? Ive spoken to a couple of 'reps' who attended the event and they said it was nothing short of a disaster. One company even pulled out of the 'Midlands show' on the back of the poor attendance at Conway. Which, according to this site seems to have been a success.
( http://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/turfcare-conections-in-conwy.htm )
As Gary has said before me, this, for us greenkeepers was probably at the wrong time of year, and to be fair, if it wasn't only just down the road from us we probably wouldn't have gone to it. In fact, i think if it wasn't only just down the road from us, we probably wouldn't of even heard about it! Which brings me to my next point. Where were the adverts for this show? I'm a member of BIGGA as well as a member of this site, how come I never saw an advert for it? Surely this should have been in the Pitchcare/Greenkeeper International magazine, or on their websites at least?
I think Ill wait until BTME for my next event, i may not have pennies to spend, but at least ill be able to learn something by having a chat (and a beer or 2) with my peers because one thing is guaranteed, at least there will be people there!
Leigh
to be honest, i think youve all missed the point .....if Reps were on the ball, and wanted to earn their living, they would be coming round to your sports ground/course/stadium and literally doing what they are supposed to do REPresent their company and products....far too often do they fail to follow up enquiries....as i say i could name and shame.....with the experiences we have had with companies, which is why i PERSONALLY am reluctant to go to any trade show...like i said before, i had £30k to spend on a tractor, and 4 companies could not be bothered to chase my money,
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
26 May 2010 by Torch
I don't get that press release at all. Who are they trying to kid? I spoke to two reps today who said the turnout was atrocious and they will not be doing it again.
Which, as has been pointed out, is a real shame since a lot of good people have put a lot of effort into both shows and apparently they were very well set up.
I heard about the Conwy show but it is too far and right in the middle of a very difficult Spring.
Honestly, I don't know the answer but it seems that better communication could have made a big difference.
The answer is None more black.
When is the right time for a trade show ?
and if we only had the big shows like SALTEX then the smaller firms who couldn`t afford the costs don`t get a chance to reach out to new customers
saying that if they dont turn up at the show they wont away!.
More local shows for local firms for local customers
Why travel miles to see the products that your local dealers are selling??
Even if you go to Saltex or like you will only directed back to your local firm!
Faster! Cheaper! Simply Better
27 May 2010 by Pitchcare Peter
http://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/turf-industry-event-survey-responses.html
Leigh it's the age old problem for companies trying to get their goods and services out to a wider audience, when and where is a good time to arrange a 'roadshow' in order to get out to more of the type of people you want to be aware of what you offer?
We arranged a similar event down in Kent a few years back and had terrific support from the trade with many prominent names in the Sportsturf Industry taking time out to attend but ended up with similar results to those experienced at Izaac Walton. These included Groundsman Industries, DLF Trifoleum, John Deere and Protea Mowers plus a smattering of Pitchcare GOGGA executives, and full demos were arranged with aeration, sand spreading and bowling green maintenance amongst the operations on view.
Every single sports club in the county was notified of the event many weeks in advance with many personal visits to football and rugby clubs, golf courses, bowls clubs and cricket clubs in the area. All of the local authorities surrounding the town were also visited in person, phoned, given mailshots and personal invitations too. The mailing list was in excess of 500 organisations who received information on three occasions leading up to the date.
The show was also previewed in an article and the time and date publicised in the Pitchcare 'What's On' section.
When the day came round there was a smattering of visitors including grounds staff from one ofthe then Premiership football clubs from South East London but nothing like the kind of response the time and effort put in by the many companies had hoped for; you can put an event on but you can't force people to attend!
With Harrogate in the depths of winter and Saltex at the time when things couldn't be busier for most there will come a demand for a central national show in the Summer with the best both established shows can offer both indoor and out.
The light at the end of the tunnel is not a train
It's just one of those things.
For cricket, golf I'd imagine summer is a tad busy so they like Harrogate in January.
For Football guys January would be a busy month just trying to get games on in the depths of winter.
I doubt that there is a perfect time of year which would suit everyone.
I know if there was a big show in summer I'd struggle to get there even for one day never mind a 3 day networking trip.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
I really don't think the idea of one trade show is the right idea, i know the survey conducted by Pitchcare was an overwhelming yes in favour of 'the one show' but until we know who took the time to answer the questions, and how many, then i think we can take the results with a pinch of salt. As JLawrence has said before, there will never be a right time to host it! Host it in the summer, and very few greenkeepers will attend, host it in the winter and no groundsmen will attend, i really cant see it working.
Why is someone trying to fix something that isn't broken?
Leigh
27 May 2010 by Tony Hayes Last edited 27 May 2010
leigh swann=bigga board member
What are you worried about leigh?
27 May 2010 by NSF
"Someone" is the industry.
The major suppliers have been calling for one show a year for over a decade now. That's why they attend Harrogate and Saltex on alternate years.
This years Harrogate show, even with the majors back in, was a whole exhibition hall light (hall Q). How many missing exhibitors was that?
So I have just had a nose at the Harrogate Week website and it shows 50% of stand space still available - and that after we were told by BIGGA, in January, that 80% of exhibitors had committed to 2011
Last years Saltex had more shrubs and flowers than RHS Chelsea. Chuck in 4x4s and it is less and less a groundsmans show and more a landscapers exhibition.
The Saltex website is 'still under construction' just 3 months before the show!
Ain't broke eh?
Be very careful, otherwise the turf industry shows will go the way of the Ag shows. The Royal Show at Stoneleigh and Royal Smithfields were once the biggest agricultural shows in Europe. Now they're are gone - the only major ag show is in Europe.
That will do neither associations any favours and, more importantly, us groundsmen and greenkeepers either.
So who is it complaining, greenkeepers or groundsmen, or is it the suppliers to our trade, they spend thousands on supporting shows for our trade but in reality when it comes down to problems some do not give a monkeys chuff .
I have recently bought a machine, that has turned out to be a prototype, they can not even supply basic service parts, and no matter how far up the ladder you speak to, no one returns your calls , but they expect us to turn out for there trade shows and support them, even tho they do not support us when it is needed .
Must agree with Jlawrence, taking time to visit saltex in september is difficult, contractors , bowls clubs , cricket clubs , tennis clubs etc, is a time when most are very busy.
27 May 2010 by leigh swann Last edited 27 May 2010
Tony Hayes - Im not a BIGGA board member.
Oh and by the way, nice edit ;)
But, to answer your question, Im not scared of anything. My point in this thread was to ask why there was so little support for the 'roadshow' style of trade shows. Not to discuss the possibility of merging two shows into one.
Leigh
leigh, apologies but you sound like one. you seem to be keen to say that harrogate is the only show and the way forward and then you say that a single show isn't right either. all a bit biased dont you think.
I cant comment on this show as I did not go and I did not know about it, so I think only the promoters have themselves to blame. I have been to other trade road shows that have been very good. in my opinion well publicised open demonstration days are exactly the future where you can see lots of like for like machines working along side each other. I have not been to harrogate for a lot of years, partly because there is no working equipment and mostly because its too far north for me to travel to. saltex is definately at the wrong time of year as we are always busy in september, a central show in october or march would be ok for us
Ton
To be honest..it wouldnt be a problem if all these shows ended tomorrow...the one thing that has kicked all these sows into touch is the Internet....i now just "google" anything im looking for ...
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
I am a former Golf Course Manager who now runs one company based in Belfast where I now live, and another in Scotland, both with Ian Mac.
I have returned this week from KilKenny, a beautiful spot in southern Ireland, where I was an exhibitor and speaker at a trade show and educational event organised by The Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces. The event was set up by Donal Kearney on a shoe string budget, relying on word-of-mouth and some unpaid external publicity.
The 'Trade' were a mixture of companies supplying seed, fertiliser etc, and also machinery companies, including Richard Campey. Richard and his team have traveled across Europe this year and it was big surprise and pleasure to find him in Ireland.
The place was packed with mainly GAA groundsmen (Irish football and Hurling) with a few greenkeepers. The point of this message? People were hungry for knowledge. They turned up because they recognised their lack of understanding of turf management and wanted to do something about it. In the UK we have a mainly excellent qualification structure with every opportunity to learn and information is widely available to all. There is not the hunger for information and advice as in parts of the world where access to knowledge is limited.
Education, as part of a show week in the UK, is diluted to the minimum standard due to the 'fear' of many not understanding the subject. How patronising is that? I remember being a hungry greenkeeper attending all the trade shows and seminars that I could just to learn this great subject of turf management. I subscribed to the STRI Journal only to be told that as a practicing greenkeeper it may be 'too high a level for me'!!! (I eventually gained a BSc (Hons) after years of part-time study.)
Perhaps we need to make the educational part of shows much more challenging, stretching the brains and challenging existing practices and knowledge.
I am danger of starting a rant so shall stop. Just to say that we had a great time in Kilkenny due to the constant questioning and discussions with knowledge hungry groundsmen.
Best regards
Andy Turnbull
Hmmm
Maybe its a case of the trade working with the customers to find out what they really want from the trade shows?
What would make you want to go to a trade show that isn`t happening now!!
Faster! Cheaper! Simply Better
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