What about the "Hands-On Expo"?

[Charleville]

Warning:Rant on

I tossed up whether to wade into this debate, and probably unwisely decided I'd add my business wisdom for what its worth.

A good post, Gavin.


Likewise, many yonks ago, I ran a significant mobile phone business in the very early days of that product.


Likewise, I found the costs of staging a stand at a car show or truck show. or other niche industry show relevant to the product, to be staggering but nonetheless quite profitable for a few years until the mystery had gone out of mobile phones and they had started their path to being the commodity that they are now, and by which time people did not need to learn about what they can do at an industry show. At that stage, I ceased including trade shows as part of my marketing mix despite all of the protestations by the organisers of such shows.


Like you, we would work over every sales lead that we could and I would chew out any of my reps who did not make a better-than-average attempt to establish some ongoing friendly contact with each and every customer who wandered into our stands and showed some interest, because it cost me a bucket full of money to be in the right place for each of those customers to wander in. And that was fair smack in the middle of the early nineties recession - which was a proper recession.


At time, I found the old John Cleese training video on how to work a stand to be very good for my sales people.

Ever since those days, I have been in the habit of critiquing the stands that I see at trade shows and I can attest that there is much that the staff working most trade stands have to learn.

eg, I noticed one bloke in a stand on sunday sitting down reading a newspaper. Well, pal, if you ain't interested in your stand then neither am I as a potential customer.

Likewise, so many sales people create a barrier to customer entry by standing at the entrance to their stand. If I have to push past them to get in a look at their stuff, then I would rather not bother.


In terms of show specials, I did notice some goodies such as at the bottom end of the drill press range but on the other hand, the price on the Makita LS1214 SCMS that I saw there was $115 more than the current Bunnings price - which itself is $100 dearer than the price that I paid Bunnings in September by exercising their price guarantee.


Obviously, you can get better prices than in-show specials simply by negotiation. When, the prices at the show are so much more than found at a garden variety retailer like Bunnings, it does not make the cost-benefit relationship after paying for ticket entry and parking very palatable for ongoing attendance.


On the other hand, I wandered into the Peacock Saws stand late on Sunday and bought a steel cutting saw blade for $62 from very cheery (albeit tired by that stage) people , and then was delighted to receive my product in a very flash little carry bag which my wife has since purloined. When I opened the bag at home, I then found that I had a terrific 2010 calendar in it. I could have bought a similar saw for $5 cheaper elsewhere at the show so I obviously paid for that bag and calendar but I now have an even better opinion of the Peacock Saw company and look forward to visiting their shop for my bandsaw blade needs for ever more.

I dare say that Peacock made a paper loss on the weekend as well but they will get my modest business and referrals for evermore. I had used their services in the past but it was their helpful personality in full evidence at the show which has endeared them to me.

Like you, I enjoyed the show immensely. I had free tickets and a nice prize associated with the show, which added a nice edge to my joy but the show was damn fine from my perspective and I shall go again next year.

I suspect, however, that retailers and their sales staff have had it too good for too long and don't know how to adjust to slow consumer demand and that will certainly take the edge off the weekend for them.


.

[damian]

Possibly off topic but here goes:

I cannot recommend peakcock highly enough. They are not the cheapest supplier, but in my limited dealings with them the level of service and the expertise you get included in the price is worth far more than the extra $. Really top notch operation that.

[munruben]

I went to the show and enjoyed it but whether two shows of similar nature will survive remains to be seen. With only one show a year, most folk interested in the products will usually put themselves out to visit the show but if they know there is going to be another show with similar items available in a few months down the track, then I guess many will say "I will wait for the next show, its only a few months away" In other words, is each show going to rob each other and are we going to get 2 shows a year where the attendance is down and will this deter traders from going to the show and will it deter buyers going if they know some of their favourite products are not going to be on display?.
I have seen the same thing happen with a particular computer market. First there was queues to get in the place but the market was held each and every month so people got sick of the same old thing and many stopped going and then many traders stopped going too. In the end there was less than half the traders there and so the crowds diminished even further. From a show point of view, I think the hands on was a success, plenty of the kind of stuff I am interested in and easy to walk around and see everything without being pushed from pillow to post.
At the end of the day, I agree with Funky Chicken, the traders are there to make money, no other reason, be it selling stock at the show or taking orders or getting their products exposed. However, the smaller the crowds, the smaller the chances of making money so on that front, only time will tell. I hope both shows survive and people keep supporting them I had a good time at both shows. Would I go to both shows each year? If I needed something and I had missed the chance or didn't have the money at the time the first show was on, yes I would go to buy the product I missed out on, but to go just for the sake of going, maybe not but I would certainly be going to one or the other.

[I_wanna_Shed]

We must be a funny bunch. I've read countless times on here people saying "I wish there was a woodshow more than once a year...".

Now, when there is a second show, its all about saying "I won't be back" or "the show won't be around next year".

I'm not at all surprised attendance was low and not every exhibitor made money - after all, its the first year for this show! I wasn't around for the first 'other' woodshow, but I'd bet it started out much the same way, and look how its grown.

Myself, I'm looking forward to next year when this comes around to Sydney. As long as the organisers do their best like they have in Brisbane, then I will be there. Who knows, maybe next year the other woodshow's attendance in Sydney will be lower, as people have already gone to the Hand On Expo.

We should help this show out. The organisers have been on here talking to us (Up until new management took over the original woodshow, when did anyone from the previous woodshow hop on here and listen to this mob?).

We've been asking for a second show, now let's support them and see if the market can actually handle both of them.

Nathan.

[derekh]

I'll add my 2c worth to say that I enjoyed the 3 hours I spent there on Friday. As a newbie, I actually liked a smaller crowd because I good stop and look and talk without feeling like I shouldn't be taking up someone elses time asking dumb, newbie questions. I had a good chat on the Kreg system and with Colen about his marking gauges. Unfortunately, I am not skilled enough to justify a purchase of Colen or Chris Vespers tools but I did buy a few things on my shopping list.

cheers
Derek

[Christopha]

I might just buy in here just a little... I am one of those bods who come sort of in the middle.

I have been to many WW Shows, I attended the very first in Melbourne way back when cordless drills and mobile phones were SciFi. It was fantastic! The crowds were huge and the atmosphere was electric.The very next show was my first as a demonstrator and I have only missed one Melbourne show as a demonstrator since( I thought it wise to attend my daughters' wedding that year..) Those first years were great, the "vibes" from exhibitors and public alike were fantastic!
Over the years the shows seemed to get stale, the featured demonstrators tired. Hells Bells, some of them got OLD! Companies came and went, some changed hands and seemed to shrink in new hands.

As I headed north to work at the Sydney shows and latterly the Brisbane shows I found that the most fun to be had (apart from "Play Day" with U and Beaut!!!) was the people, both customers and other exhibitors. I also found that most of the exhibitors seem to be the same. They really seem to love providing the goods, the service/s and while they need to make a quid to justify their attendance (existence? ) I think they truly enjoy the job/people.

Having spent many years working at the shows with my mates Neil and Pauline and the last few with Jim and Irene I know just how important it is to them all that their goods are used well, correctly and with enjoyment. I would not work with folk who focused solely on sales, I have better things to do with my life!

OK, EEE ( and not the Ultrashine I sell for my mates! Everything Exhibitions & Events) the "new" WWWShow folk... These people, Liz, Rick and their staff, have bought a pup. They seem to be working very hard to grow it into a Great Dane. They have listened to YOU, they have taken your suggestions and criticisms of the old WWWShow and are actually doing something to rectify the shortcomings of their immediate predecessors. The last Melbourne show seemed to have a lot of the spirit, fun and comfort of those early shows. The demonstrators were interested and interesting, there were decent rest areas, there was good signage, people on both sides of the counters were happy!

The exhibitors know that EEE are really trying to make it better for everyone because lets face it, if Joe Public has a good time and the exhibitors have a good time then everyone wins. The public get good deals, they also keep up with techniques, designs, skills etc etc, the exhibitors profit by supplying these and EEE at the top of the tree get to make a fair return as well.... EVERYONE WINS!

OK OK, I could go further with this but run the risk of turning back into Doorstop so I will not say more...

[Sturdee]

OK OK, I could go further with this but run the risk of turning back into Doorstop so I will not say more...

Please continue Chris as you are making great sense. Besides I always liked Doorstop.


Peter.

[dai sensei]

...the featured demonstrators.......got OLD! ...

Yeh some even lost their hair

[ubeaut]

I had intended saying nothing but a couple of things need to be cleared up.... So here I go sticking my beak in.

The organisers have been on here talking to us (Up until new management took over the original woodshow, when did anyone from the previous woodshow hop on here and listen to this mob?).

Hands-on is run by the same people who wouldn't listen to us on here or take part in the forums in the past even though we offered them all the help under the sun. They are the same people who headed up and ran the Timber and Working With Wood Shows for Ridells and later DMG, before the show was sold to the new people EEE (Everything Exhibitions & Events)

EEE on the other hand have actually been listening to us here and have done so since the day they took the shows over, not only that, but they have acted positively to make the shows so much more than they were before. The last couple of shows they've run have been the best in at least the last 10 years and rank up there with the best ever for exhibitors.

I wasn't around for the first 'other' woodshow, but I'd bet it started out much the same way, and look how its grown.

The other wood show the Timber & Working With Wood Show was massive from day one. I know, I was there in Melbourne for the first one and have exhibited at them all. They stagnated over the last few years before the oldies bailed out and EEE took over and started to drag them back up through a lot of dedicated and selfless hard work.

The bottom line is this: If the exhibitors aren't happy and don't make money they won't be back. No exhibitors no shows. It's that simple. The exhibitors at the T&WWWShows run by EEE this year were ecstatic.

What more can I say? Lots, but I won't.

Neil

PS Hands-On Expo wasn't a woodworking show was never touted as one, it was supposed to be a hands-on show of combined trades crafts education and employment, etc. As I see it, it seems to have fulfilled it's promise to be just that, with the possible exception of the Hands-On bit which I'm told, just wasn't. Unfortunately for reasons beyond the comprehension of most, but clear (I'm sure) to some, it doesn't appear to have received the expected reception they were hoping for and expecting.

[John Saxton]

I might just buy in here just a little... I am one of those bods who come sort of in the middle.

I have been to many WW Shows, I attended the very first in Melbourne way back when cordless drills and mobile phones were SciFi. It was fantastic! The crowds were huge and the atmosphere was electric.The very next show was my first as a demonstrator and I have only missed one Melbourne show as a demonstrator since( I thought it wise to attend my daughters' wedding that year..) Those first years were great, the "vibes" from exhibitors and public alike were fantastic!
Over the years the shows seemed to get stale, the featured demonstrators tired. Hells Bells, some of them got OLD! Companies came and went, some changed hands and seemed to shrink in new hands.

As I headed north to work at the Sydney shows and latterly the Brisbane shows I found that the most fun to be had (apart from "Play Day" with U and Beaut!!!) was the people, both customers and other exhibitors. I also found that most of the exhibitors seem to be the same. They really seem to love providing the goods, the service/s and while they need to make a quid to justify their attendance (existence? ) I think they truly enjoy the job/people.

Having spent many years working at the shows with my mates Neil and Pauline and the last few with Jim and Irene I know just how important it is to them all that their goods are used well, correctly and with enjoyment. I would not work with folk who focused solely on sales, I have better things to do with my life!

OK, EEE ( and not the Ultrashine I sell for my mates! Everything Exhibitions & Events) the "new" WWWShow folk... These people, Liz, Rick and their staff, have bought a pup. They seem to be working very hard to grow it into a Great Dane. They have listened to YOU, they have taken your suggestions and criticisms of the old WWWShow and are actually doing something to rectify the shortcomings of their immediate predecessors. The last Melbourne show seemed to have a lot of the spirit, fun and comfort of those early shows. The demonstrators were interested and interesting, there were decent rest areas, there was good signage, people on both sides of the counters were happy!

The exhibitors know that EEE are really trying to make it better for everyone because lets face it, if Joe Public has a good time and the exhibitors have a good time then everyone wins. The public get good deals, they also keep up with techniques, designs, skills etc etc, the exhibitors profit by supplying these and EEE at the top of the tree get to make a fair return as well.... EVERYONE WINS!

OK OK, I could go further with this but run the risk of turning back into Doorstop so I will not say more...

Chris,well said no-one could have said it better than that.

I reckon since the Perth WW show has been run independant of the usual organising it has had that refreshing interest that continues to draw good patronage from stall holders and the public alike.It is run in a similar vein as the now Eastern States shows by EEE.
Progresive thinking on how to better implement each years show offers up its challenges, but by at least attempting to meet those challenges shows continued input from the organisers.
By comparison this year the Melbourne TWW show was by far one of the best that I have been to in the East(and I've been to a few up and down the coast)and easily parallels what we now have here in Perth if not in some respects an improvement .These now well run shows can be compared to what Chris said of the very early days when all went in a positive vein.

To the public and the stallholders give the "Hands-on" a chance to grow it does need your support.

Cheers

[WOODY70]

I had intended saying nothing but a couple of things need to be cleared up.... So here I go sticking my beak in.

Hands-on is run by the same people who wouldn't listen to us on here or take part in the forums in the past even though we offered them all the help under the sun. They are the same people who headed up and ran the Timber and Working With Wood Shows for Ridells and later DMG, before the show was sold to the new people EEE (Everything Exhibitions & Events)

EEE on the other hand have actually been listening to us here and have done so since the day they took the shows over, not only that, but they have acted positively to make the shows so much more than they were before. The last couple of shows they've run have been the best in at least the last 10 years and rank up there with the best ever for exhibitors.

The other wood show the Timber & Working With Wood Show was massive from day one. I know, I was there in Melbourne for the first one and have exhibited at them all. They stagnated over the last few years before the oldies bailed out and EEE took over and started to drag them back up through a lot of dedicated and selfless hard work.

The bottom line is this: If the exhibitors aren't happy and don't make money they won't be back. No exhibitors no shows. It's that simple. The exhibitors at the T&WWWShows run by EEE this year were ecstatic.

What more can I say? Lots, but I won't.

Neil

PS Hands-On Expo wasn't a woodworking show was never touted as one, it was supposed to be a hands-on show of combined trades crafts education and employment, etc. As I see it, it seems to have fulfilled it's promise to be just that, with the possible exception of the Hands-On bit which I'm told, just wasn't. Unfortunately for reasons beyond the comprehension of most, but clear (I'm sure) to some, it doesn't appear to have received the expected reception they were hoping for and expecting.

Hey Neil,

Couldn't agree more.

In fact in the early days they were huge and they ran for 4 days and till 10 at night.

Oh and we use to get a BBQ and some coldies for the stall holders. I wounder what happened there.
I think they saw their big fat bottom line getting chewed into.

Cheers
Dave

[weisyboy]

we got a steak burger and a few stubbies or a glass or 2 of wine on Friday night.

[ubeaut]

Dead right Dave they were 4 days. From memory 10am - 10pm (6pm on Sunday) Oh yeah they were huge and there were still crouds of people around as late as half an hour before closing time.

EEE have a bbq and drinks for all exhibitors on Friday nights and a BBQ burning outside throughout the show. They have also supplied well equipped exhibitors lounge and forum members lounge, complete with lounge chairs, notice board, boiling water, brewed coffee, and a water cooler.

They also supply comfortable lounge chairs at various places for patrons to sit, relax and recuperate so they can get back into it refreshed. In the past many would have just left because they were worn out. That alone is a giant step forward.

For those who don't know it the first few shows were run by Rod(Raf) and Linda Nathan who also founded and continue to publish the Australian Wood Review magazine.

[funkychicken]

PS Hands-On Expo wasn't a woodworking show was never touted as one, it was supposed to be a hands-on show of combined trades crafts education and employment, etc. As I see it, it seems to have fulfilled it's promise to be just that, with the possible exception of the Hands-On bit which I'm told, just wasn't.

From what I saw, it was pretty much a woodwork show, with hardly any metalwork. There may have been a bit of DIY stuff, but I screen out that stuff automatically. There were some apprenticeship and training mobs there, mostly stuffed in a far corner in the last hall. Their stands looked very empty.

At the Lie Nielsen and Carba-tec stand you could try out their tools, I got to use a Veritas spaceship block plane
So it there was a tiny bit of Hands on

[Collette]

It’s actually been a great opportunity to read all the feedback! For my money any woodworker who came along to the Hands-On Expo would have enjoyed themselves (of the 302 visitors who completed survey cards as they left, 97% rated the expo good – excellent). There was a very wide range of tools and machines, timber, free demos of turning, dove-tailing, pyrography, carving, toy making and more, as well as some good woodwork! I know I’m biased but the hands-on stuff in the other 'trades' that I tried was fantastic, soldering electronics (good fun), forming a plastic mould (reminded me of jelly), didn’t do bricklaying or tiling ‘cause I’ve done both before and never want to clean or lift a brick again!
Saw plenty of people trying different tools. Missed the cutting out rust from a car demo on the Fein stand, missed Steve Hayle’s demo which I’ll catch in melbourne and have apologies to pass on from Richard Coles, his mother took ill and he had to cancel his veneering demonstrations at the last moment.
We’re busy planning ahead and it’s been great to get your feedback.I’d love to hear more, so feel free to email your thoughts to [email protected] I’d be interested to know whether the forum visitors enjoyed the show and why people chose not to attend so we can improve the show accordingly to everyone’s benefit.
Cheers
Collette