Announcement from Arc Euro Trade Ltd.

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Announcement from Arc Euro Trade Ltd.

This topic has 60 replies, 24 voices, and was last updated 25 March 2012 at 13:24 by REG RUETER.

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10 February 2012 at 15:13 #84302
Ketan Swali
Participant
@ketanswali79440
Visitors to the various Model Engineering Shows are used to seeing us at the Harrogate Show in May and The Midlands Show in October.

This year we have decided to attend the show at Harrogate with a selection of machines only. We will not be selling any small tooling products at the show over the counter.
We will also not be providing a prepaid collection service as we did in the past.
We will only be taking orders for the machines for collection from our warehouse or for delivery after the show from our warehouse, based on availability.

While we are at the Harrogate Show, our business will also be operating normally, taking orders over our website, by telephone, and over the counter.

Unfortunately, we will not be attending the Midlands Show in October or any other shows this year.

We are taking this decision to be more cost efficient, and to try and deliver better value to our customers.

I have discussed this with David Clark and he has suggested that I explain my reasons in a little more detail, so here goes:

As some of you may be aware, our stock is connected in real time to our website. To maintain stock accuracy, we have to close our website during show times.
Last year, we found that we had to close our website for longer periods in preparation for, during and after the shows, so that we could always assure our customers of correct availability,
after the shows.

As our business grows and our product range increases, we would have to close our business down for even longer periods during show times, which in-turn would affect our overall sales.
Added to this, product costs have increased due to supplier labour costs, material costs and exchange rates.
At the same time, competition has increased with more traders chasing the same sales for smaller margins.

Therefore, to maintain stable growth, it is no longer cost effective for us to shut down for long periods during show times.

If anyone here belongs to a club and/or knows anyone who is visiting these shows, I will be grateful if you can pass on this message.

Everyone is welcome to visit and buy from us over the counter at our warehouse in Leicester, or via telephone, or via our website.

I apologise on behalf of everyone at Arc Euro Trade Ltd. for any inconvenience this may cause.

Ketan at ARC.
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10 February 2012 at 15:13 #4406
Ketan Swali
Participant
@ketanswali79440
10 February 2012 at 19:11 #84322
alan-lloyd
Participant
@alan-lloyd
Well done Kenan, At last a model engineering supply company that does’t think the world stops when theres an exhibition on, Warco, Polly, Chronos etc take note.
10 February 2012 at 20:30 #84328
Peter G. Shaw
Participant
@peterg-shaw75338
Agree with Alan.

Ketan, in all your communications you do come over as a very responsible person with an excellent service ethic.(Not sure that service is the right word, but I hope you understand what I mean.)

Regards,

Peter G. Shaw
10 February 2012 at 21:52 #84344
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
Thanks for being open about this Ketan – not least as it stops people speculating. I agree with Alan and Peter about the frustration of ‘losing’ some suppliers for a week or two at showtime.

I would, however, urge you to consider taking along a modest stock of low to mid-value items, perhaps a special stock just for shows. These aren’t to make a profit, but to give customers something to allow them to engage with you about at shows. It’s easier to come and say hello if theres something to buy, for ‘machinery only’ stands I tend to feel like a tyre kicker wasting people’s time. I know that when I’ve seen Arc at a show I always end up with a DTI, paint a loco book or similar… and I haven’t even got a loco to paint!

Don’t underestimate how chatting to people at shows builds loyalty (e.g. built through trust from honest advice, let alone simply from getting to know a proprietor) to the business. Who knows, someone looking at a DTI may end up buying anew lathe!

Neil
10 February 2012 at 22:34 #84347
Versaboss
Participant
@versaboss
Mr. Swali, why not set up a laptop at the exhibitions and help the not-so-computer-literate visitors to enter their orders on the place? Doing that your stock counters would always stay correct.

Mind you, I never will have the opportunity to check this out. I could say it’s not my business…

Greetings, Hansrudolf

(from near the Alps)
10 February 2012 at 23:04 #84351
Ketan Swali
Participant
@ketanswali79440
Alan,

Thanks. I think that the traders you have mentioned are aware of issues. Everyone has to take their own decision. In our case, there is still a fear of the unknown. Lets see what happens over time.

Peter,

Thanks. I think I understand what you mean.
10 February 2012 at 23:35 #84352
Ketan Swali
Participant
@ketanswali79440
Neil,

You are right. One of the reasons for this long announcement was to stop people speculating. Thanks to DC for suggesting that I go into detail to avoid any misunderstanding.

I am very much aware of customer loyalty. I am very grateful for the custom, encouragement, and help I have received from customers, many of whom have become friends over the years. When attending a particular show last year, it was sad for me to hear of deaths of few of these friends, especially after attending a funeral of another customer who became a friend, and one who I consulted on many issues.

Those who know me, are aware that they can come and speak to me at any time during the show. This will not change. Do come and say hello. Tyre kickers or not, you are always welcome .

I did consider taking stock, but unfortunately I ruled this out, especially as it is looking like only John S and I will attend. I had to make a decision, and I have thought about this ever since the last show which we did in October. Certain developments this year have led me to make this decision sooner, rather than later.

Thanks, Ketan.
10 February 2012 at 23:43 #84353
Ketan Swali
Participant
@ketanswali79440
Greetings Hansrudolf

Thanks for the suggestion. I have thought about the idea. We could show visitors how to order on our website. I am still working on this, and will try to see if I can make this happen.

Thanks, Ketan at ARC.
10 February 2012 at 23:44 #84354
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Posted by Ketan Swali on 10/02/2012 23:35:51:

I did consider taking stock, but unfortunately I ruled this out, especially as it is looking like only John S and I will attend.

Thanks, Ketan.

Damn,

Four days in Harrogate with a tea total vegetarian, that’s going to be a blast ……………………
11 February 2012 at 02:41 #84359
Nicholas Farr
Participant
@nicholasfarr14254
Hi Ketan, I understand all the points that you have made. When in the past at shows, your tool display stands are always well laid out, and it was easy to see the products that you sell and make an informed choice of what one is buying. Looking at pictures in a catalogue or on a web page is not the same as seeing them in real life. Will your display stands of your tooling be at the show so that people can actually see the products that they may order? I think many people are more likely to order products once they have seen them, I for one would.

Regards Nick.
11 February 2012 at 08:15 #84361
Tony Jeffree
Participant
@tonyjeffree56510
Ketan –

More power to your elbow – for what it’s worth, I think you are making a sensible decision. The world is increasingly moving to a different, on-line model of commerce, and I suspect over the coming years the ME shows will look more and more like engineering car boot sales as that trend continues.

Regards,

Tony

Edited By David Clark 1 on 14/02/2012 16:40:40
11 February 2012 at 08:55 #84362
Ketan Swali
Participant
@ketanswali79440
Posted by John Stevenson on 10/02/2012 23:44:37:

Posted by Ketan Swali on 10/02/2012 23:35:51:

Damn,

Four days in Harrogate with a tea total vegetarian, that’s going to be a blast ……………………

Dont know what you are complaining about. I thought that four days at the comfortable 5 Star Stalag Rex would be good escape for you
11 February 2012 at 09:04 #84363
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi John

Did not realise you were a tea total vegetarian.

I always thought you were a beer swilling, meat eating man of the world.

regards David
11 February 2012 at 09:06 #84364
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi Ketan

How about free postage to visitors ordering on your computer from the show.

Then every sale is a bonus you may not otherwise have got.

regards David
11 February 2012 at 09:16 #84365
Ketan Swali
Participant
@ketanswali79440
Hi Nick,

I understand what you mean. This is a concern.

More display tables means more pre-show organisation, more stand space, more transport, more labour, even if we dont sell. All at a price, so I have to compromise somewhere.

I have to keep on looking at the piece of paper in front of me which which states “cost efficient”..and not to get too carried away.

We have grown so far without financial assistance from the bank, and I would like to keep it that way for as long as I can help it.

Most of the tooling items are available from many of my competitors who will be selling at the show. I will loose out to them, but at least there will be some level of balance in an ever diluting position.

I hope that I have made the right decision for my company in this respect. Only time will tell.

Ketan at ARC.
11 February 2012 at 09:23 #84367
Ketan Swali
Participant
@ketanswali79440
Posted by Tony Jeffree on 11/02/2012 08:15:02:

Ketan –

More power to your elbow – for what it’s worth, I think you are making a sensible decision.

Regards,

Tony

Hello stranger. Trust you are back in the country for a while?

Ketan.
11 February 2012 at 09:48 #84369
Ketan Swali
Participant
@ketanswali79440
Posted by David Clark 1 on 11/02/2012 09:06:22:

Hi Ketan

How about free postage to visitors ordering on your computer from the show.

Then every sale is a bonus you may not otherwise have got.

regards David

Haha,

Started thinking about it in more detail and played it through in my mind after reading Hansrudolfs comments earlier.

If I take the computers, it means more labour to help customers place orders on our website. If there are to be only John and I on the stand, it might be a bit difficult to split our time in between chatting to some visitors and helping others with the on-line ordering process.

Placing orders on our website in an open show environment such as Harrogate presents a credit card processing security risk for us and potential customers which I would like to avoid detailing here.

So, even though it might be an idea, I am having to rule it out.

Ketan at ARC.
11 February 2012 at 12:41 #84395
modeng2000
Participant
@modeng2000
Ketan,

I like your approach to your potential customers and will consider your business first when looking for tooling etc.

John
11 February 2012 at 14:07 #84405
mgnbuk
Participant
@mgnbuk
Ketan,

I can appreciate your reasons for doing this, but from this visitor’s point of view it will be another reason not to bother attending.

As I have no real interest in steam models of any flavour, or model boats etc. my main interest is in the trade stands. As the cost of attending gets ever greater, the ability to offset some of the cost by not paying postage charges helps justify attending. It is also an advantage to be able to compare the quality of similar items from different sellers “in the flesh” – price alone is not necessarily a good indication of quality.

For me, Harrogate last year was a disappointment. Fewer trade stands, more model boats, much the same stuff seen pretty well every year on the club stands – not much incentive to go this year already, before a pre-notified reduction in the trade presence by someone I have previously bought items from at the exhibition on a bit of a “spur of the moment” basis.

£0.02

Nigel B.

Edited By David Clark 1 on 14/02/2012 16:42:35
11 February 2012 at 14:30 #84409
John Coates
Participant
@johncoates48577
Well as Harrogate is the only one within reasonable travelling distance for me I’ll be there so will come and say “hi” to Ketan and John

I have managed to get most of the tooling I want but a set or two of ARC’s JS 20-40-80 blocks were on the “get list” so I guess they won’t be being getten gotten!
11 February 2012 at 14:31 #84410
Tony Jeffree
Participant
@tonyjeffree56510
Posted by David Clark 1 on 11/02/2012 09:06:22:

Hi Ketan

How about free postage to visitors ordering on your computer from the show.

Then every sale is a bonus you may not otherwise have got.

regards David

Now that is an interesting idea. Taken to its logical conclusion, all of the trade stands would be selling their wares via PC, with no stock in sight – like an engineering Internet cafe…

Hmmm. Maybe not!

Regards,

Tony

Edited By Tony Jeffree on 11/02/2012 14:37:57
11 February 2012 at 14:36 #84415
Tony Jeffree
Participant
@tonyjeffree56510
Posted by Ketan Swali on 11/02/2012 09:23:35:

Posted by Tony Jeffree on 11/02/2012 08:15:02:

Ketan –

More power to your elbow – for what it’s worth, I think you are making a sensible decision.

Regards,

Tony

Hello stranger. Trust you are back in the country for a while?

Ketan.

Hi Ketan –

Yes, am back for a while, although I keep spending odd weeks north of the border. If the SNP get their way, I may need to pack a passport soon

Regards,

Tony
11 February 2012 at 15:21 #84421
Richard Parsons
Participant
@richardparsons61721
Mr Ketan When I visited shows in the U.K. I only visited machine suppliers’ stands for two reasons.
The first was to have a grump (generally accompanied by a Dynamite Enema if I got no sense out of the stand staff).
The second was to have a detailed look at a machine. The last time I did this at a show I visited the Myford stand. After cooling my heels for about ½ hrs I was seen by someone from Rent-a-Goon who hoofed me off the stand. Well I am old, grumpy, bearded, generally unfashionable. I have a tendency to spend an hour or so looking, poking, counting teeth feeling backlash. So I did not buy a new Myford 4-25.
So now when if want something expensive I visit the supplier (having given them a few days notice) and look at the kit I am interested in.
Rdgs
Dick
11 February 2012 at 15:51 #84426
Ketan Swali
Participant
@ketanswali79440
Posted by Richard Parsons on 11/02/2012 15:21:17:
Well I am old, grumpy, bearded, generally unfashionable.
Rdgs
Dick

No problem, so should we add you to the list of father Christmases who come and visit our stand? ….if you visit, come and say hello

Ketan.
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