Midlands Exhibition

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

JA –

That has always been the primary purpose of exhibiyions devoted to amateur arts and crafts; but the venues have to be paid for somehow.

It seems one reason the larger traders have been ceasing their show activities is that is just so expensive.

One excellent venue jacked up its hire costs so much it was no longer affordable for show organisers and their traders; and one has to ask why its owners would want to drive away trade in such a cack-handed way. Business ineptitude mixed with greed? Or because they see the site as potential, prime housing-estate land if its primary purpse fails? Hard to know, especially in a world where it seems every Tom, Dick and Harry can own a British company as long as they are not British. Howver, the place is advertising its major, county agricultural show for 2022 so it does seem secure.

Otherwise the reasons are pretty obvious even to someone who is simply a ticket-buying visitor:

– Several members of staff on overtime, needing hotel accommodation and living expenses far from home for several nights.

– Days spent preparing for the exhibition – selecting and packing goods and display units, packing the for-collection orders, driving to the venue and setting-up. Then the reverse afterwards. I don't know but would guess a major 3 or 4 day exhibition for a large machine-tool company means the best part of two weeks' work dedicated to it, while still running the firm's normal business. It might be easier for the smaller firms – they seem more able to stay with the big shows.

– Very high floor-area costs due to the hall-hire fees.

– And now in London the costly congestion-charge I believe has been, or is to be, extended right out to the M25; far out from the city – obviouly also affecting we paying visitors.

It may be that the days of the very large hobby shows , and not just model-engineering, are drawing to a close; but there is still plenty of scope for the smaller regional and club. exhibitions and its is surprising what they can do.

I would cite 2 examples.

One is the Model Road Steam Vehicle Society's annual rally (plagues permitting, as with everyhting and everyone else). Though I admit to a certain bias… The second was the exhibitions that Taunton MES held for several years running; until I think the school it used became no longer available.

Both clubs invite(d) others as guest exhibitors, and traders able to mount small displays where if nothing else they can show their faces and take orders. I was surprised to see Reeves' stall at Taunton – not their full stand but enough to sell consumables and small sundries but perhaps more importantly able to take large orders. Western Steam's stand there, admittedly much closer to its home geographically, meant I could discuss and place the order for my steam-wagon's boiler. I collected it at the following year's show… and still to have to wrap enough lorry around it for it to take water and coal! (Expecting the gauge-glass protector in today's post…)

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One aspect of the big shows that is oft-discussed is whether related guest hobbies have a place at them. I think they do, on a public-relations footing for our hobby and a chance to for us to see what other model-makers create.

(One of the longest discussions I recall having with an exhibitor at Taunton was not about a steam-engine or machine-tool accessory, but her miniature doll's-house and its furnishings and fittings she scratch-built!)

So we still want and need the exhibitions and it would a great loss if the major ones disappeared. I don't think they will in the foreseeable future; but they may have to adapt. I do think the society and smaller regional shows could have a very important role, and long may they.

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