Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition

[Matt HomerParticipant @matthomer20018]

No Warco this year 2019 ?

Have been going for past 5-6 years and cant see it being worth it if no Warco.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

I try to attend shows, (Ally Pally, Doncaster and the Fosse ) Now less with a view to a shopping list, although there always seems to be an impulse buy!

The Fosse is my least favourite. The aisles are so narrow that three folk means a complete blockage. Often caused by the unthinking or selfish and uncaring..

Why do we care less about delaying / obstructing those around us, as we get older? Before anyone says "It's alright for you youngsters" you must be ten years older than me and in your nineties to say that! And Yes, I do carry a rucksack, but choose who to assault with it.

For the four years that it ran, I organised one of the largest club stands at the Spalding Show, so learned a little about organising a Show from both the Organiser and the Exhibitor standpoint. Neither is easy. Some clubs mess the organisers about; late entry, no show etc.

It can be difficult to persuade members to provide exhibits ( having to travel to and fro to deliver and collect the item/s, and the risk of damage. (Security is usually pretty tight, but there are occasional light fingered activities with pocketable items )

Also, if the organisers are too greedy, they price out traders. But they cannot afford to run at a loss for many years. So there has to be a delicate balance between the rent for a trade stand, and the price of an entry ticket.

And by laying out the stands to give wide aisles to allow easy movement of the punters, you reduce the space for the traders who pay to be there, in the hope of selling their products profitably.

With the steadily tightening economic conditions, you can see why traders reduce the range of items that they display, and the size and content of the stand Arc Euro, understandably, went from "Display the whole range" to machines only, and then absence, just as Warco are now doing, whilst Chester have greatly reduced their stand size. You have sell a lot of.machines, let alone small accessories, to cover the costs; of disrupting your business at home, transport, accomodation, and returning everything to normal afterwards.

As an Exhibitor, even for a local two day Show, there is almost a day to prepare, another to load the car, arrive and set up the stand, two days as a Steward, and then a rush to strip down and load up at the end, followed by the next day putting everything away again.

Being a Trader, or an Exhibitor at a Show is not beer and skittles by any means.

BUT, an Exhibitor deserves free entry to supervise and explain their exhibits to the paying public. As already said, No Exhibits = No Show = No Profit for the organiser.

Sorry to ramble on at such great length, but there are many aspects to a Show whether as Trader, Exhibitor or Visitor. Keeping everyone happy is not that simple.

Howard

[Matt Homer 1Participant @matthomer1]

Food for thought Howard ! well said

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