BTS 2015 = total bust?

[HowardE]

It seems like all the dive shows in the US are on a downhill slide (every year seems a little shabbier than the last). The shows in Asia are the complete opposite. They seem to grow from year to year and the average age of attendees is quite young, showing a lot of future promise.

Maybe the shows in Asia know how to market themselves better than hanging posters in local dive shops?

 

[tangfish]

It's done almost entirely on a social level (word of mouth, social media, chat apps, etc)

 

[JackConnick]

Well, we have gone to the last two BTS shows and just couldn't justify it again. Way too expensive for us to ship several containers of toys, booth, people and so forth. I just don't think those show attendees are our audience, even though we have a lot of NY/NJ east coast customers and it was great to connect with them. I hated the venue, the management of the show is disorganized, the hotels were old, chain restaurants, etc. And _everything_ was expensive.

So we're doubling down on the Long Beach Scuba Show which rocked the last year. Why, because Mark has done a super job of organizing and _advertising_ the show to non-divers for several years, now they have taken up the sport, are buying gear and going on trips. Plus it's a very nice location, great show hotel and very nice restaurants.

We're doing the Seattle Scuba H2O Show, mainly because it's about 3 blocks away. But I'm not optimistic - no advertising.

I don't know, every dollar we put into Google we get about $3-4 back. Kind of the opposite on shows...

 

[dumpsterDiver]

See, now we're asking 2 different questions. If we're asking "what percentage of a dive shop's customers travel with their shop?", I would completely buy the 10% number. If we ask "what percentage of a destinations customers book group travel with their shop?", I'd bet my numbers are closer.

Dive shows used to be fun. I alluded to the rebreatherworld party and the Tech Party earlier. Yes, BTS had a tech party (which used to be sponsored by TDI, which meant that they bought the first beer, sandwiches, and the hotel venue) right next to the show venue. Walking distance. Get real drunk and stumble to my hotel room. Now, it's in a hotel that I have to take a shuttle to. That requires logistics, and I do logistics for a living, not for a party. The RBW party was at Cheesburger in Paradise. It was informal, and Curt brought a bunch of t-shirts, but it was BYOB and hamburgers. There was always a fight and whoever wasn't there got gossiped about. Seaspace had the Casino night. Seaspace had try-diving in the hotel pool.

One thing I noticed on Saturday morning is that I didn't see anyone younger than 40 before noon except for the Boy Scouts.

I know they are different shows, but can you compare this year's Blue Wild Expo in Ft. Lauderdale with the BTS?

 

[eelnoraa]

It seems like all the dive shows in the US are on a downhill slide (every year seems a little shabbier than the last). The shows in Asia are the complete opposite. They seem to grow from year to year and the average age of attendees is quite young, showing a lot of future promise.

Don't forget there is a fast growing country with 1.6 billion people. As people are getting financially equal to western country, even a very small percentage of people go into scuba as hobby, it will have a big impact on the industry. Well, this is true for almost everything these days

 

[Wookie]

I know they are different shows, but can you compare this year's Blue Wild Expo in Ft. Lauderdale with the BTS?

The Blue Wild is full of young, avid divers, and diver wanna-be's. They are catered to by their vendors, you can buy a spear gun, a SUP, or a camera housing. The most popular part of the show seems to me to be the drawings which are for real things that they want, like spearguns, beer, and art. We were near the beer booth and the line wasn't less than 20 people all day.

With that said, they aren't my customer, as we don't spear from the big boat. We may rethink that.

The question you ask makes me think hard. Yes, BTS is in New Jersey in the winter. There aren't many boats running. The attendance at the Blue Wild kicked butt on Saturday because it was windy. The wind calmed down on Sunday and everyone went diving. Sheri knows how to attract the customers and she does it well. BTS appeals to an older, more sedate client, and it shows in who is walking the hall, as well as who is showing. If you are trying to attract well heeled geezers who want en-suite heads and calm water, BTS is your show. If you are trying to attract folks who actually dive in the real world, the Blue Wild is it.

 

[tridacna]

Don't forget there is a fast growing country with 1.6 billion people. As people are getting financially equal to western country, even a very small percentage of people go into scuba as hobby, it will have a big impact on the industry. Well, this is true for almost everything these days

I would go long on Mares Sunrise masks...just saying.

 

[scubadada]

Dive shows used to be fun. I alluded to the rebreatherworld party and the Tech Party earlier. Yes, BTS had a tech party (which used to be sponsored by TDI, which meant that they bought the first beer, sandwiches, and the hotel venue) right next to the show venue. Walking distance. Get real drunk and stumble to my hotel room. Now, it's in a hotel that I have to take a shuttle to. That requires logistics, and I do logistics for a living, not for a party. The RBW party was at Cheesburger in Paradise. It was informal, and Curt brought a bunch of t-shirts, but it was BYOB and hamburgers. There was always a fight and whoever wasn't there got gossiped about. Seaspace had the Casino night. Seaspace had try-diving in the hotel pool.

What's the complaint, that others aren't offering a lavish party at the expense of their consumers? Being in medicine for 30 years allows me some insight. This kind of expense ended at least a decade or more ago and is completely unacceptable. Segments other than healthcare undergo far less scrutiny but I believe the principles apply. Offering benefits to the consumer is a unique philosophy

 

[Wookie]

I don't know that there is a complaint, or that lavish parties attract tech divers. For the first 4 years I attended, the tech party was in the Embassy Suites. It was a walk. Now, it's a bus ride away, and it starts at 9PM, so you get out of the show, wait 3 buses until you get on one, ride 15 minutes to the hotel, drink a bud, bud light, or miller lite, buy some decent beer, party until after the buses stop, missing the last bus back, get in bed by 2 and start the show at 9 AM. Or, it could be a no host party at any of the 10 cheeseburger chains within walking distance (Cheeseburger in Paradise, BurgerFi, Chili's, Red Robin, Buffalo Wild Wing, etc. etc.) and have one great time.

And it isn't held at the Embassy Suites any more because they saw it as a way to make some money, instead of just selling us beer, and started charging for the privilege of drinking in their bar.

See, a social occasion doesn't need to be expensive, just planned.

 

[RJP]

Frank... and others... the most current data I have from active divers (more than 40 dives a year was our definition), is that a little more than 10 percent book dive tourism through a shop... slightly more than 41 percent travel with a buddy or buddies and make their own arrangements, and 19.66 travel alone and make their own arrangements... we did not ask whether onLine or through a certified travel agent/out-bound/in-bound operator.

Steve - the data I've collected recently is somewhat different.

For more that 40 dives/year 21% travel with a shop-organized trip, and 12.9% book personal travel through a shop, 10.8% book through a dive-specific travel agency.

The numbers are MUCH higher for liveaboards. As I shared with Frank on Sunday, 35.5% of liveaboard divers travel on shop-sponsored trips. 15.9% book personal liveaboard trips through a shop, and 15.3% book through dive-specific travel agencies.

---------- Post added March 30th, 2015 at 08:57 PM ----------

He mostly asked ScubaBoard readers.

Not the case, Frank. Less than half of the respondents were from SB.

---------- Post added March 30th, 2015 at 09:03 PM ----------

Not sure how RJP got his data but mine is first-hand from the customers directly Few of them have even heard of BTS.

Don't forget... the only customers you can talk to are yours. And even then, just the ones you talk to.

That said... BTS is for - and attended by - pretty committed divers. Dare I say "hard core" divers. What percent of attendees were decked out head to toe in dive flags and shirts and hats and jewelry and such.

Go to a golf or ski trade show and you know what the people who attend those shows look like... they look like PEOPLE!

---------- Post added March 30th, 2015 at 09:05 PM ----------

Hey let's talk. I'd love to bring some down on your boat. I'll PM you. I stopped by your booth but you were cruising elsewhere.

I mentioned you guys specifically to Frank. Any of your folks who dive on Gypsy Blood would love diving on the Spree.