OP
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
I don't really see much that has changed in the way of equipment in the last 10 years when you walk into a standard dive shop. One wall is lined with poodle jackets, the other with split fins of 4 different brands. The mask wall looks about the same, and the case with knives could have been unchanged for 10 years and nobody would have missed a thing.
Computers have changed however.
I don't really see where the value is for manufacturters to have to pack up and ship all this stuff to the show, pay huge booth fees, hotel rates, schmoozing, dinners, and on top of it have to deal with the convention center union nazi's, just for a select few to get to participate.
All to show the newest poodle jacket, or the newest face cover redesign of the reg. Big deal, it's all just dive gear and will always just be dive gear.
For the retailers to take time away from the shop to go to DEMA to see all the "huge changes" seems silly. The manufacturers could easily make contact with retailers and update them on any minor design changes or new products through emailers and brochures and sales calls.
As far as seminars go, wouldn't it make more sense to have some of these presentations actually go to the LDS's to speak their cause? If the end user is the target wouldn't it make more sense to get them directly involved in a presentation. I would think this would be a great way to get people back into their LDS's. Instead of manufacturers concentrating all their efforts annually on the dema show and hoping that shop owners come through as representatives for their products, why don't they just go on the road and take the product directly to the end user by having presentations at LDS's and dive club meetings.
If dema, padi, and others concentrate all their efforts on just trying to get new divers into the sport to feed the machine, who's taking care of the already certified and active divers. They seem to just be focussed on getting new people in and not on keeping people in.
It seems to me that if there was more stimulus to the sport diver and not just a select few it would be better for the sport.
After all, the target is the end user right? I mean that's ultimately where the money comes from. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I certainly don't have the time or the money to go to dema, how about you?
Maybe they need to come to us.
Computers have changed however.
I don't really see where the value is for manufacturters to have to pack up and ship all this stuff to the show, pay huge booth fees, hotel rates, schmoozing, dinners, and on top of it have to deal with the convention center union nazi's, just for a select few to get to participate.
All to show the newest poodle jacket, or the newest face cover redesign of the reg. Big deal, it's all just dive gear and will always just be dive gear.
For the retailers to take time away from the shop to go to DEMA to see all the "huge changes" seems silly. The manufacturers could easily make contact with retailers and update them on any minor design changes or new products through emailers and brochures and sales calls.
As far as seminars go, wouldn't it make more sense to have some of these presentations actually go to the LDS's to speak their cause? If the end user is the target wouldn't it make more sense to get them directly involved in a presentation. I would think this would be a great way to get people back into their LDS's. Instead of manufacturers concentrating all their efforts annually on the dema show and hoping that shop owners come through as representatives for their products, why don't they just go on the road and take the product directly to the end user by having presentations at LDS's and dive club meetings.
If dema, padi, and others concentrate all their efforts on just trying to get new divers into the sport to feed the machine, who's taking care of the already certified and active divers. They seem to just be focussed on getting new people in and not on keeping people in.
It seems to me that if there was more stimulus to the sport diver and not just a select few it would be better for the sport.
After all, the target is the end user right? I mean that's ultimately where the money comes from. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I certainly don't have the time or the money to go to dema, how about you?
Maybe they need to come to us.