DiveBIZ 2006

[ShadowBoat]

I urge everyone to view www.divebizexpo.com.

DiveBIZ is answering the need in the dive industry. DiveBIZ offers dive equipment manufacturers, service providers, and travel suppliers an affordable opportunity to achieve their tradeshow and marketing goals for 2006.

An exhibitor’s and buyer's primary factor should be where to achieve the best ROI and ROO for their company at a tradeshow.

We will assist every DiveBIZ 2006 particpant with determining their objectives and finding the best way to achieve them. DiveBIZ announced its Hosted Retail Buyer Program, offering among other items: FREE show registration, FREE transportation to and from McCarron Airport and FREE hotel rooms at the Las Vegas Hilton to qualified buyers. This program demonstrates our commitment to the industry and the value we place on the retailer and the success of the exhibitor.

Trade shows that serve as fund raisers for associations add unnecessary expenses back on to the attendees; our philosophy is a trade event should be an affordable business event for buyers and sellers to interact. Some people believe that having two trade events may be redundant, that would be like saying that more than one certification agency would be redundant. We believe the industry wants options and they want them now.

We are giving the industry a valuable choice. The only membership people need to have to attend DiveBIZ is to be an active business in the diving industry.

We are providing a business trade venue that recognizes the need for cost reduction and the need for a fresh format. We are giving back to the industry by reducing the expense of exhibitors and attendees to participate in a business event and not a social event. We are producing this show because a large portion of this industry has been disenchanted by their current options.

We are excited about producing the event. We chose Las Vegas because it provides the greatest access to the largest amount of people to attend (US and INT). We worked hard on reducing lodging costs, freight handling and others. We frimly believe that having a trade show in the same location at the same time each year is a strong benefit to the industry. Having the show in January is really market driven. Product phasing and not interrupting the selling season were critical factors when we decided to make Jan the constant.

Change is inevitable an dteh time is right for many reasons. I have enjoyed eveyones input on this forum. I would urge you all to continue to share as openly as you have.

Guy Miller
International Sales and Marketing Manager
DiveBIZ

 

[ScottZeagle]

This should prove to be interesting. I am anxious to see what effect this has on...well....things.

Scott

 

[Ted S]

ShadowBoat,
Can you tell us a bit more about your plans for your new show? Mainly what sort of feedback are you seeing from the industry and given that 2006 will be your first year, what sort of attendance do you expect to see?

 

[ShadowBoat]

ShadowBoat,
Can you tell us a bit more about your plans for your new show? Mainly what sort of feedback are you seeing from the industry and given that 2006 will be your first year, what sort of attendance do you expect to see?

Thank you for your inquiry regarding DiveBIZ.

Our response from the industry has already been determined based on the fact we are doing the event. Our research gave us the information that lead us to create the event. Many industry participants have expressed disconnect and disenchantment with the status quo and frankly wanted change, wanted options, and wanted less cost to participate in a trade event. As there has only been one trade event for diving in the US, there has only been one price to participate in a trade event in the US.

As I stated in my original message there are a few board members that feel that our show is somehow going to lessen the associations’ impact or effectiveness by having exhibitors and attendees being forced to participate in two shows without double the return. The fact is that if buyers and sellers choose to participate in DiveBIZ over the other event the association will loose revenue to support itself. I have asked some industry people if the current association did not have the only trade show in the US would they have the membership and “support” they do? Are people supporting the association or the show?

The fact is that many exhibitors have already decided that the current trade show is not in their best interest and have pulled out; many others have already determined the association does not provide the value. As I stated a trade association can and should be supported by the dues members pay, not because they attend a trade show. If the current trade association has the value it perceives it does then businesses would be happy to pay dues (I am one of them). A trade association such as the one in diving can and should be able to exist and be effective (such as addressing legislative issues) without a trade show as its primary means of survival. As a marketing association they have a few important initiatives that they engage in. These events could be easily supported through separate sponsorships, as many already are.

Trade shows are hugely expensive propositions for exhibitors and buyers. The current options have had costs continue to climb while the critical value of the event has decreased due to in part to the access and communication abilities that the internet now provides suppliers to have with their buyers. One industry person told me that in years past the only option you had to go and find out who sold mesh bags was to go to the trade show and find a mesh bag dealer. Now if I want to find a mesh bag I just go online. If a large amount of commodity product buying decisions are being made at this level it makes less sense to go to a trade show to make them. The opposite is true however with travel and larger manufacturers, new product manufactures, new service providers or unique product manufacturers.

Travel destinations, dive operators and travel wholesalers desire to meet as many potential buyers face to face as possible. In travel there is greater competition, greater price points and a greater spectrum of opportunities. The product offering in travel changes often. What would take travel buyer months to shop and do analysis online can be done in a very short amount of time.

Larger full line manufacturers also need and want to have the time to showcase their entire product line with buyers to increase market share in each of their retailers and enroll new retailers. It is very hard for their field rep to bring and effectively showcase the entire line of a “major” in their store. Trade shows are also an excellent opportunity for larger manufactures to showcase and release new products collectively to their retailers to create the necessary buzz. Trade shows also create the opportunity for retailers to communicate directly with management regarding product innovations, phasing issues and program development. Recently two of the bigger manufacturers have felt they wanted to take these efforts more regionally and use their funds that had previously been addressed for the large trade show and use them more locally. It remains to be seen if it the most effective use.

Unique or new product and service companies’ prize trade shows for the opportunity to launch and create a retail buyer base. Trade shows have been and will continue to be a great place to launch new products and services. They need an event that provides an affordable opportunity to do so.

DiveBIZ represents the fact that the buyer/seller relationship has changed and the level and type of communication has changed. Basically, the value proposition for both has changed. The investment that was once necessary to attend a trade show to determine your product mix is now different. A trade show and the investment required have to be lower because the needs of the event are different. The event is now an opportunity to search out new vendors, research and determine product mixes with current vendors, research and book travel for the coming year and up date your business with the latest in education, service offerings and opportunities that cannot be explored using the internet or through the highly valuable local rep.

The decreasing attendance by exhibitors and buyers in the current trade event has been due to the high cost, low return, and lack of consistency in both time and place and the realization by many that supported the association because of their participation that the association has not met their expectations because they see their business or market relatively flat or worse, depressed.

We expect our first year will be the toughest but each year it will grow as we develop more value for the participants. Store retailers are a vital aspect to this industry and we will do what we can to make their participation valuable. Exhibitors will spend the money if they also have the opportunity to recognize greater value. Regardless, the landscape has and will forever be changed.

Your site and these forums are wonderful examples of what is good in diving. Witnessing the amount of sharing and the open passion of the sport is just awesome. The service and opportunity you are providing here is professional, well done and needed.

Good luck with this site and keep up the good work.

Guy Miller

 

[medical1]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chuck Schwartz​

July 28, 2005

(702) 450-7662, Ext. 104​

DIVEBIZ 2006 CANCELED TODAY
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Henderson, NV- The launch of DiveBiz Expo 2006 was canceled today, it was announced by Chuck Schwartz, CEM, Chairman of ConvExx.
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It was at the urging of many disgruntled DEMA Show exhibitors and industry buyers that ConvExx planned a tradeshow more closely in tune with their needs and market demands. DEMA responded to this initiative by taking steps to meet these same goals and needs.
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"If our launch caused the industry association to take notice and 'do the right thing' then the goals have been reached, if not by us, then through us" Schwartz concluded.
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ConvExx located in Henderson, Nevada, produces multiple events including the SEMA Show, the largest automotive aftermarket show in the world, World Tire Expo, International Auto Salon, SEMA Spring Expo, and Las Vegas BikeFest. ConvExx also provides association management for ESCA, the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association.
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[DEEPTEK]

And good thing. The sales reps and manufacturers I taked to, wanted nothing to do with it.