DEMA - What the hell?!

[mike_s]

DEMA is now just travel, training and trinkets. You can get in, along with lots of other, "professionals", no problem.

You know.. I've heard several other people who've been tell me the same thing. The show isn't what it used to be. (with that said, I've never been and see no real reason to spend lots of $$$ to go. I'd rather go diving).


however, If DEMA wants to say "Professionals only". Then why do they advertise with a banner ad on Scubaboard to "consumer divers"?

Here is the AD they are running on SB as a Banner.
http://www.divedomain.com/adimage.php?filename=dema2007_2.gif


I could care less, but kinda stupid.

 

[mdb]

You know.. I've heard several other people who've been tell me the same thing. The show isn't what it used to be. (with that said, I've never been and see no real reason to spend lots of $$$ to go. I'd rather go diving).


however, If DEMA wants to say "Professionals only". Then why do they advertise with a banner ad on Scubaboard to "consumer divers"?

Here is the AD they are running on SB as a Banner.
http://www.divedomain.com/adimage.php?filename=dema2007_2.gif


I could care less, but kinda stupid.

Just an attempt to drive up the attendance numbers. Anyone who really wants to will get in. DM's, Instructors, asst. Instructors, dive store employee's-some "temporary", people working the booths-some "temporary" etc. The actual number of real buyers will be about 10%-15% of the actual total attendance. There will be far more people manning booths than their will be actual buyers.

I've been at every DEMA show for the last 30 years. It used to be a buying show where SCUBA Retailers placed orders for the coming season after looking at what was offered by the manufacturers. Now equipment buying is done, for the large part, with "booking programs" those programs are now underway, or will be shortly, the LDS will be under pressure to place his/her booking order before DEMA.

DEMA will be, as mentioned before, travel and training, dive hats and t-shirts, stained glass dolphins, parties , seminars etc.

DEMA has not been a real equipment marketplace for years.

 

[k4man]

As a public educator, I think we will open the schools next week, but not allow the students in!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rick Murchison]

As a public educator, I think we will open the schools next week, but not allow the students in!!!!!!!!!

As a public educator you should recognize a fallacious argument when you see one
Rick

 

[friscuba]

Travel, training and trinkets might be an oversimplification. Most of the major equipment manufacturers (ScubaPro and Apollo were absent and I'm sure there were others but can't think of them off hand) were there but the ordering situation may not be the same as in the past.

I'm sure DEMA's changed from a manufacturers standpoint, but for retailers and others in the industry, it's still an opportunity to touch and feel a large portion of the equipment that's out there, talk with most of your reps at the same time, etc.

 

[mike_s]

Dema might have been about driving what's new and learning about new products....

but with the Internet driving things now.... Even if you were a pretty large dive shop, you could skip DEMA and still read up on the product and just see it the next time the dealer rep came by. or just UPS in a demo.

This show is overated in many peoples opinion and I'm betting now days just serves as a "get together" for the "good old boys" of scuba.

Like I said, I'd rather spend my money going diving instead...

 

[k4man]

As a public educator you should recognize a fallacious argument when you see one
Rick

 

[friscuba]

Dema might have been about driving what's new and learning about new products....

but with the Internet driving things now.... Even if you were a pretty large dive shop, you could skip DEMA and still read up on the product and just see it the next time the dealer rep came by. or just UPS in a demo.

This show is overated in many peoples opinion and I'm betting now days just serves as a "get together" for the "good old boys" of scuba.

Like I said, I'd rather spend my money going diving instead...

There's no substitute like being able to touch it, feel it, hear it or try it on. The internet can only do so much. Most dive shops will see the reps from the major lines they carry in their stores every now and then, but not reps from the lines they don't carry. Having a handful reps stop by every few weeks or months pales with being able to talk to the reps for most every major product once a year. Any good store is going to want to keep tabs on what's out there because changes do get made on a regular basis, and if other brands are making the changes you like, you'd want to be aware of it.

If I were a retailer, there's no way I'd miss this show unless I intended not to make any changes in what I do within the next year or two, and didn't care to find out what's out there.

 

[Ted S]

I've found that most industries, retail sectors included, have industry only events... they just don't tend to be one of the biggest events of the year, as is the case with DEMA.

The thing is, b2b shows are really a lot less snazzy and a lot less "fun" to visit as an end consumer. All the stuff you put into a consumer show doesn't happen at the business shows -- less elaborate booths, a lot less prizes, giveaways, etc... What you do get is a fair number of meetings, lots of one-on-one discussions and more literature than you care to take home. And free pens. There's loads of free pens. Then again, the dive industry really isn't known for going overboard in it's consumer shows either, so that may be a mute point.

Of course the criteria for getting in is not as strict as many people would like it to be. A lot of the show is just casual instructors. I've had the chance to meet many scubaboard members at past DEMAs and am looking forward to seeing the faces, new products and the general buzz this year, which is really what I go for.

 

[rjsimp]

All I can say is there is ALWAYS a way to get into the shows legitimately.. You don't necessarily have to be a manufacturer or even a owner of a scuba shop.

COMDEX in Las Vegas is for computer related professionals, CES in Vegas is for Consumer Electronics, and several others are the same way. All designated for professionals in that industry. Who say's you aren't a professional in that industry?? Doesn't take much to legitimize yourself and get into the shows.

So, look at the requirements to attend the show, and do what it asks for. Simple.