scubapro50:
YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM ..... NO VISION ..... it wouldn't be that hard to pull it off. You have the people and equipment there .... just hand out different paperwork and change your attitude to customer service counts. It's your chance to show your wares to a lot of people (customers) that may not know your company products. use your salesmen to convince that "person" that you make and sell the best equipment or service and if their local dive shop doesn't have it then have them go back home as ask why not. Many manfuctures have learned that they get a lot of bang for their buck by doing local dive shows in Calif., Florida or Texas . You give a lot of potential customers a chance to see you'r stuff that may have never seen it before. Ask companies like Zeagle, Atomic, XS Scuba, Cressi who honestly tries to make a connection with the average diver and take the time to show and explain their products. Hell ... I never even saw an AREIS BC before Seaspace but liked so must I found a dive shop that sold their line. DEMA need to make a major change or it will go the way of SKIN DIVER MAGAZINE .... great once but died off because it couldn't change with the times. ....... JUST THINK About the advantages .... the first few days the show could get back to basics by limiting the number of people there and keeping out the "lookie Lou's" so you can get down to business .... the last couple of days all they other people (that you didn't want to talk to because they don't buy major $$$ for business) come in and see what you have. By spliting the show you now what group you are "preaching" to.
That's leap. I do both kinds of shows. I want to talk to everybody, I just usually lose my voice ~ half way through day 3. I learn differnt things at each. I love the chance to talk directly to users. That's one of the huge benefits of SB, unfiltered feedback from end users.
I too agree that DEMA has changed in ways that are not healthy for the long term. My suggestion would be a return to a winter / early spring time frame. Regional consumer shows are in my opinion a better fit than a "national" consumer show. The problem is "Dive Travel" gets booked in the fall for fall winter and spring. I don't see a way around this problem if Dive shops need to see travel operators in the early fall.
Hey I'd love it if there was just one annual "do it all show" I just don't see it working all that well.
5 days is a looong time. Trust me on the 4 & 5th days attendees will not be seeing any of the booth staffers at their best. For smaller companies that means all the staff is out of the office for 6-7 days, very hard to do, and maintain any kind of customer service durring that period for the vast majority of your customers who aren't at the show, don't care that your out of town, just want their problem solved now.
I have experience as an exhibitor in another recreational sport activity. Been to many trade shows, been to many consumer shows. Been to two combo events, both disasters. Too long, to confused, many people upset. Dealers mad that what they consider a consumer got a hold of a "dealer" price list. Consumers mad that they can't buy at wholesale. "Maybe dealers" (folks we aren't sure about) offended that we won't provide a dealer price list. It goes on and on.
Consumers expect to purchase gear at the show. Now we have to transport 2 sets of literature (and keep them seperate) + enough stock for the consumers (how much? who knows!) Hope all this is not stolen from the booth, and enjoy the tender mercies of the local exhibition hall unions to move said goods into and back out of the hall. It's just not a good scene.
Scubapro50, might I ask what goods you have represented at either a Trade show, consumer show, or combo show?
Regards,
Tobin
