ericfine50
Contributor
I have to agree with Tobin on this one (sorry to digress back a few weeks) - As someone that has worked BTS for Sartek and DEMA for Sartek and then gone to them as Joe Diver - two very different types of shows. BTS is the perfect show for the consumer. They can touch and feel everything. The mfgs know this and are prepaired. for DEMA, it would take me a good 3 to 4 weeks to prep for the show, get the new items ready for dispay, new material ready, etc. I can't tell you how many times at DEMA I got cornered by a LDS owner not wanting me to give a price sheet to his employees. ***? Over. He saw the employee as a customer. Two different mindsets.cool_hardware52: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
As for the length of the show, 5 Days is nuts. After day 3, we all wanted to go home. There is only so much of Burbon street you could take. And, just because we are away, does not mean the business stops.
Ok - I am done. Sorry to digress