SFA

I've been doing some thinking.... (smell something burning?) :D

Here's an excerpt from a email that I received a few weeks ago:

DALLAS, TX -- Hanley Wood Exhibitions announced today that StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and SURFACES will co-locate beginning in January of 2011. Both exhibitions will be held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, January 26 - 28, with conferences beginning on January 25.

Forgetting that the last time I walked a Surfaces show (a few years ago) it was oriented towards carpet and flooring and the like;

Personally, as a manufacturer of machines, I don't know that this show is a good option for ScandInvent, and I'm not so sure it will be good for my colleagues who make machines either.

I think the timing is terrible. Maybe you guys who go to buy machines and supplies will have a different view.

The thing that keeps going through my mind is "who is going to go to a show and buy machines and/or supplies in January?"

Especially with Coverings what less than two months later?

If I would have to choose between the two shows, especially with them being WAY too close (in time) I think that I would choose coverings. These exhibitions are simply too expensive (to bring in machines or supplies) to simply exhibit at them all.

Opinions?

John I wondered when this would happen. I've been to all three shows and each have merit for me...Surfaces has always just been a easy hop for me being on the west coast. When things where booming Surfaces was a good show.Not so good lately.
Personally I like big shows with lots of parties and lots of people. If it attracts more folks great. I have a tile side to my buss. as many of us do and there are a few vendors that don't make Coverings ( too expensive ) and don't fit into Expo..So Surfaces is a good fit for them. It also makes it more legit to my partners to send me if I can hit some tile and slab at the same time.

I agree the timing is poor in terms of the month. Coverings is one I didn't hit last year for the first time in 6 yrs? If the shows are 2 months apart it means in a down economy I have to likely choose 1 show or I catch hell from the accounting side. They should be 6 months apart.

I think one US show a year is plenty. Since marmomacc joined with Hanley wood, I see they would want to move the the October date of expo away from the Verona show. I guess expo and coverings will have to see who has the best following and the best roi for vendors. I've always preferred the coverings show because it had all of the expo machines, plus the material suppliers as well.

Consolidation needs to take place for the show's survival. I think it is a good idea. January is a good month for the show as I imagine for most construction companies this is a slower time of year (easier to get away). I was glad to see the change.

I agree that the shows should be consolidated.
It costs the vendors an insane amount of money to display goods and machines, and that gets passed right along to you, the customer.
My problem is not that the shows should be consolidated, but the time frame of the show.

January?

My experience is that people don't seriously consider buying machines when it's slow, and January is right in that time frame. That's human nature. Things are slow, and the customer is wondering where that next job is coming from. Spend money at that time? Nah.

And, let's face it. We the vendors are spending a bucket of money to be at the show, and we need to see a return on our investment.

April/May or September/October is another matter altogether. Things are usually busy, and the customer's making money. Then he or she considers making investments.

As far as not competing with the Verona show, I've been fortunate to be able to attend Verona for the last several years.
If I saw 10 customers total from the USA or Canada at the show (in the booth I was working or wandering around) I'd be impressed.

Of course, that's amazing to me in itself, as the Verona show blows away any show in the USA.

Well, that's my rationale, so I'm interested in what my colleagues think.