www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
Pool&SpaIndustry JUN 2011 SPN
31
Once March has come, companies are very busy opening up pools and that continues right through to the autumn when the European and North American shows take place. This would lead to much more competition and potential clashes with a UK show, if it moved permanently to an autumn slot. The weather in February can be unpredictable and in the past four years there have been high winds, heavy snow and also brilliant sunshine, but there is no guarantee anywhere in the UK of good weather at this early time of year. So for these reasons, the first weekend in February really has proved to be the ideal time for the UK Show.
3. DAYS OF OPENING
Until the recession, the show ran on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday format. This gave a very high Sunday attendance and there were some complaints that exhibitors were tied up with no time for all of the visitors. The Tuesday attendance was too low for many exhibitors. As the pool industry is mainly made up of small family companies, the Saturday, Sunday and Monday format gives those people and their employees a chance to get away from their business to ensure they can earn a living during the week. By changing the days, the attendance levels are now more equally shared on all three days (Saturday/Sunday/Monday). On the final day, there is no sign of people packing up early because they are still busy seeing visitors at closing time. A complaint now is that “contractor employees” only have one day to visit. However, you cannot please all of the people, all of the time and as the recession fades, the opening days will remain under constant review.
4. FREQUENCY OF THE SHOW
An annual event provides a focus for the trade to meet up and find out what is new in the industry each year. An annual show also allows for new exhibitors to promote goods and services and with 30 new exhibitors at SPATEX 2011, this demonstrates the relevance of having an annual show. It enables people to choose when to exhibit. It also enables both visitors and exhibitors to “drop out” for a year.
It is argued that a biennial show would allow for potentially greater demand to attend the show and therefore would be of interest to potentially more exhibitors. However, the financial rewards from having an independent industry event would be diminished, as there would be potentially less income, as exhibitors might potentially come more regularly, but the income increases required would probably not be sustainable for all exhibitors to be charged more for a less frequent show.
If the show were to be held every other year, not only would there be the opportunity for somebody else to step in and hold a show in the intervening years but if somebody missed either visiting or exhibiting one year for whatever reason such as ill health, then it would be four years until their next visit to a biennial show – which is 10% of a working life!
5. WHY DO WE LET THE PUBLIC IN?
Nothing is sold in the pool and spa business until it is sold to a member of the public and this demand ultimately drives our industry. SPATEX’s history has proven that if we try and stop the public getting in, then they may create their own trading company name very easily with computer technology and so gain admission covertly. Exhibitors will not know when they are talking to a real member of the trade and when it is somebody masquerading as a member of the trade. The current system enables members of the public to come in and to be clearly identified.
6. WHAT’S NEXT?
The board of directors will continue their review of the various venues and are committed to verifying an alternative place as a Plan B, if there were ever any operational issues with the Brighton location, which prevented us being there. Furthermore, once the research has been done on finding alternative venues in the UK, a decision can be made on whether these venues will suit our ongoing needs to hold the show elsewhere in the UK. A summary of the information collated on other venues will be communicated to BISHTA and SPATA members and the wider trade at the appropriate time.
7. OUR CONCLUSION
Although we have an excellent and financially successful convention and exhibition, we are mindful that what has been good so far may not suit us in the future and are keen to continue an open dialogue with exhibitors to ensure the show remains current and meets everyone’s needs. However, the directors must be careful not to jeopardise the success to date which has helped raise over £1m for generic promotion of our Industry.
There are currently six SPATEX directors working with Michele Bridle, the organiser. They are: Howard Gosling (Founder Director and Chairman); Selwyn Mindel (Founder Director and Company Secretary); Stephen Booth, Stephen Crabb, Ben Studdy and Chris Hayes (ex officio).
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