FFX SHOW 2019 - REPORT


FFX Show 2019: Deals, prizes and big brands


By PETER BRETT


THE Kent Showground at Detling is now the established venue for the annual Folkestone Fixings (FFX) Tool Show. For visitors and exhibitors alike this is a lot more convenient than other venues. Firstly, access to the showground is easy (off the M20) but other advantages include the large and easy parking for visitors and a separate and possibly more secure parking area for exhibitors. Space in the high-ceilinged halls is ample and easily enough to accommodate the growing number of visitors and exhibitors.


I don’t like steep or long walks from a carpark to the show (think Ally Pally venue) and the large parking area at Detling is well marshalled and not too far a walk to the doors, thereby minimising exposure to the normally miserable March weather.


Catering is quick and biased towards the view that tradespeople in Britain survive on bacon butties, but it is popular and generous.


Having a list of top-quality exhibitors is one of the key aspects for a successful tool show. I counted over 60 stands with a range of goods from router bits to levels and work clothes to torches. And many, many power tools as well.


Bargains, demos and launches As I know from experience, hitting FFX at


show time means you are pretty much guaranteed to get a bargain because the company has made its reputation as offering the keenest prices around. And judging by the queues of packed trolleys at the increased number of pay points, I'd say there was lots of evidence that visitors were taking full advantage. I guess sales figures are a matter of commercial confidentiality, but maybe one day I might get a sniff of info to help me get a handle on it. But the profits from the show must be worthwhile when all the extra staffing and venue costs are taken into account.


Fixings and fastenings can be very profitable lines for tool retailers to hold in stock because they are consumables and much used. This year FFX had a much clearer focus on its own ranges of screws, bits, plugs and blades, etc. There is no doubt that FFX has sourced these items wisely because the quality is very good and the prices are very competitive. I counted over 36 different categories of items on display which shows just how seriously FFX is promoting the fixings lines. On show days, the temptation was increased because a spend of £75 on FFX fixings before VAT attracted a free 1000-piece screw kit.


When it comes to demos, one company that has invested heavily is Festool.


Its purpose-built stand with highly knowledgeable trainer and demonstrator, Phil Beckley, is usually surrounded six deep with Festool fans and the Festool- curious as he explains the intricacies of the Festool systems. Very impressive. But what is even better is that the surrounding area has about half a dozen other benches where punters can get hands-on with the kit. You can’t buy a Festool Domino without having watched the impressive demo first. But the demo might also


convince you that you should have bought a Domino years ago.


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HiKOKI is another brand riding the crest of a wave at the moment. The launch of its MulitVolt battery packs, with a range of new tools to accompany them, has been very positively received and we look forward to even more as the year goes on. The demos of the cordless nailers and lightning fast cuts of the 36v circular saw are convincing, but when visitors get a chance to try them as well, then half the job is done.


There is no doubt that Armorgard storage is very tough, but it needs to combat the increasingly frequent threat from tool thieves.


Milwaukee tried a new tack with its range of giveaways staged throughout the days of the show. Of course, it is building up a huge database of potential customers


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