AXMINSTER 2006 SHOW SHOCKER

[tim]

Terry/ Martin: the salient point here is that most of us are disappointed that there is no show next year!

What we are trying to do in this thread is post rationalise APTC's decision and this will naturally show up the negatives. I don't think that many folk are actually having a go at Axminster.

Cheers

Tim

 

[Woodythepecker]

Terry Smart wrote:

Personally, i don't go to shows looking for bargains

Come on Terry, everyone wants a bargain and i would bet that (if not all) most people that attend these shows go to them partly because, in the past at least, you used to get "Show specials" You only have to look through past posts to see time and time again. "I came away with some great bargains", "I am thinking about attending the so and so show this year, are there usually and discounts/bargains to be had?

Terry Smart wrote:

I want to look at things, handle them, try them, ask questions about them etc. If a company can offer a huge discount at a show having spent a small forture to be there (stand costs, electrics, hotels etc) I'd have to wonder why they can't offer that price all year round when they don't have those costs!

Yes i agree that visitors want to look, try, and ask questions about the product, but this does not mean that they do not want a discount too. To say that if they give us a discount at the show you would expect them to sell the product at that price all year round, is a bit much. In my eyes they give a discount to invest in the future, with the hope that if they give me a discount they will recoup this when i shop with them again and again. If i am given a discount, i certainly do not for one moment think that i am going to get the product for this price away from the show.

Terry Smart wrote:

On the subject of "show offers"... we don't give them for one simple reason. If we cut our prices it shows a lack of support for out stockists who are trying to make a living all year from selling our products and others. I know that shops wouldn't miss the sale of the odd bottle of polish here and there, but if everyone at the shows tried to encourage sales at shows by giving money off then shops won't stock these products because they can't sell them. Many shopd would close, further limiting choice and imagine running out of a product halfway through a job and be unable to buy any more until the next show, which could be months away!

Terry if these shops rely on the small number of sales made at these shows then i do not know how they stay in business anyway. The sales made at these shows is a drop in the ocean compared to the sales made at these shops or by mail order.
You could also say that if you knock £2 off a £10 tin of varnish to a number of show visitors, who have never used your product before, you are keeping these shops open, when the people who loved your varnish, buy it again from your stockists, instead of their previous brand.

Getting back to the subject of this thread. although we probably never will, i for one would like to find out the real reason for Axminster not having a show next year.
Maybe i am missing something but i always tought that one of the main reasons for these shows was to promote their wares to both pro and diy woodworkers.

Regards

Woody

 

[Alf]

I'm certainly not wanting to give the impression that I blame Axminster. I understand they have their reasons, profits have to be made and so forth. I'm not angry, just grieved. But maybe in our disappointment we might actually come up with some constructive stuff that might help Axminster, and others, make shows better and more profitable in the future. I think we'd all agree that's in everyone's interests, isn't it? Nobody wants disappointing shows.

I think Barry's on the money - in these days of internet shopping and proper tool shops being few and far between, many people go to shows in order to try stuff, and there simply wasn't enough of that. Martin's cottoned on to this with the Veritas kit and practically thrusts planes into people's hands to try these days! :lol: That's what you want. Did anyone get any of the power lot proffering an impact driver or something and saying "have a go"? I didn't, but then I'm a dubious example 'cos of the SWMBO effect. :roll: If show offers aren't an option, and I can understand the reasons why (although it doesn't seem to apply to LN for some reason?), then you have to provide other lures to us fickle woodworkers.

As far as Axminster's own stuff goes, which would seem to be the deal breaker as to whether they do the show or not, I simply don't understand where they're going. The Perform stuff seems to be pretty good value for money by and large, but the quality of the White stuff seems all over the place. I didn't scour every inch of every Axminster stand, but no opportunity to try anything seemed visible. You couldn't pass the Hitachi stand (for example) without seeing a whole load of things to pick up and fondle - without having to go and look for it. As for the "Victor" hand tool brand, it was scattered all over the place between the various manufacturers and no sign of the fancy new chisels at all. I only saw the gouges 'cos the Henry Taylor fellow directed my attention to them. Is it any surprise if no-one buys? ](*,)

And despite all that, it's still not that I'm having a go at Axminster. Well okay, so maybe I am a bit... But it's like with magazines; it's 'cos I care. If these folks make a pig's ear of things they'll go broke and cease to be - and we'll lose out, dammit! And oh look, we already are.

Cheers, Alf

Who bought one item from L-N and one Sorby item from Ashley Iles. The first had show discount, the second Axminster has stopped stocking... :| Draw your own conclusions.

 

[Newbie_Neil]

I've just sent an email to the people organising Woodex to ask if they could make the Sunday open to everybody. We can but ask.

Let's see what comes back.

Cheers
Neil

 

[ProShop]

Neil,
Just apply for a pass, it's that simple

 

[tim]

we might actually come up with some constructive stuff that might help Axminster, and others, make shows better and more profitable in the future

What we need to know is what APTC's objectives were. If for example, it was simply a profit increasing exercise then a sale would have been more effective and they would be quite right to bin the shows.

However, I bet they won't tell us!

Isn't it odd that they of all suppliers have not (to my knowledge) ever posted here.

Cheers

Tim

 

[beech1948]

Hi all,

Now for the daft idea.

Axminster show was in my view poor. Axminster provided no opportunity to try stuff, provided no coherent arrangement of equipment and restricted the equipment on show to mainly their own brand. A poor brand that is too..the white stuff I mean.

The idea is that UK Workshop should hold a show at which we can get any and all manufacturers to attend.

Is it feasible..probably. I for one would volunteer to put my 20 years of marketing knowledge in the pot to get this up and away.

Imagine. Axminster. D&M, Dick, Delta, Electra Bewckum, Dewalt etc etc + the woodyards all at the same venue.

Yes Please.
regards
alan

 

[Gill]

I don't think it's such a daft idea, Alan. For some time I've been reflecting on the 'Murrican picnic concept; I'm sure some of our overseas members will be able to clarify further, but as I understand it, a group of enthusiasts get together at a public show to demonstrate their tools and techniques. There are also opportunities to sell products to the general public. These picnics are particularly popular amongst scrollers.

Whilst it would be impractically expensive for us to book a large venue, perhaps it might be possible to book a local community hall, arts centre or some such venue and have our own general woodworking picnic? (Some of the 'Murrican picnics are even held in enthuiasts' gardens!) Perhaps we could arrange for manufacturers to hold demonstrations too.

Gill

 

[Terry Smart]

Hi Woody

I think you missed some of the points I was trying to make, probably because I wasn't able to to put them as intelligently as I intended. (intelligent... me?)


Woody wrote:

Come on Terry, everyone wants a bargain

Well of course, everyone likes a bargain, or at least to think they've got one, but I often see shows (and I'm not really talking woodworking here) as a chance to see and buy things I can't get anywhere else. If I get a bargain then great, but I don't see it as an automatic right or the main reason for going to the show.

Woody wrote

In my eyes they give a discount to invest in the future

One of the main reasons we do shows is to put our product in front of people who haven't seen it before and certainly we're hoping that they will be suitably impressed to buy it again. We like to think our products are good quality, reallistically priced and good value and that a discount isn't necessary.

Woody wrote:

you are keeping these shops open, when the people who loved your varnish, buy it again from your stockists, instead of their previous brand.

This was the point I was trying to make; we support our stockists by not selling direct (ie mail order etc) other than at shows. When we do sell at shows we keep pretty much to RRP so that sometimes people come to the stand and decide to buy from their local shop anyway as it's the same price! We don't mind because we're still selling the product, via the stockist! This also deters people from delaying buying from their local shop (if they are lucky enough to still have one) so that they can buy cheaply at a show.

 

[Alf]

Alan,

Would it not be a case of walking before we can run? :| We've never had any sort of UK Workshop only get together, after all. Not so much as a meet up at one member's workshop, although the Dorset Musky-beers have come closest with 3 in one spot IIRC. I agree, it's a lovely thought having all those suppliers in one place, but someone'd probably have to give up their life and mortage their home to achieve it... I'd absolutely love to be proved wrong of course.

Cheers, Alf

 

[tim]

Alan

I like your style and its too easy to only come up with the reasons for not doing it but I think that even with a 100% turnout of all members we would only muster 1200 people. I don't know what the average show gate is but I would have thought it would be considerably more than that.

Cheers

Tim

 

[TC]

I've just sent an email to the people organising Woodex to ask if they could make the Sunday open to everybody. We can but ask.

Let's see what comes back.

Cheers
Neil

Ijust hope that Woodmex say NO!

I've been in the trade for 40 years, and the reason that I don't go to Axminster, Stoneleigh ect, is because the last thing that I want to have to do is fight my way through umpteen DIY,ers, with wives and kids in tow, just getting in the bloody way!,

Woodmex is a TRADE show, and, hopefully, it will stay that way.

If you want "bargains", go to your nearest DIY shed, and, no, I don't go to those places, either.

How many of you that have the words "furniture maker"in your avatar actually are in the trade? and how many are just dreamers?

If its not your trade,ie, your main source of income, why not say what your real job is?

TC

 

[ProShop]

Woodmex 2006 is advertising itself as being open to the Trade & Public.

 

[wizer]

TC the 'Furniture Maker' title is not put there by the user. It is a generic forum setting for users above a certain post count

 

[woodshavings]

I've just sent an email to the people organising Woodex to ask if they could make the Sunday open to everybody.
Cheers
Neil

Ijust hope that Woodmex say NO!

....clip.... and how many are just dreamers?

If its not your trade,ie, your main source of income, why not say what your real job is?

TC

You're the real spirit of the Forum aren't you TC .. if you bothered to read Neil's post you may of noticed that he was asking for the Sunday to be open to the public, not the rest of your precious trade days.

If you dont go to the Axminster shows etc, how do you know they full of DIY ers with wives and kids in tow?

Also, you clearly don't understand how the avatar titles are generated - they are not under our control.

 

[Freetochat]

TC - You obviously haven't heard the saying from acorns grow oak trees. You don't mentioned your employment, but for many their aspiration is to make their woodwork their main form of income. You only have to see the posts from people seeking advice on becoming self-employed.

In any case, if I want to go and see available machinery under one roof, why should I be excluded. And to declare my position, 50% of my income is derived from woodwork.

 

[trevtheturner]

The very fact that the sales girls remembered me from last year.........

Oh yeah! :?: :?: :?: :wink: :lol:

Cheers,

Trev.

 

[trevtheturner]

TC,

Having read your post I, for one, am just glad that you don't grace us with your presence and get in the way at Axminster, Stoneleigh, etc., shows.

And BTW, these Forums welcome people from all walks of life with the common interest of woodworking, be they full-time, part-time, trade, professional, amateur or hobby workers, or tool specialists, and we have many of each covering all aspects of woodworking, giving valuable and varied, friendly and polite advice and opinions. We also have several very helpful manufacturing/retailing contributors. And we respect others and their contributions.

Trev.

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi TC

Ijust hope that Woodmex say NO!

I'm sorry that you feel that way, but I think I understand your reasons.

How many of you that have the words "furniture maker"in your avatar actually are in the trade? and how many are just dreamers? If its not your trade,ie, your main source of income, why not say what your real job is?

The description against the avatar is handled automatically by the system, it is nothing to do with a person's occupation. You have forum newbie against yours as, iirc, you have less than fifty posts.

The more that members contribute, in the way of posts, the higher up the "ladder" they rise in terms of title.

If you want a woodworking forum where most people are employed in the trade, then I would recommend Screwfix. They are very helpful and knowledgeable.

http://www.screwfix.com/talk/forum.jspa?forumID=22

Neil

 

[devonwoody]

I cant see that there should be any problem :shock:

We have a massive carboot sale regularly at the Newton Abbot racecourse with ample parking and thousands attending and participating.

So if the manufacturers come down to Newton racecourse, Devon, with a marquee and show their wares you could have a weekly show. Or perhaps some organised event.

Could even suit some enterprising entrepreneur perhaps.