DON'T FORGET!

[petercharlesfagg]

Ahh. In that case I did see you, I got a couple of tickets as I came in ( fella with the white stick )
You don't look much like your avatar

If I remember correctly it was a folding stick and you placed it on the table beside me?

You cannot say anything about my avatar and my real face, just look at your avatar???

Anyway, I sincerely hope that it was worth the effort coming to Daventry for the show?

Regards, Peter.

 

[Rhossydd]

A decent selection of trade stands which is to be commended considering all of them must be making a considerable loss travelling to the event and overnight accommodation which has to be absorbed into the advertising or good will budgets.

If any of the businesses didn't make money there it was their own fault. It was a good, well organised event that was likely to attract a good thousand enthusiasts expecting trade stands to spend their money at.
Several were doing great trade yesterday morning;
Proops had a continuous lot of cash going over the counter,
Simon Hope doing demonstrations, letting customers get hands on with the products and a full range of kit at special prices, I had to queue to buy from there.
British Hardwoods (a local firm) doing steady trade from a just a patch of floor,
Ashley Ilses always seemed busy with great stocks of turning kit with special offers.

Whilst Axminster are to be applauded for contributing to the major prize for the raffle to help fund the event, their stand was a hardly a credit to the UK's largest woodworking supplier. Their costs shouldn't have been particularly high with two branches within an hour's drive and their own fleet of vehicles for transport. If they didn't make enough money to cover their attendance it was because of failing to take the right goods or make decent offers. Why bring a special offer on power washers to a woodturning event ? or have the stand staffed by people that looked blankly when asked about products with a Morse Taper ? No display on their woodturning courses, no piles of free catalogues, none of their own brand lathes or bandsaws on display……the list continues.
I left and went to their High Wycombe branch and spent the best part of a hundred quid on kit, I might have spent even more if they'd had products of interest at Daventry.

The Tool Post made a worse hash of being there. Just a table of old junk from what I could see. Where was the display of the Versachuck or sales of the Beall buffing system, their packs of ready cut Vibranet abrasives or their other unique specialist products ?
They're only an hour's drive away, so no overnight expenses either. I'll bet their store didn't take much that day with so many at Daventry.

The Chesnut stand was another example of how not to do a show stand. Just a rack of product, no demonstrations, no examples of finishes and no special offers.

 

[Grahamshed]

Ahh. In that case I did see you, I got a couple of tickets as I came in ( fella with the white stick )
You don't look much like your avatar

If I remember correctly it was a folding stick and you placed it on the table beside me?

You cannot say anything about my avatar and my real face, just look at your avatar???

Anyway, I sincerely hope that it was worth the effort coming to Daventry for the show?

Regards, Peter.

Yep, that was me. I only use the stick when I don't know the layout. I don't bump into furniture but would walk off the top of a staircase Someone had just told me there were no changes in floor level so I collapsed the stick before I tripped someone with it.
Not sure what you mean about my avatar. Its a pretty good likeness

and as I said. I enjoyed the show and spent a lot.
Next year I will say hello.

 

[gregmcateer]

The Chesnut stand was another example of how not to do a show stand. Just a rack of product, no demonstrations, no examples of finishes and no special offers.

Not quite fair, Rhossydd. It may not have been a flash stand, but I was given a good, clear demo of the buffing system and came away with one - and I'm a tight wad!

 

[Rhossydd]

I was given a good, clear demo of the buffing system and came away with one

Nothing like that happening when I was there first thing. Just one sitting in a box on a shelf.

 

[Grahamshed]

Sometimes you have to make things happen.
I asked someone ( not terry) a simple question about sanding sealer and got a pretty involved answer in reply.
I am not interested in the buffing system until I am a little more experienced but I have no doubt they would have demonstrated if asked.

I was interested in the carbide tools on the Hope stand and was unsure which one I wanted. Simon set up a bit of wood on his lathe and let me try them both. ( and you have to remember I was an unknown guy carrying a white stick )

 

[Peter Sefton]

Just returned home after a long weekend and a fair bit of driving, nice bunch of guys and made to feel very welcome.
Cheers Peter

 

[gregmcateer]

Sometimes you have to make things happen.

Yep indeedy

I was interested in the carbide tools on the Hope stand and was unsure which one I wanted. Simon set up a bit of wood on his lathe and let me try them both. ( and you have to remember I was an unknown guy carrying a white stick )

Maybe that is why it's called the 'Hope' stand

 

[Grahamshed]

Maybe that is why it's called the 'Hope' stand

=D> =D> =D>

 

[Rhossydd]

Sometimes you have to make things happen.
I asked someone ( not terry) a simple question about sanding sealer and got a pretty involved answer in reply.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this.

My criticism of some trade stands there was in response to Chas's assertion that they all loose money by attending. I'm sure many, like Simon, will have generated a good return for their attendance.
Any businesses that didn't cover their costs really have only themselves to blame by a poor presence.

 

[Grahamshed]

I wasn't intensionally getting at you Rhossydd, I tend to agree with you about some of the stalls, Axi and Toolpost were rather boring but I am not sure what the stallholders are actually supposed to do to spice up there stands. British Hardwoods apparently did well as you say but all they did was tip their produce on the floor, the interest was supplied by the customers going through it.
Chestnut ( not sure why I should be defending them ) put their stuff out on a table and related to customers as required. Apart from bringing a large supply of 'pots' to buff up non stop what else could they do ?

 

[CHJ]

Criticizing the trade stands is a bit off in my opinion, it was a Club Event to Showcase Their Work and Skill Standards with retail trade presence invited to attend as a means of supplying attendees with some consumables and if they so chose provide technical assistance or guidance to compliment those giving hands on tuition.
As for them offering discounts, I picked up on several which lightened my wallet by saving as a bulk purchase or delivery charges at least.
I don't think anybody would suggest that the stands displaying completed art and craft (turnings) for sale should give a discount on the asking prices. Why expect a trade company to do any different, when if they do so on standard stock items they risk the wrath of their stockists for providing unfair competition.

I spent most of a day at the event (apart from a quick trip down town for lunch), it took me at least an hour to get to grips with the layout and establish what and who were being represented and milled back and forth at different times as focus moved to differing demonstrations or I found a slot where I could chat to representatives or club members about their stands and work displayed. I certainly did not expect it to be a Sales orientated Trade show.

I was however aware during the day that faces I knew or became aware of were picking up bulk orders or specific items that had been transported to the show as a customer service off more than one supplier.

I can only assume from what I saw that as the show moved into its second day there where a whole different set of experiences or faces to join the mix, making bold statements about an event based on a short attendance on a par with the commuting time to the event does not give a true reflection in my mind.

 

[Rhossydd]

Criticizing the trade stands is a bit off in my opinion,

My criticism was in answer to your assertion that all the trade stands were making a loss by attending. I don't think that's correct and any stands that failed to cover their costs was through their own failing.

I don't think anybody would suggest that the stands displaying completed art and craft (turnings) for sale should give a discount on the asking prices.

No one has suggested that, but my understanding was that the show was for turners, not a showcase to sell their work as they might do at a more 'normal' craft fair type event.

it took me at least an hour to get to grips with the layout........
making bold statements about an event based on a short attendance on a par with the commuting time to the event does not give a true reflection in my mind.

Really ? It was just one single hall, it's hardly like attending an event at Earls Court, Excel or NEC. It just took ten minutes to walk round at 10:30.

As I said previously, it was a good well organised show. As an individual not knowing lots of people and not attending as a social event, it was a different experience to yours Chas.
The promotion of the show was centred around club attendance and trade attendance. For me; the clubs didn't have enough room and splitting their work from their members working on lathes seemed a bit disjointed.
I got the impression that it's really just a 'mates' show, rather than something for a wider audience. Fair enough, no problem with that, I'm not in that circle so won't bother hauling myself up the M1 next year.

 

[petercharlesfagg]

If I might clarify just a small point made by Mr. Holman.

Quote:- "but my understanding was that the show was for turners,"

It was decided to call the event "Woodworks@Daventry" because it would display all aspects of using wood not just for turning.

The gathering of others such as marquetry etc. is to promote the use of wood in a hobby or pastime field.

Woodworks was never conceived to be purely for wood turners, after the demise of "Woodex" it was felt that there was a gap in the Midlands to promote, interest and hopefully gather more like-minded individuals to the possibility of sharing their thoughts, experiences and work for the greater good.

It was extremely heartening to see how many younger people attended and for many, trying for the first time in their lives, just a few of the techniques involved in woodturning for free!

Whatever the event and wherever it takes place it will always have its dissenters and that is a good thing because by reading others written thoughts changes can be initiated for following events!

It is hoped, sincerely, that any upsetting parts of the event will not deter anyone from attending another time?

We, I speak as a member of Tudor Rose Woodturners and an active volunteer in all things related to club activities, do our utmost to provide an interesting and varied show that will, hopefully cater for ALL needs but since the attendees are not under our control in many instances the old saying holds true!

You can please some of the people some of the time! You know the rest!

Warmest regards, Peter Fagg

 

[Rhossydd]

If I might clarify just a small point made by Mr. Holman.
Quote:- "but my understanding was that the show was for turners,"
It was decided to call the event "Woodworks@Daventry" because it would display all aspects of using wood not just for turning.
The gathering of others such as marquetry etc. is to promote the use of wood in a hobby or pastime field.

That may have the intention, but looking down the list of exhibitors didn't suggest that much else was on offer except turning. That's why I went.
There's nothing wrong with, and a lot to be said for, specialised events for niche interests like turning, don't dilute it.

Whatever the event and wherever it takes place it will always have its dissenters

All I've said was that the show was so well targeted and well organised that any trader should have been able to cover their costs and ought to have made a profit from attendance.
That makes me a 'dissenter' ? read what's written please.

reading others written thoughts changes can be initiated for following events!

The only thing I'd criticise about the whole event was the way the electricity supply was put across the floor and people were tripping over it. A more sensible way would be to sling the cable well above head height to the centre stalls.

 

[J-G]

It was extremely heartening to see how many younger people attended and for many, trying for the first time in their lives, just a few of the techniques involved in woodturning for free!

Whatever the event and wherever it takes place it will always have its dissenters and that is a good thing because by reading others written thoughts changes can be initiated for following events!

It is hoped, sincerely, that any upsetting parts of the event will not deter anyone from attending another time?

I brought a friend who has been turning (on a Graduate) far longer than me but he's not currently a forum member. He enthused all the way home about the quality of exhibits and demonstrations and we will certainly attend the next in our vicinity.

We, I speak as a member of Tudor Rose Woodturners and an active volunteer in all things related to club activities, do our utmost to provide an interesting and varied show that will, hopefully cater for ALL needs but since the attendees are not under our control in many instances the old saying holds true!

And you certainly succeeded, Peter.

As far as the power supply being run over the floor (Rhossydd's latest comment) - it was all expertly managed under appropriate rubber channel with suitable warning tape and I certainly didn't see anyone even stumble over it.

JG

 

[Rhossydd]

As far as the power supply being run over the floor (Rhossydd's latest comment) - it was all expertly managed under appropriate rubber channel with suitable warning tape and I certainly didn't see anyone even stumble over it.

I stumbled on it which brought it to my attention, so others.
"Expertly managed" ?? No anyone with any training in health and safety and rigging cabling in public areas wouldn't fix it to a floor in an area with such high anticipated footfall. Slinging it is best practice.

 

[gregmcateer]

Anyway....

Peter, I haven't been notified yet about me having won the lathe in the raffle - shall I PM you my number as a reminder :lol:

Greg

 

[petercharlesfagg]

Anyway....

Peter, I haven't been notified yet about me having won the lathe in the raffle - shall I PM you my number as a reminder :lol:

Greg

Sorry Greg, you didn't win it, I had the draw fixed and it takes pride of place in my workshop ready for me to start turning demonstrations in the New Year!

May I suggest that for next years show you purchase more tickets (Increments of 50) to increase your chances, after all they were ONLY a pound!

:lol:

 

[steadyeddie]

Don't bother Greg, I've just finished clearing a space for it.

Dave