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Jacksonville Expo  what a FLOP!!

Rob @ RK Reptiles

Rob @ RK Reptiles

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I hate to say it but the Jax Expo had to be one of the worst reptile expos in History.  The turn out was about half of what a small 1000 sqf 1 day show should have had.  The Convention center was hard for people to find, when you called the Convention center info line they did not even tell what kind of expo it was and that it was open to the public.  I know of just about all the other vendors I spoke to there agree and had terrible show days BOTH DAYS!! How this on Sat. I did a wopping total of $400.00 in sales and on Sunday I did WOW check this out.........$35.00.  I hate to say it but I will not be returning to do another show in the Jacksonville area again.
 
Rob...Sorry to hear about that! I drove FIVE AND A HALF HOURS to get there on Saturday (lots of traffic)....I was ALSO very disappointed!! There was NOTHING there! (except YOUR stuff, of course! lol) Then THREE AND A HALF HOURS back! (no traffic this time)....I will NEVER do that again!!
The Center was very hard to find (as all my phone calls to you for directions will attest&#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>, and that part of town isn't what I would call "classy"!! All in all...it was VERY BAD!! ....Neil
 
Yeah that show was pretty bad.  I don't know exactly what transpired between Wayne and the Expo hall or if anything really did. But, one way or the other it sucked (business wise).  I will say this, I gained a lot of respect for Wayne this weekend because of the way he helped me out w/ some problems that I had at the show, he was a true professional all the way.  I wonder if people just gave up trying to get through all that traffic and turned around and went home?  I know I did about three times more business last year (not that that was a lot) than this year and frankly I think I had more stuff to sale this year.   <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>   Brian Conley
 
I showed with Wayne last year and it was good I was cleaned out by sunday I guess it was because of the location. but I did not got o the show this time, due to family emergency, but Rob and Brian would not lie about a show so I'm sorry guys that is sucked, but you know DAYTONA will not SUX hell I've got my vacation planned around it. Hopefully Wayne can get a better location next year, and Wayne Love your Daytona Show.

Thanx

Winston <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
 
To date, we have not done the Jacksonville show, but know many vendors that have. We made the 5+ hour journey last weekend to the show and were elated that we didn't get a table. We hope that every vendor that did show at least covered expenses and possibly put a little profit away. For those that didn't make it, there were certainly some quality animals available and lots of supplies. We hope that the show will move to Central, FL next spring at a familiar spot (Twin towers?) Wayne puts on a top notch show, but the location left a lot to be desired. There were many vendors there that traveled a great distance and if something doesn't change, there will be no vendors, equaling no show in the future! We as breeders need outlets to sell our offspring and Jacksonville is obviously not the place to do it.

Tribal Propagation:
Brian & Laura Hamel
1255 Saratoga Lane
Geneva FL 32732
407-349-2824
 
Rob
Hey buddy
Man am I glad i didn't set up, you know me when I am not selling and need to let my snakes go for less than i wanted just to try and make expenses I am hating life.  I was going to go but the drive from Miami changed my mind.  Rob for you not to do well means the turn out was very poor.  Well hope it changes locations for next year, then maybe i will set up.  Take care buddy and give me a call
Jeff Draesel, Jr.
Herps Ltd., Inc.
305-582-3356
 
anyone know what happened?  didnt this show have a great turnout last year?  i remember it got a big write up in Reptiles mag...
so what changed?
dana
 
Even though I wasn't a vendor this year but I think the major thing is LOCATION. Because last year it was at Adam's Mark and it was easy to find. Last year's show was great. I was sold out by sunday noon. or maybe the vendors didn't get drunk enough to think it was a good show huh <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> j/k. Maybe Rob or someone would like to tell Dana why it wasn't so good.

Thanx

Winston <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
 
Winston I did both shows and I don't think it was location.  The Osborne Center isn't that hard to find, it's right off 95.  95 itself may have caused some problems (it was BAD N. bound).  
Here's what I know for a fact: when you called the Prime Osborne Center for info, all the tape said was:  Jax Spring Expo, trade show, $10.  It didn't say what kind of expo, and it made it sound like the show was not open to the public.  That's a fact I heard it myself.  Also Wanye got on the loudspeaker at 4<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>5 and said, "The show is winding down, vendors please begin packing up.  Thank you all for coming, see you at Daytona."  That may not be an exact quote, but it's close.  I'm pretty sure the show was supposed to go until 5<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>0.  Not a real big deal because they didn't tell everyone to leave or anything, but it just seemed strange.
Now for the rumor part,  the rumors being passed around by people at the show were as follows:  Wayne pissed off Prime Osborne because he wouldn't split the door w/ them.  (sounds strange to me because wouldn't all that be worked out before-hand?)  Parking attendants for the P.O. Center were telling people the reptile show was not open to the public.  There was a radio ad (possibly put out by some local pet stores or the p.o.c. itself) stating that the reptile expo was not open to the public.  I don't know if that's true or not, I didn't hear it.  It was also said that Wayne's lawyer got that add stopped. <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>
So I don't know what happened, but it was bad, business wise.  I did twice as much last year w/ less stuff.  But who knows, they can't all be winners.
 
Thanx Brian for the update. Hope this cleared up somethings for people. Well I'll see everyone at the orlando show on June 9th Hopefully.  Talke to ya'll later

Winston <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
 
I guess it all depends on your perspective.

There was a gun show next door to the reptile show, so when things got slow, I went over there.  I was over at the gun show most of Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Yes, we sold enough animals to make the show worthwhile, but I probably spent just as much in the overhead doing the show and the money I spent at the gun show.  But the way I look at it, I got some new guns and someone else has to feed those snakes I sold.  So even if I broke exactly even, I have no complaints.

And that was exactly how I envisioned things when I first decided that I could even do that show.  I figured if things were busy, we were selling animals and I would be happy about it.  If things were slow, I would be over in the gun show and I would be just as happy doing that.
 
LOL rich good way to look at it ...
PS wanna buy a gun ?and enough ammo to head of terrorists  
lol
 
<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> I think the only people that made great at the show because of diversity of high quality animals was Zoological Imports 2000, Inc. They had tons of different animals including a xanthic alligator. I know for a fact that they did very good but to me it was because they had diversity and 10+ tables. Alot of other big names didnt do what they would have liked but as well with a bit of diversity and chocies they sold more and made more compared to small dealers that only had say chameleons or corn snakes. The whole show on both days was extremely low in people.......I dont think I saw more than 100-150 people at one time(customers)....one rush maybe saw about 200 people....osborne center recording said....2002 Reptile Expo is only open to industry members.....it was a bad show for vendors in general...
 
I attended the show on sunday to pick up some snakes I had previously purchased(saved on shipping).  I drove 2 1/2 hours and had no problem finding the place but the roads were terrible.  I was not disappointed with the show itself, but with the lack of attendance.  The show seemed well setup with wide aisles all the way around.  On another note, Rich, My wife and I did get to stop by and chat with your wife for a while.  All in all I think it could have been a much better show with a little more advertising.  Just my 2 cents.
 
   Brian K. MacDonald
 
When I saw in the current issue of Reptiles magazine that Wayne Hill did not even bother advertising in the issue, I had a gut feeling the show would turn out to be a flop.  Locally there was 0 advertising.  On the net there was 0 advertising. No, As far as the Osborne recording, do you really think they just fabricated that on their own? PLEASE, they put on the recording what they are told to put on there.  That is just Wayne Hills attitude. He needs to get off his high horse, the elite are not going to flock to his show just because it is his show. The only reason my friend had a booth in Jacksonville is because he blackmails the vendors, we had to be there if we wanted to be in Daytona. <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>
 
I have worked for wayne at last years show and at this years.the show was not daytona. it was only the second year
and it was bigger than last year. as for the radio ad that was being run here it was not taken off by wanye's lawyer.the expo hall was under the impression that it was a private show.so they did not have it on their phone recording until friday afternoon.also I did hear that the parking attendants were telling people that it was not open to the public.they are all union and always want a piece of the pie.I do know that wayne was not happy with the prime osborne convention center.and maybe looking for other locations if he has the show again. also the traffic may have some effect on the show alsowith 95 being backed up from jax to orlando.I hope everyone will give it another chance .I know it will be hard but I think it has a future if you all will give it a chance to work the bugs out.
  one thing I did not like was the fact that there were 7 or 8 cricket companies.is that what reptile shows are turning into is cricket farm shows.thank for your time. steve/snakeizz14
 
also as far as the recording. wayne hill did not tell the convention center that the show was a private show.he told them to add it to the recording that it was from 10 to 5 sat and sun .he never told them to put on there that it was a private.I was standing with wayne when he told the lady that does the recording.also as to wayne having to blackmail vendors to in order for them to be at daytona that is bull.if that were true then why was jax such a flop?why didn't we see everyone from daytona at jax? why were there only 182 instead of close to 600 like daytona?locally there was radio and he did advertise inb reptiles magazine and also there is a link on kingsnake under expos so what does he need to do spend all his profits so the small vendors will be happy. I personally know of alot of vendors that broke even or better at the show. the way I see it if you did not do fair at jax then you didn't have what people wanted.the diversity plays a big role in how you do at any show not just a wayne hill show.
 
I believe the Jacksonville Expo does have a future but would like to see it moved to the end of May or sometime in June.  I was a vendor at the show that made money but I did have some nice reptiles that were priced at a fair market value.  I do not think for one minute that Wayne Hill would do some of the things he has been accused of by previous posters....Thanks Richard Rooker  "Amazoa Reptiles"
 
It's not exactly black mail, but it does and did happen! We personally over heard a conversation between Wayne and a vendor and it went like this (Wayne) So, how many tables are you getting for Daytona? (Vendor) Oh, I will need four tables for Daytona. (Wayne) And how many tables will you need for Jacksonville? (Vendor) I will not be doing the Jacksonville show as I will not have much to vend. (Wayne starts walking away) How many tables did you say you needed for Daytona? Sorry if it's hard to follow, but you will get the point. He walked all over the Tampa Expo last September asking the same question to the other vendors. We doubt that many vendors will come here to share their "Black mail" stories, however, we know what we heard and what was being implied. Wayne has told us personally that if we did Jacksonville that we would have tables available for Daytona and would receive priority service. If we didn't do Jacksonville we would be put on a waiting list for available tables. Hmmm, sounds a little persuasive to us. Personally, we have lost interest in doing these shows (Jacksonville & Daytona) just too much silliness going on, but you can look forward to seeing us at Tony's shows!

Tribal Propagation:
Brian & Laura Hamel
1255 Saratoga Lane
Geneva FL 32732
407-349-2824
 
You know, I don't even have a problem w/ Wayne giving Jax vendors priority in Daytona.  They're his shows and he can do whatever he wants.  Steve diversity helps, but you know what, customers walking through the front doors help even more.  Everyone keeps saying this year was bigger than last year, I don't see it.  Wayne might have sold more vendor tables but I really don't think he sold more green arm bands.  Green arm bands (what visitors to the show wore) were like endangered species.  
Attendance to the show was horrible there's no getting around that.  There were so many vendors leaving stuff there at end, because they couldn't fit everything in their trucks it wasn't even funny.  I bet there were at least half a million crickets just left on the floor for vendors or whoever to take with them.  I got brand new tables cloths, critter keepers, sweater boxes, crickets.  There was a little girl running around happy as a lark because she had so much free stuff she couldn't carry it all.
Also Steve if the show was that good, why did Wayne tell us to start packing up an hour early.  Also the recording I listened to Sunday morning @ 9:45 still said "Jax Spring Expo, Trade show, $10." Then gave the hours.  No mention of what kind of show it was, and it really made it sound like it was not open to the public. I think that by Sunday morning Wayne should have had plenty of time to get that changed.  I'm not saying what the P.O.C. did was Wayne's fault, but it was his job to fix it.  Frankly, if they did half the stuff the vendors heard they did Wayne would have himself a nice lawsuit.  I just wonder if when Wayne gets that nice settlement if he'll give us a discount on next years tables. <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>
 
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