Jacksonville Expo what a FLOP!!

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. &nbsp;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). &nbsp;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. &nbsp;I wonder if people just gave up trying to get through all that traffic and turned around and went home? &nbsp;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. &nbsp; <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> &nbsp; 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=''>

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. &nbsp;I was going to go but the drive from Miami changed my mind. &nbsp;Rob for you not to do well means the turn out was very poor. &nbsp;Well hope it changes locations for next year, then maybe i will set up. &nbsp;Take care buddy and give me a call
Jeff Draesel, Jr.
Herps Ltd., Inc.
305-582-3356

anyone know what happened? &nbsp;didnt this show have a great turnout last year? &nbsp;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=''> 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. &nbsp;The Osborne Center isn't that hard to find, it's right off 95. &nbsp;95 itself may have caused some problems (it was BAD N. bound). &nbsp;
Here's what I know for a fact: when you called the Prime Osborne Center for info, all the tape said was: &nbsp;Jax Spring Expo, trade show, $10. &nbsp;It didn't say what kind of expo, and it made it sound like the show was not open to the public. &nbsp;That's a fact I heard it myself. &nbsp;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. &nbsp;Thank you all for coming, see you at Daytona." &nbsp;That may not be an exact quote, but it's close. &nbsp;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. &nbsp;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, &nbsp;the rumors being passed around by people at the show were as follows: &nbsp;Wayne pissed off Prime Osborne because he wouldn't split the door w/ them. &nbsp;(sounds strange to me because wouldn't all that be worked out before-hand?) &nbsp;Parking attendants for the P.O. Center were telling people the reptile show was not open to the public. &nbsp;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. &nbsp;I don't know if that's true or not, I didn't hear it. &nbsp;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. &nbsp;I did twice as much last year w/ less stuff. &nbsp;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. &nbsp;Talke to ya'll later

Winston <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>