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Any news on the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2005 Daytona?

The BoidSmith

The BoidSmith

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Just want to know what are the general opinions of the people that have atttended the event so far.

Regards.
 
It was my first year attending. There were ALOT of people. I have to say that I was taken aback at the pricing on many of the boids, although I can't comment much on the lizards, colubrids, etc. since I don't deal with them much. Lots of high end morphs, but even regular Colombian neonates were selling for $75 and up, which I found to be pretty pricey. There were some Brazilian Rainbows on display on Saturday that had been born on the previous Wednesday...good that it was disclosed, but I'm still a little uncertain about having a 3 day old snake for sale (and not cheap, either).

I think the majority of my salivating was done at Ben Siegel's table.

For me, it was an eye opener. I was looking specifically for more labyrinth burmese, and there were none. Bob Clark had one albino lab for sale, but I'm not interested in albinos, so I passed. I was also hoping for a good looking Ecuadoran male, but only found Peruvians. My husband had his eye out for a good looking hypo Colombian female, but the ones we saw were quite a bit more expensive than ones we've seen online, and of no greater quality. So, from a purchasing aspect, it was a bit disappointing.

I was thrilled at some of the animals on display. The largest Cuban boas I have EVER seen, a breathtaking red iguana, and beautiful Balls of every conceivable morph.

Managed to finally meet Mike Greathouse and John Schmitt, gave Rich a little good natured ribbing about not having any Fauna merchandise for sale, saw several other FC regulars that were too busy to bother with a "Hey, I know you!" interruption, but it was nice to put some faces with names nonetheless.
 
So, from a purchasing aspect, it was a bit disappointing.
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Do you realize how inexpensive it is to do sales online compared to going to a show? We just did a show in Sacramento (6 hour drive). Gas, food and lodging for me and my helper put me at $1200 for the weekend. That's before booth costs. You have to sell a lot of $75 snakes to make that back. I don't know that shows are the most profitable way to do the herp business any longer.
 
Daniel, I don't disagree. However, compared to the regional shows I've been to, the pricing was out of line. I'm certain that's a reflection of someone who drives 2 hours in the family car with snakes in the back, pays the $75 table fee, and drives home 10 hours later vs. a 4 day investment, shipping and/or airline tickets, hotels, etc.

In retrospect, I should have completely expected that the Daytona show, due to its size and reputation, is not focused on floor sales, but on representation of quality and exposure to potential clients for the exhibitors. Nothing wrong with that at all.

I'm just relaying my experience. My expectations may have been unwarranted, as this was my first Daytona show. The vendors I spoke with said they'd done very well, and this was on Saturday, so they still had plenty of time to move even more animals.

I'm still awfully glad I went!
 
Terese,

I definitely didn't mean that as an attack on you. Sometimes it just seems the public doesn't realize the costs associated with doing a long distance show. You'd be amazed at how many times we get emailed about whether we're going to be at a Maryland or Pennsylvania show. CA to MD is quite the investment :bawling: for a reptile show. You definitely wouldn't see my best pricing at one of those shows :raspberry
 
Regrettably I couldn't make it to the past two shows. The last one was 2003 and I agree with Terese, I was surprised at the prices. The same animals that the same company sells for several hundred less on-line. Granted, a show gives you more exposure to the clientele and that has a value that is difficult to quantify. Maybe those that check your animals at the show won't buy them there but go home and order from your web-page.

Anything outstanding worth mentioning?

Regards.
 
I didn't take it as an attack, just explaining my perspective. My company does several trade shows per year, at which about a dozen people from 3 different departments work their ass of for 4-5 days straight (including a weekend, of course), and we've never closed a deal at one of those shows. We have, however, met people and had meetings that have brought in 7 figure revenues over the next 12 months, so of course we'll keep doing it.

I just don't think I knew what to expect out of Daytona before attending, and now I have a better understanding. I did spend money....just not much. T-shirts, a nice art piece, etc....and I did pick up some cards of people I'd not heard of that I'll be looking more closely at for future purchases.
 
My husband & I were vendors at the Daytona show. As for the expenses: 10 hour ride each way with fuel prices soaring(about $250 total for entire trip), $250 for ONE table, $61.77 after taxes for 500 watts of power, lodging @ $250 for 3 nights at a cheap hotel, $10 to park at the show we were vending, $5 to park Thursday night at the icebreaker to get our vendor badges, food costs, and a lot of miscellaneous charges. We were even required to purchase our food & drinks during show hours directly from the convention center. No food or drinks from outside are allowed into the building.
Our total expenses were around $1200. And that's cheap compared to other vendors that traveled farther, had airfare & rental fees, or the ones that stayed in luxury hotels. Many of the vendors around us failed to make their expenses back.
Cricket
 
It seems as if the costs of participating were really high. In general though, would you recommend it to other vendors? If you had to decide right now, would you be willing to go again? Those are important questions for some of us that were not there this year but had considered the posibility of attending.

Thanks,
 
This was our first Daytona show. We breed chameleons & bearded dragons. And yes, we plan on vending again next year. But we'll be better prepared for all the extra expenses we incurred this time. On a lighter note, my husband & I really had a great time in Daytona. We played on the beach like two children. And it was good getting away from it all. A little vacation was just what we needed. We did make money. I've actually done better at the Raleigh NC shows only 3 hours away, but this was something different. I'm glad I no longer do the snakes. Too much competition in Daytona. There were snakes everywhere!
However, I was highly dissappointed in the Venomous Expo. They charged non-venomous vendors $5 each to get in to see them, and very little to see. My highlight on that was telling some guy that his monacled cobra was covered in mites. Raised scales in total infestation. Shame.
 
We had a great time. Some of the prices were a little steep, but they seem to cool down some Sunday. There were some beautiful animals there Albino Savannah Monitor, the Red Iguana, the biggest Mata Mata's I've ever seen, beautiful snakes, something for everyone. There were big crowds Saturday, you had to wait to get to many of the booths to see what they had but that slacked off Sunday as well. It was also nice to put some faces with names and avatars. I looked for a Fauna T-shirt, with no luck..only the competition :hehe: All in all I thought it was great!
 
Yes, it was fun. I met a lot of other breeders that I've only talked with online or by phone. I was impressed with the stock that most of them had. Also realized how shabby others were. It's a great way to see how people really take care of their reptiles before purchasing from them, so you can get the ones that have received the best care.
Cricket

http://www.cricketscritters.com
 
If you don't like the prices make an offer, worst they can do is say no. :) When I have a lot more stock I will be making the trip from CT. If nothing else to network and press flesh.
 
I have never been to the Daytona show, being as I live here in California. I am curious as how big this show really is? I have been asked if I was going this year, so I was wondering what it was like. If it is as Big as it sounds I may end up taking a vacation next year just to walk the aisles and see it. Of course it would also give me a chance to meet some of you.
 
DragonCharm said:
If you don't like the prices make an offer, worst they can do is say no. :)
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That is exactly what I did and I found no one to be inflexible. I'm sure on some big money items there were those that held the price, but hey if you got it and others want it and are willing to pay that's called business! We bought a beautiful female ball python to go with a male we won, a nice breeding pair of blue tongues, a couple of leopard geckos to add to the collection, and a couple of king snakes. I was happy with everything. I breed bearded dragons and I didn't even bring one home, not sure what was up with that.
 
I don't ever really pay sticker, even if the price looks like a good deal. I figure in most cases that is a tad over their haggling limit so I always offer a little low, even if it's only $10-20. $10 per animal times 5-10 per show adds up fast.
 
WebSlave said:
One of the guys over on my CornSnakes.com forum took pictures at the show and posted them there: http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23894

That might help to give you some perspective as to the size of the show itself.
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Holy Schneiky, that is a BIG Show!!! That really looks like a lot of fun. I am hoping the NARBC Show will be close to that, since that is the biggest one that floats this way.
 
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