One Show vs. Another

[serena wise]

How many licks does it take to get to the middle of a tootsie pop? How many blondes does it take to screw in a light bulb? All questions we may have heard before, BUT, what about this one. How long does it take for vendors and patrons to wake up and realize that their is something better out there?

Now before this offends anyone and someone gets their panties in a bunch, let me just say that this is in no way a bash session or a promo, but instead an inquiry to find other opinions about why people and businesses are not supporting new and improved venues.

As someone who has been on both sides of the table, I find it hard to believe that vendors dont want whats best for their business. As a vendor, It would be nice to have a venue and patronsthat offers me ease of loading and unloading, plenty of space behind my table for me to beable to operate efficiently and safely, and a comfortable climate so that I am not sweating to death while trying to work.

As a patron, I find it nice to beable to shop in a comfortable climate, and comfortable surroundings. Its nice having plenty of room to see whats up for sale and beable to talk to the vendor if needed.

We as vendors and patrons, seem to support small shows with minimal amounts of vendors, and minimal foot traffic, in less then deplorable conditions each and every month, and at every show we still continue to hear the same ole whining, crying, and boo hooing about said shows and said conditions.

I am just curious as to when the reptile industry is going to wake up and raise its standards. Maybe if we would all support a bigger and better venue and stop supporting the flea market and slum lord shows, we could get a little more $ from our animals.

Lets face it, a show consists of promoter and vendors. Buyers dont come to see the promoter, they come for the vendors, so where the vendors displays thats where the buyers will be.

Just my opinions, but it doesnt seem like a smart business descision not to support a nicer venue.

 

[paulWTAMU]

Some of us don't have tons of choices; the nearest reptile show for me is like 300 miles away. Now, Amarillo's hardly Houston or Dallas, but its not in the BFE either, and there's other largish cities not too far away; Albuqurque and Lubbock both spring to mind...but there's nothing there. Tulsa, OKC, and Arlington are the closest ones I've found.

 

[hhmoore]

Guessing that you are (at least partially) referring to some of the newer venues in PA, there are a number of factors. For all the negatives, Hamburg is a hugely popular show. I have not gone to any of the new venues as either a vendor or a buyer for one simple reason - Distance. They might not be all that far from Hamburg, if you use that as a reference point...but when you tack that onto what is already a 4 hr drive, it's a definite negative for me. Factor in prep time, set up, then reversing those processes afterwards, and the average income often isn't worth the time spent, gas, and wages lost.
I'm all for improving venues, but that isn't the whole package for a vendor or buyer. I stopped vending a more local show in a pretty good venue because I've never sold a single animal there (except things that were pre sold, and being picked up). Nice show, adequate space, but if every show ends up as an expense, it just isn't worth the effort.

 

[deborahbroadus]

I totally agree with the OP.

While others have suggested that expense and time factors in with the decisions to vend or not in different areas, I would also suggest that instead of assuming that one needs to drive or change locations to support small vendues, one can start improving the ones in question.

Take Hamburg for example (since Harald mentioned it), how many of the vendors there are actual business people, have appropriate set ups and displays? How about raising the standards of the current shows, before one has to drive across town to support another show?

Personally, as a buyer, I stopped going to Hamburg and other shows much because of the "flea market" atomosphere, crowded conditions, and cigarette smoke. I, now, prefer to shop in the comfort of my own home .

 

[mikeyt]

I also agree with the OP.

Harald, I do see the point of some of your negatives, and yes since you brought it up, lets use the new PA venues as a reference. Most are in a relative proximity to the existing Hamburg venue (most within 45 minutes or so). Hamburg is a large popular show that has been around for years, but at the same time the show has certainly out grown the building, and the condition of the building has deteriorated over the years and becomes so packed and overheated that it becomes unbearable.

Any show could become an expense, whether its a good location or not, we have all experienced bad shows. BUT if I am going to have a bad show, I would atleast like to do it in a more comfortable environment (ie. space, climate and cleanliness).

Most of the Hamburg vendors will also travel long distances to do miniscule shows such as the Manassas and Havre DeGrace shows on a regular basis. I have been to these shows and there are days where there couldnt be more then a few hundred people thru the doors. If you can support shows such as these on a monthly basis It doesnt make much sense to me not to atleast try and support a bigger and better venue to hopefully create a great show.

Now my take on Hamburg is that alot of the old guys wont leave because they dont like change and are settled in and comfortable and completely happy with what they have achieved and where they stand. BUT, in case no one else has noticed, this is a new time and a new market, and a new generation. With all of the bad publicity, and new laws just waiting to take effect, I want more for my business and my future then flea markets and pig pens.

I think others are caught in the middle of a greedy political game that is being played and are for some reason concerned about their standings if they leave to try new venues. I have heard talk of this from many vendors. Last time I looked this is America. IF ANY OF THIS IS TRUE (AND NOTICE i SAID IF), THAT IS A PART OF THIS BUSINESS I WANT NO PART IN. My business is just that, MINE, and when the time come I will choose the venues I want to display my goods at.

Buyers do not go to these flea market type shows to buy quality, high priced animals for future breeding stock, they go there with the mentality of purchasing good stuff cheap, which also helps to bring down the market values.

Just my opinions and wasnt meant to be a b**** session.

 

[hhmoore]

I was speaking for myself, not any of the other vendors....and, for the record, I have not vended Hamburg in at least 2 years. I have gone to that show for nearly 20 yrs, as have many - I rarely even attend now because, overall, it just isn't worth it to me. Parking is a nightmare unless you are there well before the advertised start of the show - heck, I've stuck in the back field AS A VENDOR, which is ridiculous to me...not to mention unacceptable because I usually run a one man show, so I have to leave my animals to park after I unload (or to go get my vehicle to leave). My previous post was not a defense of that show, by any stretch, just an explanation of why I don't go to the others. 10 hrs of round trip driving to wander a show for 1-2 hrs isn't a fun day trip for me any more, especially when I have to take a night off work to do it. For me to vend a show more than 3 hours from home, I pretty much have to take 2 nights off - it just isn't worth it to me to try to do on a regular basis at this point.

Don't take any of my comments the wrong way - I'm fully in support of better venues. They make the experience better for sellers and buyers alike. Climate control should be a MUST HAVE for a reptile show; not just for the comfort of the people, but for the well being of the animals.

 

[Wolfy-hound]

It took a lot of time for the "big shows" to get that big. It takes a lot of time to build a small show up as well.
If the vendors can make money, they'd probaly want to vend at any given show. But you have to show that you will have customers, have tables for rent, have a reasonable table fee so the vendor can make a profit.
You can have a palace for a reptile show, but if you price the tables too high, the vendors can't make a profit. You can have a show with the best and brightest and low prices, but without proper advertising, you'll have no customers. There's a lot of little things that go into putting on a successful event involving the public, and unless you can show the vendors that you can do it properly, vendors might very well be nervy about putting out the time/money/resources to come vend at a new show.

Having helped to put on other types of events, I know there's a TON of details you must address in order to make it a success. Once the show proves they can do it, I'm sure that vendors will begin attending.

Also, there's politics in every aspect of human lives that involves more than 3 people. That's a facet of human nature. If you were putting on a show and some of your vendors start talking about starting to go to a different show, you'll do things to try to keep them. It will happen. To think it will not is foolishly believing humans will behave in an ideal manner. Sadly, they don't.