When you attend a show you will notice the more expensive shows have what we call a stand fitted shell scheme with carpets etc . This makes the overall look of the show much nicer , there is no doubt about that . However everything comes at a cost and to have such a show adds hugely increased costs for the exhibitors and also is reflected in entrance fees to the show.
Non stand fitted shows where exhibitors build there own stand and where there are no lovely carpeted floors mean less cost to all and much lower entrance fees.
I would like to now hear what you think of this . We know you all hate the cost of shows like the NEC , but that is a properly laid out fully stand fitted show .
Show venues are very expensive to hire without added costs , but what do you want to see at your shows , im afraid you simply cant have both , its just not possible.
STAND FITTED OR NON STAND FITTED ?
£10 ENTRANCE FEE OR £5 ENTRANCE FEE ?
HELP US TO HELP YOU , YOUR INPUT IS APPRECIATED !
PLEASE TELL OTHERS TO JOIN IN THESE DISCUSSIONS , WE ARE LISTENING VERY CAREFULLY TO ALL YOU ARE TELLING US .
Thank you.
Gordon
I am happy with non stand fitted shows and £5 entry fee.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though big shows may well need to be stand fitted. The NEC is expensive for the tickets and the parking leaps up every year.
Sue
I have only been to one show which was at the NEC. I must admit that all the most popular stalls had so many people in them that I never noticed if they had carpets or not. I would rather pay £5 entrance fee as I would have more to spend on my craft stash. At the NEC it seemed so big that I kept getting lost and no idea who was atending so a map on the wall would be a good idea. I only found your stall the last hour before going home so I had no money left, and I did look.
ReplyDeleteWe will post details of all shows we are attending along with stand numbers etc on the new web site.
DeleteAs long as the exhibitors will attend I don't really mind. Will it put some off if they have to set their own stands up?
ReplyDeleteIf they don't mind, it seems an unnecessary expense and if it means cheaper entrance fees then I'm all for it.
Kate
Entrance fees are the key to all of this i think , thank you.
DeleteI'm happy with non fitted shows and a lower entry fee. I'd love to see you do Ally Pally, I go there twice a year. Been to NEC, didn't like it far too over priced on entry fee and parking.
ReplyDeleteyou should read my reply to an earlier post regards why we are not at Ally Pally . You should ask the organiser the same question !
DeleteI am very happy with the non-fitted shows, I'd much rather save some cash to spend on goodies rather than carpet to walk on ;) My favourite show is always the Happy Stampers at Port Sunlight, small, gloriously-crowded with stalls, cheap to get in but ALL stamping. I much prefer this to the large mixed-media shows.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly on all counts , thank you.
DeleteHi Gordon, I would prefere a "no frills" show. I go to shop, watch demo's and learn. If I could only afford to visit two shows per year, they would be both of the Happy Stampers ones, pure craft, no frills and no "fat cats" taking their cut!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Elizabeth x
Its always a great pleasure to be at that show run by wonderful people !
DeletePersonally, as long as the flooring of a non fitted stand is safe and level, I do not see what difference it makes, crafters are too busy looking at the crafty goods and demos to notice. As long as there is room to move, make your purchases and view demos, a reasonable entrance fee, easy access either by car of public transport (a shuttle from railway/bus stations, perhaps, and free parking if poss.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments.
DeleteI'm perfectly happy with non stand fitted. I come to see the products, not to admire the stands! As long as there's room to move about and see everything clearly enough, it really doesn't matter what the stand is like, or whether it looks the same as all the others. Naturally, I'd prefer £5 entrance fee to £10. A less pretty-looking show with lower entrance fee means more money to spend on new stash!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments.
DeleteI really do not care what the hall looks like and I usually take my own food to save money so anything which makes it cheaper is good.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments .
DeleteI am also happy with non stand fitted shows and a low entrance fee. I am interested in what you are selling, not what the stand looks like.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments.
DeleteI go to a show to look at and buy products, watch demos and ogle examples. I couldn't care less whether they are stand fitted or non stand fitted shows and as for carpet on the floor I am too busy to look down at what I am walking on and always get static shocks from them and so prefer no carpet. I would rather spend my money on goods than entrance fees and frou frou. Perhaps that's why I shop at Aldi!
ReplyDeleteThank you . This conversation and the replied is very interesting . There would seem to be more exhibitors than public who prefer a stand fitted show as maybe its easier to fit out than hauling a stand to shows . I tend to agree that the aim should be to keep costs down for everyone making shows afordable with lower entrance fees , free car parking etc .
Deletequality of goods for sale are more important than fancy carpets/stands etc. Prices are important and entry fees cots of stands etc should be kept as low as possible.
ReplyDeleteThe NEC is very pleasant to look at but the price is prohibitive. To be honest, when you go to the non-frills shows you really don't miss the carpet because you are so busy shopping, watching demos etc So for me I would prefer cheap and cheerful leaving more money to spend on craft goodies
ReplyDeleteno frills for me. i prefer to spend my money on craft goodies
ReplyDeletecheryl
I am definately for the non fitted option, not only becasue of the price, but also because it allows the retailer to display and decorate their stand in their own unique way. This give the show a more warm and welcome feel, rather than the clinical feel of a set block of pre built stands.
ReplyDeleteIts a craft show afterall, so retailer gets to craft their stand :) Helen x
non-fitted to keep the price down
ReplyDelete£2 to get into the Ross Papercraft Show at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield next week - means I will have more money to spend at the stalls
Sorry, a bit late into this conversation. I used be on a stand at the NEC every year and, watching them build it up, thought it looked neat with the carpet that is also used to attach covers over all the wiring needed for these requiring electricity. Over the years we did both, took our own stand or worked within a set frame of the size stand we chose. There was enough to take, without taking the stand as well, although those with larger stands were allowed in two or three days before the show, it was still chaotic.
ReplyDelete