pitches at next years agm event

are the trade pitches going to be free next year as i could speak to my work and ask if they are interested in next years, they may get a hand tools van to turn up, i can put it too them and see wot they say or even get work in touch with the organisers of next years event so they can see if theres an oppertunity there? let me know……  

i work for MAC TOOLS, FACOM ,STANLEY, BRITOOL

It's a way off yet mate but if we are going to get Traders down and improve on this year, and there's loads of room for improvement then I believe that free pitches are essential.

From doing the Show Calendar this year mate I can tell you that show dates are usually announced at the back end of the year and beginning of the new year. Don't know when we are having ours in 2010 but I hope we can avoid the clash we had this year.

Fingers crossed.

T

sounds good, i know its along way off the earleir i can approach work about it the better oppertunity there is to try get something organised if their interested which im hopefull they will be, after all they are the big players in hand tools and mechanics tools, well if you keep me in mind for later down the rd when things are more certain and dates and stuff are in place and then i can see about getting you in touch with work so you can let them know whot it all entails and see if there interested ok m8

mac tools have sale vans that are posted to cover certain area's of the country thats their patch so all they'l do i would imagen is offer it to the the sales man that opperates thats area so they wont have to travel far where ever the venue may be there will will be a mobile tools van local in any area

Don't remember seeing you there Paul, or at last years.

Yes we are small and that's not a bad thing. I'm not sure where your numbers come from though but if you could back them up that would be great, I'm not even sure Steve who was on the gate ALL weekend would know how many people attended our show although he may well of kept records so as to keep it financially above board. A head count however would be a valuable record to have and a success gauge well worth having!

I for one feel we did well this year but can attract more traders and in the future. Don't forget we are still a young club and as a MK1 specific club will never have the same mass appeal as the general VAG stuff. Perhaps if we compare like for like we'll get a more balanced view.

T

Thats a nice positive note Paul, a guy is offering his firm to come down on a freebie and it sounds like you're putting him off.

Admittedly we can't compete with VW Action - yet, but they have been going years and this club is one marque only. VW Action have the whole range to go at so they naturally attract more people because of the spread.

What 'added incentive' whould you suggest??  :dontknow:

Yes, I'm sure that the trader will make his own mind up but if we have someone offering to come along - why give a negative view. A positive,' You'll be one of the first to book for next years' would go down a lot better.

Still, unless you were hiding up a tree - you wouldn't know the footfall at this years show, would you?  :dontknow:

PM sent.

i went and it was the first time to this show.

Yes traders were low in numbers, BUT i thought the atmosphere was superb, cars turn out too.  I only went on the Sunday so can only think it was even better if we had been there for the weekend.  I prefered it to Inters i went to this year and next year will be there for the full weekend.

The more traders the better as people are always on the look out for parts, tools etc

paul_c said

PM sent.

In a context such as this I have to confess to never understanding a post like this.

It's a bit of a so what, wouldn't you agree?

T  :?

i think there was about 170+ mk1's,
plus all those mk1's that just came on saturday that did not get counted,
plus all those non mk1's that turned up over the weekend.

so i'd say thats pretty good (even though i didn't go to last years)

I know from experience of organising two different car shows, one classic and one VW, from scratch that it's very difficult to attract traders in the first couple of years. Many wait to see you prove yourself, and as the show grows so does the interest from traders.

We had very low priced pitches for our traders which was a definite attraction (raising money for charity so looking for profit), but if you can give free pitches at a growing show then that has to be an advantage.

We were at Coombe all weekend and the number of people there was definitely the most I've seen either at Gaydon or Billing.

 8)

we have to compare this to shows like dubmania. first time at this location and a massive success. bring on next year.

possativity!! remember guys ….when you do start trying to attract traders to your events the 1st thing thier guna do is look up your web site! see wot your all about, how its run, wot interest it attracts, wot potential custom is there for them, how big is, it how proffesional and organised is it, they dont wanna see nagativity, this clubs great i'v not been a member for more than 3months im hooked love it, great club great people great atmosphere and while the club has that it will always attract new members and continue to grow and that happens thro the members you already hav attracting more, once you get a couple of traders in the door the same thing will happen…. they have a good time at the event get alot of interest from potential customers, they go away happy traders fat wallets from free pitches and they go away and tell other traders just the same as we go away from our regional meets and tell other mk1 owners attracting new members and owners, traders they will start to bring the traders in for you it just takes time but it will happen, the agm was fantastic i only went sunday and was gutted once i got there and shared the atmosphere i knew i'd missed out on the sat and next time i will do both days, hopefully next year a few more traders will come and when thier there they'l realise they missed out this year when they attend the next one the year after they'l hopefully come back with more fellow traders they'v told about it :wink:

Next years show will hopefuly be booked soon, I'm aiming for the same weekend if ita available
problem is there is that much going on its hard toknow when your going to clash with another, when Simon and I set the date for this years show, there WAS NOTHING else booked in the show calander

As to traders pitches, as its year 2/3 whichever way you look at it of us having traders attend then I feel we may have a few more next year - If costs remain the same then to get traders attending I feel it will be free again

But please let us confirm the date and if the venue will re-have us before booking traders

this years saw a free stand, but EVERY trader attending was asked to donate to the club in the form of a Raffle prize.. Which they all did..

As to numbers through the gate, unfortunatly we didnt keepa  record, peopel arrived before gateswere open and I had little help at the start - I have a good accurate record of all who pre-booked and tried to keep a tally on numbers over the weekend, but it got very hectic at afew points and then the rain didnt help either..

the tally i started Friday got blown into a huge puddle so i gave up.. But one of the ideas I had to control numbers of mk1's on the sunday was to give every mk1 that arrived a raffle ticket, on the sunday we had given out 151 raffle tickets from that book…

If i had more helpers on the gate next year then we coudl make a better system and record numbers better….

zambeaky said

possativity!! remember guys ….when you do start trying to attract traders to your events the 1st thing thier guna do is look up your web site! see wot your all about, how its run, wot interest it attracts, wot potential custom is there for them, how big is, it how proffesional and organised is it, they dont wanna see nagativity, this clubs great i'v not been a member for more than 3months im hooked love it, great club great people great atmosphere and while the club has that it will always attract new members and continue to grow and that happens thro the members you already hav attracting more, once you get a couple of traders in the door the same thing will happen…. they have a good time at the event get alot of interest from potential customers, they go away happy traders fat wallets from free pitches and they go away and tell other traders just the same as we go away from our regional meets and tell other mk1 owners attracting new members and owners, traders they will start to bring the traders in for you it just takes time but it will happen, the agm was fantastic i only went sunday and was gutted once i got there and shared the atmosphere i knew i'd missed out on the sat and next time i will do both days, hopefully next year a few more traders will come and when thier there they'l realise they missed out this year when they attend the next one the year after they'l hopefully come back with more fellow traders they'v told about it :wink:

that was my plan for this year…

I'm already drafting another write up for magazines and to send to all those who said no to this years event. before taking further..

hopefuly you'll still feel this way nearer to the next show so could give me a hand in getting more traders along!!

absolutely , we all appreciate the efforts and lengths  and time you guys sacrifice to arrange these events and a sterling job you do and if we can do anything to contribute to your efforts then its all good no matter how small or trivial it may be :wink:

Just to put a positive spin on the trader situation - markets cost upwards of ?3.50 a square foot these days - free pitches will guarantee that traders are making money as soon as their fuel is covered - can't be that hard to fill some spots in my opinion. Even ?20 a pitch would be a bargain. So Mr Lawsy if you let me know when the next one is i'll get in touch with the traders and help you fill some slots!

I for one would have a free pitch, but will be too busy looking at Golfs to work as I missed the Sunday this year, and have no intention of missing a minute of next years show!!….and I sell plant pots!!

This years at Coombe was fantastic……thanks again!!!