Not sure what to think

So I’ve been to the wood show.  I think

Don’t actually know where to start, or if I really want to, to be honest.

The show was tiny – about 1/2 the size of the Stitches and Craft show.  Certainly doesn’t compare to wood shows of old.  Took me about 10-15 minutes, and I had walked the entire floor plate.  Takes about that long to walk the floor of the Ballarat Wood Show (and that is not a negative perspective of the Ballarat Show – Ballarat has a population of under 100,000 after all).  Given that the Ballarat show is only 2 weekends away, it might be worth a drive for those who didn’t find the Melbourne show provided enough.

For those exhibitors who had turned up, there are many who have put in a definite effort.  The new Carbatec demonstration area looked great.  The chairs that House of Dunstone bought along were beautiful.  I am seriously hoping that they branch out into running some courses in how to make such fine furniture.  Timbecon had a good display, covering a good range of heavy machinery, smaller machines, consumables etc. Carbitool had their normal, impressive range of router bits on display, Arbortech had their standard display, and their latest offerings.  HNT Gordon had a typically impressive range of beautiful planes, including the stunning new addition to the stable, the moving fillister plane. The Warrior Wood Mill was set up outside, showing a range of their new log mills.

But many more were MIA.  Perhaps it had something to do with the organisers moving the date.  And then choosing a date that clashed with one of the biggest woodturning events in Australia: the Phillip Island Down Under Turnaround.  It may be by registration only, but I bet there were many people, and suppliers there instead, including Carrolls, and I daresay Ubeaut as well. And given the typical (but not exclusively by any stretch) demographic for the woodshow would also overlap V8 aficionados, even more potential visitors are dragged away.

I don’t know what the crowds were like on Saturday or Sunday, but I sure hope for the exhibitors’ sake that it was better than Friday.  I remember wood shows of old (especially in the early-mid 2000s) when crowds were so deep that the place pulsed with the enthusiasm of all present.

I didn’t find any timber for sale.  I might have missed a small pocket of sales (outside?), but the only sales I could see were some long strips of veneer.  Some really nice strips, if you want veneer.

This, after all is what was promised.

The Timber & Working With Wood Show is Australia’s premier event for woodworking. From the weekend hobbyist and home DIY’er through to the most experienced enthusiasts, this is a show you cannot miss! See the best in the industry, share their expertise, have fun trying new techniques and tools – and experience some of the world’s finest timbers… all at the one location!

Can the wood show come back from this point?  I don’t think so.  Unless there is some plan for a small show one year, and a massive one the next (and nothing like that has been communicated), then I think the only way we will get to a show of any substance in the future at this stage is to head to the WIA in Las Vegas in 2017.

If the industry (suppliers) have any interest in future wood shows, I think they all need to come together and organise a new model.  1 show a year in the entire country.  One year in Sydney, the next in Brisbane, then Melbourne, then Perth, then Hobart, Adelaide, Darwin and back to Sydney again.  Pricing for exhibitors needs to be really affordable, to justify their efforts in attending the show.  Pricing for visitors also needs to be really affordable – the show needs bodies to attend, and spend.  Charge $10 max, and free for anyone under 18.  Under 18s need to be encouraged, as they will become the woodworkers (and consumers) of the future, so sewing the seed that woodworking is a worthy pursuit to be passionate about will pay off in spades in 10-20 years time.  Especially since we’d want as many people to attend from interstate each each annual show.  That is absolutely not to say that regional woodshows (such as Ballarat) shouldn’t still run annually – we need them more than ever now.

Anyway, this is all just my opinion.  Not everyone will agree with me.  I hope the show was a win for everyone.  I just can’t see, with the cost of exhibition space, the lack of visitors, and the lack of exhibitors how it would have been.

I miss the spectacle of a real wood show already.  And on that happy note, I’ll sign off here.  I’ll touch on what I did find at the show in upcoming posts.

Melbourne Wood Show is moving (again)

Looks like the Timber and Working with Wood Show is moving again, not only to a new home, but a new date.

It is now on in September, 11th to the 13th at the Caulfield Racetrack.   Door prices are still $16, but there is free parking.  Doesn’t clash with the AFL Grand Final, which is in October this year, and it finally manages to avoid the MotoGP at Phillip Island, which was normally the same weekend.

Of course, it does make it the same weekend as the Sandown 500, which is, to my mind, a similar demographic – perhaps with some age separation?  For some of us, that makes it a real choice: the one V8 Supercars race that is held locally in the year, or the annual wood show?  With an attendance in the vicinity of 200,000 over the weekend at the Sandown 500, that won’t impact too badly on Working with Wood Show numbers would it?

VS

Decisions, decisions.

We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of wood!

Yes, it is woodworking show season once again in Melbourne!  Can’t wait 🙂

Along with all the usual suspects, and the restocking that I find I do a lot at the shows, an interesting development from Carbatec:  the big catalogue is back! (Finally!!)

But it is bigger than ever – previous ‘full’ catalogues were around 150 pages.  The latest one is massive – 384 pages!  Of course, going that large does come at a price – literally.  A whopping $5.  Or free if you spend over $100.

Do hope the show has some new stuff to see – as much as I enjoy catching up with people, and restocking consumables, the show should be about new products, new techniques (and not just the same old).  As much as sales are needed to justify the huge expense of a stand, the show itself needs to encourage more than that.

Check out a Maker Faire, or the AWFS for how other shows do it.

1 Week Warning!

A week from today (in fact many will even start a day before that), the majority of the work goes into setting up the stands for this year’s Melbourne Working with Wood Show.

It is that time again already!

As in 2011, I won’t be doing anything formal at this show (although due to much less controversial circumstances), but still have no intention to miss it!

As many will be aware, the location has changed for this year, with a return to Jeff’s Shed, although at a smaller scale to the last time the show was there.  And no, I don’t intend to call it “The MCEC” – if you say it quickly, sounds like something my cat does after eating grass!

You can find the official list of exhibitors here, and map here.

Alternately, here is a version I have created for you, combining the two!  Text might be too small for some, but hopefully this is more useable! Click on the image to open the actual PDF (larger and more readable!!)

Had to look up some of the exhibitors – no idea who they were.  Still don’t?!

There are plenty of stands I am looking forward to getting into.

Looking forward to playing with a SawStop (I may even get to set one off, which would be exciting!)
Henry Eckert and HNT Gordon are always particularly dangerous stands, as is Chris Vesper’s next door – fine handtools are always a real temptation.
Carroll’s Street (as I call it, perhaps Carroll’s Lane) is well done.
Vermec (and their CNC) and 3D Printing will be getting a fair few questions!

This is just a sample of what I will be looking at, and there are plenty of others worthy of mention as well, but perhaps just head along and enjoy what is on offer!

This is a smaller show that what we are used to in previous years, and as much as I believe shows should be about getting a company’s name out there, promoting up-coming products, and generally selling the brand, I also understand it is an expensive business and most are hoping to make as many sales as possible.  This is the main parameter they use to justify coming back in future years, and it is concerning to see it continuing to shrink.

All I can say is – I hope the companies are doing what they can to provide the customers in the way of good prices and interesting stands.  In turn, we do need to buy things, not only because new tools are always welcome, but also because we want the wood shows to survive.

I always have a great time at the show, working or not.  Hope you do as well!

October Plans

Straight for the jugular

You’ve heard of Whale Wars, Storage Wars even Abalone Wars.

Now, to a city near you comes “Woodshow Wars”.

The first few stones have been thrown, and whether you agree with the content or not, they have a singular target in mind.

What comes around

News to hand, is that the Melbourne Timber and Working with Wood Show is returning to Jeff’s Shed for 2013!

I’m sure there are many pros and cons, and reasons why the decision was made to return to what is officially called the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

This year, it is on from the 18th through to the 20th October.  Not sure what (if any) my involvement will be, but one way or another, I will be there, if only as a visitor!

So there you have it, to the cries of joy of some, to despairing wails of others.

Episode 89 + SSYTC045 The Future of the Woodshow

To start, (and in part because there are a number of sites linking to this page), let me again show you the essence of the current show, as experienced October 2012

Episode 89 The Future of the Woodshow

The full 20 minute feature of just some of the cool things you get to experience at the current wood show can be seen by following this link to Episode 90

For the customer/visitor to the wood show, the show has 100s of years of combined experience, and all very approachable people who are only too happy to share their knowledge with you. The following article is not condemnation of the show, nor should be taken as being negatively critical of any group (exhibitors, organisers, visitors).  It is, in my humble opinion some observations on how we may make the show even greater, in financially tumultuous times.   I don’t want to see the show lost, decreased in frequency, or to loose its primary focus of being a show for woodworkers, by woodworkers, about woodworking.  So with all that in mind, and combined with the variety of opinions, ideas and suggestions in the comments, I return you back to the original, unedited article.

—————————————————————————————————-

Before I say another word, let me be very clear: I really enjoy the concept of the woodshow. I’d go even if I wasn’t on a stand, demonstrating, presenting etc. Every year. The video preview just released, and the full version to come is still very much what the show has to offer. I don’t want to discourage people from going, the opposite is true. But I think it can be better (I know it can be), and that is what I have been hearing from all sorts of directions.

I also am well aware that this is not likely to be a popular article….. but for the sake of the show, I do believe someone has to say it.

First, some of the feedback I have been hearing, either said to me directly, or overheard between retailers and customers.

From the customers:

– the show is not as big as last year
– there are less stands than ever
– perhaps I’ll skip it next year – there is nothing new
– where is all the timber? There are only slabs…or bowl blanks (and I am not a turner)

From the retailers:

– where are all the customers?
– you could fire a shotgun and not hit anyone
– there is no advertising
– the space is so expensive

From the organisers (at the first day debrief):

– numbers are down from last year

There was a lot more, but that captures some of the essence.

I want to show you something. This video was taken earlier today at the Stitches and Craft show (where ManSpace magazine created a “men’s” retreat).

SSYTC045 Stitches

Few things I see here:

Crowds. Lots and lots of people. Conversations left right and centre. Money being spent hand over fist. So much for a downturn in the economy – sure it is depressed, but if something is on offer and the desire is created, wallets (or purses!) are still opening readily.

Many, many small stands (3mx3m), rather than a few huge ones.

What I really see? What the wood shows used to look like…. at Jeff’s Shed. Stands with people standing 3 and 4 deep – everywhere. Enthusiasm, excitement, variety of stands, affordable purchases.

Location

The Showgrounds are a reasonable location, plenty of room, cheap parking. But after a number of years there, it has always been tainted by the decline in show popularity. As a significant way of demonstrating an attempt to change the show around, a return to Jeff’s Shed says so in spades.

It is at the same time as other expos, so there is a cross-visiting benefit. Couples head to the area, split off so one goes to the baby show, the other to the wood show.

But most of all, it is where the show was still pumping.

Cost

The cheaper the entry fee, the more people will come, and potentially the more money made. More people, more food sales, more sales at stands, happier retailers, more retailers, better show, more people.

Stand cost: I only hear second hand about the cost of the stand, but it sounds huge – very very hard to make enough sales to cover the cost. Up at the Ballarat show, a 3m x 3m stand is $75. At the Melbourne show, it is something like $2000. Now the organising company has to make money, but there must be a way to achieve both. Perhaps retailers have to decide to opt for smaller stands which keeps their cost down. Perhaps instead of storing stock on the stand, a system of storing stock ‘out back’ and easily accessed would be better. I seem to recall that out back there were shipping containers for stock at Jeff’s Shed. Seems to have gone. Storing stock on a stall is an expensive way to use precious real estate. Stored stock is not generating sales – it is fulfilling the order once a sale is made.

Retailers

The show needs retailers – and it needs a lot. A few with large displays doesn’t cut it. Small stands with so much variety is the best, and is how the shows used to be.

What Carrolls did at the last show (Carroll’s Boulevard) was awesome. Small displays, lots of variety, lots of demos. A model worth expanding, or at least encouraging.

Demonstrators

It used to be a set programme of demonstrations, and not just wood turners. If the customers are not entertained and informed as well as having lots of temptations to spend, they will not consider it a great show, and want to come back. Demos used to be scheduled, programmed and coordinated.

Something new – special guest (on top of the local experts, some external talent) Suggestions: Chris Schwarz, Norm Abrams, Marc Spagnuolo

As far as the locals, encourage an actual presentation from local experts, and not just what they do on their stand. Get people like Neil Ellis to give an actual presentation on finishing, on a stage (or staged area). Terry Gordon talking through manufacturing of a plane, or the use of profile planes or similar. There are plenty of others to choose from. Bring the demos to the audience. Provide notepads (in the entry showbag). This doesn’t detract from having demos at the different stands (they are still a must), but add to the experience. Encourage and inspire the customers. At the Stitches and Craft show, there were lots of stands where you could try out the activity. No signs declaring it- a sea of “come and try” when you look down the isles achieves little. Come and try what exactly? By the time I have gotten to a stand, I can see for myself if there is a participation element, and what the stand is about.

How about some master classes, as well as introductory ones? How about one on dust extraction in the shed. Another on what different tools are and why they are useful. Then one on handcutting dovetails, how to bend wood, how to inlay, or veneer or whatever. The knowledge is out there, the presenters are too. Inspire the customer and they will get into the spirit.

Innovative Products

If the cost of being at the show was controlled, shows could be more like the US ones, where the debut of new products plays a significant role. We want to inspire people, give them something to look forward to, not just sell em the same old thing over and over.

At the Stitches and Craft show, I saw row after row of robotic sewing machines. CNC sewing. At the wood show I saw 2. The CNC shark which has been there for a few shows now, and a new one from Vicmarc. And I’m sure CNC machines are not the only new product or technology that is here (or is coming).

Advertising

I assume there was some. I got some emails, but then I already knew about the show so it was an aide-mémoire, rather than a hook for new, interested parties. I met a lady at the Stitches show who was very disappointed to miss the wood show – she wanted to go, but didn’t see any prompt. Was there any newspaper ads? radio? I saw a couple of TV ones, but it was not a great promotion of the show to the unfamiliar. And it showed a number of products/stands that were not there anyway.

What about more promotion through the new media? Blog, Twitter etc?

There used to be a big toy competition, sponsored by Triton. It isn’t just the organisers who can advertise a show. Everyone should be promoting the hell out of it, and not just to their existing customer base.

How about embracing the skills around – live blogging/video blogging from the show? Wonder if there is any blogger down under with that sort of skill set? But you can’t rely on goodwill and free advertising. There has to be a quid pro quo.

How about having Wood Show TV, both reporting from the place to a screen at the place (interviewing different displayers etc), and to something like channel 31? Generate excitement.

The show needs to have more family interest, kids involvement activities, wider range of interest, and less tyre kickers looking simply for an outing of entertainment for a nominal entry fee.

The show should be a great place to stock up on items otherwise hard to find, from retailers local and national. There has to be a point to go to the show. Discounts are definitely one way (and real discounts, not just nominal ones).
Show bags, show bags, show bags. Real ones! Say a $100 show bag with your choice of a Chris Vesper marking knife or a HNT Gordon mini spokeshave, and a bunch of other stuff. etc.

Entertainment

One thing I have suggested for years, is to examine some of the international show successes, why their shows work and adopt good ones for ourselves. One thing they do in the US is power tool racing (power sanders). If the litigious US can do it, surely our nanny state could manage it.

Dovetail olympics (and other traditional tools). Sort of thing Stan is doing with his stand on a casual basis, but a more formal comp.

Wrapup

There is a whole heap more I could think of the add on here, but in the end there is no point unless there is real commitment and buy-in from all parties.

What I propose is a forum to discuss what can be done to save a great show. Not a blame-fest, but a professionally moderated brainstorming, with existing (and previous) retailers, demonstrators, customers, and show organisers. The goal – to come up with a number of strategies to build the show, to promote the show, to build interest (and increase the number of woodworkers out there – the more there are, the more customers), and to save what would otherwise be a terrible loss.

Going to a 2 yearly cycle would be terrible. There are always new woodworkers, and a 1 year gap is a long time as it is. We want to build the show, not pull the rug out from under it. Going to 2 years is defeatist, and a coffin nail (or a bunch of em!)

So I throw it out there: build a show back to days of old, or kiss it all goodbye. Other shows are managing it successfully – why can’t the wood show?

Instead of blaming the economy on why the show isn’t working, learn to adapt the show to the circumstances. If people are not buying big tools, concentrate on smaller items. People don’t give up woodworking when the economy declines- they change what they do in the shed to include different woodworking activities. Adapt with them.

Episode 89 Woodshow Preview

Episode 89 Woodshow Preview

A whimsical movie ‘preview’ of the wood show, Melbourne 2012

SSYTC044 The Stan Band

SSYTC044 The Stan Band

Stan, Theo and others with an impromptu jam session at the wood show.