British Association of Landscape Industries has cancelled next year's two-day trade show because of the sliding economy.
BALI said the show would be "deferred" until market conditions improved and the wider landscape industry was better placed to benefit from the event.
"Indications from other sectors and our own suggest the appeal of traditional trade shows is on the decline and that biennial events may be more useful in serving the needs of visitors and exhibitors" said chief operations officer Wayne Grills.
A spokeswoman said: "I think probably the show will happen next in 2014 under new management unless, of course, something changes dramatically." This year's BALI Landscaping Show took place at Stoneleigh Park on 19 and 20 June.
Organiser Brintex confirmed that the PlayFair Show, which ran alongside the BALI Landscaping Show near Coventry, will move over to run with IOG Saltex at Windsor Racecourse from September 3 to 5 next year.
IOG chief executive Geoff Webb said: "PlayFair will form an integral part of the Saltex exhibition profile in September 2013. We are working hard on all aspects of the show, from turfcare to commercial vehicles, by providing added impetus and innovation as we go forward."
BALI national chairman Chris Carr suggested trade shows might be becoming "suffocated by cyberspace" in the same way high street shops and garden centres were losing out.
"Research of product information is easy with the internet and will target what you need," he said. "But what it can’t do is show you the dream.
"In that respect, there is no substitute for seeing, feeling and experiencing a product and discussing the options with someone in the know."Website: BALI Show
It is difficult to ge a decent return on the investment required to exhibit at shows.
At the moment for us the internet is the best route to market, it has not always been the case will not always be the case but at the moment it is.
Posted by: Philip | Nov 27, 2012 at 06:58 AM
Seems it was Brintex who pulled the plug:
When do we know if a show has had its day?
Certainly shows come and go. We do extensive research on our exhibitors and visitors, and although you can sometimes cure negativity, it’s a good indicator of a show’s health. You also find selling something becomes harder and more time consuming, and starts making less financial sense. That was certainly the case with our lingerie shows, on which we lost money in our last two editions. Things have also popped up and we’d try it.
In 2008 for instance, we started talking to the British Association of Landscape Industries, which was keen to have a show for members. I refused to launch the show when there was a recession going on, but we decided to give it a go in 2011. It didn’t wash its face but was quite well received, so we tried again in 2012 and doubled the size of the show, but the visitor attendance was lamentable.
Fortunately it brought us to the attention of the Institute of Groundsmanship, which wanted to change the management of its Saltex show. In turn that has attracted the attention of another body, which is considering us because we can handle an event of that scale.
http://www.exhibitionnews.co.uk/featuredetails/212/interview-brintex-md-malcolm-taylor
Posted by: Philip Voice | Apr 15, 2013 at 10:51 AM