Warm and dry at the Show today but attendance appeared to me to be well down on the same (penultimate) day as last year and with the weather forecasted for tomorrow, I had expected it be very busy today.
Chatting to many of the exhibitors the general feel was that the last few days had picked-up but up until then attendances had been poor, along with few sales/serious prospects, however, most simply shrugged their shoulders and said that they had to be seen to be at the show, i.e. more a marketing exercise than a direct sales opportunity and exhibitors generally except that "people come to touch n feel but then go back and buy on the web".
It's interesting to me that many attendees still feel that the boat show is the place for 'bargains' but it is clear that the cost of exhibiting means that exhibitors will struggle to cover their costs let alone be in a position to give away margins.....worrying trend for LIBS
Chris
