Ribex 2010 today

[sarahscottiedog]

Well ! just been to this year show, thoroughly enjoyed it, and very impressed with the welcom pack for being one of the 1st 100 ribs to visit, the RYA "satchel" was worth the entry money alone ! Lots of eye candy floating in the marina, although shore based was alot smaller than I expected. All the same good value for money I thought and followed up by an excellent pub lunch at "The Folley" up the Merdina all made for a great day out ! Hope the weather stays dry for anyone else going this weekend.

[Avocet]

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by sarahscottiedog

Well ! just been to this year show, thoroughly enjoyed it, and very impressed with the welcom pack for being one of the 1st 100 ribs to visit, the RYA "satchel" was worth the entry money alone ! Lots of eye candy floating in the marina, although shore based was alot smaller than I expected. All the same good value for money I thought and followed up by an excellent pub lunch at "The Folley" up the Merdina all made for a great day out ! Hope the weather stays dry for anyone else going this weekend.

What was in the welcome pack ???

I hope they spread them over the 3 days & haven't dished them all out today .........

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by sarahscottiedog

and very impressed with the welcom pack for being one of the 1st 100 ribs to visit, the RYA "satchel" was worth the entry money alone !

What welcome pack?? I was certainly one of the first 20 RIBs there and was not given anything like a welcome, let alone a pack Guess my smile doesn't have the same effect
David, I am afraid the one thing I forgot was my camera; I was kicking myself all day

[neilda]

Here's some shots from today (Friday)...

Tim and his rocket:



Welcome to Ribex 2010



This looks fun:





I was told he's famous:



Ooops, his boat's not working:



Conference required:



Ribeye was the only stand where they showed any interest to me as a potential customer:



It works!

[Chris]

We had quite an interesting day, having done the run over to Cowes and bumping into the flotilla of press and famous people we moored up wandered around the show for about an hour taking in the eye candy then popped into the pub for a pint where we met a larger than life Norwgian called Tommy and a Canadian called Fred.

Tommy bought us several pints then started asking the Manager at the Anchor if we could cook some whale meat he had brought with him. They actually agreed to cook it for him as well ! Albeit it later on when they were quieter (slight sense of relief at this point)

Tommy took us to check out his new Hysucat 8 meter with twin 200 Optis on the back which was being used as a demo boat by the SouthAfrican guy that makes them.

Was very impressed with the Cat, 9 people on board and a tasty 55 knots across the solent chop like it was not there.

If you are at the show ask for a ride out on the demo boat its really good fun ! and if you see a large freindly Norwegian fellow around the stand say hi !

[John Kennett]

I've posted some more pictures in the gallery here: http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=35679

[sarahscottiedog]

Avocet, sorry I forgot to take my camera but looks like others have more than made up for my error !

Peter M wellcome pack was a very nice RYA "satchel" bag, Rib international magazine, Suzuki key ring, three entry slips to fill in for 3 different competitions, I thought worh the money alone. On the Ribex web page showed the following, We were there very early and left for lunch up the Folley about 1:00pm so didn't stay for the free Hog roast voucher we had, definately looks like you missed out !

Come by RIB to RIBEX!
Visitors to RIBEX by their own RIB this year are in for a treat! The first 100 skippers to land will be given a special RIBEX Welcome Pack, full of goodies, discount vouchers and RIBEX offers. They and one crew member will also be provided with a voucher for a free Hog Roast and hot drink of their choice upon entering the show. Steam Productions are also bringing their vintage Ice-cream van, so visitors by RIB are entitled to a free ice-cream! RIBEX makes a great day out by RIB and represents a unique 3 day ‘festival of power’ for everyone with an interest in RIBs.

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by sarahscottiedog

Peter M wellcome pack was a very nice RYA "satchel" bag, Rib international magazine, Suzuki key ring, three entry slips to fill in for 3 different competitions, I thought worh the money alone. On the Ribex web page showed the following, We were there very early and left for lunch up the Folley about 1:00pm so didn't stay for the free Hog roast voucher we had, definately looks like you missed out !

I got one today ! I was a little sad last year as being the first visiting boat I was too early to get anything as it was all 'being organised'. Agreed a good little bag. Got the free roast thingy etc. A good show really - took me half an hour to get off the visitors pontoon talking to people, got off the pontoon & ran in to Bogi, had a coffee/bacon sarnie - saw Hightower, got past him & finally got into the show. Dodged the rain, had a very good look at the big orange redbay( very nice ! ) , had the Garmin boys ignore me entirleydodged more rain left at 2.30 is time to get back my mooring in the heaviest rain of the day !

Oh and managed to tie up next to another shearwater - very rare !

[neilda]

Originally Posted by PeterM

........... had the Garmin boys ignore me entirley

It's peculiar isn't it? I could be in the market for a larger Rib next year and had a look at several over £100k. The 'sales' people couldn't be bothered to even acknowledge me, either continuing their personal phone calls or lounging about.

I wouldn't want to have people crawling all over me, but 'hi, how are you, please come and have a look around...' kind of thing would have been welcome.

I assume they're on a salary and commission. Quite how they earn it escapes me!

[Chris]

Having worked at trade shows a lot I think its always the same. If you want to be acknowledged then go up and introduce yourself. Hundreds of people walk around Ribex and most of them are not there to buy a boat.

If you have been stood on a stand all day it is easy to loose the will to live expecially if the show is quiet and quite often people just hover around the stand for a look so its not easy to tell who wants your attention.
.

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Chris

Having worked at trade shows a lot I think its always the same. If you want to be acknowledged then go up and introduce yourself. Hundreds of people walk around Ribex and most of them are not there to buy a boat.

If you have been stood on a stand all day it is easy to loose the will to live expecially if the show is quiet and quite often people just hover around the stand for a look so its not easy to tell who wants your attention.
.

I do know what you mean, but when I'm trying to make eye contact and they look at the floor and talk to each other about giving umbrellas away only to 'the girls' you have to wonder .........I have to say they were the exception. Everyone else pleased to chat about thier product.

[neilda]

Originally Posted by Chris

Having worked at trade shows a lot I think its always the same. If you want to be acknowledged then go up and introduce yourself. Hundreds of people walk around Ribex and most of them are not there to buy a boat.

If you have been stood on a stand all day it is easy to loose the will to live expecially if the show is quiet and quite often people just hover around the stand for a look so its not easy to tell who wants your attention.
.

I guess asking for a brochure (in the morning of the first day) was not enough of a clue, I'll have to make a greater effort next time to try to get their attention.

There were a couple of stands where the staff on hand were very good but overall I have to say I wasn't overly impressed, but then I come from a sales background where engaging with customers was always a priority.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by PeterM

took me half an hour to get off the visitors pontoon talking to people, got off the pontoon & ran in to Bogi, had a coffee/bacon sarnie - saw Hightower, got past him & finally got into the show.:

Well you shouldn't really be hanging around the toilets, should you

Glad you had a nice day, did you have any demos?

[wiLlfish]

Originally Posted by PeterM

saw Hightower, finally got past him & got into the show.

i noe wot yew meen.

best fing iz keap yor iyes peeld an wen yew sea im cumin hyde behynd a tennt orr sumfink. ifn hee duz gett yew pijjin oled de besst iscaipe root iz threw iz banddy leggs

wiLf

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Well you shouldn't really be hanging around the toilets, should you

Glad you had a nice day, did you have any demos?

I was waiting for someone..... I'll get my coat.................


No demos too busy trying to stop Mrs M buying a Paragon or Big Redbay ! (though they are both very nice.....)

I 'bagged' 6 known Ribneters however.

Make that 7 - I saw Dizzy Lizzy but never actually saw Trevor...but I did think 'nice forsale signs.....'

[willk]

Originally Posted by PeterM

No demos too busy trying to stop Mrs M buying a Big Redbay ! (though they are very nice.....)

Hmmmmmm.

Thinks: Must get Mrs M to talk to Mrs W (she's dead against the idea* )

_______________________________________________

edit: * she rekummends a kwinkwary

[Tim M]

I really think some of the manufactures need to look at their sales people. I took a ride out today in a well known manufacturer's boat with 6 other potential customers.

When we got back to the pontoon a friend of mine and I set about quizzing the salesman on the particulars of the boat (the model of which I am quite familiar with). It would seem he knew less about the boat than I did! My friend asked him why this boat was worth the money, and I quote his reply "I don't really know". I tried to extract a more comprehensive answer with "what is this boat's USP" and he simply replied with "um, er, well its a nice boat".

Having ferried quite a few people over to the show and back home again over the last two days I've had some interesting conversations with people, and the general consensus is that some manufacturers really need to get their act together when it comes to the people that represent them. Several of my customers went home feeling a bit disappointed they hadn't been taken more seriously, and I know for a fact several were there with the intention of using this as a test ground for future purchases. When I asked for a demo of the Paragon 25 I was simply told "no" (which is a shame because it is by far my favorite boat at the show)

[Zippy]

i have to ask, what constitutes a good customer?

i have been there and it really gets me...

if i have the money i will buy... if i dont i am am a tyre kicker until i do have the funds.....................

treat everyone as a customer until they prove otherwise!!!!!

[Hightower]

I thought the guys at RIBcraft and Humber were excellent and very keen to get anyone who wanted a ride out on the water.

A big thanks goes out to Adam of RIBcraft however. He piloted the 7.8m for me and the Kids. A very nice young man, that was very helpful and a big asset to RIBcraft.

I would have liked a trip out in both the 11m and 10m Redbays, but during my time chatting with the chaps of Redbay (Steve I think) I was never offered a trip out. I did however feel like a tyre kicker at the time so never asked. But very impressive Caft