Comments on the national convention by a vendor

[fall creek]

I am a vendor-dealer and have attended several of these events over the past 12 years.  This years national convention was the worst show I have ever attended from the stand point of a vendor.  From the first informaton sent to us by the organizers to the day we arrived nothing was correct or easy.  We weren't told in advance that we could not bring in our own displays that resembled a table or had legs that touched the floor.  Therefore many of us had to put our merchandise on the floor or boxes borrowed from other vendors. Or we could purchase their tables for $100 each. One vendor had his booth searched twice after the show closed each evening.  Not one of the organizers every came around to see if we needed anything or how things were going.

Most of us vendors are Mom and Pop operations doing this more for the fellow garden railroader than trying to make a living at it.  The group that organized this show acted like we were there for their pleasure, showing no regards for our needs or that some of us spend thousands just to get there.  By actual count there were 11 vendors including myself that said they would never return to an event in the Bay Area.

Next time you attend a garden railway show or national convention think about what the vendor has to go through just to show his wares.  Sure the layouts you visit are great but what would the show be without us vendors?   Fall Creek

[Anonymous]

I hate to say it, but I wonder if it isn't time to let the states in the middle of the country have more to say about this hobby.  I am looking forward to Denver and Kansas City and the HAGRS show in Kansas City in 07 just to get away from east and west coast shows.  I hope the attitude there is more congenial.

[Curmudgeon]

I've done three and am not interested in a fourth.

We looked at doing it this year, but months of no replies squelched it.

I sure would like to know what you mean by "searched".

As far as middle of the country, Denver has had their shots, Cincinnatti, Chicago.

Don't know how much more in the center you can get.

The costs have gone up so much, I believe when we looked into it this year, with the cost of the booth, air fare, hotel, car rental, food, it was between 3K and 3.5K.

Plus at least a week away from the shop.

And all conventions are (in my personal experience) are "feeding frenzies", of who will sell you what the cheapest.

Whether you need it or not.

The conventions have rapidly gotten to the point they are excluding small dealers, vendors and manufacturers.

But, hey, if that's what they want to do, and that's what the buying public wants.....

[Trainmaster dave]

There is a group of passionate garden railroaders who are putting a show together on May 11,12,13, 2007 in the Kansas City area. Overland Park, Ks to be more specific. This location was chosen because of its easy access from most parts of the United States. It 3 hours or less by air from each coast. The promoters are doing everything possible to keep expenses down for all vendors. Booth rates are the lowest I have seen and this event will be well advertised all over. There are no hidden expenses for set-up or tear down.

  We are focusing on the show as a family event. There will also be assistance in helping attendees find fun things to do that don't include the show. Yet, also give the vendor an ideal location and atmosphere for them to sell their product to a eager buying public. Our overall goal is for everyone to have a good time.

I suggest the vendors and buyers alike, give this show a try. I'm sure you won't be disappointed,

The website is

www.hagrs.com

Take a look.   Any suggestions would be appreciated also. This show is being produced strickly for the love of garden railroading.

David

[TonyWalsham]

I started showing at the NGRC in 1988 in Denver. I have been to many Conventions since although I have not attended for a couple of years. I have no complaints about any past NGRC organisers.

The Convention grew in size every year I attended. More and more big discounters were attending and I believe that with more big discounters attending, the less discretionary spending there was to support the small manufacturers like me and others.

If that is what the organisers want no problem. I have to sell product at these Conventions to cover the cost of attending so if I can't sell because the big discounters are taking the available cash I will no longer attend.

In 2007 I hope to be able to attend some smaller personalised LS meets in the USA and Canada rather than the big shows.

[Anonymous]

I really can't comment on the national convention because I didn't go (Too far away).

However, I  COULD comment on how Kalmbach ran the Greenberg shows when they had them, but I WON'T, partly because it's now water over the dam... and partly because my opinions on said subject would (quite possibly) get me bounced off the forum.

I'll just say that my stuff isn't all train related, and what actually SOLD at the shows (which paid the table fees) generally wasn't. Personally I find I do best (both buying and selling) at a "general" hobby show (even if they have dollhouses, too ).

[Anonymous]

So much said on here is sooo sad, it really bums me to hear so much bad feelings, and results of past shows.  I hope the post from the heartland guy is what he said.  I look forward to a close trainshow that has a focus on #1 guage. I wish him the best of luck pulling it off as I plan to attend.  I know there is lots of $ and such involved is such endevors (both by the people who put them on and  by the vendors).  I recall the days of local train shows put on at minimal cost, where a table was $9 + admintance ($5 - $4 in advance -required to get a table)  -remember I am just over 30 yrs old.......

  I truely hope the future is better than what I read here.....

[ndbprr]

Just hope it is never here in Chicago.  Daley can't understand why major conventions would go somewhere else.   I guess he has never had to hire a union thug to carry his brief case to his booth, have another union thug plug in a phone and hand you a bill for $250.00 or bribe someone so you could get out of McCormack place sometime the same week the show ended.  In addition the hotel taxes are over $20.00 per room and everybody ionvolved has their hand in your pocket.  Hold it in the heartland?  Maybe but definitely not Chicago.

[Anonymous]

I am on the East Coast and wished a NGRC could come here before the next decade but from the last time I checked they are all West of the Mississippi. From the looks of it we on the East Coast will have the ECLSTS and the SELSTS while west will have the Big Train Show and the NGRC.

LT

[Anonymous]

As another vendor of the show, I can say I agree. I did not have the same problems Fall Creek had, but did not like how some things were handled. The biggest problem was that the exhibit hall opened early the first day by nearly 20 minutes. Many of the vendors, (including me) were not in their booth and trying to get something to eat before the show went all night until 10. As a magazine publisher (I do not compete with GR or any other Kalmbach pub), I had copies out on the table and they tend to get snapped up without people paying for them. As a small publisher, I cannot affort to give away my product because someone wanted to open the show early.

I also had the same problem of no communication prior to the show. I realize that this is a volunteer run effort, but when an organization enters into a contract for space and gets cash for it, the other side must handle it as a business. I do trade shows for a living (non-train related) and if I got this at any other show, I would not be returning.

Let's hope 07 goes better.