I have attended the above show for at least 10-15 years now. In 2017 the show was reduced in size. I asked what happened and one of the folks mentioned the cost of the venue increased.
I attended the 2018 show this past weekend and now some big time exhibitors had reduced the number of tables or were not there. Kalmbach was not there(They usually have a spot on par with their Trainfest showing). Walthers had a super small display as well.
Is this a Mad City issue, or are we seeing a pullback in the model train industry?
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I think a number of manufacturers might be pairing back on shows, Jim. I went to the Berea Train show here in the Cleveland area this past October and neither F&C, Tichy, nor Mohawk Designs showed up; three regulars at the annual show.
Maybe there was a bigger/better show that weekend somewhere else? I don't know. It was weird not seeing them in their usual spots.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Like many folks, I've noticed a decline in the vendor participation in shows. Beside factors already mentioned, I attribute some of it to the fact that Mom & Pop are now Grandma and Grandpa. Many of the proprietors of these outfits are getting up in age and traveling may not be as easy as it once was.
Don Tichy would probably have an eight-plus hour drive from North Carolina to NE Ohio. Fuel, hotel, venue fees and extras all have to come out of an already slim profit margin. Some of these vendors have been toting the same inventory around for years. I'm sure they are beginning to see the futility in it.
It seems like the vendors won't attend due to the fewer buyers and the buyers won't go because there aren't as many vendors.
Sad reality... Ed
gmpullmanI attribute some of it to the fact that Mom & Pop are now Grandma and Grandpa. Many of the proprietors of these outfits are getting up in age and traveling may not be as easy as it once was.
Your so right, Ed. The 2017 Trainfest last November, a long time exhibitor, which featured an HO scale layout, depicting the four seasons, is up for sale, just because of that reason, along with some missing vendors.
Mike.
My You Tube
Train shows were once the best outlet for the secondary (used and new old stock) market. But the internet has taken a big chuck out of that business.
Again, this hobby is changing, and while still useful and important to some degree, I suspect the train show has seen its high water mark..........possibly as far back as a decade ago.
Sheldon
I attended the Mad City yesterday with the grandson, we had a blast. I also noticed some vendors were missing but the exhibitors were great toward my 4 year old g/s. I can tell you one of the conductors from East Troy was absolutely wonderful to him and inducted him as a junior conductor. The Illinois RR Museum was just as great toward him and made sure he got the free Thomas decal/tattoos. Because of that even though I have been to both we will visit again. Of the layouts shown a few let him run a throttle when he asked, he is very capable with the NCE throttles. He had a great time. Pricing at the selling vendors to me is confusing. Madison has a great LHS that gives normal discounts of 20 to 25%. Hiawatha Hobbies is 55 miles away and also gives great discounts. When a show vendor only gives 8 to 10% I wonder who they are trying to sell to? Maybe the many Lionel vendors did great but I did not see a lot of HO being sold Sunday between 9:15 and 11:30. BUT we still had a great time. The one item for my Ethanol plant I wanted was priced $10 above Walthers MSRPing and when I offered a price, they said they have to make a living. I have no issue with that and even though I really wanted the item, I passed it bye. Also this year the staff manning the show were nice and cheerful, last year they seemed grumpy.
I have attended the Greenberg show in Pittsburgh for nearly forty years, missing perhaps five during that time period. In my opinion it is a mere shadow of what it started out as. The big dealers that brought the latest and greatest products at discount prices disappeared years ago. The same people bring the same overpriced offerings. There are very few younger attendees. The venue has been moved and you will stand out in the weather waiting to buy a ticket. Tickets can be purchased online however my observation revealed only a few taking advantage of that option. Winter in Pittsburgh can be brutal. Normally...the Winter show is held in February....no show this year. The reason why?......Greatest Hobby show held first weekend in January and they where to close together? Overheard complaints about the venue and entry fee getting too high? The same dealers with the same overpriced offerings, much of it used? Anyone reading this and has attended a show at Monroeville Convention Center chime in with your opinion. I’ve had better success at some of the local “firehall” shows in both pricing and product. At my age, I have enough projects and kits to take me to the end and something really has to catch my eye to part with the dollars. That coupled with the increased risk of losing the house and garage in a flood has really put a damper on future purchases. Thirty years ago when the garage was built, this small stream was not an issue. However over development and a huge increase in storm water runoff is a constant source of concern. Trains are on 2nd floor of garage and I have survived two floods, don’t know how long my luck will last......”Till flood or death do us part”. Based on my observations and the price of this hobby...rough waters ahead!
tloc52 I can tell you one of the conductors from East Troy was absolutely wonderful to him and inducted him as a junior conductor.
I'm about 2 blocks from the ETRM's main depot. They are all a bunch of great people. I'm glad you and your grandson had a great time.
You'll have to bring the grandson down for a ride sometime.
http://www.easttroyrr.org/
It is getting more and more expensive to put on these shows -- the venues are really putting the screws on it seems. That in turn causes the sponsoring organization (an NMRA Division in the case of Mad City in Madison, and Trainfest in Milwaukee) to have to cut back on floor space, charge more to exhibitors who sell, and sometimes get selective about which layouts and organizations get free space. The paying exhibitors pass along their higher costs (or themselves get more selective about what shows they go to and how large a space they pay for) and so it goes.
One thing in common between Mad City and Trainfest. They couldn't make a go of it economically if they were just a big display and selling event for already committed model railroaders/railfans. They have to be an attraction to more casual fans, or even those people just looking for something to do with their kids. The "interested but not committed" public help subsidize these shows for those of the rest of us. It is a really fine balance when admission gets so high that those casually interested members of the public can't or won't pony up the money to go.
The Mad City show is a good one. So is the upcoming show in Green Bay WI in April.
Dave Nelson
The Great Train Expo in Indianpolis basicly took the place of the Great American Train Show and it is a shell of what it was when I was in my teens. Not a single brass train or dealer this year. Pretty much every show I go to is not what it once was. But....I still enjoy going! Many shows our G scale live steam group sets up its layout, so I am there enjoying running my engine. I might find a few things for my HOn3 logging layout that I am building. But the best part is taking to friends and dealers that I have known for years. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
As Dave said, it can be expensive to sell at some shows. Selling space at shows like Trainfest and at the Amherst Railway Society show can run into the thousands for large dealers. If they are buying products at around 40% off list price and discounting them, they may only be making $2 on a $10 item. That means the first $10,000 they sell may only cover their expenses. Or maybe not if they travel a long distance. I love a bargain as much as the next guy, but expenses just keep going up for vendors.
I know some folks don't want to hear that and just want everything to be heavily discounted, but it doesn't work that way anymore. Not to mention that with so many items being limited runs, there are very few times nowadays where distributors or manufacturers have a large overstock and dump everything for almost nothing to dealers.
Jim