 Poster: A snowHead
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Been to the show today.
Lots of resort info and reps. Few big retailers - S&R, EB. selling mainly clothes. Some indys selling helmets etc and quite a lot of people selling "peripherals"(silly hats, ski slings, etc).
Any only a few retailers actually selling .....skis
Frankly, a poor show.
I would not go again unless it changes a lot.
If you are thinking of going down to buy anything useful or cheap - probably not worth bothering
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I was there yesterday and I would probably have to agree. Much smaller than previous years. As far as I could see there was no representation there from 3 Valleys or Espace Killy which came as a bit of a surprise. Snow and Rock was much smaller than in previous years. On the other hand there was a guy with strange cheeses. I was happy enough having paid a fiver for my ticket and had a good bit of father/son time with Bogus Junior but I think that anyone paying the full twenty would be a bit peeved.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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calling montblancdoodah to say we are all whinging and not contributing to the UK ski industry...
oh no his backside is still stinging from the slap it got on the way out of the door
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If I had n't had a free ticket i'd have been well "cheesed" off....
Big burger operation going well but so f'ing stinky i think you could prob demand a discount for smell by Saturday!!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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went last year, didnt plan to go this year unless i could get in for free, so didnt go
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By the sound of it, it s time to be glad I have not bought a ticket. I did go on weekday once before and to be frank some of the exhibitors had not got their act together by that point. The Brum show was a bit low on retailers compared to past experience too.
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Went yesterday too, with the kids, and was similarly disappointed - smaller, less stuff to do. Did however, buy a decent ski sling! Avoid the permanent food outlets at Earls Court; paid £14 for two hot dogs, a 7up and an orange juice - more than in Switzerland!
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| daveyladboy wrote: |
| paid £14 for two hot dogs, a 7up and an orange juice - more than in Switzerland! |
that, my good fella is to get you acclimatised to your holiday food purchases 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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CEM, 
Although there might not have been many retailers selling skis I did find it refreshing that some of the manufacturers had stands there, staffed with people who could speak far more knowledgeably about their wares than your average sales assistant on a retailers stand. I had a brief chat with people on the Whitedot, Head and Atomic stands (and had a little lust about next season's carbon models that Whitedot will bring to market).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I went on Wednesday and was glad I'd not paid £20 for a ticket, although I thought it good value for 'free'. Not many ski brands represented, although the few that were there were friendly.
I managed to amuse myself for a fair few hours having a go at curling, ice skating, looking at some penguins, trying weird cheese, wine tasting, watching ice carving and petting St Bernard dogs. I also liked watching the airbag jumps, from the nervous beginner to some decent aerials. The Warren Smith free lessons seemed to book up very quickly.
I wandered around, entered a few competitions and looked at some of the clothes shops. The indoor slopes had extra 10% or 20% off vouchers, which I will probably use. Picked up a few free magazines too (Ski and SnowBoard, Snow, Snow woman). Had a go at the Westbeach 'ice hockey' competition, I don't think I'll make it onto a team anytime soon as I couldn't get the puc into the upper sections of the goal with any accuracy.
I had a good day out, but would have been gutted if I'd paid full price.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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It sounds like skiing is going out of fashion in the UK.
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| feef wrote: |
Except he's going to Switzerland, not France  |
The mountain prices are not so different. At least in CH you pay the same at the bottom as on the top. No profiteering.
/me dismounts hobbyhorse.
Back on thread topic. To those that went to the NEC show. Was it any better than the NEC show?
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You know it makes sense.
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Yep better stands, less fed up looking staff just talking to each other (staff of certain other skiing website excepted!) and much more of it. Think the NEC show was telling porkies with its claim to be the biggest show in Europe.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I'd have to agree with Mark, I'd have been mightily dissapointed if I'd actually _paid_ to get in.
Having said that... I did buy some of the 'happy feet' liquid insoles, as I have a foot injury that they make a lot more bearable.
Other than that, it's been getting progressively smaller over the last few years.... another year or two and it will have past the point of no return.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I was there yesterday and agree whole heatedly with everyone's sentiment. I particularly wanted to check out the new Head Rev 105- you guessed it, it wasn't in the show display. I was impressed though with the Whitedot carbon fibre prototype skis, they really did look awesome. I don't think there was any representation from Austria either. At the end of the day a manufacturer/retailer etc will only go to a show if it is commercially justifiable. I think we all know what the answer is.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If ski shops are closing it indicates the ski market is shrinking. No surprise if ski show reflects that.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I'm not sure that that in itself is an indication of the market shrinking. Shops in all market sectors are closing due to the competition from online markets. I'm guilty of it myself, the only thing I've been into a shop for, was to get my boots. One pair of skis was bought from a shop, the other was bought online and I simply provided my BSL to allow them to fit the bindings.
It's indicative of a shift in how people shop, and the fact that there are so many online retailers who are surviving suggests the market isn't shrinking as much as the highstreet might indicate.
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| George Jones wrote: |
| If ski shops are closing it indicates the ski market is shrinking. No surprise if ski show reflects that. |
I'm sure that recession is having an impact on new entrants but I mainly see closure of ski shops as a removal of the mediocre from the market. Good committed specialists seem to survive as do big retail.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I don't really understand why people are being asked to pay to get into a venue, so people can sell them things (holidays and equipment). Seems you are being asked to pay twice. Ok if there were deeply discounted goods, but it just seems you are paying for the privilege of being marketed at.
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| nozawaonsen wrote: |
| I don't really understand why people are being asked to pay to get into a venue, so people can sell them things (holidays and equipment). Seems you are being asked to pay twice. Ok if there were deeply discounted goods, but it just seems you are paying for the privilege of being marketed at. |
You are the anti-Phil Keith and I claim my £5.
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Was going to go down to the show this weekend but last minute change of plan meant can't go, quite gutted. I went to last years at Brum and despite being a tad low-key we enjoyed it. I reckon it's a good opportunity to have a wander around and talk skiing, and in particular was looking forward to seeing the new WD Carbons at the show.
I know it's a bit of an indoor Car-boot ski fest but I reckon it appeals to me because it goes back to the 80's when it was much bigger, the first proper opportunity of the new season to get into ski mode, and it coincided with page 410 on ceefax which about the same time used to be the only way of seeing the snow fall.......used to get home from work and put it on straight away.......ha!
Times have changed but I reckon the commitment of the independents in UK ski industry have made it a much better industry and I really like dealing with them, ie: WD, Jons Piste Office/ Ski Tuning, Snowshepherd, Snowsafe, Edge & Wax, Rivington etc. These guys are the future as far as I am concerned, S&R, EB etc are catering for mass market high street and I'm not into that. For that reason I wanted o go and meet these guys face to face, maybe next year.......have a good show all. 
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lots of reasons the show is getting smaller
cost of stand space is one, i know several companies who booked a while back and paid the top rate (close on if not more than £300 per sq metre) i also know that they have been selling off stands cheap in the last few weeks, i was offered a stand last weekend at birmingham and although there was no negotiation done it was evident that it would have been close to free! so if i had paid top price for a stand and my neighbour had been given the space because he waited till the last minute then i would be pretty hacked off, not sure it would convince me to book and go again.
yes i know it could be looked at just like buying a let minute holiday, but if the prices weren't so crazy in the first place then companies would buy their stand space early and there would be no need for the silly last minute discounts... it has always been an expensive show to attend (all shows in these venues are) not only do you have the stand space but you need to accommodate your staff and feed then (occasionally) then for the small business there is the lost revenue form not being in your nor lam location, if selling gear then do you take all your stock or leave some behind for the person that wants to visit your shop? what happens if that person wants a size which you took to the show, will you keep them to buy next week or have you lost the customer for good???
you also find that the smaller companies end up paying more to subsidise the larger ones (happens in all walks of life) but without the larger companies the show looks small and uninteresting so the organisers want the big companies there...and so the cycle continues
not sure how long any of the shows will last in reality, Earls court is due to be knocked down pretty soon and they will leave only one exhibition space in central london which will probably inflate its prices still further as there will be more demand
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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nozawaonsen wrote:
I don't really understand why people are being asked to pay to get into a venue, so people can sell them things (holidays and equipment). Seems you are being asked to pay twice. Ok if there were deeply discounted goods, but it just seems you are paying for the privilege of being marketed at.
Couldn't agree more...went last year and it was nothing more than a somewhat tired shopping mall, which you had to pay for the 'privilege' to shop in.
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| Whitegold wrote: |
| It sounds like skiing is going out of fashion in the UK. |
It's going out of fashion on snowheads!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Well I came to print out my tickets to go today (Sat) to discover that back in August I'd actually booked Thurs 1st Nov. Ho hum  Sounds on the up side (sort of) that I haven't missed a great deal. My son isn't too happy with me now either as he now has to do his home work this afternoon lol
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Quote: |
I don't really understand why people are being asked to pay to get into a venue, so people can sell them things (holidays and equipment). Seems you are being asked to pay twice.
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Let's be fair here though, the ski show isn't the only one that does that. Antique fairs, horticultural shows, agricultural shows, Outdoors show, Cycling shows, scuba shows, equestrian shows..........pick a sport and I'll find a show connected with it that wants you to pay to go and look at advertising.
We went yesterday and had a good time. We had booked up with £5 and £8 tickets
As with any event it is what you make it. We took the Minimums in no particular order, they had fun.........talking to huskies, talking to a St Bernard dog, lots of curling, eating overpriced hot dogs (I will confess to finding a fiver each person to eat to be a bit on the steep side), they had an interesting talk with livetoski who showed them all about avalanche safety gear on the Ortovox stand, they had a roller skiing session, we queued for ski lessons, but they were booked up by the time we got there , they watched the skis being tuned, played with the CGI helmets and did silly things on the video, they played with they daily telegraphs massive touch screens and had their photos done, they played roulette for snow balls, played with the ice hockey goal with the West Beach crew, played with someones Wii and huge screens, went inside the Yourt (sp?), had several goes on the snowboard balance game, they had a good look at the cross country skis, spoke to the folks from BASI (who it turned out live about 3 miles from us!), we missed the ice carving but saw the finished result, we said hello to Santa and we looked in wonder at the huge and laughably empty Snivel stand
Apart from the food the only cash I spent was on a couple of scrapers for Xmas gifts (so the accusation that you pay to go in just to be asked to buy things doesn't hold up as the kids did all the above for just the cost of the ticket (and we didn't get round to doing everything they could have done), we just used the tickets to do what we could and entered every comp. going (I rather fancy winning the Head 007 skis!).
You could tell that firms were cutting back though, less 'freebies', even down to a lack of sweets on the stand (I do like to 'graze' my way around a show - though well done Atomic - Foxes glacier fruits and Haribos) and no lip balms!!
For what we paid I think we got a good day out.
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I enjoyed the ski show, yes I got discounted tickets and yes I think the organisers should look at the ticket prices, but then look at the amount of offers that where around.
Why did I enjoy it, we are looking to do a trip to Western Canada or Colorado, the people on the Vail stand where very welcoming and informative as where the ones next door at Colorado, the guy from Ski Independence was extremely helpful and even gave us a voucher for two beers 
Moving on to the Whistler stand again very helpful, so was the guy on the Frontier stand, as well as the lady on Banff & Lake Louise, the guy on the Frenie stand was amusing as well as informative.
Thought it was a great idea from Snowcoach to have a coach at the show, never been on a coach holiday but am now looking at doing a weekend with some mates, the benefit of having seen what the seating is like.
Mustn't forget the team at Club Med, enthusiastic engaging, then also Sarah and Dan from More Alps and the guys on Resoski, neat way of finding your buried ski hope they do well
Loved the penguins!
Yes there where a lack of Ski's and I think the manufactures could do more, but what are the cost of a stand against the amount of ski's sold in the UK.
Snowtrax had loads of bargain ski's, Finches had a good presence, I wasn't looking particularly having just bought a new pair form the Piste Office
there may not have been the three valleys, but Norway had a big presence.
What I didn't like, the three people on the Sud Tirol stand and the two on the Aosta stand who thought texting was more interesting than talking to potential customers 
It was our fist time to Earls Court 2 and its so much better than Olympia, we did NEC last year.
The number of people from the UK taking a ski holiday has shrunk from over 1M to around the mid 800k, according to snowsports England
It also seems no matter what show you go to there will always be the cheese, vension or sausage speciality stand
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
Let's be fair here though, the ski show isn't the only one that does that. Antique fairs, horticultural shows, agricultural shows, Outdoors show, Cycling shows, scuba shows, equestrian shows..........pick a sport and I'll find a show connected with it that wants you to pay to go and look at advertising.
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Not sure it's a question of fairness, the thread just happens to be about a ski show on a skiing forum, I certainly wasn't singling out the ski industry (and can't imagine how you could imagine that I was?). It seems a bit shoddy to me whatever the industry.
And yes I agree with your last point. The organisers seem to want to take the customer for mugs twice. It's great that people are friendly on the stands. But so they should be they are trying to sell to you. It's the bit about paying for this that I find odd.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Sat 3-11-12 15:37; edited 1 time in total
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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The stall I was impressed with was the chap that was making gear and ski bags out of old curtain-sider tarpaulins and seat belts. Brilliantly strong bags, recycling at its best, and a small business started from a prototype he made for himself that his friends also wanted. If anyone wants a gear or ski bag capable of withstanding airport luggage handlers they have to be up there. I didn't need one, but they seemed an excellent product and idea. I hope he does well.
If anyone needs a bag take a look if you didn't get to the show - they were really good things - that web site doesn't show his ski bags I think, but they were really good things and I expect it would only take a phone call to get some photos.
http://www.m-24.co.uk/collections/ski-bag
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Poster: A snowHead
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nozawaonsen, so in all your life you've never been to any show that does this because you object to paying to view advertising? I think its just a fact of life that this happens - unfair or otherwise, so the thing to do is to get as much out of the day as possible.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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nozawaonsen, You just seem so adamantly against a concept that you yourself them promote by stating that you do indeed attend such events. I think everyone realises that they are paying to view advertisements, but we get a day out and I guess that is what you pay your cash for. It's just the way the world runs, you subscribe to it, so you can't think it's that unfair, and its certainly not just limited to skiing.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sat 3-11-12 17:23; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Megamum wrote: |
| nozawaonsen, so in all your life you've never been to any show that does this because you object to paying to view advertising? I think its just a fact of life that this happens - unfair or otherwise, so the thing to do is to get as much out of the day as possible. |
I'm with nozawaonsen on this. I've never been to a ski - or any other - show for that very reason. But then I don't consider shopping to be a leisure activity either, so even if didn't have to pay I wouldn't go to one of these shows. I don't object to other people going, I just think you're all bonkers.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Megamum, yes we were there yesterday as well.
Yes there are shops, but as Megamum points out you don't have to shop. Our girls did plenty of different things - curling, ice skating, youngest had her first go on a snow board, they both had half an hour on the skis with wheels and the biggest laugh of the day was the snow board fixed to the rodeo system with donations to Help the Heroes. We arrived at 12 and left just after 6.
The stall from the company that came down from Cumbria selling base layers was good as I wanted a couple of new ones, so that was my purchase.
My other half liked the stalls to find out about locations that may be quieter and had a good chat with some new companies to her. She also tried as many samples of alcohol drinks as possible - Toffee Vodka!
As a family we had a good time, maybe because the kids had plenty to do and "it was a different day out". We only went this year as it was in half term, so I doubt we will be back any time soon, but for a family ticket price online it was a good day out.
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| Megamum wrote: |
| nozawaonsen, You just seem so admantly against a concept that you yourself them promote by stating that you do indeed attend such events. I think everyone realises that they are paying to view advertisements, but we get a day out and I guess that is what you pay your cash for. It's just the way the world runs, you subscribe to it, so you can't think it's that unfair, and its certainly not just limited to skiing. |
This is getting a bit odd.
I have not said at any point that I think it is unfair or fair. I don't really think one can apply the concept of fairness in this context or not. But you seem insistent that I think it is fair or not fair?
In what way am I promoting an event simply by saying I have been to it? There are plenty of things I have seen or done or places I have been to which I would not choose to repeat.
At what point have I inferred in any way at any point that it was limited to skiing?
Why should you pay cash so someone can advertise their products to you? Why shouldn't the company in question shoulder the costs as part of their promotional budget?
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40 quid for return train travel
20 quid to get in
Free Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard mag
Free Snow magazine
Free Ski & Board magazine
I buy the UK ski mags in season, so take that lot away and the entrance fee is closer to 48 quid.
Bought the Optrix housing for the i-phone (had seen it on the interweb but wanted to see what it looked like in real life) and got a 5 quid discount.
So 43 quid to go to the show.
I then proceeded to eat and drink more than 3 quids worth of cheese, meat and wine.
My young lady touched and saw a pair of Rossignol Temptation 82 Open skis. Gave them the ok, and that evening I bought them on ebay for 130 quid cheaper than what Ellis Brigham or Snow & Rock are selling them for.
Talked with some very interesting and passionate people, and put a few more destinations on my list.
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I went today (on a free ticket) and found it better than expected. Maybe it was because its the first time I've been on a Sat afternoon rather than a weekday evening when everyone's knackered, half the freebies have gone stalls have packed up to go to the pub. Nice to fondle the whitedot carbon layup skis, have a go on a Skia sweetspot trainer and fail to score fivehole vs the Weastbeach cardboard goalie. Saw that the tosser behind Snow beacon was back punting them as family avalanche safety devices - dickhead & in direct conflict with what he says on his website.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Just watched the free Banff DVD being given away at the show with the Telegraph (£1 incl a DVD, bag and a bar of chocolate). Skiing, climbing, kayaking etc. Truly excellent action footage, make sure you pick one up. Seemed to be less to do at the show this year- no big ramp, no fashion show, no rodeo so less of a good day out for the family.
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| fatbob wrote: |
| . Saw that the tosser behind Snow beacon was back punting them as family avalanche safety devices - dickhead & in direct conflict with what he says on his website. |
Ahh yes, I asked them how it helped if everyone in a group had them or if the one with a proper beeper was the one buried but the person I was talking to just sort of shuffled off to talk to someone else.
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FAQ
