News
Published on 10 - February - 2012
Totally DIY matches London visitor numbers
Snowbound roads, a change of halls, and a massive lack of signposting within the NEC -
this week's Totally DIY show was hit by a combination of adverse factors. But visitor traffic grew steadily throughout the three days, and by Tuesday lunchtime there was a discernible buzz in the hall.
The move to Hall 16, forced upon the show by the organisers of the Spring Fair, was never going to work in Totally DIY's favour. Hall 16 stands alone from the rest of the NEC complex, with no direct crossover traffic from any other halls - although Sunday's snow meant that there were few visitors in any of the halls. But once visitors did make it into hall 16, they found a well-laid-out and well-dressed show with good facilities and plenty of products to see.
And at the end of the three days, organiser Brintex revealed that the visitor total was around 3,000 - only half of last year's figure, but matching the number achieved in 2009, the show's last year in London.
Among exhibitors, the mood was philosophical - they knew that neither the change of halls nor the weather could be laid at Brintex's door. Similarly the signposting - or lack of it - within the main NEC complex, which was outside Brintex's control.
Many exhibitors told DIY Week that they had done well: "We haven't seen the numbers we would have liked, but the conversations we have had have been good ones," said one. And Brintex confirmed that some exhibitors have already rebooked for the 2013 show - which is currently planned for Hall 16 again.
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By hammer
Waste of time and money for exhibitors and the DIY Week article misrepresents the tenor of the show which was pathetic. Brintex needs to seriously up its performance or there will be noone exhibiting at the show.
By An Exhibitor at TOTALLY DIY
Dear Sirs
Having just read your account of the show it is quite an incredible "spin" which bears no resemblance to the actual show or actual comments, experiences and feelings of almost all the exhibitors who were there!
Yes, there were more people there on Tuesday but mostly nothing at all to do with the Industry and mostly casual passers-by from the Spring Fair who had been obviously enticed to enter Hall 16 to pump-up the numbers!
The quality in general was very poor, and quantity was well down (understandably) on Sunday due to heavy overnight snow but adequate on Monday with at least a few real buyers in evidence, Tuesday was an audience based on "anyone who could walk into the show", nothing like a trade audience!
p.s If Brintex "cannot be blamed for either the change of Hall or for the poor signage at the NEC", what do they actually influence or stand responsible for?
By Committed to Diy
As an active participant and supporter of the DIY Show it's time sadly to recognise this industry can no longer support an annual event .The physical positioning this year by Brintex was the final insult but this event has been in steady decline since the later days of CLM . Let's finally draw a line in the sand and agree this is not a good representaion for the DIY Industry , it is a poor use of manufacturers money and there are now too few independant hardware retailers to justify such an event . Let us all move on .
By James Stuart
This was a 'Totally' useless show. I fully agree with the comments by 'Interested'
By Interested
Totally DIY total waste of marketing budget. Only ones doing well out of this are Brintex. Companies should support regional wholesalers shows like Stax and Decco and make a better presentation at these events, everyone would be better off and business could be done!
16/02/2012 22:41:00
Totally DIYBy hammer
Waste of time and money for exhibitors and the DIY Week article misrepresents the tenor of the show which was pathetic. Brintex needs to seriously up its performance or there will be noone exhibiting at the show.
16/02/2012 15:09:00
Your Account of the ShowBy An Exhibitor at TOTALLY DIY
Dear Sirs
Having just read your account of the show it is quite an incredible "spin" which bears no resemblance to the actual show or actual comments, experiences and feelings of almost all the exhibitors who were there!
Yes, there were more people there on Tuesday but mostly nothing at all to do with the Industry and mostly casual passers-by from the Spring Fair who had been obviously enticed to enter Hall 16 to pump-up the numbers!
The quality in general was very poor, and quantity was well down (understandably) on Sunday due to heavy overnight snow but adequate on Monday with at least a few real buyers in evidence, Tuesday was an audience based on "anyone who could walk into the show", nothing like a trade audience!
p.s If Brintex "cannot be blamed for either the change of Hall or for the poor signage at the NEC", what do they actually influence or stand responsible for?
16/02/2012 14:16:00
Totally DIYBy Committed to Diy
As an active participant and supporter of the DIY Show it's time sadly to recognise this industry can no longer support an annual event .The physical positioning this year by Brintex was the final insult but this event has been in steady decline since the later days of CLM . Let's finally draw a line in the sand and agree this is not a good representaion for the DIY Industry , it is a poor use of manufacturers money and there are now too few independant hardware retailers to justify such an event . Let us all move on .
16/02/2012 12:12:00
Totally Waste of TimeBy James Stuart
This was a 'Totally' useless show. I fully agree with the comments by 'Interested'
10/02/2012 17:51:00
ShowsBy Interested
Totally DIY total waste of marketing budget. Only ones doing well out of this are Brintex. Companies should support regional wholesalers shows like Stax and Decco and make a better presentation at these events, everyone would be better off and business could be done!
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