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Slide – on a slippery slope?
The snowsport industry’s annual trade show – renamed Slide for 2007 – ended said Rare Management on a high note following a successful three days at Manchester’s G-Mex Centre. “A buoyant marketplace was evident with retailers and brands writing above expectation business, which helped to create a great vibe. “Vibe… the first thing I noticed upon entering the building was a serious lack of it. Having not long returned from the buzzing halls of ispo, I was shocked to walk into something which were it not for the high quality products on show, would have more resembled a boot fair on a rainy day in February
That said it wasn’t all bad news.A member of staff at the Dakine stand defended the eerily quiet hall: “Footfall is low but the leads we have got so far have been quality ones.” In fairness,Target Dry too was happy with what Slide had to offer: “Yes it’s been quiet, but we’ve done okay out of it.We’ve got new orders and leads, so it’s been worth it for us.We’ll be back next year.”
The jury was out, however, for Diana Davis of FFFrozen, new to the market with a range of fragrances for outdoor enthusiasts: “We are using it more as a learning curve for gauging the retail mentality, and for getting ourselves known. Footfall is disappointing though.”
Meanwhile, Trespass didn’t hold back in its analysis of the situation: “It’s not been too bad, but having a show at half term is a rubbish idea! Also,Moda and Beta are on so the timing is a bit off in that sense too.”
Ruccanor was another brand to speak up for Slide: “We’ve been quite busy, but getting people to commit at the show has been difficult, but then that’s often the case with shows now.”The UK trade show has indeed become more of a networking forum – a kind of meet and greet for business deals that will be carried out once all concerned have had time to mull over what they have seen and heard.
“The shorter three day format ran very smoothly, and the new floor plan with pre-built booths and lower walls proved a real success. The re-design meant each stand was highly accessible and created an inviting ‘shop front’, which proved a hit with both exhibitors and visitors alike. The longer opening hours and relaxed ‘happy hour’with DJ provided a great opportunity for social interaction before everyone headed out to enjoy the Manchester nightlife,” added Rare Management.
Certainly, everyone I spoke to loved the layout, and the cool and contemporary stands juxtaposed beautifully with the architecture of the G-Mex. The effect in that sense was really quite stunning. But where was everyone? No wonder my eyes were skyward! Yes you could see across the hall…but that’s no good if the hall is virtually empty.
“The new ‘Chat Room’ Seminar Theatre proved a popular stop-off between appointments for buyers,with short presentations on topics ranging from snow sport statistics and the impact of climate change to PR for the independent retailers,” continued Rare in its post show report. But every time I passed there was nothing going on outside of the schedule…no informal chat…other than one solitary meeting I spotted on the last day…
