Who's off to the Midland?

[BigDuncs]

Been to either the Midland of the CLA/(New Game Fair at the end of July) for years. Was away for the July fair this year but even so, will not be going to the Midland. Shockingly disappointing the last few times I was there. Although I do enjoy the wee train ride through the wood......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi-I4bd0wQs

[Ric O'shay]

I went for many years but not for the last 3, ticket prices were too much for a family day out (and i suspect charges to set up a stall) it just starts out as an expensive shopping trip before you have even bought anything. Traffic and parking arrangements were not as good as they could be, number of the type of stands i wanted to visit diminished.
If SFS have dropped out this year then it speaks volumes. I would rather save the admission price and visit them instead.
just my thoughts
Nige

[Lavant_Lad]

No Im not its just a massive dog show !!!!!!!

[bozzer]

Really sad to keep reading these threads each year.

It used to be a massive date on my calendar. It always fell at the end of the cricket season. I never shot in the summer but shot every week in the winter. So the Midland's was like a gateway from the cricket season into the shooting season for me.

I'd get there early with a lurcher and grab a bacon bap and a brew and sit under a tree with the dog. Then have a wander around gun row. Then have a wander around the rest of the place. Then a beer under a tree listening to some music. Then another wander around gun row. I'd always bump into someone I knew.

Last few times I went the airgun side was woeful. The other stalls were very repetitive and mainly market traders flogging sh1te.

I really miss the old Midlands.

[Craig-P]

I heard it’ll be the last one at Weston Park too, so if that’s true it really is the end of an era.
What these shows need is a drastic reduction in the price to rent a stall/pitch.
If the all in cost of a small pitch in the Airgun Expo was say £500, there’d be triple the number of traders there and the small, cottage industries or people who think they may have a saleable product or service, would be more tempted to book a stall and display. The larger stalls would also then be available for less money as more smaller stalls would be booked.
The owners / organisers would make just as much money, if not more. They could actually increase the entry fee if there was triple the amount of traders exhibiting. I always went with the attitude of, ‘stuff the entry price, it’s a once a year event and I’m going to enjoy it’.

But that became increasingly difficult to do when 80% of the stuff on show was cheap Chinese tools and snide clothing.

It’s a shame it went the way it did.

[Flashash]

It’s not really the cost of the space which puts exhibitors off. It’s the aggravation, discomfort and cost of set up. And for what at the end of the day? In summary, not very profitable and a pain in the arse! People have better things to do on a weekend these days.

[venoman]

I went yesterday first time for about 6yrs as im always abroad when it on, very poor not just the shooting side but the rest of the show as well . More like a big open air market than a game show.

[Craig-P]

It’s not really the cost of the space which puts exhibitors off. It’s the aggravation, discomfort and cost of set up. And for what at the end of the day? In summary, not very profitable and a pain in the arse! People have better things to do on a weekend these days.

The tent that I used to work in cost £6000. Then there’s wages for the people who work in it. Then there’s transportation of stock. Then there’s loss through the gangs of thieves that always haunt the place - that’s an awful lot money to recoup before the business has made even.
Lowering the cost of the pitch would be a great first step in the right direction to breathe some life back into it all.

[Shug]

I heard it’ll be the last one at Weston Park too

Could you elaborate, Craig? Where have you heard it's heading for?

I have been every year since 1996, I drove down to have a look at Theoben Rapid 7 as no one up here stocked them and I wanted to see one in the flesh before I spent what was a fair amount of cash for me on a rifle I had never even seen. I even managed the 550 miles annual round trip the year of the fuel shortage. It's definitely not the show it used to be but I always look at it as a weekend away for me and the wife and I will probably be there next year as usual.


Shug,

[Craig-P]

Could you elaborate, Craig? Where have you heard it's heading for?

That’s all I’ve heard from a friend in the trade, Shug. I don’t know anymore I’m afraid.