by Snakes4Africa » Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:15 pm
deleray, I hear you, and that is exactly why I posed the question. Call it a show or an expo, its the same thing.. The longest running Expo in South Africa is the House and Garden Expo, and it is on for 10 days every year!
We don't have the same level of trade or interest that Germany has, or used to have. I have not been to Hamm or Houten but know about them and how they work. I have exhibited at every show/expo in South Africa bar the 1st one so I know how it works here.
Even in the States and Germany, some of the really high-end stuff goes back home with the seller. Not everything worthwhile sells out straight away. That certainly may have been the case a few years ago, but not any more.
As for the door takings being doubled by having the expo over two days, I don't really believe that to be the case. If it was only one day, people would make the effort to be there! Especially serious buyers, not just the walk-and-see-mores.
As an exhibitor you can lose sales if you are too busy. Historically I have had really great 1st days and really great 2nd days. Sometimes it takes a little while for someone to make a big money decision, and sometimes they lose out.
All that said, I initally intended to do a one-day show but am beginning to change my mind. For exposure to the general public, who may be the buyers of the future, a 2-day show is better. It is more tiring as an exhibitor to do 2 days, but certainly worth the effort. If exhibitors are travelling from other provinces, a one day show is just not worth-while.
The dates I intend doing it are unfortunately not over a long-weekend but are during school holidays. I get very nervous travelling over long week-ends! The weather is still pleasant in Durban in July and there is a lot on the go that time of year.
As for punting it as an indigenous expo, I agree that is a great selling point, but people from outside of KZN must be aware that they will need permits to keep and transport the reptlies.
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