keithm Posted April 17, 2019 Report Share Posted April 17, 2019 I totally agree, it needs to be special and unique as a visitor. If all the wholesalers want is to do 'deals' on the day, they should maybe make better use of their websites. simon1 and kobblers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom D Posted April 17, 2019 Report Share Posted April 17, 2019 5 hours ago, keithm said: lWeisbaden was NOT a FANTASTIC show, it was half the normal size and seemed very quiet to me on the Saturday. Sadly, shoe repairing on the Continent is as quiet as it is here. only said it looked fantastic on the web keith? compared to the last uk one bet it got more visitors than the uk one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted April 17, 2019 Report Share Posted April 17, 2019 I have a lot of respect for certain people in my trade: KeithM, Peter Coulson, Chris Wilson, Lee Ffrench, Graham Parker and many more, yes, you too, Tel, for your car key knowledge - I might have argued with some of these peers but it's always been out of the love for my trade and I have to say that all have been outstanding contributors and ambassadors for my trade and it breaks my heart that it appears to be slowly dying due to lack of interest, innovation and uptake from 'new' cobblers. I've said a few times that our industry doesn't advertise enough - not just polishes. insoles and all that crap but also that we don't get recognised for our skills and the work we do on a daily basis - I get it: a lot of younger people live in a throw-away world but these exact same people spend a fortune on their footwear and yet they don't get them mended. Why is that?. I don't have the answers but there must be damn good reasons; lack of knowledge that they can get their footwear mended; scared off by the lick-it-stick-it brigade; told by amateurs from big chains that the shoes are beyond redemption? I would so love to get involved in promoting our trade but it just seems pointless, at the moment, because I'd be fighting my own idealistic, but, (in my mind), misguided, battle against those who can't move with the times. Cutting edge used to be a great publication but now it seems redundant because of its content. Stop targeting the cobblers for money and start to use your budget to target the people who give us their precious money: ADVERTISE! Let the country know about our once highly-valued skills! If they spend on us, we buy off you people who sell through Cutting Edge and we all win! I have so many ideas but I also get people's backs up with my opinions and people make the mistake of conflating my passion for my trade with arrogance, hence why I wouldn't do well on a committee. Keith's right, to a certain degree: the suppliers should make better use of their websites but I would go one further and encourage the WHOLE industry, including us mere cobblers, to engage each other and come up with a national marketing strategy to encourage people to get their footwear mended, their watch repaired, their patching done, keys cut, things engraved, etc. If we cannot come together as a collective, we will die, alone, wondering what went wrong and blaming everyone else but our sodding selves. I ask you all: would you be willing to put 50 quid towards an ad campaign with our suppliers? It's a symbiotic relationship and we need to work together. Yes, I know it's lot of money but we cannot just rest on our laurels and watch our trade die. To me - it would be a sound investment, and, at the end of the day - what have we got to lose besides our livelihoods? Rick. abababa, wellsy9, exp121260 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abababa Posted April 17, 2019 Report Share Posted April 17, 2019 Very passionate post Rick When i started 4/5 years ago, I had never heard of Somsr or Cutting edge. I have no first hand experience with them apart from reading this thread and having a look at their website. Are you suggesting we start our own hybrid version of Somsr / Cutting edge, run by shoe repairers? I can do web design, mailing lists etc etc. kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted April 17, 2019 Report Share Posted April 17, 2019 I'm not trying to supplant anyone- I just believe we should ALL be trying harder. Our trade is unique, we've adapted over 30 years and we can do it again - a lot of trades can't boast about that.. All we need is the will and the leadership and guidance from the big and small players in our industry. Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted April 17, 2019 Report Share Posted April 17, 2019 When I was a YTS at sixteen, i was extremely slow to understand the nuances of my work and I was told, more than once, by my area manager, manager and assistant manager that I would never make a good shoe repairer. I proved them wrong - to the point that my ex-assistant manager now comes to me for work he can't do. I am very single-minded and when I put my mind to good use, I always win. Like I say, I have ideas but I would be fighting old-school thinking. Mike at Vauxhall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted April 18, 2019 Report Share Posted April 18, 2019 I have said this before - but in essence - build a better show- advertise it fully make the exhibitor a deal they cannot refuse and on a day the trade can come and your in with half a chance - I was shot in the foot by 2020 exhibition having paid a deposit for my venue in 2018 to find out your show is the same weekend! WTF I have had ALEX every two even years for 10 years the first weekend in October - Lost me deposit and had to move the dates kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsy9 Posted April 18, 2019 Report Share Posted April 18, 2019 Did Cutting Edge not do a national advertising campaign about 10 years ago? Can't remember the exact name of the campaign. but would something similar not work this time? The advertising could maybe be on social media (everyone is on facebook or twitter these days). Maybe have some kind of offer, where if customer likes or shares your facebook or twitter page they receive some kind of discount. But have the campaign spread over the country and involve Cutting Edge, SOMSR, suppliers etc. New products, services, etc. kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted April 18, 2019 Report Share Posted April 18, 2019 16 hours ago, Tom D said: only said it looked fantastic on the web keith? compared to the last uk one bet it got more visitors than the uk one Well Weisbaden takes place every Three years and attracts visitors from all over the world, but mainly Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted April 18, 2019 Report Share Posted April 18, 2019 14 hours ago, kobblers said: I have a lot of respect for certain people in my trade: KeithM, Peter Coulson, Chris Wilson, Lee Ffrench, and many more, yes, you too, Tel, for your car key knowledge - I might have argued with some of these peers but it's always been out of the love for my trade and I have to say that all have been outstanding contributors and ambassadors for my trade and it breaks my heart that it appears to be slowly dying due to lack of interest, innovation and uptake from 'new' cobblers. I've said a few times that our industry doesn't advertise enough - not just polishes. insoles and all that crap but also that we don't get recognised for our skills and the work we do on a daily basis - I get it: a lot of younger people live in a throw-away world but these exact same people spend a fortune on their footwear and yet they don't get them mended. Why is that?. I don't have the answers but there must be damn good reasons; lack of knowledge that they can get their footwear mended; scared off by the lick-it-stick-it brigade; told by amateurs from big chains that the shoes are beyond redemption? I would so love to get involved in promoting our trade but it just seems pointless, at the moment, because I'd be fighting my own idealistic, but, (in my mind), misguided, battle against those who can't move with the times. Cutting edge used to be a great publication but now it seems redundant because of its content. Stop targeting the cobblers for money and start to use your budget to target the people who give us their precious money: ADVERTISE! Let the country know about our once highly-valued skills! If they spend on us, we buy off you people who sell through Cutting Edge and we all win! I have so many ideas but I also get people's backs up with my opinions and people make the mistake of conflating my passion for my trade with arrogance, hence why I wouldn't do well on a committee. Keith's right, to a certain degree: the suppliers should make better use of their websites but I would go one further and encourage the WHOLE industry, including us mere cobblers, to engage each other and come up with a national marketing strategy to encourage people to get their footwear mended, their watch repaired, their patching done, keys cut, things engraved, etc. If we cannot come together as a collective, we will die, alone, wondering what went wrong and blaming everyone else but our sodding selves. I ask you all: would you be willing to put 50 quid towards an ad campaign with our suppliers? It's a symbiotic relationship and we need to work together. Yes, I know it's lot of money but we cannot just rest on our laurels and watch our trade die. To me - it would be a sound investment, and, at the end of the day - what have we got to lose besides our livelihoods? Rick. Nicely put Kobblers, but you would need millions to promote our trade to the public as a whole. Better to advertise locally, supported by the wholesalers and the Trade body, such that it is! You also have to bare in mind that as customers of the wholesalers, you all want the best prices, this often leads to low margins, which leaves little in the pot to spend on Marketing and Advertising to the Trade. NONE of the wholesalers are rolling in money, believe me! You can't have it all ways, repairers make way more margin than any wholesaler could dream of making! kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_ Posted April 18, 2019 Report Share Posted April 18, 2019 How many times has the discussion been had about how to extract more visitors? I was part of a meeting once and i suggested all sorts of things to try and attract more people, non as far as i can see were ever put into practice or even considered. Things like "bulk take away deals" in a separate area of the show or competitions such as "speed heeling" or something daft like that. I think the best thing to do is forget the exhibition for now, maybe have a re-think in 5 years or so and see if anything has changed. keithm and kobblers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted April 18, 2019 Report Share Posted April 18, 2019 5 hours ago, Paul_ said: How many times has the discussion been had about how to extract more visitors? I was part of a meeting once and i suggested all sorts of things to try and attract more people, non as far as i can see were ever put into practice or even considered. Things like "bulk take away deals" in a separate area of the show or competitions such as "speed heeling" or something daft like that. I think the best thing to do is forget the exhibition for now, maybe have a re-think in 5 years or so and see if anything has changed. So do nothing and hope things get better.............How many will still be here in 5 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 Quote So do nothing and hope things get better.............How many will still be here in 5 years. that seems to be the westminster way !! carry on! simon1 and kobblers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Starzec Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 Sorry to arrive to this discussion. Just a few ideas from an old dog. I think that the exhibitions are great, but their "market" (shoe repairers) is shrinking. Why not give it a different name and open and advertise, the exhibition to the public? Attract and invite new related exhibitors, such as high end (repairable) footwear manufacturers. Shoe care bloggers, who can also promote the exhibition online. Work out why repairers dno't attend. Is it too far? Is it too expensive? Perhaps a questionaire through wholesalers. As I said just a few ideas, trying to be positive kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Starzec Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 That should be "arrive late" to this discussion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinh Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 I do tend to agree with most of the various opinions expressed by various contributors on this topic both pro and anti. However, having sent out around 50 invitations to various suppliers to book space at Edinburgh in September it seems that the only interested exhibition supporters are the same loyal companies as before. Thank goodness for these stalwarts giving up time and effort to make it a success. As Keith says earlier, there is not a huge pot of money available for promoting the trade, nor is there a dedicated team of support assistants to create advertising campaigns or gee up promotions, there just aren't the resources available. We are constantly asking for input from our suppliers/members/friends but our requests tend to fall on deaf ears. The trade does need new people. We need imagination and enthusiasm. We need new blood. People who want to make a difference. Go to the exhibitions. Support your suppliers. Be prepared to give as well as take. I do appreciate Ted's comments but I don't think that allowing the public in to a trade show would be beneficial but perhaps we could try to get more publicity for the skills of our trade if the people who actually have the skills would communicate with us a little more. That's what we are here for. Ok there is the magazine and the certificate and some advertising stuff available from Cutting Edge/SOMSR but with a bit more positive feedback we could try to do so much more. You can't criticise our efforts if you don't get off your a**e and go to the exhibitions and see what we are trying to achieve. PS just had two more bookings for Edinburgh so its looking good. kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinh Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 Further to Ted's suggestion:- Question 1. Why don't you visit the exhibition ? Question 2. What would make you go to the exhibition? Question 3. Where would you like to go to see the exhibition? Question 4. How often would you like to go to an exhibition? Question 5. How much would you pay for entry to an exhibition? ( At Wiesbaden it was 12 euros per day to get in and as Keith says it was less well attended than in previous years Answers on a postcard please Winner gets a positive write up in Cutting Edge magazine and a very nice bottle of Bubbly from Schloss Wachenhiem The judges decision is final. No further communication will be entered into ……………….. kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 1) Too far. 2) Better offers and demos. More variety. Less expensive food and drink as I usually take some of my kids and it costs me a fortune. Maybe on-the-day competitions. 3) Anywhere within a 100 mile radius, currently. If the exhibition was better then I'd probably travel further. 4)Up to 3 times a year if they're decent ones. 5) I think a fiver is reasonable. HarryHeffernan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinh Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 Thanks Rick ….. so far you're winning By the way, if anyone doesn't receive their copy of Cutting Edge please email the editor, Tony Driver, on info@5dpublicity.com with your name and address and he will add it to the mailing list. Robin kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom D Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 1st one I ever went too was gmex in Manchester think it was 1986 , my abiding memory of it was my brother , who has nothing to do with shoe repair came with me just to go to the bar, mind you he got bought a few beers off the reps and nearly bought a power unit on lease, yes its declined since then , remember back then there was no internet , so the only way you found out anything was from your rep, I think back to me starting my own shop 25yrs ago and how hard it was to find machinery, so how do you make it better , , more variety would be nice, a bit more socialsing would be nice ( I sometimes think that we as repairers simply don't talk enough to each other ,unlees its in a laptop, competitions have been mentioned the last uk one had a 1st prize of £1000 , don't think the us or german one does correct me if im wrong robin but someone said it attracted 16 entrys? so theres your answer you have to cure the appethey of the uk shoe repairer do that and you've solved the problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 Why don't you visit the exhibition ? but i do attend Question 2. What would make you go to the exhibition? better offers on the day Question 3. Where would you like to go to see the exhibition? edinburgh is good manchester and leeds were ok Question 4. How often would you like to go to an exhibition? once a year Question 5. How much would you pay for entry to an exhibition? ( At Wiesbaden it was 12 euros per day to get in and as Keith says it was less well attended than in previous years) behave yourself! carry on! kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 On 4/30/2019 at 1:09 PM, robinh said: However, having sent out around 50 invitations to various suppliers to book space at Edinburgh in September I get hundreds of bits of tat through the post every year, the reason the shows not expanded is because no ones got the time to sink into actually talking to or visiting people to promote the concept. there's no one "face of the show" it needs a PR person, who on the surface is running it, even if a committee makes up the effort. were's its facebook, its instagram, its twitter, its registration page, its live feed? kobblers, keithm and Simes 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 On 4/30/2019 at 1:49 PM, robinh said: Further to Ted's suggestion:- Question 1. Why don't you visit the exhibition ? - Not really found them particularly engaging. Usually just a few reps who I've never seen before standing infront of the same products I see on the website. Plus it's usually 2-3 hours away. Question 2. What would make you go to the exhibition? Something new to see. Money to be saved. An opportunity to learn something new. Something that's going to help my business make more money. I want to be able to see attendance as an investment. Question 3. Where would you like to go to see the exhibition? Carlisle! Nice and central to England & Scotland just off the M6. Question 4. How often would you like to go to an exhibition? Once a year Question 5. How much would you pay for entry to an exhibition? ( At Wiesbaden it was 12 euros per day to get in and as Keith says it was less well attended than in previous years Not sure why I would want to pay to be sold too? Answers on a postcard please Winner gets a positive write up in Cutting Edge magazine and a very nice bottle of Bubbly from Schloss Wachenhiem The judges decision is final. No further communication will be entered into ……………….. kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 Once in a land not to far away a colleague tried to start an alternative 'locksmiths' association - part of the come on was 'free entry to locksmiths exhibitions' I had so much e-mail telling me to stuff the exhibition if they had to pay to get in.........just sayin if your floggin it has to be free - - -- - if you is a teaching/training/- mmmm well maybe Simes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 7 minutes ago, Mick Friend said: Once in a land not to far away a colleague tried to start an alternative 'locksmiths' association - part of the come on was 'free entry to locksmiths exhibitions' I had so much e-mail telling me to stuff the exhibition if they had to pay to get in.........just sayin if your floggin it has to be free - - -- - if you is a teaching/training/- mmmm well maybe Next step would be having to pay to get a visit from a rep. Mick Friend 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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