Art and Frame Expo - Toronto

[Ted]

I received an e-mail from Margaret of the Bevelled Edge in regards to a show in Toronto sponsored by the Bevelled Edge Magazine, in October of this year. I know...I know...isn't this the guy who swears he'll never leave his shop to attend a show, but after listening to everyone's advise, maybe I am missing something.

The last show I did attend was in Toronto, but that was many years ago and I didn't think there has been one there for a long time.

Anyone know what's the deal with this show, dates, vendors, etc.

Any info would be appreciated.

Ted

 

[John Ranes II CPF GCF]

Ted,

I believe it's just being organized now - with the dates of 26-27 October.

Contact The Beveled Edge folks. I love Canadian shows, but they've been slow and poorly supported, I'm afraid. The first couple of PPFA shows in Toronto in the early '80's were pretty good, but they'd weakened over the years.

Part of the problem is that the Canadian market is so strewn from East to West coasts, where the Prairies and BC folk don't usually support a Toronto show. Then you have the Quebec/Ontario support issue? Talk to your vendors, and encourage them to participate. I remember saving of large purchace ideas and orders just to place them at the shows to give the vendors encouragement!

John

 

[Alan Sturgess]

Save your money and go to Atlanta in September or to the WCAFS run by Picture Framing Magazine in January.

This is a good example of a show being run by an organization that wants to make money at running a trade show. I do not believe that the people behind the show understand that we are in a changing market and that the channels of distribution for framed art have changed dramatically over the past decade.

Just because you publish a magazine does not mean that you have the smarts and competence to run a trade show. Decor Magazine set all the wheels in motion for a Show in Toronto for May 2001. They did not get the support of the trade and had to cancel the show.

This proposed show is going to have as much or more trouble getting the distributors and manufacturers to support it. It is a lot easier for the show operator to hit his breakeven point for the show than it is for the exhibitors.

This proposed show is another example why there is a need for a strong trade association of the exhibitors (manufacturers, distibutors and importers) to put forward a common front to the operators of trade shows.

Distributors and manfuactuers are no different than retailers. We sit down and work on our individual marketing plans. We spend money on catalogues, monthly flyers, sales reps, openhouses, seminars for our customers, telemarketing, moulding samples and trade shows. If you talk to distributors you will find that trade shows are giving them one of the poorest returns for dollars spent.

The "thread" on the recent New York trade shows discussed some of the reasons that these trade shows are struggling.

Alan Sturgess

 

[Bogframe]

This is all well and good, but you still can't get Cuban cigars in Atlanta!

 

[Ted]

I agreee with you John.

Canadian diversity is a huge issue in this field. Yet, if trade shows are, indeed, an important part of professional development as everyone says that they are, then shows must be developed in Canada, as well, for the following reasons:

1) The cost involved for someone in Nova Scotia or even Ontario to fly to Vancouver for instant on a Canadian airline is...well, lets just say that I could fly to visit Dermot cheaper!

2) It's the same problem for someone from B.C. to do the same to come to Toronto or Montreal.

3) The dollar value exchange when you're talking about purchases in the US (airfair, hotel, food), assuming that show purchases would be at regular Canadian rates are enough to discourage Canadian visitors to the US.

4) Travelling to the US is not as easy as it used to be, passorts, security checks, etc.

The bottom line is that if vendors want to reach the majority of Canadian Framers then there needs to be accessible shows in Canada. I for one hope that the Bevelled Edge Magazine is successful in organizing a show in Toronto. I understand how difficult it is to do so for if you really want to reach all Canadian Framers you would not only need a good show in Toronto, but in...say...Halifax, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver!!!

Ted