North East Sea Angling and Boat Show
North East Sea Angling and Boat Show
May I just clear up a couple of points ...
Manufacturers will not be "selling" at the show as they felt that this would be unfair to local tackle shops who stock their products and weren't at the show. The idea of the manufacturers being present is to let anglers see and test their products and to show any new products. As I said earlier, if you bring a reel along and wish to try one of the rods, please do so. Can I just answer 'codonly's' comments - not all of the stands are paying the prices he has quoted and where he gets his 'information' I don't know. He should check his facts. For instance the RNLI stand is free - Sea Safety is free - Get Hooked on Fishing is only £30 for two days - NFSA is free - Amble SAC is £30 - Seaham SAC is free because the lads are helping setting the stalls out and measuring stand spaces, which is all going to take time - and there are many other instances, but why should I answer to you? !!! Total Sea Fishing and Boat Fishing Monthly are paying £50 each in exchange for advertising the show in their magazines. As this is the first show for the North East, I have tried to keep all costs to a minimum to attract exhibitors from all aspects of Sea Angling - also the entry fee is purely a nominal amount.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and contacted me by PM offering help - this is very much appreciated. Not being very handy at DIY, I was delighted to accept the offer from Topfly, who is a joiner, to help to build the stands as I have been having sleepless nights wondering just how to do this.
As I have said previously, I am already thinking of a BIG show for next year. I will need people dedicated to various forms of angling i.e. game angling (can you help Fluffchucker?); coarse angling, carp angling (which is big now) and of course sea angling -both boat and shore. If we can get a good team of people together to do this, we will be able to put on a show that will attract people from all over the country ... and as SOME people seem concerned about how much money this year's show is going to generate ... hopefully the finances will be available for next year.
By the way ... one stand at the NEC, Birmingham this year (which a friend of mine hired) and this was just the floor space - 12 ft long by 8 ft wide - cost £17,000 for the three days - yes seventeen thousand pounds.
If anyone feels they could help with the planning and organisation of a show for next year, please PM me - I would be very pleased to hear from you.
I look forward to meeting you all at the show.
Tight lines
Sam