What’s Your Priority At The Shows?

The 2009 Canadian buying show season promises to be an interesting one if recent GNN Polls are any indication.

A couple of weeks ago, we asked readers if they plan to spend more, less or the same on golf shop inventory this year, with 71 per cent responding that they would spend less and 18 per cent predicting they would spend the same. Only 11 per cent said they would spend more.

While that might be ominous for equipment manufacturers and apparel companies, new companies, in particular, may be concerned with the results of another GNN Poll this month that said 46 per cent of respondents didn’t plan on bringing in any new lines while 38 per cent said they might bring in one or two.

Eight per cent said they might bring in three to five new lines while another eight per cent said they may bring in more, so between the two polls, it’s clear that there is caution out there among buyers, which doesn’t come as a surprise considering the economy and weather in 2009.

If a sluggish buying season does occur, bet that there will be some grumpy exhibitors reconsidering the expense of displaying their wares at the buying shows across Canada, even if the tightened golf shop budgets are as much to do with other external influences as they are with any fault of the shows.

The shows are a constant source of debate in this country in good times or bad, even though most are slowly evolving into a floor filled with smaller booths compared to the grander structures that once occupied those spaces.

About a year ago, 46 per cent of respondents to a GNN Poll said they favoured a change from the current show structure to one east, one west show with perhaps one in Quebec. One Canadian super show was favoured by 34 per cent, while 20 per cent felt the show schedule in this country should remain the same.

While most exhibitors generally applaud the businesslike manner in which Alberta buyers approach their show, the premier affair in this country according to most, the main beef with the others is the number of “tire-kickers,” or those there only to view, but not buy.

Some point out that some shows are more of a social event for golf professionals and, if the weather is reasonably nice outside, they’ll head back to their shops to work or go play themselves. The pros often use the shows to participate in education seminars.

Other exhibitors have pointed out that there are other viewings held in other locations before and after each respective show, or that many buyers would prefer to just have a company rep come to the golf course and do business there.

So, what’s your priority at the buying shows? Is it buying, viewing, education or social/networking? Drop by the new GNN Poll on the home page to register your thought on this subject. As always, readers are welcome to expand their thoughts by starting or responding to a new topic in the GNN Forum.

SAVE YOUR VOTING FOR THE GNN POLL

While we’re sending you to vote in the new GNN Poll, at least we won’t have to worry, at least for now, about going to the ballot box for another federal election, which was at least temporarily averted on Friday on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The majority of GNN readers are pleased with that situation.

The previous poll from last week asked in the current economy, is a federal election a good thing and 84 per cent said no, with just 16 per cent saying yes.

That poll remains active in the Poll Archives section if you still care to contribute your opinion.

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