I changed the subject, since there have been several postings since "the
last word."
We could feel the impact of the Internet as far as attracting vendors to
our convention in 2001 - that long ago.
One doesn't have to be an accountant to know that the cost of attending
a hamfest or convention is expensive.
By the time transportation, lodging, meals, transportation of equipment
and materials for the booth, the cost of the booth rental, setup fees
and electricity is factored in, it adds up to quite a bit of money.
At the same time, attendance at these events is down; thus, fewer
potential customers to introduce to one's product.
From 1997 to 2001, attendance at the local venue of our ARRL convention
dropped from about 2,100 to about 1,400 - a 33% decrease in attendees.
When Scott Robbins was at Ten-Tec, I asked him about exhibiting at our
convention. Even in 2001, Ten-Tec was pretty much limiting their
presence to Dayton.
I don't know how many people normally attend the Orlando Hamcation, but
I'd guess that it's in second place, behind Dayton. Plus, it's not that
far from the Ten-Tec factory.
And a venue hosting the ARRL National Convention is no guarantee of
attendance, either. Last year it was in conjunction with Pacificon, and
it appeared to me that there were only a few more people in attendance
that a typical, annual Pacificon.
One of the vendors at the Yuma Hamfest corroborated this, saying that
attendance was only about 1,500. That's a pretty sad statement for an
national event.
As far as advertising, while not in QST or CQ, I did notice a full-page
ad for the new Argo VI in the winter issue of QRP Quarterly.
Until the availability for sale of the Argo VI and the companion 418
amplifier, Ten-Tec hasn't had a major new product to show off since the
Eagle, and that's been - what - a year ago?
That's a smart advertising decision in my estimation. The market for
these two new products is QRPers, and QQ is sort of our national
journal. Plus, I'm sure that advertising cost much less than QST or CQ.
On the other hand, Elecraft has had quite a few new products to get in
front of the buying public lately; the KX3 and KPA500, for example.
They have been in evidence at the major hamfests and conventions for
easily the past few years. And, they also have prominent advertisements
in QST and CQ, as well. Wayne and Eric have also been frequent speakers
at the presentations, talking about what's new and what's in the
planning stage. That also goes a long way toward sales.
While I'd like to see more vendors like Ten-Tec at the regional
conventions and hamfests, it seems to me that they're putting their
advertising dollars where they'll do the most good.
BTW, even companies that would be conspicuous by their absence were not
present at the Yuma Hamfest; HRO and the Big Three radio manufacturers,
for instance.
I have no idea what attendance was like, but I'd estimate it at a few
hundred. The XYL and I had a good time there, anyway.
73 de Jim - AD6CW
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