Thread: 4WD Adventure Show-NSW

was it?

Might need a crystal ball for that answer Barney.As the link is for 2011

Wayne

Must have just changed the dates on this years website as there was one in august/sept this year didnt make it there but it got some good crowds

Originally Posted by LowRanger

Might need a crystal ball for that answer Barney.As the link is for 2011

Wayne

As The Booger says, I bet the site was advertising the 2010 show when Clunk posted the thread back in May.

If people had followed Chunk's advice and gone to the show in August, the show may have been more profitable for the 4WD Clubs Association.

Wasnt it the same wekend as the expo at castle hill I drove by the dragway they seemed to have a good crowd

clunk or chunk?

Originally Posted by THE BOOGER

Wasnt it the same wekend as the expo at castle hill I drove by the dragway they seemed to have a good crowd

The expo at Castle Hill was a month after the 4WD Adventure Show - so there was no clash of events.

You may have got the expo mixed up with the All British Day which was on the Sunday of the Adventure Show, but being different types of shows/displays it didn't cause any problems. I went to the Adventure Show on the Saturday and the All British Day on the Sunday - so as said, it wasn't a problem.

For a first time event, the 4WD Adventure Show was a great success in numerous ways - the ground work was put in place for a purpose built 4WD Training Track and most of the exhibitors are apparantly keen to return in 2011. I also know a guy who bought a fair bit of gear for his new Puma and enjoyed a substantial discount on top of the 'show special' already being offered plus a free Stihl Chainsaw!

So, yes, it was worth a visit.

Just an update on this that may interest people. The 4WD Adventure Show was held 27-29 Aug 2010. According to the Auditors report on the show, the Association (Four Wheel Drive NSW & ACT Inc) lost $246,934. Despite this loss the president of the association is touting the show as a great success. This is what he said about the show in his Annual Report at the Association AGM on 20 Nov 2010:




We have increased our public and political presence through the show because our 4WD Adventure Show was immensely successful from the following perspectives

• Put 4WDing on the map with the general public
• Put the show on the show circuit calendar for exhibitors and the CCIA
• Created large amounts of very positive media coverage for us
• Positioned 4WD NSW&ACT as peak body for 4WDing in NSW in the public eye
• Recruited members for clubs
• Presented a positive picture of our recreation activity to the public
• Built links with 4WD industry (Calendar event) and especially the AAAA
• made Blacktown Council enthusiastic about our involvement in Eastern Creek
• Allowed us to build a state of the art 4WD training track in an accessible location

This is not just our opinion; look at

• testimonials from Clubs (on forum)
• Industry comments (selection on forum) suggest 20,000 visitors at show
• the media and the public coverage (news items and selection of comments on forum)

For a three year plan to achieve so much in year 1 is excellent. However financially in the first year we failed as we did not make a profit and lost money. The full details are in the auditor’s report that also recommends management changes if another show is run is available to your club 6 November. Briefly this is what happened.




1. We did not sell enough sites at full price due to a number of factors:

• untried new show
• new untried venue
• short lead up time lead to market resistance planning time was only 6 months
• misjudged Sydney market harshness - foot in door/needed stronger relationship
• failure to understand regional boundaries of car dealers and franchisees
• failed to draw on club expertise and contacts to develop the show exhibitor base

2. We did not sell enough tickets through the gates

• did not reach sufficient members of the public
• sufficiently engaged clubs so they did not come in numbers or promote to the public
• did not pre-sell tickets

If we do not attempt another show we have thrown away our investment with no chance of recouping it. If we do run another show we will need much better management processes and financial management controls. These are foreshadowed in the auditor’s report.

The 4WD Adventure Show placed the Association in debt for $45,000. The creditors are strong believers in the future of the Association and its ability to clear the debt in a reasonable time frame.

I will let others be the judge of whether they think the show was a success.

I have attached the Auditors Report and the 2010 4WD Adventure Show Report which were also presented at the AGM.