Good job Craig. It is difficult to explain the difference in a 'Trade show" and a retail display. I guess you and I are taking the hit for all the other manufactures. I am sure there are a few people just griting their teeth wanting to flame. I tried to explain in a post over at Pro Touring, I copyied it to paste here.
I think where the problem comes in is when Mr. Retail ties up a manufacturer with 100 questions about one product, for one car, that he "MIGHT" use on a car he "MIGHT" build. In the meantime a distributor that sells, or wants to sell, multiples of all that Manufacturers products has to wait until the manufacturer is finished with Mr. retail to discuss new products, sales ideas, and general business. So what ends up happening is either the distributor moves on, or waits, which tightens his schedule more, or, the manufacturer has to tell Mr retail, sorry, times up! Which pisses off Mr retail.
The fact of the matter is SEMA is a "Trade Show". Manufactures set up in 100s of retail freindly enviroments to address Mr. Retail. At those shows they are focused on the end user.
I know from many conversations that many manufacturers enjoyed the new Orlando location for PRI if for no other reason so they were not inindated with every shop mechanic and race team in Indy. Being in Florida made it a little harder for these guy's to make the show, and left more real distributor buyers to come to the show. And the distributor buyers are who these "Trade Shows" are for.
Also, I have heard from a few displaying companies that with so many consumers getting in, that this year if the badge does not say BUYER, they may not get attention
I can surely understand the retail car fanatics desire to see the cool cars, models, etc. If I was not in the game, I would probably want to sneak in also.
__________________
Frank Serafine
|