Alpha Knife Supply
Always Innovating
- Joined
- Oct 14, 1998
- Messages
- 2,157
We want all table and booth holders at Blade 2011 to know the potential risks they face. Before going further an important point must be made. Missy Beyer, Mary Lutz and Steve Shackleford work for Blade Magazine. The people who run Blade Show are completely separate from Missy, Mary and Steve.
At Blade 2010 we had more than $13,000 in materials stolen. We were not the only supplier who had materials stolen. There are several facts that led us to the conclusion that the theft occurred after show hours.
We discovered the theft after we returned from the show and completed inventory. We called Blade Show coordinator Alicia Newton, Cobb Galleria Security and Cobb County Sheriffs department with whom we subsequently filed a police report.
When we spoke to Cobb Galleria Security, we told them we wanted to review the security video from the show. They informed us we would have to pay $40 per hour to review the video. We agreed and said we would have someone fly back to Atlanta. Cobb Galleria Security then said they did not know if the video was available. Later they said the video had been overwritten and could not be reviewed. We checked and there were no shows after Blade up to the time we requested the security video.
The Cobb County Sheriffs department told us theft is a problem at the Galleria. The detective told us thieves fly from around the country and world to attend shows at the Galleria.
At the beginning of 2011 Alicia Newton contacted us and requested we send in our deposit and sign the contract for Blade 2011. We said we would not send the deposit or sign the contact until significant changes were made. The most significant change was removing the clause from the contract that indemnifies F&W vendors i.e. the security company. We wanted the option of suing the security company if we could prove a loss occurred after show hours. We first communicated with Alicia Newton and moved up to her director Cory Smith. Cory agreed to several changes but refused to revise the contract. We were happy with the progress and sent in our deposit as a sign of good faith.
The last week in April our deposit was returned and we were informed our booth had been sold. We e-mailed and left telephone messages with David Blansfield the vice president of F&W. David replied in an e-mail that the contract would not be changed.
One fact I learned during this process is very disturbing. The room is accessible to cleaning and maintenance staff after show hours. These people are not escorted by security. In 2005 a major theft occurred after show hours by a person dressed as maintenance staff.
Bottom Line:
F&W protects their vendors rather than their clients
The security company has no vested interest in providing security
Thieves know about the security problems at the Galleria
Anything you leave at your table or booth is at risk
You are responsible to protect your property
There is much more to the story that I have left out. We want people to know the risks they face so they can make plans to avoid the risk.
Jon & Jessica will be attending Blade 2011 but they will not have materials. Missy helped us get a table table across from our booth.
We will also be posting the security risk information on the major forums. If you want to express an opinion, the following is the contact information for F&W show staff.
David Blansfield
1-212-447-1400 phone (Use company directory to get his extension)
david.blansfield@fwmedia.com
Cory Smith
Events Director
1-513-722-5347
cory.smith@fwmedia.com
Alicia Newton
Events Manager
1-513-531-2690 ext 11310
alicia.newton@fwmedia.com
At Blade 2010 we had more than $13,000 in materials stolen. We were not the only supplier who had materials stolen. There are several facts that led us to the conclusion that the theft occurred after show hours.
We discovered the theft after we returned from the show and completed inventory. We called Blade Show coordinator Alicia Newton, Cobb Galleria Security and Cobb County Sheriffs department with whom we subsequently filed a police report.
When we spoke to Cobb Galleria Security, we told them we wanted to review the security video from the show. They informed us we would have to pay $40 per hour to review the video. We agreed and said we would have someone fly back to Atlanta. Cobb Galleria Security then said they did not know if the video was available. Later they said the video had been overwritten and could not be reviewed. We checked and there were no shows after Blade up to the time we requested the security video.
The Cobb County Sheriffs department told us theft is a problem at the Galleria. The detective told us thieves fly from around the country and world to attend shows at the Galleria.
At the beginning of 2011 Alicia Newton contacted us and requested we send in our deposit and sign the contract for Blade 2011. We said we would not send the deposit or sign the contact until significant changes were made. The most significant change was removing the clause from the contract that indemnifies F&W vendors i.e. the security company. We wanted the option of suing the security company if we could prove a loss occurred after show hours. We first communicated with Alicia Newton and moved up to her director Cory Smith. Cory agreed to several changes but refused to revise the contract. We were happy with the progress and sent in our deposit as a sign of good faith.
The last week in April our deposit was returned and we were informed our booth had been sold. We e-mailed and left telephone messages with David Blansfield the vice president of F&W. David replied in an e-mail that the contract would not be changed.
One fact I learned during this process is very disturbing. The room is accessible to cleaning and maintenance staff after show hours. These people are not escorted by security. In 2005 a major theft occurred after show hours by a person dressed as maintenance staff.
Bottom Line:
F&W protects their vendors rather than their clients
The security company has no vested interest in providing security
Thieves know about the security problems at the Galleria
Anything you leave at your table or booth is at risk
You are responsible to protect your property
There is much more to the story that I have left out. We want people to know the risks they face so they can make plans to avoid the risk.
Jon & Jessica will be attending Blade 2011 but they will not have materials. Missy helped us get a table table across from our booth.
We will also be posting the security risk information on the major forums. If you want to express an opinion, the following is the contact information for F&W show staff.
David Blansfield
1-212-447-1400 phone (Use company directory to get his extension)
david.blansfield@fwmedia.com
Cory Smith
Events Director
1-513-722-5347
cory.smith@fwmedia.com
Alicia Newton
Events Manager
1-513-531-2690 ext 11310
alicia.newton@fwmedia.com
Loser theives will steal everything not nailed down! And then they resell it for half its value too...My advice is that the time and hassle to pack up all your wares each night is worth it! Also, has anyone tried using a steel jobbox? You could store it under the table when not in use, pack your stuff in overnight and lock up tight, the only way in is to drill out the lock...Just remember if you and a friend can pick it up, so can theives, so put a couple bags of sand or cement in the bottom!
