The ICCE Show, an Instant Success? a Work in Progress?

Jason Fry said:
In my observation, from the back of the room, there were plenty of buyers. The traffic flow was steady. Those who were buying appeared to be very well informed. Quality work was selling in all parts of the room. Work that wasn't up to par didn't move much at all. It was a very discriminating crowd, a group where a three piece hunter with uneven plunges or wonky grinds wasn't going to sell, even at a $150 price point. I had what I would consider a successful show. I set out to complete my voting membership process, which I did. I had two complex knives, and I had told myself from the beginning that if I could sell one of them, I would consider the show a success. I ended up selling one of the complex knives, plus two more. I met many, many quality makers including alot of folks I interact with on Bladeforums or Knifedogs whom I'd not previously met in person. I met at least half a dozen collectors who either bought knives from me or will in the future, all of whom I'd not met before. Overall, I thought it went very well.
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Hit the nail on the ass :)

I was there. It was fun. Sure it was not packed to the gills, but that means people who are serious about knives got time to spend with makers and collectors. Most makers were happy, collectors were ecstatic. There were some high rollers and low rollers. Getting to coon finger 6 Bose knives...:) Talking to Gayle Bradley's wife about collecting factory knives :) Pease's knives!!! The Knife Legends case filled with Legends, and a show "slow" enough to look, talk and TOUCH! :) The "Fish Knife", the lady rising from the flower with a biblical verse in the pattern mosaic damascus, some type of Middle Ages pole thingamajig... Some really ugly tacticool blades :) Don't buy no ugly knife

It was obviously fun for a lot of makers. I think some enjoyed the slower pace and chance to see each other and their work.

Sure there were a few a-hole uber buyers...but not so many to spoil the atmosphere for more than a minute or two.

I was there on Friday and Sunday. Friday was all business. There were collectors cleaning up or window shopping. Sunday had less makers and people, but still enough quality product (Pease, Begg, Hanson, etc.) on the table to satisfy many. If a maker's product was not up to snuff, it was clear to them on Sunday. Some makers just don't get fit/finish in even the simplest fashion, mastodon ivory on a pig is still a pig. Just as sad were the knives with great fit/finish but poor design.

The tale of the tape...I believe they sold a lot if not most of next year's tables by 1:30 on Sunday. Makers volunteered they'd be back, one would take an order for delivery in two years...at KC :)

Instant success?...for me YES. For those I talked to YES.

A work in progress?...YES everybody agreed it needed improvement, but hey, they are knifemakers. Most thought it needed some more promotion, but were happy with the weekend.
 
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Mark:

I was wondering the same thing. Could be a lot of things, but doesn't sound good. One more thing to watch out for in life.............a-hole uber buyers.........
 
I also attended the show and thought it was awesome for a first time show. More advertising is needed and I'm sure it's on the "to do" list for both organizations. Traffic was steady and sales were decent from the makers I spoke with, had a lot of laughs and reconnected with old friends, made some new ones and a bunch of potential leads. All in all, I feel it was a success compared to some of the shows I've attended over the past 15 years. I'm looking forward to next year!


Peter
 
As I said before I thought it was a great show. I do know that the ABS and the Knife makers Guild both spent considerable advertising dollars on this show. the ABS Had advertisements in all three leading Knife mags, (blade, knife world and knives illustrated) as well as sporting classics and a couple others that I can't remember the names of. these adds were ran for six months I believe.

I also feel that it is a makers responsibility to try and ensure that they will have a good show by contacting their own customers/collectors and getting them to come to the show that maker is attending.

this show has also been compared to little rock and blade show as for attendance but does anyone know what the attendance was in the first three to five years of these shows? I don't know first hand but have heard that it was pretty dismal. I do remember that there was not any kind of line to get into the Arkansas show the year I attended that show and I still feel that it was a great show also.
 
Seemed like old times to me. A real brotherhood was felt and experienced there. It wasn't all about money, though realistically that's what it boils down to, if you want to boil it long enough; it felt like a lot of makers and knife enthusiasts got together to visit, show and sell and tell about knives, family and America. I liked it because of how I felt and I did sell some knives. Of course, sitting next to old friends adds a lot! One friend said, "I didn't sell a thing." In the same breath he continued, "I just brought the wrong knives." We all do well at some shows, we all do not so well at others. If, by chance you saw a smile on my face this week end, it was because of, IMHO, two groups getting together, where they belong and just seeing so many good friends and AMAZING knives THANK YOU to all who had anything to do with making it happen!
 
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Here's my perspective, as a new maker and fan of many of you. I'm probably not the guy you want at the show, I'm not there as a customer, more as an admirer and student of the craft. I learn something on every knife I pick up and the conversations with you guys are huge to me. I basically walked around in awe for two days and tried to soak it all in. The thing I notice the most, which I mentioned on FB and KnifeDogs, is the character of the table holders. The most friendly, supportive, encouraging, bunch of guys anywhere.

So, things I'd like to see different. First and most important to me, I actually hated the location! Downtown, no where to park, or paying $25 to park, not really anywhere close to eat lunch that I saw, traffic, etc. Even once in the lobby, it was a maze to find the seminars. There's got to be another convention center or space that's away from downtown and has a parking lot. Same goes for the Little Rock show too. Us country boys need some space!

I loved the seminars Friday, but hate the fact that they are run two at a time. I want to be in both! If there's anyway possible to put all 4 or 5 back to back in the same room it would be awesome! I wish the rows or walkways were a little wider, there were many times people clogged up and you got stuck.

I'd also like to see a membership booth setup for those of us that are interested in joining these groups. The ABS had a table with some videos on it, but nothing about becoming a member. I actually tried to get the attention of the person behind the table and wasn't even noticed.

But, hey, it was awesome for me as a new guy. Got to meet a lot of makers that I look up to and came home feeling very inspired to improve my skills.

Anthony
Self Made Knives
 
I find the comments about places to eat interesting. The info letter posted by Calvin Robinson specifically talked about the Power & Light District. It was two blocks away and has over 50 restaurants. I will concede though, that a large map of the downtown area would have been convenient in the lobby area outside the showroom. Maybe even put one in the exhibitors packet and the show program.

Bob
 
I had a very good show and signed up for next year. Combining the ABS and Guild shows was/is by far the best thing these two organizations could do.
 
I wonder if hiring a social media manager would be a wise use of funds?
Print advertising is very expensive, and tough to gauge the effectiveness of.

It seems to me that ICCE's facebook page wasn't exploited as much as it could have been, and I also noticed that ICCE's website is incomplete and not particularly interesting. Don't know about the effectiveness of other social media platforms, as I haven't researched them, but it seems to me that if someone were to take on the exclusive role of social media manager, promotion of the event could be on a whole new level.
 
Lorien said:
It seems to me that ICCE's facebook page wasn't exploited as much as it could have been, and I also noticed that ICCE's website is incomplete and not particularly interesting.
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The FB event was created and shared through the Guild FB page, and subsequently shared by many of the Guild members. I don't think there was a concentrated effort beyond that, but the FB stats showed over 600 people were invited. I don't know if that is a few or alot. Jeff used my dagger as the event cover. Many people came up to me and said that they had seen the knife before, but couldn't remember where. I don' know what effort the ABS folks applied regarding the FB event.

As far as the website goes, there wasn't much there. Now that we've had the show, there should be better pictures, venue information, etc. available for the next round.

In spite of the nature of these threads to turn critical, I want to join in with those who have commended Harvey, Jerry, and both organizations in getting this thing rolling. It's truly historic, and has potential to be exceptionally great.
 
Jason Fry said:
In spite of the nature of these threads to turn critical, I want to join in with those who have commended Harvey, Jerry, and both organizations in getting this thing rolling. It's truly historic, and has potential to be exceptionally great.
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I pleased that this thread has been fairly positive and constructive.
My point in starting it was to identify opportunities to help insure the show moves forward in a successful fashion.
 
I've been pleased with the tone too, just recognize that folks can get sensitive when criticism is offered.
 
Mary - that is some eye-opening commentary on the lack of local promotion of the show. Hopefully it will be addressed going forward. I would have attended if my schedule allowed - maybe next year - I''l count on you and Ryan to find me a nice restaurant!
 
Kevin Jones said:
I pleased that this thread has been fairly positive and constructive.
My point in starting it was to identify opportunities to help insure the show moves forward in a successful fashion.
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What is the CKCA going to do to help promote the show?
 
Scurvy092 said:
I wonder if it would have been better attended if it wasn't two weeks after another big knife show. I know they serve very different markets but the timing wasn't ideal.
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What time do you think would have been better? I have thought about this a lot, and could not come up with a better time.

IMO, the biggest possible conflicts for this show, in order, are:

Blade (June)
Arkansas (February)
AKI (every other October)
Solvang (every other April)
ECCKS (March)
Jerry Fisk Microshow (October)
NYCKS (November)

Now you have The Gathering (Labor Day) and TKI (January), but tactical knives barely registered at this show, so I am not sure how much of a conflict those shows would be anyway(?). There is also the new Miami show in April . . . don't know how that will impact Solvang . . .

Of course there are a host of smaller shows . . . .


It seems to me that anything from Thanksgiving to New Year is tough. July and August folks are taking vacations . . . maybe (?).

So . . . what do you suggest?
 
Yeah personally I like the timing of this show. It's just far enough after Blade to allow for some really elaborate work to be done comfortably, and it's not yet too cold to consider travel to most places. I didn't kill it at the show, but I covered my costs, and I made some great new contacts. I think it's only going to get better, as long as everybody is determined to that viewpoint.

Could another location be better? Possibly, the primary gripes I have with that, are the hotel costs (the hotel jacked up the Thursday rate by an extreme amount, while still running weekend specials for significantly less), and the fact that afaik KC isn't a hub to any airline. Most airports don't seem to have direct flights there. It's centrally located for drivers, but I'm not sure geographical centricity is as relevant as air travel convenience. However, airfare costs were reasonable, and pretty easy to handle.

At this point though, I think we either make the best of it, or be willing to concede years more of adjustment. This show can be great, if we make it great. I think it was a good start, and as long as everybody wants to make it better, as opposed to bemoaning 'could have beens', it will be.

It's a historic combination of talent, and that comes with it's share of logistical complexities. That considered, I think it was a success, and a solid foundation to build upon.
 
I think the timing is about right...other than conflicting with teal season;), but we all gotta prioritize. It's pretty awesome to get that many top makers in the same room...from Bruce Bump to Todd Begg to Tony Bose. If you want variety the show has it! It's also a lot more personal than BLADE with not so many distractions. Narrower tables would definitely be a plus to make room for the customers necessary to make it a truly great show:). I think it's good to have an open, honest discussion rather than trying to say it's the best thing since the 2x72 belt grinder:cool:. Hopefully the Guild and the ABS will take the suggestions under serious consideration and take steps to make a good thing better.
 
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