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

brownshoe said:
What is the CKCA going to do to help promote the show?
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Kevin Jones said:
Very pleased to see the abundance of positive discussion here. A bit surprised at the varying opinions as to the attendance, however the good news is that everyone seems to be fairly upbeat and wants to see the show return next year. I’m convinced the joint ABS-Guild show is the way to go, it’s just going to take time to work the kinks out.

In regard to the CKCA, we weren’t absent it's just hasn’t proved to be the best use of our resources in setting up our booth at shows all over the country. We will always set-up at Blade Show, and have set-up at other shows early on, however we now look at shows on a show by show basics and base our decision to attend on availability of member support to man the booth, logistics, cost and projected attendance. The CKCA was invited to attend but we declined. Seems we need to make arrangements to attend next year.
Our forum is always open to promote knife shows as the ICCE show was promoted via threads on the CKCA forum.

Ben, I certainly enjoyed our conversation today!
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I reposted, my previous comments regarding the CKCA as you must have missed it.

In addition the CKCA is not in the business of promoting Shows ‘per say’ as if we promote shows for organizations such as the ABS and Guild, in fairness, we have to promote “for profit” shows for corporations/individuals, entrepreneurs etc and that can be a slippery slope considering we are a non-profit-tax exempt organization.

However, with that being said; knife shows have and will continue to contribute tremendously to the growth and overall success of the custom knife community so the CKCA will continue to support and help promote knife shows in any way we can as long as we stay within IRS guidelines and are responsible with CKCA resources.

We have a Show sub-forum on our CKCA forum that’s specifically for promoting knife shows. Any member can start a thread to promote and/or notify of a knife show. Anyone who is not a member can contact the CKCA and we will start a thread notifying of the show and providing information.

We will try to attend the show next year if we get a volunteer to manage and staff the booth, or if my schedule allows attendance, I will do such.
 
Bruce
From the tickets that were put in the box for knife sales Mo. was number one and Fla. second. Their were 20 states with tickets in the box.
 
Kevin Jones said:
I reposted, my previous comments regarding the CKCA as you must have missed it.

In addition the CKCA is not in the business of promoting Shows ‘per say’ as if we promote shows for organizations such as the ABS and Guild, in fairness, we have to promote “for profit” shows for corporations/individuals, entrepreneurs etc and that can be a slippery slope considering we are a non-profit-tax exempt organization.

However, with that being said; knife shows have and will continue to contribute tremendously to the growth and overall success of the custom knife community so the CKCA will continue to support and help promote knife shows in any way we can as long as we stay within IRS guidelines and are responsible with CKCA resources.

We have a Show sub-forum on our CKCA forum that’s specifically for promoting knife shows. Any member can start a thread to promote and/or notify of a knife show. Anyone who is not a member can contact the CKCA and we will start a thread notifying of the show and providing information.

We will try to attend the show next year if we get a volunteer to manage and staff the booth, or if my schedule allows attendance, I will do such.
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The CKCA certainly promotes Blade, given that it's your big meeting, raffle, dinner, etc. Blade is a "for profit show." Blade also helps promote the CKCA.

Having a booth at the show is not promotion of the ICCE, that is promotion of the CKCA.

I checked the CKCA website, the last posts concerning the ICCE on your forum were May 2015.

If you want to promote the ICCE, move your big meeting to the ICCE :) or have a meeting at both venues.

I am not a member of CKCA, so I don't count, but IMHO, a good way to support custom knife making is to support the two major groups of custom knife makers and their joint show.
 
Originally posted by brownshoe:
The CKCA certainly promotes Blade, given that it's your big meeting, raffle, dinner, etc. Blade is a "for profit show." Blade also helps promote the CKCA.

Having a booth at the show is not promotion of the ICCE, that is promotion of the CKCA.

I checked the CKCA website, the last posts concerning the ICCE on your forum were May 2015.

If you want to promote the ICCE, move your big meeting to the ICCE or have a meeting at both venues.

I am not a member of CKCA, so I don't count, but IMHO, a good way to support custom knife making is to support the two major groups of custom knife makers and their joint show.
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I have been a collector member of the ABS since 2003, I also have been a member of the CKCA since it started.

You are incorrect about the last CKCA post on the ICCE. Many different CKCA maker members posted photos of the knives that they were bringing to Kansas City for the Show on the CKCA Forum at least as late as Sept. 11, 2015. I am a member of the ABS Forum, if you check, there were not an overwhelming number of posts before the show.

Why did you bring it up the CKCA in the first place?

The main responsibility for promoting the ICCE Show was the ABS and the Guild. If you don't like the way that the CKCA promotes this or any other knife show, why don't you join the CKCA and have some productive input?
 
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ICCE turned out quite well....especially for the first time out. No doubt, a lot of unpaid hours were spent organizing, coordinating...
etc.....there are people to thank.... And it is, and for some years to come, will be a work in progress, and will only get better.....
 
Russ Andrews said:
ICCE turned out quite well....especially for the first time out. No doubt, a lot of unpaid hours were spent organizing, coordinating...
etc.....there are people to thank.... And it is, and for some years to come, will be a work in progress, and will only get better.....
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I totally agree Russ.
Before being so quick to criticize, folks should consider the literally thousands of unpaid hours that some put into organizations such as the ABS, Guild and CKCA.
Of course the ones who complain most, usually complain about everyone, however wouldn't lift a finger to actually try to make things better.
 
Russ Andrews said:
ICCE turned out quite well....especially for the first time out. No doubt, a lot of unpaid hours were spent organizing, coordinating...
etc.....there are people to thank.... And it is, and for some years to come, will be a work in progress, and will only get better.....
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True Russ and well stated. Thank you!
 
We all want this pairing of societies to succeed. :thumbup:

In terms of promotion, the maker's hard work and the visual excitement of their knives can extend well beyond the show itself.

I do this all the time, and I take it seriously as a responsibility to the Show Organizers. Forums, Facebook, and websites all play into it.

Just sayin'. :)

Coop
 
I think that you must remember that this was the inaugural show. All shows need to grow & mature and I think that those involved did a fantastic job putting this one together. As the promoter of a very small 50 table show, I have a bit of an idea of what went into a show of this magnitude and I applaud all concerned.

IMHO-- This show could very easily build into the premiere show of it's kind.

Gary
 
Just got home from Don's had a real good show will be back next year I think it will only get better . Guild and ABS getting together for a show was a great idea for everyone. Long overdue .
Don I thank you and Tina very much for having me.
 
jjtjr said:
I have been a collector member of the ABS since 2003, I also have been a member of the CKCA since it started.

You are incorrect about the last CKCA post on the ICCE. Many different CKCA maker members posted photos of the knives that they were bringing to Kansas City for the Show on the CKCA Forum at least as late as Sept. 11, 2015. I am a member of the ABS Forum, if you check, there were not an overwhelming number of posts before the show.

Why did you bring it up the CKCA in the first place?

The main responsibility for promoting the ICCE Show was the ABS and the Guild. If you don't like the way that the CKCA promotes this or any other knife show, why don't you join the CKCA and have some productive input?
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Jim, he did not bring up the CKCA. Kevin Cross did. Then Kevin Jones responded further regarding the CKCA. All before Brownshoe even mentioned them. At least that is the way I read the thread. As everyone knows, Kevin Jones is the CKCA and Kevin started this thread, and so I think it was a fair question by Brownshoe, especially since the CKCA was already being discussed.

If I missed something, then if someone will please let me know, I will retract this. TIA!




Oh, and FTR, barring unexpected events I expect to be at this show again next year to show my support. I hope some of you who did not make it this year will be able to do so next year. I think you will enjoy it.
 
I am from. Central Missouri. I attended as a possible buyer and someone learning about building knives. I was surprised and disappointed as we searched online for information about location, times of seminars, and other related things about the show... There did not seem to be a searchable face online with all that easily available. And I searched various ways. I totally agree with Mary's thoughts that proper and focused advertising would have the potential to increase traffic tremendously. Also if it could be moved to a more "open" location.

Once we arrived, as has been well said already, it was a great experience from our perspective... Thanks to all who answered many questions. We plan to attend next year and bring friends along.
 
The Virginian said:
Jim, he did not bring up the CKCA. Kevin Cross did. Then Kevin Jones responded further regarding the CKCA. All before Brownshoe even mentioned them. At least that is the way I read the thread. As everyone knows, Kevin Jones is the CKCA and Kevin started this thread, and so I think it was a fair question by Brownshoe, especially since the CKCA was already being discussed.
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Thank you very much Ken, I will take that as a complement, however I don’t believe that everyone knows or agrees with you. Especially the many CKCA members like Jim who have contributed over the years to making the organization the great success it is today.
 
I have no experience for the exhibitions in the US, I did just two years the show in Louisville for the guild, so my impressions may be wrong.

My personal sales were good but not outstanding,
but I'm happy. I paid my expensiv long journey and that's enough.
I would have expected more visitors to such an important event organized by two major associations, but it is important to remember that this is the first year, a starting point where the organizers will see things that can be improved. I am convinced that in the coming years this show will be bigger and recognized as a reference point
For advertising they are not able to judge I don’t living in US and not knowing how other exhibitions are advertised.
The problem in the world of custom knives is that social media and the internet are rarely used. Many makers do not have a website and only a few we have updated and visible. Often you can see on the internet sites and old outdated also important maker. I think that the associations and the makers should be more careful about this. Today, the best advertising is this, even before television and magazines, or at least at the same level are important.
exhibit in a room with the big names of the custom knife, for me it was a stunning dream.
I've already booked the table for next year
Criticism of the room: no good light for knives show
the space behind the tables for the maker was not enough
As a maker I was proud to be in that room
Surely there are things to improve but I think it was a fantastic show.
I apologize for my English ...
 
Originally posted by The Virginian:

Jim, he did not bring up the CKCA. Kevin Cross did. Then Kevin Jones responded further regarding the CKCA. All before Brownshoe even mentioned them. At least that is the way I read the thread. As everyone knows, Kevin Jones is the CKCA and Kevin started this thread, and so I think it was a fair question by Brownshoe, especially since the CKCA was already being discussed.
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Ken,

You are correct that Kevin Cross originally mentioned the CKCA and that Kevin Jones responded with the reasons that the CKCA did not have a booth at the ICCE Show.

I responded to Brownshoe because he incorrectly stated that the CKCA website had done nothing to support the show, which was incorrect.

He also stated that the CKCA should move it's meeting or have more than one meeting to the ICCE to support the show. He is not a member of the CKCA but he wants to decide on how it is run.

I stated that the CKCA did support the show and had about as many posts on its Forum as were on the ABS Forum.

While I agree that Kevin Jones, as President is the main representative of the CKCA, I do not agree with you that he is the CKCA. As you now it is made up mainly of collectors and makers.

Oh, and FTR, barring unexpected events I expect to be at this show again next year to show my support. I hope some of you who did not make it this year will be able to do so next year. I think you will enjoy it.
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I would have liked to attend the ICCE and hopefully I will in the future. While I am not a member of the Guild I am an ABS member and support them whenever I can. It sounds like the first show was a success even though attendance might have been better than it was.
 
Thanks go out to Kevin for starting this thread in the way he did. A thread's title can often set the tone for the comments that follow, especially for such an important inaugural show. Great content from the forumites with excellent commentary as well. I reserved everything early on to attend, but two months prior to the show, doctor's orders again caused me to miss. Threads like this help us all to enjoy at least a bit, vicariously.

Best regards,

Bob
 
Cliff Parker said:
Just got home from Don's had a real good show will be back next year I think it will only get better . Guild and ABS getting together for a show was a great idea for everyone. Long overdue .
Don I thank you and Tina very much for having me.
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It was very good having you here, Cliff. Good times!
 
I brought up the CKCA because it was pointed out to me by several makers at the show that they were surprised that CKCA was not there. It was suggested that since you have the two main custom knifemaking groups, it seemed to make sense to have the CKCA there. I am not aware that CKCA technically elects to sponsor any show, I merely thought the banquet at Blade show was due to more collectors being present at that venue. Is Kevin Jones the CKCA? Well there are a lot of us who belong, but he seems to be the official "face" of CKCA. He does do a lot of work, I think there are a lot of others who also work to make CKCA a success. I think we all need to work to make CKCA work for all of us.

My post was not a condemnation of CKCA; it was simply one of a listing of suggestions that I had been given at the shown of ways to improve it. I apologize if I offended anyone.

Kevin Cross
 
Kevin Cross said:
I brought up the CKCA because it was pointed out to me by several makers at the show that they were surprised that CKCA was not there. It was suggested that since you have the two main custom knifemaking groups, it seemed to make sense to have the CKCA there. I am not aware that CKCA technically elects to sponsor any show, I merely thought the banquet at Blade show was due to more collectors being present at that venue. Is Kevin Jones the CKCA? Well there are a lot of us who belong, but he seems to be the official "face" of CKCA. He does do a lot of work, I think there are a lot of others who also work to make CKCA a success. I think we all need to work to make CKCA work for all of us.
My post was not a condemnation of CKCA; it was simply one of a listing of suggestions that I had been given at the shown of ways to improve it. I apologize if I offended anyone.

Kevin Cross
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Kevin, you certainly didn't offend me as you asked a very good question and I tried to answer you as honestly as I could. Beside you have been a very loyal supporter of the CKCA, especially of our annual Mini-Knife show, for over 5 year now.

brownshoe said:
If you want to promote the ICCE, move your big meeting to the ICCE :) or have a meeting at both venues.
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In regard to our annual festivities at Blade Show, we've enjoyed so much success there it would very difficult justifying a move as our banquet is filled over capacity every year, we have a very good host, our mini-show is a very popular and successful event, everyone has a great time and fw publications (both Blade Show & Blade Magazine) have been very supportive of the CKCA over the years.

But enough about the CKCA, let's get back to the ICCE show and ways we can improve and grow it.
 
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