What would attract you to a knife show?

I

IamMatt

Joined
Mar 20, 2002
Messages
927
Due to some recent discussion of the decreasing attendance at some knife shows and the seeming slew of competing new shows coming on line lately (Plaza, Chicago, Basch, etc.),

And maybe due to my being involved with the club that puts on the largest and oldest show in California,

And maybe due to my having studied marketing in school,

I have been wondering how we can make our shows more successful. One topic that came up is the need to have "more name makers." Some people seem to be drawn by the chance that their admission ticket will be the one drawn to win a custom knife doorprize. Raffles for knives and goodies throughout the show seem popular. On the other side of the coin, some will not go to a show if they are convinced that their favorite maker(s) will have empty tables by the time they get there.

So let me throw it open to you:

What would make you more likely to attend a knife show? What would keep you away?

More "name" makers? Whom?
Demonstrations? What type?


Any and all thoughts are welcome.
 
The thing that attracts me is proximity. Living in SoCal there are three large shows a year dedicated to knives. Blade West, Plaza Cutlery and the So Cal Blades show. Las Vegas is also only a long drive away. Enough for a year.
 
Proximity and easy to get around,(park, eat, something for the spouse to do, I go to the ECCKS every year because my wife and daughter can catch a play while I'm at the show.)
 
yeah location is key, but also on a personal note, I think they should put the traditional knife style vendors in one area. That way I can avoid the whole mess of-em at once.
 
Nekkid women, free food, and free knives.:D.:D.

Seriously, proximity to where I live, since I hate driving over 60 miles, and I'm too poor to fly.
 
I'd settle for ......KNIVES!

No:
Coin collectors
Beanie Baby people
Jewelry crap
Etc.............

I am tired of driving 2 hours to a gun and or knife show only to find half the table rented to junk vendors!
 
I don't know what show's you all are attending, but the 4-5 a year I attend are usually fairly crowded.
 
Location, location, location.

Bladeshow is in Atlanta. Atlanta is a major hub city for Delta, a major airline. You can get to Atlanta from most anywhere in the US very inexpensively. From Portland, Oregon (which is about as far away as you can get in the lower 48), if you book a month or so in advance, the ticket is well under $200 round-trip.

I couldn't make it this year because of scheduling conflicts, but the new show in Chicago is very tempting for basically that same reason. Chi Town is a major hub for United. So, you can get there from just about anywhere cheap.
 
That a tough one, maybe answerable as to why attenance is flagging. I don't have any difinitive answers - I just go to every show in my geographic area, probably because of proximity, the scarcity of the shows in this area and ability to meet friends and cohorts, in addition to the great knives. One notion for flagging attendance - chicken and the egg situation - makers who don't sell enough won't come back to a given show; visitors who don't see enough makers feel put off by lack of choices.

Those who put on the shows can take the initiative to advertise to other than the converted - going beyond knive magazines or other normal channels. Shows could come up with seminars that can introduce regular joes and josephines to the world of knives and make them less sheeple about it - subjects like the usefulness of knives; how to sharpen knives; about collecting name makers; knife use in outdoor sports and camping. Try to bring the erstwhile non-knife buying public into the realm. Some of today's curious gawkers can become tomorrow's committed Knife Knuts.
 
GB, missed that one, rather than rehash it here attach a link if ya can, I'd like to read it, it was one of the more entertaining posts back in the day.
 
If it was in Minnesota. There are never any good knife shows in this state, which is unfortunate, considering the high numbers of outdoorsmen in the state.
 
Knives. That's what I go to see. That, and friends of mine who collect knives.
 
Boink said:
....Those who put on the shows can take the initiative to advertise to other than the converted - going beyond knive magazines or other normal channels......
Click to expand...

We have a bingo! I have been saying that for years, but will show organizers listen? :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top