Countyman fairs seeking feedback

Cyres

Well-Known Member
I wonder if somebody from Countrymans fair has been reading the threads on here about the Midland because yesterday I had a feed back questionairre from them. First time ever and I have previously purchased tickets on line.

Best part was the survey monkey link would not open so I had to copy and paste to open it.

Anyway completed it, not a very well thought out survey,

In essence its lost its way and needs to revert to its core. Fishing area is very poor, air gun expo appears to be going downhill and very major companies no longer have stands. If you wanted to look at high range optics then virtually nothing this year. If you want cheap tack and rubbish then plenty to be found.

No Brock and Norris, Riflecraft (Vortex optics) John Knibbs, Ladds, the list is endless Appears stands too expensive, extremly poor mobile coverage and traders having difficult processing card payements. From what I heard lots of long term traders are going to chuck in the towel and go to the shooting show and better still Newark.

D
 
I won't go to the small fairs any more used to realy enjoy them and the clay shooting a fine day out but as you say they are more garden tat and fluffy shat than they were in times past over priced entrée fee's with less for the sportsman only have to look at the Norfolk one it was a **** take last year !!! bit like the game fairs now i come to think of it :-| :rofl:
 
The Midland fair at Weston has had its day we stopped exhibiting there because of the problem the thieving and too many travellers as we have to call them not really against them but they want to either steal your stock or give you nothing for it a lot of the big guy's are saying the same and not bothering with the Midland, shame really it used to be a great fair I used to look forward to going.
 
Its going dowwwwwn hill fast, used to enjoy a day out with the family there
but now it seems like another sunday market full of none hunting people and travellers on the steal.
 
Same goes with Lowther Fair. It has lost its roots, the stands are too expensive so the traders have no margin to discount. This means that there can be no good deals to be found so the punters don't spend anything. Truly a vicious circle. The clay shooting used to be a great draw for loads of folks (when stag1933 was organising it I might add) and you would see all and sundry turning up with great grandpappys side by side to have a crack. Sadly now the shooting is too expensive and far too serious. I couldn't give a toss about shooting in a world championship event but used to love the have a go atmosphere where everyone just has fun. The last time I shot at lowther I felt ripped off and like I wasn't in the club "oh...so you don't have a CPSA classification...." The targets I did shoot were so hard that I struggled to connect at all. Demoralising to say the least!
Hey presto, countryman fairs seem to have developed a recipe for progressively dwindling fairs! Shouldn't take a survey to realise that!
 
:doh:you can get better deals of the internet inc free pp , why spend another £90 on fuel the £30 to walk road a garden centre with camo man and the no use for nowt dogs crapping and there tattoo clad, burger and beer stained vest owners not picking it up, i guess i am over the midland but i still enjoy meeting up with some old trade's at the cla g'f and old buds from way back. So i'll keep going to that Game Fair and its nice to get away for a few days.lol
 
This year was the last Ill be going to the MGF it's just a tat sale now and told them same thing on the questionnaire they sent
 
Hadn't been for a couple of years after feeling well ripped off with the entry fee at £17 back then. Thought I'd give it another go this year only to find fee is now £20. Standard of exhibitors was far poorer. As said top end optics almost invisible. Even some of the guys like swillington had a empty stand with some run of the mill clothing round the edge, a huge empty space in the middle and 3 pairs of bins on the front counter.
Only dedicated optics stand I saw was hawke. Fine if you wanted to buy clothing and I did find some decent trousers at a reasonable price but really very poor show imo.
Organisers have got to break the cycle of charging the exhibitors so much money. Make it worth them turning up with decent goods at decent price.
 
Same goes with Lowther Fair. It has lost its roots, the stands are too expensive so the traders have no margin to discount. This means that there can be no good deals to be found so the punters don't spend anything. Truly a vicious circle. The clay shooting used to be a great draw for loads of folks (when stag1933 was organising it I might add) and you would see all and sundry turning up with great grandpappys side by side to have a crack. Sadly now the shooting is too expensive and far too serious. I couldn't give a toss about shooting in a world championship event but used to love the have a go atmosphere where everyone just has fun. The last time I shot at lowther I felt ripped off and like I wasn't in the club "oh...so you don't have a CPSA classification...." The targets I did shoot were so hard that I struggled to connect at all. Demoralising to say the least!
Hey presto, countryman fairs seem to have developed a recipe for progressively dwindling fairs! Shouldn't take a survey to realise that!


I went to to lowther a couple of years ago with the main purpose being shooting the clay round. I was mighty annoyed when I saw how much it cost. I swore a lot and left. It was about 3 times the price of a round at the club at greystoke so I went there instead. I won't ever go back now.

The internet has killed gamefairs nowadays, you can't buy anything cheaper than from the Internet. The only advantage of a gamefair is that you can look at stuff before you buy it. Even then, you would have a look at what you want and then find the best deal online. No business can cope with that.
 
we have taken a very long hard look at costings/ returns for the various shows that we have done. Costs in the last five years have spiraled out of proportion . we normally run a staff of five for the bigger shows and a two day show costs us excluding additional stock £4k , so you are looking at taking £12-15k just to break even. a bad day and you are loosing money!!!! and that is just on stand costs vehicle hire and wages.
security is becoming an ever more serious concern, not just against theft of stock but also the safety of your staff . we have seen organised gangs target stalls and its no joke. that is why there were no stands from the big optics firms this year. The indoor shows have the advantage of being easier to police. We are looking at doing only 4 shows for 2015 but we will be staging two open days at the workshop , with food and drinks for those who would like to join us.
The trade is changing as are the game fairs . will the likes of the MGF , lowther etc survive? time will tell. However costs need to be looked at seriously . But the question must be asked is it the venue owners hiking prices up to the game fair owners , or is it the game fairs profiteering in extemis, Mike Norris Brock and Norris Custom Rifles
 
I know one of the two guys that used to run the MGF before they sold it to Countryman. He said that in their time they went out of their way to ensure that the GUN trade always got preferential rates for their stands as it was their presence that made the show an attraction...well that an "The Fastest Ferret" racing event that was also was introduced as a part of the show in their time.
 
we have taken a very long hard look at costings/ returns for the various shows that we have done. Costs in the last five years have spiraled out of proportion . we normally run a staff of five for the bigger shows and a two day show costs us excluding additional stock £4k , so you are looking at taking £12-15k just to break even. a bad day and you are loosing money!!!! and that is just on stand costs vehicle hire and wages.
security is becoming an ever more serious concern, not just against theft of stock but also the safety of your staff . we have seen organised gangs target stalls and its no joke. that is why there were no stands from the big optics firms this year. The indoor shows have the advantage of being easier to police. We are looking at doing only 4 shows for 2015 but we will be staging two open days at the workshop , with food and drinks for those who would like to join us.
The trade is changing as are the game fairs . will the likes of the MGF , lowther etc survive? time will tell. However costs need to be looked at seriously . But the question must be asked is it the venue owners hiking prices up to the game fair owners , or is it the game fairs profiteering in extemis, Mike Norris Brock and Norris Custom Rifles

my suspicion is the organisers profiteering but I suspect the bubble has burst on them, hence the request for feedback
 
:doh:you can get better deals of the internet inc free pp , why spend another £90 on fuel the £30 to walk road a garden centre with camo man and the no use for nowt dogs crapping and there tattoo clad, burger and beer stained vest owners not picking it up, i guess i am over the midland but i still enjoy meeting up with some old trade's at the cla g'f and old buds from way back. So i'll keep going to that Game Fair and its nice to get away for a few days.lol

PC said he is going to fire up his machine and put " I love my 6.5x47" on your arm......lol

Tim.243
 
We stopped doing the land Rover and 4x4 shows years ago. Stand prices kept rising and every year there seemed to be more and more shows. Joe public only has so much money per year, when it's to be spent at 4 shows that's great, you can make some money. However, when the same money is spread over 8 shows per year there's no way to make a profit ............. so we don't go, simples.
 
Well said Mike, looks like smaller specialist shows are the way foreward, however the Midland used to be great and lots of us used to meet up, park together and it was a lovely day out. Always lots to buy and traders keen to do a deal, but as you say if it costs a small fortune to go then you cannot pass any discount to the punters.

So MGF RIP.

D
 
Oh the pain off it!! mind you then i can get a **** and fat stained off white vest and call out Mister you selling that DAG :rofl:
DO THEY DO A STAINLESS INK :norty:








PC said he is going to fire up his machine and put " I love my 6.5x47" on your arm......lol

Tim.243
 
I went to the CLA this year I had to shame 5 people into picking up their dogs mess and one asked me if it was his dog that did it I told him that his dog was squatting down while he was dragging it along and not one of these caring dod owners had any tattoos I could see as they were all clad head to toe in tweed, I do pick up after my dogs and I do have a rather a lot of tattoos so I take it I'm in a very small minority group bazil
 
I went to the CLA this year I had to shame 5 people into picking up their dogs mess and one asked me if it was his dog that did it I told him that his dog was squatting down while he was dragging it along and not one of these caring dod owners had any tattoos I could see as they were all clad head to toe in tweed, I do pick up after my dogs and I do have a rather a lot of tattoos so I take it I'm in a very small minority group bazil
Nope I also am heavily tattooed and also clear up after my dogs
 
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