I got an email from Fox Chapel Marina today asking what the people would like to see at the 2010 boat show here in Pittsburgh....I noticed that they are listing the boat show as being held in Monroeville this year....???!!
I checked online real quick and found nothing for Monroeville Convention center website...other than it states "it is coming soon."
I have not confirmed this, but rumor on the river is that it will be held in the Monroeville Convention Center this year. This has some positives and negatives. Keep an eye out on BoatPittsburgh.com for some official information when it becomes available.
As unfortunate as it sounds, it makes sense. Considering that the show couldnt even fill half the convention center last time. Im sure the price to rent out the Monroeville Expomart is alot cheaper than the DL Convention Center. Perhaps the lower booth prices will entice more dealers and vendors to bring their stuff to show. Boating and shows have been hit hard nationwide. Case in point was the Cleveland show last year compared to years past.
If your into basstrackers and crappies... Sure it it!
On another note. I do believe I will be making a trip to Miami for that boat show. If anyone ever wanted to go to a real boat show, this is the one. Maybe BoatPittsburgh should do a group trip??
What I have noticed is the small items for sale have really declined. When we were looking at getting a boat, we bought ski ropes, skies, etc before we even had a boat. (6 years ago). Since we have owned one, (last 5 years) the accessories have really dropped off. Other than the Navigation Company (where I bought a ski from 2 years ago, there hasn't been any selection. I would think West Marine and other watersports stores would want to use this as a location to dump older items they have.
I just got my booth reservation packet in the mail today for the 2010 50th Anniversary "Pittsburgh" Boat Show - at the Monroeville Convention Center.... that I never knew existed until I read your posts... after being in Monroeville this morning and from there originally and still returning often...
After some searching to find where the place is, it appears to be in the old Wickes Furniture building off Mall Blvd (runs parallel to Rt 22 in Monroeville) according to this article. Wickes has been gone for so many years I can't remember if it is the building across from Friday's near the mall or what. I want to say it is, right next to the Baby's R Us store in Monroeville on the Mall Blvd from the photos in this article.
The dates I received for the show are one weekend only, Thursday - Sunday January 21-24th with hours TBD from what I gather so far. The Pittsburgh Boat Show website shows it is at the David L Lawrence Convention Center still which isn't going to increase happy customers... or vendors for that matter, especially when they have as much trouble finding the place as we are now and i don't see its popularity increasing much in 2 months till the show. Given that advertising for the show was pretty thin last year from my point of view, I'm hoping word spreads and people find it this year.
I've always been a fan of the Pittsburgh Boat Show, long before I was a vendor there last year, so I hope it survives. For years it was an excuse to drink a few beers, check out some new boats, and enjoy boating in Pittsburgh in January the only way possible for most of us.
With all of that said, I'll simply say that this is the 50th year and its a trickle down effect that will continue unless something changes - maybe I'm completely wrong and this is the change Pittsburgh needed. After all, the most disappointing show I was at was when the convention center was being build and it was out in the old Kaufman's warehouse or wherever, but maybe someone else can agree of disagree that it bounced back from that bomb in my opinion - right up till last year.
I'm very interested in seeing what everyone here thinks about going to the show. An older friend of mine told me he'd rather drive to Ohio than Monroeville from the South Hills and after doing the Parkway East commute for a decade while working in town / living out east, I think many people feel that way. Unfortunately I don't expect many people to suffer through the Parkway East traffic on a Thursday or Friday after work to go to the show, but I hope they do.
I've been waiting for this topic to come up to see what the interest is this year after listening to every customer tell me how disappointed they were last year all season. As a result, I was really hesitant to sign up again this year but will most likely do so. To be honest, I'm fortunate enough to need very little out of it to break even, but I worry about the bigger guys and whether they'll make it - the marinas that travel far distances, the big local marinas that are probably hurting just the same, etc. I can sell a couple small jobs and break even, but the time and money it costs them to come to these shows is probably lucky to be a break even on good years to be honest.
I'd hate to see it disappear altogether as a boater myself, but I'm curious to see if there will be a 51st after the big 5-0 this year. I'm sure I sound like a salesman, but I'd like to see the show survive (remember, I pay to be there - I have no ties to it whatsoever otherwise) so if you ever had a good purchase or experience at the show, even if it wasn't in recent years, consider taking a ride to help keep it in Pittsburgh. And just a thought, but if your favorite vendor or vendors haven't been bringing what you want at the show (skis, supplies, etc) post what you want to see and maybe someone will get your message loud and clear or call them and ask them if they plan on coming to tell them what you're looking to buy. Just a thought...
How about a poll to see a show of hands as to who thinks they'll attend this year?
It gets worse every year and for the 50th they are moving it and making it even smaller? Sounds Ridic to me i wont be going all the way out there so see even less then i did last year. And for 2 evenings all day saturday and half day sunday i am sure even less venders will be hauling all there stuff out there.
It doesn't sound too promising - Only 4 days. I checked out their website and the list of vendors is less than last year's show.
As was mentioned in a prevous post - Need venders who sell boating accessories ie: chartplotters, boat lettering, ground tackle, etc. With this economy, there are less folks wanting to buy new boats, but a lot of us want to upgrade & accessorize what we have!
Cliff & Maria
Our Great Escape
2003 Regal Commodore 2665
Merc 350 Mag/Mpi / Bravo III
I just looked at the website as well someone take a picture or two you wont need to take many as there wont be much to photograph, and post them for me if you go cause i wont. Looks like the bayliner and seadoo sitting in robinson mall is more of a boat show then this thing.
Can't say that I'll be driving all the way to Monroeville to see the Pittsburgh joke of a boat show. It's only another hour or so to Cleveland. Wait, did I just say that!? I know the economy is tough, and that costs are high, and the city of Pittsburgh makes it difficult in almost every way, but I'll pose that the real reason that they need to go to Monroeville is the poor product that has been presented the past few years.
I have personally visited boat shows in Annapolis, Miami, Cleveland and New York City and the product that has been presented in Pittsburgh is abyssmal in comparison. You might say that it's worth pointing out that these other cities are all coastal locations, and I'll then point to the number of registered boats in Allegheny and Beaver counties and guess that we compare favorably with those locales demographically.
Anyway, I'd like to see the promoters make a concerted effort to improve the program, both from a vendor perspective, and from a venue perspective, making it an event where boaters could get together and socialize perhaps in the manner we do in (ugh) Cleveland.
I couldnt agree more with the last post. The organizers of the local marine trade industry have dropped the ball big time. I remember when going to the boat show was an event. Had manufacturers and dealers coming in from out of state. Granted times are tough, but it just means you have to work a lil harder to get your product out there. Im sure I'll go check out the show. Its at least an excuse to hang out with my fellow boatpittsburghers...
We've already made plans to go to the Cleveland show on the 17th - weather permitting or go the following weekend. Not going to the Pittsburgh/Monroeville show. - Not worth the $ of admission or our time!
Cliff & Maria
Our Great Escape
2003 Regal Commodore 2665
Merc 350 Mag/Mpi / Bravo III
I made it to Cleveland for the first time this past weekend. Having never been to a show anywhere other than it Pittsburgh, I have to say it met my expectations of being large... but still looked not quite to capacity and from talking to others afterward I wish I had been to it in its prime.
I think Doug rightfully nailed it on the head when he said "Anyway, I'd like to see the promoters make a concerted effort to improve the program, both from a vendor perspective, and from a venue perspective, making it an event where boaters could get together and socialize perhaps in the manner we do in (ugh) Cleveland."
As I feel everyone who offered up some suggestions here on how to improve our local show really had some good advice... so lets here more. I can't be the only business on here that could benefit from this site by opening their eyes to see what people want from them. I know I'm the only jerk using their business name as a screen name (which I have just about guilted myself into realizing was a shameless self promotion...) but I'd like to imagine someone on here other than me will have a display at the show would love to see someone say "I want to be able to buy ____ at the show" realizing they sell that but didn't even think to take it to the show. And my business / niche of the market is not not off limits either - if there is a market for anything I sell, can manufacture to sell, or get my hands on fast enough to bring for you guys and gals to consider please feel free to let me know directly or even better by posting it here so regardless of if I'm able to meet your needs, perhaps one of the other businesses in the canvas/upholstery category who advertise / lurk here will also have it at the show and you'll have what would be best - a choice of places to shop from under one roof... like a boat show or something. I'm interested in the show having what you want, not me having what you want exactly... I realize that sounds like complete BS but those who have been to my shop can tell you that I don't stock my shelves with products to resell or tack on to the job they came in for, but while reselling isn't really my deal I'd be happy to bring what is needed at this show to make it more of what you want and I'm sure the competition will be happy to do so as well.
These are all items i don't sell, but based off what I learned about / asked about here in the last year they are items I wish I did sell based off the interest shown here for them. Things that come to mind are things like charging systems, multiple battery switches (in the market myself), dock accessories, ski / wakeboard / water floats, specific types of electronics, perhaps macerators (after the attention they have gotten in a thread here lately on the dirty side of boating), etc. and perhaps Terry or Mike would be willing to take a print out of the more constructive posts here and share it with the organizers so they can see what the voice of Pittsburgh Boaters really want as shown on this site. I have no need for a new Mercruiser Axius system or a Skyhook for my little 19' cuddy, but surely those who do have boats that would benefit from these things might suggest they get added here along with the thousands of products I don't know about that you do but don't see year after year. I'm thinking the more specific you list, the stronger the overall list is going to be and perhaps if it lands in the hands of someone with the intuition to find a way to convince those who sell them to bring them (by showing them what people want as posted here for example) we may be able to steer the show in the right direction as it seems most feel its headed off course. Maybe i dreamed my lunch break away... but it sounded like a good idea to me.
If this post looks too much like a thinly disguised ploy for free advertising - feel free to delete the section where I offered to bring anything or the post entirely as it is absolutely not my intention... just wishing what I saw Saturday is what I am going to see this weekend and looking for a way to get closer to it.
Hey Greg,
We know you're one of us, and I'd rather have you use your business name and be up front about it just as you are doing.
Besides, we all would like to have "a friend in the business" now and then.
It's nice to see the effort that you put into your visit to the Cleveland show, especially as far as thining about what would bring more attendees, and it was in fact, a pretty limited effort in comparison to past visits.
We'll see you in the spring, my canvas is waiting!
We'll see you in the spring, my canvas is waiting!
I'm looking forward to it - mainly to get you off my back after you never remembered to call me last year . More importantly I'm looking forward to the project you showed the photos of (didn't want to name it, wasn't sure about how well known it is at this point). That offer at the Steeler Game a year ago still stands on that project - I'll donate whatever time I can afford of general labor or skilled services when you need either for an occasional seat reservation after its completed. I don't think I asked, but do you have a projected launch date for that project?
Greg,
While I really appreciate the offer, You have an open invitation regardless of whether you can stop by or not. We have had lots of offers, and even a few people that came through to help out or donate stuff. We may even work on it this week if it stays warm enough.
Keep in touch, and we'll get together.
I'm going to post a photo if I can figure out how.
Maybe I'll have to ask Mikey
Doug
Hey, I've never been to a boat show so it will be 100% than I saw last year
I can't wait to see real boats again, I long to get down to the docks and get in the boat and takeoff.
We were down at the Spaghetti Warehouse for dinner a few weeks ago and I even stopped by the dock just to look where we had sooooo much fun last year.
This is going to make me want to get the anchor out and polish that baby up this weekend.
BTW--- I hear that Nelis Customs will be giving out free coupons to the first 100 people for a free winter cover. Just a rumor, can anyone confirm this?
100 free... keychains. But possibly good news on lettering / graphcis at the show
Originally Posted by obxpelican
BTW--- I hear that Nelis Customs will be giving out free coupons to the first 100 people for a free winter cover. Just a rumor, can anyone confirm this?
Chuck
100 free winter covers... can anyone else guess what Chuck is in the market for? I didn't want to ruin the surprise, but I'm going to be giving away 100 free floating keychains to whoever gets there before I run out of last year's leftovers since my order still hasn't shown up yet I ordered green this year and was reserving the leftover reds for the folks with twin screws who asked why I didn't have one for each of their motors last year but they're MIA still.
Since you were not at the 2009 show I guess you wouldn't know, but I did raffle off a cover, boat grill, and floating cooler at that show. I do plan to do a raffle again this year but you'll have to visit my website later this week for details as to what will be raffled off this year with what I suspect will have greater odds of winning... I'm not trying to use this as a personal advertisement thread so please check there in a few days.
Also - another reason to possibly check that site out before you go to the show is I'm working on getting someone to come down and fill that gap needed for a post earlier that said they wished someone doing boat lettering / graphics would be at the show. Hopefully I'll have some good news on my site later this week about that as well. Had I realized sooner that it was an issue and contacted my sign person sooner she would have gotten a booth but schedule conflicts prohibited her from being able to do so.
Last edited by Nelis Customs; 01-19-2010 at 10:43 PM.
2010 Boat Show
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Originally Posted by Doug15205
