Capel Manor 'celebration of trees' feedback required

[David Humphries]

I'm looking to collate feedback from all sectors of the industry

(contractors, students/education, suppliers, consultants, public etc.....)

On the negatives and positives from this years show.

 

I will then liaise with the college to try & help address the short comings of what used to be a cracking show.

 

Having attended again this year (been to about 8 or 9 of them since it started) & spoken to both attendees, exhibitors & associations, the following is a list of points that could be reviewed and assessed by the organisers before next years show.

 

Negatives (what people would like to see)

 

- Not enough trade stalls

 

- camping provision

 

- not enough talks

 

- weather and shelter

 

- wider variety of exhibitors needed

 

- too close to cutters and climbers (East of England Game Fair) date

 

- poor management/marketing

 

- needs bigger climbing comps

 

- trade journal report of the 2012 event was damning

 

- perception that the show has progressively gotten quieter and smaller over the last couple of years

 

 

Positives

 

+ grounds/setting are good

 

+ well situated for access

 

 

 

If you have any thoughts please post as all feedback will be useful.

 

I'll edit and update the list as and when.

 

Appreciated

 

David

 

 

 

 

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[silky fox]

it was great to meet you at capel Dave:) but apart from You I didn't see anyone else there:confused: very poor show....

[David Humphries]

It was poor compared to previous years Paul.

 

Will you consider going in 2014, or is it off your list?

 

 

Anything specific you liked from previous years that wasn't there this time that you'd like to see back, or things they got wrong from your perspective?

 

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[Wolfie]

Hi David, thank for doing this

Feedback such as your doing the College should have done every year, then the show would not have got to the state it is.

This year was the first time in 10 years that I didn't attend.

If they react positively to your feedback, better promote the show and draw in more exhibitors, I would return this to my diary for 2014.

 

It's a good location. I believe this show could be so much more than it every has been.

 

Ed.

 

 

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[David Humphries]

Thanks Ed

 

You're completely right regarding the college needing to look for the feedback.

 

Places like Arbtalk are the exact platform where the organisers should be directly engaging.

 

Would of been encouraging to have seen Capel take the initiative here straight after the event rather than leaving it to much later on or not at all.

 

 

Keep the feedback coming folks

 

 

 

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[Rich Rule]

I too, have been to everyone since 2004, apart from this year. The reason I didn't bother this year to drive to the nearest arb show to me, a mere 40 mins in the motor, was due to last years disappointment efforts on Capel's part.

 

I am a great believer in you have to help yourself, before other people will help you. I couldn't believe they had their Hort show the week before the Celeb of Trees last year.

 

There is so much crossover between the two that I cannot believe they didn't realise an opportunity. Just having the additional traffic from another type of show would help everyone feel better. People would pick up in the buzz and leave feeling that would go back the next year. Because there is a lack of footfall it will be difficult to get back on track. The more people expected, the more stands there will be and general interest.

 

I do believe feedback was given to them 2 years ago from the likes of Steve and yourself.

 

IMO the whole thing has been slowly going down hill since the timber sports axe men stopped having their comp there.

 

So this may be harsh to some, BUT until whoever is responsible for the marketing and running of this event, gets their arse/act in gear, I shall not be spending 8 quid in Deisel and 40 minutes or so of my life to get there.

[Pete Hart]

Having completed a 6 hour round trip with 3 mates (who had not been to an arb show before) I was very very disappointed on arrival to 'the show'. As I commented in another thread, my local village farmers market has more stalls than the capel show did. I was truly embarrassed that I had been talking up the show (which I have previously really enjoyed incidentally) to my friends only to turn up and hear them say "are you winding us up"!!

Many more stands required, manufacturers, displays, maybe some green woodworking, spoon carving and the like etc required.

 

I won't be returning to the show unless I see an extensive, confirmed line up in advance for next year.

 

 

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[MattyF]

Its far to close to cutters and climbers which i think is fast becoming the superior event.... And no vegy burgers , i think she charged me a £1 for roll with cheese in wtf!! I don't think the weather helped and having to shelter in the beer tent that smelt like a urinal made you want to leave straight away.

Overall there was nothing to really see or do...

[Steve Bullman]

Its far to close to cutters and climbers which i think is fast becoming the superior event

 

That really isnt the case Matty. Its a good event yes, but it doesnt draw that big of a crowd and to be honest it is still mostly locals for the large part.

[MattyF]

I would of gone to one or the other as they are so close, that's my thinking Steve I don't know about others, I probably won't go to capel unless it looks a big improvement next year .. Cutters and climbers must be pulling in bigger crowds by the threads on here than in previous years.