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2nd issue arrived
- Thread starter soapy
- Start date
soapy
Senior Member
I enjoyed reading Kate Carr's review of the recent ICA show. I did not attend this last one but it sounds like it was pretty much like the previous one. Very little offered for the SS operator. This year they at least had one open meeting for SS operators but it was on the morning of the last day when most people are already gone. The numbers also revealed a large decline in attendance numbers both in operators and vendors from just 10 years ago. I agree both groups attendance is down but I see a couple of reasons for this. With our industry consolidation many manufacturers have joined together. Sometimes a company has acquired 2 or 3 different companies to add to their product line. We have also seen many go out of business to be sure. The same holds true for operators. When I first started going to shows it was normal to meet operators with 1 or 2 car washes. Over the years it has become more the norm that SS operators have more than one and usually several. SO while attendance of operators numbers are down the overall number of car washes represented may still be the same. Some one needs to point this out to the ICA about SS operators. The ICA does not understand that almost every SS operator who attends represents more than one car wash.
One suggestion I would have for the ICA to offer more for SS operators is to bring back the proven concept of the WCA's car wash Boot Camp. It offered several booths that showed hands on demonstrations of how to repair and keep equipment running correctly. The ICA tried it for a couple of years with great turn out. It was always one of the most popular events at the WCA shows. Vendors kept everything informative without becoming an advertising forum.
One suggestion I would have for the ICA to offer more for SS operators is to bring back the proven concept of the WCA's car wash Boot Camp. It offered several booths that showed hands on demonstrations of how to repair and keep equipment running correctly. The ICA tried it for a couple of years with great turn out. It was always one of the most popular events at the WCA shows. Vendors kept everything informative without becoming an advertising forum.
I, too, was excited to see the second issue in my mailbox and will give it a good read this weekend when the rain arrives. While Chicago wasn't the most dynamic show that I've been to, I did come away with a lot of good information and contacts, mostly form the non vendor run seminars.
Attendance was down for both attendees and exhibitors, but that has been the trend since the economy tanked. Many comments appeared on this forum about Chicago not being an attractive site for a convention and hence people were inclined not to go. Not sure why, maybe never been? Maybe it's about economics and the smaller operators and vendors just can't afford the cost.
One disappointment that I had as an attendee was the lack of early bird roundtable discussions that have taken place in the past. A lot of good exchanges occur at these tables. I've not experienced the WCA Boot Camp, but I would also have like more demonstrations/training seminars as opposed to philosophical or sales oriented seminars.
Chicago was/is a cool city to visit. Unfortunately, late March on Lake Michigan made it more cool than some people cared to experience. But the architecture, the urban environment with Midwest charm, the beef!, all make it a place to visit at least once. Vegas isn't the end all destination and I was happy to hear that Nashville is on tap in the near future.
Just my thoughts...........
MC
Attendance was down for both attendees and exhibitors, but that has been the trend since the economy tanked. Many comments appeared on this forum about Chicago not being an attractive site for a convention and hence people were inclined not to go. Not sure why, maybe never been? Maybe it's about economics and the smaller operators and vendors just can't afford the cost.
One disappointment that I had as an attendee was the lack of early bird roundtable discussions that have taken place in the past. A lot of good exchanges occur at these tables. I've not experienced the WCA Boot Camp, but I would also have like more demonstrations/training seminars as opposed to philosophical or sales oriented seminars.
Chicago was/is a cool city to visit. Unfortunately, late March on Lake Michigan made it more cool than some people cared to experience. But the architecture, the urban environment with Midwest charm, the beef!, all make it a place to visit at least once. Vegas isn't the end all destination and I was happy to hear that Nashville is on tap in the near future.
Just my thoughts...........
MC
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
I thought Allen Spear's article on Cameras, DVRs & NVRs kept with the tradition of the SSCWN of being more in depth. Thanks Allen for sharing your valuable expertise & experience. Hey ... since the technology is constantly changing a bit & because of some specifics that Allen left out ... maybe Kate Carr & us can coax Allen to turn the piece into a series of articles! I did not feel that he was overly motivated by enhancing his own personal profits at all.
mike walsh http://kingkoin.com/USA_Deficit_Reduction.html
mike walsh http://kingkoin.com/USA_Deficit_Reduction.html
