Editor, Paul Gibson visits the 2010 Eastbourne Motorshow.
Hundreds of people flocked to the college grounds in Eastbourne this weekend to see the latest offerings from the areas car dealerships – but I do wonder what the whole point of the event is…
Obviously, the displaying manufacturers are selling cars, but do they really want to do that? I have been to the Eastbourne Motorshow pretty much every year, and it’s certainly a great place if you are in the market for a car and not sure where to start.
This year, I was with a potential car buyer, who was looking to spend around £10,000 of her hard earned money. So, we visited the stands which offered cars at this level and narrowed it down two favourites from Citroen and Toyota.
She was lucky in that I know a lot about cars and managed to give advise on each model – it is a good job really because throughout the two hours we were there, we were not approached by one salesman!! Obviously, at a motorshow, they cannot approach every person that arrives on the stand and its important to seperate serious buyers from the children who just want to sit behind the wheel.
So what part of fifteen minutes of looking around one car did they not understand? On one of the above stands, two salesman stood next us, arms folded, looking cool in their shades. We asked them how the rear seats folded down, so one come over, pushed some buttons, they folded, then he walked away!
For some this is great, because not everyone wants to be hassled when looking around a car, but at a time when sales are low and local dealerships have to be very careful where they spend their money – I would have thought they would be fighting for business.
The show has done very well to sustain its regular exhibitors and they must see a return on their investments to exhibit every year at the show. I have run a trade motorshow in the past and I know exactly how difficult it can be.
This is the way I see it… These shows attract families who want to enjoy a day out – even if they are not buying a new car. Most of these arrive with children who love collecting freebies and looking at extraordinary and novelty cars – these are customers of the future!
Come on dealerships, let’s have some razzamatazz on the stands, some entertainment, branded freebies, concept cars, simulators and most of all, some enthusiasm. After all, people have paid good money to get into the event and they want to be entertained. Give them a good day out and they will return next year!
It is not up to the organisers to make it entertaining – the exhibitors buy the space and it’s up to them to keep customers on their stands. We wanted to be there all afternoon and we weren’t. The arena events are okay, the same every year, but they do the job. Personally, I’m not sure if good money should be spent on a ‘celebrity’ presenter, as I certainly didn’t spot visitors going there to get a look at him!
This year, it was hosted by Jason Dawe. Now, his job on TV is to help one lucky viewer to find their perfect car, let them test drive it and help them decide on their favourite. What a good live event this would have been!
I understand exhibitors do not want their cars shunned, but then if they are going to take offence, then perhaps they should’nt enter cars into the arena.
This year we had the typical non appearance from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and MINI, so guess who will miss out on the hundreds of people there with good money to spend – but I wonder if they actually care.
Let us continue to support the show which is the only regional motorshow in the country and hope that next year a manufacturer will think on its feet and actually compete for some of these important customers, and most importantly give them something to talk about when they leave!
So organisers, now you know how to get hold of me, book me for next year and let me start pushing these exhibitors into putting on a real show and let’s make it a show the visitors cannot miss!
Paul Gibson
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