DEMA - What the hell?!

[scubatoys]

Geez... I was an exhibitor for 5 years (back in the ScubaTool days) and have attended every show for the last 15 years... and for me to get my badge, I had to send a fax of my ID and an invoice from a major manufacturer for over $1000 in the last month...

 

[mdb]

Geez... I was an exhibitor for 5 years (back in the ScubaTool days) and have attended every show for the last 15 years... and for me to get my badge, I had to send a fax of my ID and an invoice from a major manufacturer for over $1000 in the last month...

Larry, You did not need to send in any docs. Just call to a few of your vendors, they will be happy to carry you in on their shoulders since you do such a great job at serving divers-lots of good brands, great service and great attitude, day after day.

 

[rjsimp]

Geez... I was an exhibitor for 5 years (back in the ScubaTool days) and have attended every show for the last 15 years... and for me to get my badge, I had to send a fax of my ID and an invoice from a major manufacturer for over $1000 in the last month...

That is to be registered as a buyer.. Yes.. If you are just a professional in the industry, you just need a business card or one of several other methods.

 

[SteveC]

So....we have to take our kids with us to every social event we attend? Or let them in for the last hour? That would be ridiculous IMO. Just as complaining about pro shows is. Of course kids feel left out....think they're grown up enough to attend....etc.

This is exactly the point we are trying to make. We don't want to be treated like children, and we don't want to have to sneak in. We, the divers, want to be welcome and treated like the back bone of the scuba industry that we are.

 

[The Chairman]

It is true that the importance of DEMA has been deprecated by the internet. Deals that were cut can be handled by E-Mail while snazzy web sites as well as forums such as ScubaBoard can do a lot to generate interest in a product.

Is there still a need for DEMA? I think so. I could not have made the connections with a number of our advertisers without it. Saying that, the VAST majority of our users comes from finding us on line, and the same is becoming true about gear and travel sales.

 

[cuppajoe]

The dialogue on this subject is important and very interesting (to me) as a recreational diver. I have wanted to attend DEMA as a legitimate attendee. I have also wondered why DEMA advertises this event in consumer oriented magazines, if consumers are not allowed to attend. I am left to conclude it is perverse elitism.

Wholesale prices are available to consumers in every industry. Why makes the dive industry believe they are exempt? It is exactly this attitude that is killing off LDS and encouraging customers to buy from Leisure Pro and similar venues. What a self-destructive group of characters!

cuppajoe

 

[abcitydiver]

ok, on the subject of advertising DEMA in "consumer oriented" magazines...it seems obvious:
A) the LDS, "dive professionals" etc..READ the consumer magazines, its the fastest way to get to them.
B) joe consumer wants his LDS to be super educated and know everything about whats the hottest, newest etc. If joe consumer "expects" his LDS to GO TO DEMA, well heck, then That LDS better be able to say he went, he saw, he knows. So yup....light a fire under the consumer, and you practically force the LDS to attend.
IMHO

 

[Doubles]

Well I think the sad truth is that many (not all) dive manufacturers have no interest in dealing with the scuba diver. They want to deal with the shops and have the shops deal with the diver.

It isn't unlike any other industry. Many industries funnel support/consumer contact to the last supplier in the food chain. Someone somewhere decided that was efficient and cost effective.

The folks that I feel bad for are all of the dive op and travel folks who come to DEMA from all over the world. They spend 4 or 5 days talking to shops only. I'm sure those folks would love a day where they could actually talk to the divers themselves. Could be some great deals made and a lot more dive travel initiated.

all of this is just one little guys opinion in a really big ocean

cheers

-s

 

[The Chairman]

To clear the air on our DEMA advertisement... they did not compensate us for it in any way. We paid for our booth space, traveled to Orlando and provided housing ALL ON OUR DIME! Why did we take the initiative to create and display such a banner? Because there are TONS of industry people who check :sblogo: on a daily basis and we wanted to encourage them to come.

That being said, it appeared that DEMA was a tad light this year both in terms of displays and participants. Of course, it was the second year in a row in Orlando so a change of venue should be a good thing for next year.

 

[Chad Carney]

I agree Pete, DEMA felt like it was down a bit, but still pretty busy. I think SB did a lot to pump up the show! I wish I could have lingered in the lobby much longer and listened to Linda Chorney live. (Bought both her CDs.)

The largest consumer shows are just a small fraction the size of DEMA. Most manufacturer's booths are 5 to 10 times bigger at DEMA. (With Zeagle it's 6x.) I know Scubapro and Atomic did not attend. Most other majors were there, and many with huge booths!

We love talking to consumers at consumer shows, and even at DEMA... if we have any time, which is very rare!! I never got to the SB booth & didn't get to talk to Pete but for a second or two... same for many friends like Art Pinder, Sheri Daye, Tony Grogan, Chip Bissell, Johnolly... the list goes on and on. I did talk to quite a few attendees that happened to catch me between dealer appointments, and was glad to show them products and answer questions.

I've been a Man. Rep for 8 DEMA Shows and a buyer for 22 years prior. I really miss those buyer days and getting to see everything at DEMA!

Chad
FL Rep. for Zeagle and now also Armor Bags!