Why doesn’t DEMA open to the general public?

[Scuba Client]

Because the average diver knows quality built products when they see it, hence, the competition could be left on the shelf.

 

[Marie13]

It's an industry trade show, just like the big restaurant trade show here in the Chicago area, and those for other industries. They don't want the unwashed masses.

 

[The Chairman]

DEMA is only 4 days and it costs a lot. Exhibitors only want to talk to the LDS buyers so they can justify their investment. They really don't have time to talk to Joe Diver. Indeed, many of them want to take advantage of deals that are meant only for shops, so it can get weird.

There are a few consumer-oriented shows around the country. Ft Lauderdale, LA, and NY come to mind. They are far less expensive and many manufacturers show up for them.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

DEMA is only 4 days and it costs a lot. Exhibitors only want to talk to the LDS buyers so they can justify their investment. They really don't have time to talk to Joe Diver. Indeed, many of them want to take advantage of deals that are meant only for shops, so it can get weird.

There are a few consumer-oriented shows around the country. Ft Lauderdale, LA, and NY come to mind. They are far less expensive and many manufacturers show up for them.

How much is DEMA for a 10x10?
I’ve been to the SEMA show in Vegas as a representative for a paint manufacturer (same type of show but all auto related) and it was brutal.

 

[Scuba Client]

DEMA is only 4 days and it costs a lot. Exhibitors only want to talk to the LDS buyers so they can justify their investment. They really don't have time to talk to Joe Diver. Indeed, many of them want to take advantage of deals that are meant only for shops, so it can get weird.

There are a few consumer-oriented shows around the country. Ft Lauderdale, LA, and NY come to mind. They are far less expensive and many manufacturers show up for them.

Allocate one day for the dealers the other days to the public or vice versa.

 

[pauldw]

DRIS did a really good online dive show earlier this year, for regular people. Tours of production facilities, demonstrations of new gear by the manufacturers, etc. Keep an eye out for that in case they do it again.

 

[Scuba Client]

It's an industry trade show, just like the big restaurant trade show here in the Chicago area, and those for other industries. They don't want the unwashed masses.

Casinos don’t make their money from high-rollers; it’s the vacation gamblers who turn the wheel. Dive manufacturers may have forgot who pays their salaries.

 

[Scuba Client]

It's an industry trade show, just like the big restaurant trade show here in the Chicago area, and those for other industries. They don't want the unwashed masses.

In the event they’re inundated by enthusiastic bystanders, they can simply hand out business cards or provide video seminars on site (free ice cream included).

 

[Scuba Lawyer]

To the OP: DEMA is a wholesale trade show requiring a buyer's license to transact business directly with the manufacturers. Confidential wholesale price lists are floating around and dive shops and manufacturers really don't want the diving public to know what those margins are. Industry folks (dive shops, resort shops, etc...) come in from all over the world and most of the manufacturers get fully booked with appointments before the show ever starts. I've been a non-voting member of DEMA for decades and acted as both buyer's and seller's agent over the years. Since it is an industry trade show, instructors (including independent instructors) are considered "industry" but still have to go through a remarkably detailed vetting process. I don't know if assistant instructors or divemasters are included as well (I seem to recall they may have been at one time but haven't kept up on that aspect for a while). Even with only "industry" folk present, the aisles are usually pretty crowded. It takes me an entire day just to walk around the show once - those convention center venues are huge. If I stop for any length of time to talk with old (and new) friends, it can take me two days to walk the entire floor. Throw in attending some of the seminars and clinics and you have used up three days easy. For a couple of the Las Vegas shows I've flown out from So. Cal in the morning, taken a Uber to the Convention Center, made a bee-line for the booth or booths I have an appointment with, do my business and fly home that same day (hopefully with 10% commission on a $250,000 order in my pocket. DEMA is a great experience and I wish everyone could find a way to experience it at least once. It is a working show however and really nothing like the big retail shows (save for the booths and aisles of course). My 2psi.

 

[Diverlady13]

Allocate one day for the dealers the other days to the public or vice versa.

Most shows don't work that way. Attendees buy a pass and that pass is for the length of the show. If the purpose of the convention is for manufacturers to connect with distributors and/or dealers, then it's a more effective strategy to only let those types of people/businesses attend. Here are just a few reasons, but there are more:

1. Attendee lists become far less targeted when the general public is invited. Exhibitors can't market as effectively after the show.

2. Vendors have more difficulty connecting and spending adequate time with REAL leads during the show. It's not always easy to tell who is in the biz vs. who is just looking around. If the audience is too watered down with "others", vendors feel like they didn't get their money's worth or that the attendance was padded to make the show look busier than it is. They may not return if this happens at every event and they certainly will complain about booth costs. (Trade show booth space pricing has skyrocketed in the last 10 years.)

3. Costs are increased for the exhibitors. Those little giveaways actually can represent substantial increased costs when "just anyone" can come in. I've seen entire families sweep these shows just for free merch. These people think nothing of wasting an exhibitor's time.

4. Lots of people crowding a booth discourages real potential clients. Often these people make a note to come back later, but often don't. That's especially true of larger trade shows. We used to do a week long show at the LV Convention Center. It was almost impossible to walk the entire show in that period of time and to see everyone you wanted to see - and that was without added crowding from the general public.

That's just a few things. I've seen this in multiple industries, but especially so for anything hobby related (sports, various crafts, and more). We used to have this issue even at industrial shows (concrete, plating, aerospace, automotive).