nigelb Posted February 23, 2010 Share #1 Posted February 23, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Going to Focus on Imaging in a couple of weeks, the biggest imaging show and exhibition in the UK. Just looked at the exhibitor list and Leica is not present - just about all the other big names are there except Leica. I was hoping to see and handle an X1, but maybe Jacobs will have one there. Perhaps with all the waiting lists and backlogs they don't need to advertise, but seems strange that they don't want to push awareness of their products here at an event that thousands of professional photographers converge to, especially with several new products coming onto the market. I will be able to handle all the competitor products so seems like a missed opportunity - or do Leica exist on a higher plane than the rest of us. Do they attend these shows in other countries? Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 23, 2010 Posted February 23, 2010 Hi nigelb, Take a look here Leica 'out of Focus'. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bill Posted February 23, 2010 Share #2 Posted February 23, 2010 Speaking as someone who controls a substantial marketing budget, nothing on God's Earth would possess me to waste good money on any of these shows. They are nothing more than a revenue opportunity for the organisers. You are either the "headline sponsor" or you might as well not bother turning up. Why would you tie up your staff on a stand for all that time so that fondlers and tyre-kickers can sniff around and not buy anything? In these days of the internet, there are far better ways to get the message out there and I for one would condemn any organisation that thinks they can get value out of these jamborees. Well done Leica for not doing so. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Box Brownie Posted February 23, 2010 Share #3 Posted February 23, 2010 I'm inclined to agree that these shows are a waste of time, regardless of the sector - be it motorshows, camera shows etc.. For the exhibitor, they are a nightmare of damaged, trashed and written-off gear, pointless wannabees with no intention of buying, coupled with time and often huge expense. I used to spend a lot of the firms money on events like these ( in the finance sector, admittedly ) but learned pretty quickly that serious purchase decisions were made with local dealers. Frankly, if you want to spend some time talking Leica and handling some gear in a pleasant environment without feeling pressure to purchase, go and see Leica in Mayfair, London. Nice people, no pressure, no rush. They'll let you handle the cameras and lenses, shoot your own SD card and will generally act as great brand ambassadors. The ancient, historical pub right next door , established in 1675, has some good beer too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelb Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted February 23, 2010 Strong opinions and attitude indeed from 'marketing experts'. I would consider myself as a valued potential customer rather than a wrecker, pointless wannabe, fondler and tyre kicker. I will continue to do my best to keep away from any company who treats the general public with such utter distain - a sad reflection on today's marketing policies. I shall attend in a professional capacity accompanying one of my groups of photography students, who have an insatiable appetite for learning and will be tomorrow's professionals, exactly those people who will be specifying and buying large amounts of expensive photography gear in the future. Are these the sort of people Leica don't want? Still I suppose we'll have a great time smashing equipment, thoroghly annoying exhibitors and being generally a complete nuisance. Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 23, 2010 Share #5 Posted February 23, 2010 I shall attend in a professional capacity accompanying one of my groups of photography students There you go - how many of your group will likely buy an M9, X1 or S2 at the show? OK they may be the customers of tomorrow, and when tomorrow comes they will make their own purchasing decisions but I doubt any will be based on their visit to a camera fair in 2010. I've attended many trade exhibitions in a professional capacity - manning the stands for several long days at a time - and can say from my own experience they were a complete waste of time. It was nice chatting to visiting students, and friends from competitor companies on other stands, but from a business perspective I'm with Bill. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 24, 2010 Share #6 Posted February 24, 2010 Just because they are not attending a trade show, does not mean that they are a "company who treats the general public with such utter distain" As Bill says, they will have a budget for promotion and marketing. I suspect that most of that goes into Mayfair at the moment, which is a much more appropriate location for a professional (or aspiring pro) to handle and test their complete range of products, properly looked after, clean and powered-up (including with a fully set up studio - bring your own model...) rather than a aircraft hanger space such as the NEC, or any of the other god-foresaken exhibition halls around, surrounded by people who aspire to Canon 450Ds. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 24, 2010 Share #7 Posted February 24, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would think a company like Leica would regard a trade show not as a selling exercise, but as an opportunity to present the brand and (new) products. That would mean they would be looking for shows with as much international exposure as possible. Shows like Photokina, PMA etc. With all due respect I think they could be excused for regarding this one as a local, or maybe national one, nothing more and thus not very productive. I for one had never heard of it before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted February 24, 2010 Share #8 Posted February 24, 2010 Why are you guys being so negative ? Last year, Jacobs were offering an additional £400 off the M8 at the Show. About £1,850, I recall and the best price I'd seen by far and never repeated since. This year, I'm looking for that same % discount on a Canon 1D MkIV that I'll bring home with me and a California Sun Bounce if the price is right. I'll also get a 25% Show discount on my Public Indemnity and Professional Liability insurance policy; get my M9 sensor professionally cleaned for free; do a discount deal with Blurb; attend a seminar if it suits my timing .... etc.... etc. I don't criticise Leica for not being there again this year, nor Hasselblad for choosing not to attend this year. It's their budget and they've other things to do with it. There's a downside to not being there in terms of exposure, but maybe the benefit doesn't justify the price. For 15 years I was responsible for organising our companies attendance at the NEC [£1/4million pa] and other regional shows. Marketing is about trying to make change happen and you don't do that sat on your hands. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 24, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 24, 2010 So, "Focus" is actually worth going to as a tyre-kicking punter, then, Rolo? Perhaps we should speak on Friday... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted February 24, 2010 Share #10 Posted February 24, 2010 So, "Focus" is actually worth going to as a tyre-kicking punter, then, Rolo? Perhaps we should speak on Friday... There won't be any tyres there to kick, or punt. I'm going Tuesday, may return on Wednesday if need be and then back again to Crufts on Thursday, and/or Friday to shoot some dogs for pleasure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 24, 2010 Share #11 Posted February 24, 2010 Gundogs..? Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted February 24, 2010 Share #12 Posted February 24, 2010 Leica is skipping PMA (Photo Marketing Association) show this year in the US, but is doing this instead: Leica Camera AG - Leica's North America Road Show Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 24, 2010 Share #13 Posted February 24, 2010 Sounds a lot more effective, especially if there is no stop-press news. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 24, 2010 Share #14 Posted February 24, 2010 Exactly... It's all about ROI. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelb Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share #15 Posted February 24, 2010 Just because they are not attending a trade show, does not mean that they are a "company who treats the general public with such utter distain" Wow, nice one, that's twisting my words - those particular words were directed at the comments and attitude of the previous two posters, not necessarily at Leica. The North American roadshow sounds like a great idea, but its M9 and S2 only and I can now see where the marketing budget is going. I suppose we won't get a roadshow so I'll just go along with all the other plebs. Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 24, 2010 Share #16 Posted February 24, 2010 How's that twisting your words, Nigel? Re-reading your post, definitely looks like it was directed towards Leica to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted February 24, 2010 Share #17 Posted February 24, 2010 I think there is much to be seen from the fact that Hasselblad has followed Leica's lead in not attending the show. There are better ways to reach the right customer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 25, 2010 Share #18 Posted February 25, 2010 I've done - and paid for - my fair share of shows and they are a waste of money. It was only ever the need to demonstrate to my competitors in the dog-eat-dog world of telecoms I was still in business that kept me doing it. Retired now, thank goodness. You know it's time to move on when your first decision of the day is whether to sponsor the carrier bags for the punters to stash their brochures and other booty - key rings, mouse mats, coffee mugs, pens - which will be in landfill this time next week. What is entertaining though is witnessing the place being torn apart two minutes after the show closes in readiness for the next hapless group of exhibitors to throw good money after bad. That "exhibition grade" carpet you tried to keep clean after someone dropped their sandwich doesn't seem so important any more. Not sure which is worse, attending them or exhibiting at them, having to be nice to all those time-wasters. That said, I'll be going to Photokina, must remember to wear a better set of shoes... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted February 25, 2010 Share #19 Posted February 25, 2010 My experience of visiting trade shows - purely as a visitor - is that they are almost always a complete waste of time unless you happen to be a plastic bag collector (I assume such people exist). It was after a couple of photographic trade shows that I realised I had no interest what so ever in 95% of what was there. I do feel sorry for the exhibitors caught between the twin rocks of boredom and tyre kickers. Now Crufts on the other hand has lots of photo ops, and I'll probably be paying them a visit next month. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted February 25, 2010 Share #20 Posted February 25, 2010 Leica will spend their money on going to Photokina this year. I suspect Hasselblad will as well. Leica UK have probably spent enough setting up Mayfair to have a budget for anything else. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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