The Locksmith Journal Mar-Apr 2014 - Issue 31 | Page 38

LOCKSMITHS’EXHIBITIONREVIEW SPONSORED BY SECURIKEY RECORD SALES AND INCREASED VISITOR NUMBERS AT LOCKEXPO 2014 The organisers of the Locksmiths’ Exhibition 2014 report that this year’s event was rated as “the best exhibition ever by the exhibitors and visitors alike.” The EMCC was packed all day and exhibitors reported record sales, with three exhibitors selling out of stock from their stands, one returning back on Saturday night to bring more. Registered visitor numbers were reported to be slightly up on last year with some 1,214 badges issued but this year friends, family or nonpurchasing staff were issued guest badges and these were not recorded. Nor were reentries counted as ‘unique’ visitors every time they came in. So that 1,214 figure is seen to indicate genuine, potential customers. ‘That 1,214 figure is seen to indicate genuine, potential customers’ Many visitors this year came along with friends or met up with industry colleagues at the bar to enjoy the social aspects of the show. 38 MAR/APR 2014 Looking ahead, the Lockexpo in 2015 will be over the weekend of March 7th and 8th and enquiries are being received from new potential exhibitors. Congratulations were in order and comments gathered by the organisers from the floor included: “From all at Greenfox a very big thank you to Mick and his team for yet again another fabulous show. We feel it was the best venue for showcasing Greenfox and our new 2014 catalogue. For those of you not at the show please contact us for a catalogue.” “It’s only Tuesday and we have had over 22 new customer/orders!! We will be booking again for 2015. Well done MIck.” Lockdecoders reported an excellent result from this year’s LockExpo with customers from several countries on the stand, not only from the UK and Ireland. Orders booked were nearly double those achieved last year and several enquiries are being followed up with lock manufacturers being particularly interested in the new Miracle Select. Lockdecoders also reports that they are experiencing a delivery problem with MiraClone as the factory is unable to keep pace with orders, so for the first time there is a waiting list to buy this device. Production will be doubled from this month onwards and hopefully this snag will disappear. Similarly there has been a delay in production of the battery operated Miracle A4, the portable auto locksmith machine but that has now been rectified and deliveries are back on schedule. In general the firm felt that the quality of enquiries was higher than normal, not just the quantity. The show had an overall buzz and visitors found much to interest them. Their Saturday seminar on SuperVag was fully subscribed and also resulted in a sheaf of orders. The emergence of brand-new competitors to the ‘A brilliant weekend for customers and suppliers’ Miracle A9 allowed prospective buyers to see the relative merits of the contenders and the number of A9 sales made leaves Lockdecoders very sure that they passed the comparison test with flying colours. On the minus side, the very poor wifi at the East Midland Conference Centre was disappointing and the “staggeringly poor” dinner service at the Orchards Hotel. Robin Huish of Hickleys rounded off positive comments: “Once again the Locksmiths Show delivered a brilliant weekend for both the customer and the supplier with great crowds, lots to see and plenty of deals. “If a barometer of a successful show is how much coffee we managed to drink then this was a great show - because we didn’t get a chance to eat or drink all day! Well done Mick and the team.” To read more, visit www.locksmithjournal.co.uk