Gauge O Guild Spring Show - Kettering

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DavidB

Western Thunderer
I no longer go to big shows, the largest I go to being Scaleforum. I find greater pleasure in the smaller shows where there may not be the traders one wants, but are more a pleasant social event with, more often than not, some interesting layouts. Big shows have become too commercial in their organisation with prices to match.
 
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Mike W

Mike W

Western Thunderer
As a non-7mm trader I can say that we never return a net profit from attending shows as the costs are quite high, but intangibles make up for the book losses. Comparisons with the NEC may be unfair as its a dreadful place that I now refuse to go to for any type of show at all.

I am not now a 7mm modeller but my wife and I both go to Kettering each year. Its a nice place, catering is good, everyone is friendly, lots of old friends to meet, and the bar/seating area is large. Its only one of two shows that she enjoys going to. But I havn't yet told her what the entry price is!

Mike
 
Andrew Young

Andrew Young

Western Thunderer
Being a Guild member I get a fiver off the entry price. Mind you, in recent years I’ve attended manning the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association stand and so entrance was free.

It’s a show I like to attend to stock up on modelling bits and top up the modelling mojo.

Alas, March is a busy month as there’s also Narrow Gauge North. Plus if trying to fit shows in around shift work and family life, my wife’s birthday is also in March so a busy month!

This year I shall be missing for a different reason, a friend is celebrating his fortieth by dragging a few of us off to Dresden to drink beer and ride narrow gauge steam lines! So looks like it’ll be Guildex before I next get a model show fix.

Andrew
 
Hayfield1

Hayfield1

Western Thunderer
I used to like local shows, but over the past 5 to 10 years they have become less attractive showing parts of the hobby which have little interest to me. Too much ready to run, 00 scale prominent and lack of scratch building. I have never been to Kettering but have heard good reviews about the show, to me it sounds a good day out

Its a 200 mile round trip thankfully my car is quite economical, I guess I could car share, but then I loose some flexibility on timings, but as I have stopped going to local shows the savings will pay to go further a field to see something that interests me. Its more an investment in travelling time (4 hours in total) than anything else.

I understand there may well be traders I would like to see not going, but in reality how many shows can offer 65+ model railway stands, let alone where the vast majority are catering for the scale I model in.

Nothing in life is perfect, for me its a day out doing what I enjoy

John
 
Heacham

Heacham

Active Member
lankytank said:
Ahem...... traders have to pay to sell at Guild events, rates vary on the number of 6 ft spaces are required, I've the invoices to prove it.

I believe that line societies/MRC's are allocated 'free' space but are not allowed to 'trade' items that charged traders are selling
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Sorry, I was told a while back that the smaller cottage industry guys didn't pay as a reason why it was more expensive than the average club get together.
 
Jordan or Plymouth Mad

Jordan or Plymouth Mad

Mid-Western Thunderer
Ian@StEnochs said:
I was at Stafford too .......... Yes there were a lot of traders but very few supplying the bits and pieces I wanted.
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Try finding U.S. O Scale at Stafford!! And that's 'big' stuff like locos & rolling stock. Bits'n'pieces?? Just forget it!! And you can bet most of what you do find is not your preffered Era. Kettering is even worse. But I still try & go to both of them.
 
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Nigel Smith

Western Thunderer
As someone who used to find traders to attend guild events I have some sympathy with the current post holders. Many of the small traders who used to attend have passed away, retired or sold their businesses. There are few ranges that have disappeared completely, but they are now absorbed into other suppliers.
If there are traders missing who you would like at shows let Andy Duncan the trade manager know and he will contact them.
 
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Bigjohn

Western Thunderer
As a Guild member for over 50 years, has anyone noticed that the bigger events become the smaller the print for adverts become in the gazettei. The recent issue might require a microscope to see prices and photos
Just an observation………….
John
 
Paul Stokes

Paul Stokes

Western Thunderer
Warley at the NEC, just became to expensive and hassle with with the new trader entry system, so we moved our show to the Statfold Barn Narrow Gauge Trust, a much smaller venue, but a lot less hassle to organise, and a much friendlier venue, with so much more to do at the show, entry fee includes free parking, free narrow gauge train rides, free crazy golf, free kids soft play area and entrance to the vintage fair ground museum, but rides are extra, but we dropped from around 90 layouts and 120 traders at the NEC to around 30 layouts and about 32 traders.
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
Difficult to tell, but perhaps not quite as bald. Otherwise….


there was a tradition a few years back of meeting by the test track at 1pm. We could reinstate that if folks would like?
 
Pencarrow

Pencarrow

Western Thunderer
simond said:
there was a tradition a few years back of meeting by the test track at 1pm. We could reinstate that if folks would like?
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Unfortunately, due to commitment clashes, I'll not be dropping in this year. I hope any WTers attending do have an enjoyable day.
 
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