MVPA Convention, Topeka KS

[Mike Cecil]

Pity we didn't coord before hand, Rob, we could have met for a chat.

Weebee Webbing from Richmond, Ohio were there with there range of canvas products (and I think I'll be getting the GP canvas, webbing and hardware from Dave), plus I got the new 6.00-16 tubes I needed as well from Dan someone (can't remember his name).

But I agree: some of the usual suspects were not there. I had hoped to see Vintage Wiring of Maine (now operating in NC, so closer to Topeka) there but no joy.

Mike

[motto]

Not many LVT 3s about either.
Twin Cadillac V8 side valves - music to the ears. A superb engine in every way.

Dave

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Pity we didn't coord before hand, Rob, we could have met for a chat.

Weebee Webbing from Richmond, Ohio were there with there range of canvas products (and I think I'll be getting the GP canvas, webbing and hardware from Dave), plus I got the new 6.00-16 tubes I needed as well from Dan someone (can't remember his name).

But I agree: some of the usual suspects were not there. I had hoped to see Vintage Wiring of Maine (now operating in NC, so closer to Topeka) there but no joy.

Mike

I was supposed to bu a MB/GPW soft top along with bows and hardware for a friend of mine. Normally at one of these shows I wold have choice of 3 or 4 vendors to buy from. There was nothing at this show. Another guy wanted me to pick him up some rear seat covers for a M38A1. There was none of those to be had either.

I saw the fellow with the tubes for sale, and in fact bought a few things from him. Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of things to spend on, and quite a number of them I didn't even know I needed until I saw them. I did manage to spend every US dollar that I had on me, so it was success on that front. But it was not the usual show where you could show up with a shopping list and fill it.

[chris vickery]

Perhaps the mid-West venue is the main reason for the turnout such as it was.
Topeka is not exactly on the main route to anywhere...
This year's show in Aberdeen was a little lackluster as well, but from what I gathered, the show in Findlay OH was also running the same weekend so many venodrs had to pick one ot the other.

[rob love]

I think it may be a sign of the times. I talked with someone in the know who mentioned membership in the MVPA has gone to half of what it was a few years ago. As for the dealers, why travel all the way to anywhere, and have to pay the shipping costs associated with it, if most of your customers are just sitting at home and hitting the "add to cart" button.

I also heard some talk that with the newest wave of releases, from the Humvees to the M939, and everything in between, there is more of a market for the newer stuff's parts, where businesses are keeping theirs going, than with the collectors of the older equipment. This woudl not be applicable to all the dealers mind you.

When I went to the Portland show a couple years ago, it was the same thing. Many of the larger dealers were not there, there were whole blocks of tables empty. The reason people gave then was that it was on the West coast, and too far away for a lot of the dealers. With Topeka pretty much geographically dead center in the US, I would have thought there would be more dealers.

Then you have to look at an example like Wallace Wade, who specializes in the military tires. He does have a lot of them pre-ordered, so gets STA to ship them directly to the show. He also brings a lot on spec, and if they don't sell he has to pay the shipping back to STA. These days, you can go to a company like Summit racing, or Simple tire, get the same tires for the same price, and shipping to the border is either included or very cheap.

Perhaps the days of the brick and mortar military vehicle show, much like so many of the clubs, is numbered. I sure hope not, I like the opportunity to bargain, barter, and find those things I didn't even know I needed.

[chris vickery]

Agree with your commentary Rob.
Another issue to contend with for many dealers is the actual cost of the show itself. Depending on who the dealer is, they may have to pay travel, hourly wages, meals, hotels etc and this gets expensive. Add in shipping costs for display or product plus the actual table fees or trade show fees and it becomes understandable.
Not sure what the MVPA charges dealers to set up as I have never looked into it but many larger industry shows are very expensive, dealers need to contemplate where the best bang for the buck is.
I know of a local truck show here in Ontario that has gone from a high of 2000 displayed vehicles to less than 400 in the past 10 years. The same goes for the dealers and vendors, I am talking big names here who cetainly have the money (Shell, Valvolene, Western star etc etc) The complaint at this particular show is that the venue organizers have gotten greedy and priced their sponsors right out. Sponsors make a show and bring in people so this is backwards thinking in my mind.