2019 West Coaster (1 Viewer)

A

Al Fisher

Sergeant
Joined
Jul 3, 2007
Messages
765
The recent issue of TS&MF Magazine quoted Woody as saying that there won't be a WC in 2019, but that they were working on something different for 2020. Sad, but that's the way it goes. Having put on a few toy soldier shows myself, I greatly appreciate what Woody and Craig (Bubba!) have done for us in the past. Will be looking forward to 2020. Actually, what I'll miss the most is not the goodies, but the people.

Bosun Al
 
Re: 2919 West Coaster

Visiting and meeting new people during the Room Trading was a favorite activity.
 
Re: 2919 West Coaster

This show will always be my favorite. Big enough to attract the top dealers and manufactures, yet small enough to make every collector feel welcome.
 
Re: 2919 West Coaster

Very Sad to hear of the finishing of this Show. It was my very first venture to the U.S. of A. in 2010. A lone Aussie collector in a big strange land. Met up with Andy and he introduced me to Jason (panzer ace) and Marc (beaufighter) and those two great guys looked after me for the entire Show. I have never and will never, forget their kindness.

Always enjoyed chatting with Woody and Bubba. A couple of great guys also.

Cheers from the Land Down Under, Howard
 
Re: 2919 West Coaster

My intention was to bring a load of Conte and Barzso.
Now, it goes onto eBay.
 
Re: 2919 West Coaster

Are any similar Toy Shows happening
in Southern California ?
 
Re: 2919 West Coaster

Northgate Woods said:
Very Sad to hear of the finishing of this Show. It was my very first venture to the U.S. of A. in 2010. A lone Aussie collector in a big strange land. Met up with Andy and he introduced me to Jason (panzer ace) and Marc (beaufighter) and those two great guys looked after me for the entire Show. I have never and will never, forget their kindness.

Always enjoyed chatting with Woody and Bubba. A couple of great guys also.

Cheers from the Land Down Under, Howard
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Howard:

To say I enjoyed the 2010 show would be an understatement. I still remember sharing a few beers with you and Marc as we laughed the night away in the lounge bar.

Obviously toy soldier collecting is what brings us to shows like the Westcoaster, but it is the friendships and camaraderie that truly make the shows so memorable.

Best,
Jason
 
Re: 2919 West Coaster

Northgate Woods said:
Very Sad to hear of the finishing of this Show. It was my very first venture to the U.S. of A. in 2010. A lone Aussie collector in a big strange land. Met up with Andy and he introduced me to Jason (panzer ace) and Marc (beaufighter) and those two great guys looked after me for the entire Show. I have never and will never, forget their kindness.

Always enjoyed chatting with Woody and Bubba. A couple of great guys also.

Cheers from the Land Down Under, Howard
Click to expand...

My Man Howard,

Too kind of you Chap! Rest assured it was an honor & pleasure and that all of those great memories are forever locked & loaded. Hoping we see you stateside sometime soon. Just waiting to see you in a picture surrounded by a Division of K&C Centurions.

Tailwinds,
Marc aka Beaufighter
 
Re: 2919 West Coaster

I am currently looking at venues in CA. It is too late for March. 2020 is something I will work on.

I have talked to Woody and he will provide help, lists, etc.

Anyone no of any locations let me know.

I am thinking just a one or 2 day show. No room trading, this is where Woody had his worst difficulties.

What about May? June? July? 2019 then shoot for Feb/March 2020?

I don't know seasonal patterns or bad times of years to have it. Looked at Anaheim, Huntington Beach and will check out Irvine as well.

If interested in keeping this show going lets chat here. Local help will be needed.


Thanks, Matt matt@hobbybunker.com
 
Re: 2919 West Coaster

Thanks for your interest in he West Coaster. Hopefully, you can find a suitable place in Orange County which is convenient to both LA and San Diego collectors. While room trading is one of the best part of the show, I understand the problems associated with it. Although at 85 it's a tad difficult to be active in the quest, my wife and I have often discussed listing sites that the wives might enjoy. This we can do.

Bosun Al
 
Re: 2919 West Coaster

HobbyBunker said:
I am currently looking at venues in CA. It is too late for March. 2020 is something I will work on.

I have talked to Woody and he will provide help, lists, etc.

Anyone no of any locations let me know.

I am thinking just a one or 2 day show. No room trading, this is where Woody had his worst difficulties.

What about May? June? July? 2019 then shoot for Feb/March 2020?

I don't know seasonal patterns or bad times of years to have it. Looked at Anaheim, Huntington Beach and will check out Irvine as well.

If interested in keeping this show going lets chat here. Local help will be needed.


Thanks, Matt matt@hobbybunker.com
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Hi Matt,

Two years ago, after the Irvine Marriott did not renew the show contract, I checked various hotels and other possible locations in Orange County to see if I could find a new venue. Unfortunately, most had issues either regarding costs or inadequate space. I started checking in Los Angeles County and I believe I found a location that would have worked, if room trading was eliminated. The show was not able to get enough hotel room nights booked by attendees to meet the guaranteed revenue they had committed to the hotels, so they were losing money when they were forced to make up the difference.

The Ontario Convention Center, which is near Ontario International Airport, seemed to be a viable option with numerous hotels in the vicinity, many of which offered free airport shuttle service. The convention center had the required displace space that Woody said they would need, and the cost for a Sunday show date, including table rentals and set ups was in the ball park depending on the number of vendor tables sold and the number of attendees. I don't know what the current rate is for renting space there and one would have to look at the books to see what the price points for vendor table rentals and attendee ticket prices would have to be to insure that the show was financially viable.

Mike
 
Here is the problem with trying to run a show at a hotel; hotels frankly don't want such events, they want weddings, anniversaries, sweet 16 parties, family reunions instead.

Why?

Because they don't make money renting out the room for the day, they make their money off of the food/adult beverages AND the room rental, they would rather hold out and wait for a better deal.

Matt ran into this problem here with our local show; the hotel it was held at for years got to the point where they would not give him a fall date in the spring and a spring date in the fall because again, they were holding out for a better deal. It was moved to another hotel and we were soon priced out of that location too.

Also, with the shows shrinking year by year, the hotels rent out a lot less rooms to vendors/attendees, at our Woburn show, I don't even think Matt gets a block of rooms anymore. I remember last year when I called a hotel to book a room for a club show, I was told the "block" of rooms was exactly 3 rooms.


THREE.

The San Antonio show got priced out of that hotel, as have many shows along the east coast. MFCA got priced out of the VFCC not once but twice. The biggest show on the East coast is held not in a hotel but in a college gym. Bill Lango used to tell me the college drove him crazy with their non committal for a show date, he looked at hotels and found they were either too expensive or hesitant to lock in a date 6 months or more out.

Chicago has been at the same hotel since the beginning; why? Because in addition to renting out every inch of available space, the hotel sells out, also the bar is crowded and room service/restaurant sales are off the charts, it's a license for the hotel to print money that week.

All I can say is good luck trying to bring back the show.
 
I couldn’t agree more with the above comment by George. As much as we’d like to deny it and pretend the problem doesn’t exist, shows are slowly becoming extinct and frankly they’re not a very efficient way of selling product. Online is. People would rather buy from the comfort of their home than having to deal with going to stores.

I also seem to remember that at Chicago one year, perhaps it was a Friday or a Saturday, that the Show had to accommodate a wedding. Money talks, etc.
 
Hi Matt,

Bob W. is planning on having an open house on a future Saturday to show his fabulous collection and would include provided food and a bag pipe band. He would like to coordinate this with you if you were planning only for a Sunday show date. This would represent a great toy soldier week if you can pull this off. May or July would be great. My wife and I are taking a National Parks driving vacation in June with my granddaughter, son, and his wife. I would sure hate to miss this, so I hope it isn't held in June.

Mike
 
One thing I would like to add is that thinking of other hobby shows, they are held at Firehouses as well as Fairgrounds, basically local areas that are not wedding venues (IE Hotels). These seem to work well, if you are a train collector in Maryland, there are a lot of shows that continue to go on and on and are not experiencing the same problems as toy soldier shows. And let's be frank, the average age of a train collector is about the same as a toy soldier collector.

Personally, while I shop online everyday, I still like the shows as that is where I find really unique one off buys that I may or may not find online.

TD
 
The point for me here is to run a show or to help run a show in Southern CA. Hotel, dance hall, or on the beach. I am well aware of the age, the negatives and the ups and downs. Other cons are the ages of the guys that make soldiers and the ages of guys that run toy soldier shows. Bubba is in poor health and Woody is no spring chicken.

The West Coaster has been going for nearly 30 years. It is a huge market with collectors of all ages and many with disposable income. Tons of current and retired military. Many people have reached out to me about the show and I have talked to dealers and collectors who want it to thrive. It will happen. When and where is the question.

Mike I like the idea of an Open House at Bob's and I will check the Ontario place. Not being from the area I only know and can research so many places. Woody and TSSD have offered to help with names, lists, dealers, etc.

I am appreciative of those who want to help. No offense George or Brad but I doubt you would go anyway so need for the negativity. I went to 20 West Coasters. Never had a bad show or a bad time and it was my favorite show of the year.
 
Matt, it’s not negativity but the reality of how purchases are made in the economy these days. I had actually hoped to attend the West Coaster this year but it was no to be nor will it ever be, in my opinion, although I hope I’m wrong. I wish you luck in your endeavors.
 
My vote is that a southern California show occur in the winter 😀
Would be great to be in San Diego in January 😀

One thing I’d avoid is school vacation week. I would think a family vacation to the toy soldier show isn’t in the cards for most peoole
 
Matt,
I am all for it and keeping it no later than 3rd week of March as I like the incentive to go there in the Winter!!! And I would think there would be other venues that could work. Having traveled for a living and Cali still a destination for me, from experience, there is a hotel every 2 miles, so I am sure no matter what venue you go to, a hotel will be near for people to stay in! I would recommend staying as close to the main artery (Interstate) between Orange and LA as you can. I have been to Ontario, small airport, but doable, but it is out a bit from LA and Orange.

TD
 
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