Agree definitely we do not want no show and you have to accept Warriors comments about reality they are indisputable. However it is billed as the biggest show in Europe and there are some great products available. I remember the K@C dioramas at Islington, one for every theatre of war. They were quite inspirational. At Haverstock there is nothing like that. Of all manufacturers only TG had direct representation so as for the other manufacturers do they feel it is simply not worth while? What about all the great new products from War Park, Team Miniatures and Eagle Design. Not a single piece there. Methinks wonders if K@C would attend if the show was moved to Edinburgh.
I used to view the images from the London Show when it was at its former venue, the depth and scope of product offerings was incredible, specifically the smaller manufacturers in the Uk doing wonderful items and the sellers with the mint in box vintage plastics from Timpo and W. Britain, those plastics are what I grew up with along with Airfix.
Shows get moved due to venues pricing the promoter out, which is a shame, but the surest way to kill a show is to move it. We had a local show in here in MA, it was held for years in a town called Dedham at a nice hotel, vendors from MA, CT, NY, NJ and also from time to time VA, MD, OH and MI, there were two rooms full of dealers offering top shelf products..............then the show moved about half an hour away, attendance by dealers and attendees started to bleed out, then it got moved another half an hour further away and it continued to bleed out, it eventually faded away. It was brought back this year as a "toy soldier/general toy/model kit/military books show"............I did not attend as I had my fill of the show.
When I started in the business in the late 1990's, show were "events", I attended north of 20 shows a year, they were all a license to print money.......started to notice them going the wrong way in about 2016/2017...........then COVID hit and they were gone for a year and a half, they are coming back now, I've only been to two the past three years as previously stated.
I've found other platforms from which to sell merchandise, I've replaced the show income while also cutting away all the expenses to do them; table fees, gas, tolls, van rental, hotel bill, meals, a win/win.
Collectors are not attending as in the past, nor are the dealers, as collectors age and sadly pass away, dealers also age, some retire and sadly, some pass away, no one is taking their place, so it's getting harder and harder to fill a venue with quality vendors selling quality merchandise, more and more collectors or "flippers" are coming to shows to sell merchandise, not full time toy soldier vendors.
In a perfect world, shows would have full time vendors wall to wall and also manufacturers showing new and future releases to get collectors excited; the costs to attend shows continue to go out of control, it becomes a cost vs benefit example, why are vendors from years past London shows no longer attending? If the sales were there, I am sure they would, each vendor has to decide for himself if attending shows is worthwhile economically or not. We have to make tough decisions, it's not easy to pull out of a show you've been attending for years, it's sad to be honest, but it's also a business decision, not a personal one.
The London show, much like our Chicago Show, is iconic, would hate to see either of them fade away, time will tell, I had hoped one day to attend the London Show just to see all the varied product offerings.
One of the things that appealed to me was the picture posted after the show of the TFT members who attended all gathered in a pub relaxing after the show with a good meal and some adult beverages, I had hoped to be in one of those pictures.....................we'll see what the future holds.
Not trying to be a wet blanket, just stating reality.
