Did Liverpool Boatshow get it wrong?

Liverpool Boat Show has just announced the cancellation of the inaugural event. The organisers have cited the damaging effects of the economic climate in the leisure marine sector impacting on exhibitor take-up for the event and said ‘the integrity of the long term potential for a major boat show in Liverpool needed to be protected’.

Neil Chapman, founder of Boatshed.com, gives us his take on the news .

It seems a great shame the show is not going ahead. Boatshed.com has booked and paid for space at the show and we already have all our exhibition plans in place. The excuse that this is all about economic slowdown is very surprising and completely goes against what we, as the world’s biggest yacht brokerage business, are experiencing!

Again, the Industry seems to have misunderstood current market conditions, with new boats having been very weak for 3 years. This is not NEW news!

More focus should have been given to the market ‘middle ground’; for any boat show, reliance on a few prestige manufacturers is not commercially viable in a climate such as this. The big boys pull the plug and suddenly it's all over! Smaller boats, second-hand boat sales and service elements all remain buoyant in these difficult times. If this show is to go ahead in the future, it is these foundations it needs to take a close look at.

Re-invent the Model!

We at Boatshed.com were standing by to use our innovative boat auction product ‘boatbid.com’ at the show as a mechanism to stimulate demand in a difficult market. Companies such as Boatshed.com have re-invented the boat-sales process over the past 10 years. We have used the internet to drive down cost but increase consumer service and confidence, growing our business from one to over 50 offices across the world in the last 10 years.

Boat shows, like any other trade show, need to innovate and re-invent themselves for the future if they are to survive; a reliance on what has happened in the past is only going to slow things for the future. Lets hope Liverpool can learn these lessons quickly and get things back on track for a show in the future. With its maritime tradition and great location, Liverpool is a superb venue for a successful nautical event."

In the meantime, with 80 photos of every boat for sale, practical detailed information, full online inventories, 2500 boats for sale, plus a team of over 100 passionate staff on hand to help, it's a boat show everyday at Boatshed.com!