Re: Re: UKHA2003 - key learnings?

[Tony Butler <lists@xxxxxxx>]

> Agreed...but that "core group" need to pre-book at the
earliest possible
> time.

I don't think you'd be running much of a risk just by assuming that the
core
(or most of the core anyway) will go, prebooked or no.....

> > equally, it is not just a few blokes down the pub....
>
> And there in lies the dilemma.  Plenty of people liked it because it
had lots
> more stuff this year..but at then end of the day (or Saturday night at
> least) it *WAS* just a few blokes down the pub.

LOL, well yeah, Saturday night, we did have one or two small sherries, but
I
don't think that in any way was reflected in the event itself - which was
actually more formal/professional than I was expecting - so the event
itself,
for me, was NOT just a few blokes down the pub having a laugh and pawing a
few
gadgets (though of course this did happen too).  Hell, even Ken held off
drinking until after 12! :)

> If we decide to formalise the event, have commercial sponsorship etc,
it
> will be a totally different type of event.

In what way?  Yes when it _is_ the size of the Ideal Home exhibition, but
surely not at the sort of size it's at now?

> them. - Being at the bleeding-edge of HA, companies are interested to
see
> what we are doing. Companies will visit our meet for ideas, contacts
R&D,
> marketing, all sorts of reasons.

Indeed, and that may be enough to persuade them to make a little investment
in
the event.  Okay, they are paying to get there and have their people man
the
stands for a couple of days, but another few hundred quid on top (depending
on
the size of the company obviously - you couldn't charge Indigo Electroncis
that
sort of money (wait till Keith is rich off the back of the switcher!) - is
hardly going to be noticable...they would probably pay more to do market
research.

> > never have found details of the meeting.
> > IMO it really needs to have a prominent position on the site at
least 3
> > months prior to the event
>
> BLIND MAN! The UKHA2003 details were a "Sticky Story" that
stayed at the top
> of the front page for about 3 months!
[..]
> It was removed 7 days before as all the welcome packs had gone out and

Well guess when _I_ was looking then?  In the week before so I could decide
which presentations I wanted to go to etc!!! :)

> I can see us returning to Hatfield..with at least two of the big
rooms.

I was a bit hesitant about this choice of venue, but I have to say that it
did
the job fine and was easy enough to get to.  We would definitely need 2 big
rooms next to each other - oh and they would have to train their bar staff
to
get the finger out when serving!

> TBH the retailers get very little from the list...never mind the 10%
or so
> that might turn up to a meet.

They get advertising though - especially as the event becomes more
prominent.
How did it get into Computer Shopper?  Perhaps we should look at ways to
get it
mentioned in more prominent places next year.....

> All constructive comments appreciated   And by way of a thank you
here's that
> URL again for anyone that missed it...
> http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/london2003/images/slides/DSC00154.html

SLAAAAGGGGG! :-D

> LOL - believe me...if I WAS the GODFATHER of UKHA you'd have had a
horses
> head in your bed by now!

ROFL - rather that than the nad-zapper :)

T.