NEWS - Mandurah Show notes positive trends
The 2010 Club Marine Mandurah Boat Show welcomed 20,000 visitors over the three days and Australia’s third biggest boat show didn’t disappoint, organisers said. More than 650 boats were on display over 24,000m² of hardstand space, with 100 boats on the water and more than 200 exhibitors showcasing their wares.
Show director Peter Woods was impressed with the turnout at this year’s Show, and welcomed the positive feedback he received from both exhibitors and visitors.
“The numbers this year were up eight per cent on last year, which is a significant increase,” said Woods.
“Though the weather let us down on Sunday, the numbers were still good and the buyers were out and about.
“The success of this year’s Show really demonstrates that even with the slow economy, people love boats and boating; and the Club Marine Mandurah Boat Show is the place to be to check out the latest and best products,” he said.
The introduction of the new “super marquee” was a welcome addition to the Show’s layout and stretched 80m by 30m wide, allowing visitors to wander through more than 100 exhibitions all under the one roof.
The Club Marine stage was in a prominent location in the centre of the Show, creating a hub of activity as crowds gathered to watch the entertainment, plus enjoy a meal or a drink from the Mandurah Offshore Fishing Club’s bar and restaurant. Not too far away, the foreshore area was never empty, as children of all ages donned lifejackets and headed out on kayaks, or grabbed a rod and tried their skills in the casting competition.
The Club Marine Mandurah Boat Show is hosted by the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club, and all their proceeds are directed to the Club and their community facilities and activities.
A continual stream of people lining up on the black carpet confirmed that this year’s biggest attraction was the awesome Sunseeker Australia display, boasting four luxury cruisers, including the impressive Predator 84, officials said.
Sunseeker Australia featured a display totalling just over $15 million. Alf Barbagallo, managing director of Sunseeker Australia said the show had been more positive than expected, with high enthusiasm from visitors to the Sunseeker display.
“We sold one boat at the show with several more probable sales. Besides sales, one of our intentions is product exposure and we were very happy with the optimistic atmosphere,” said Barbagallo.
Other exhibitors reported positive feedback on the Show. Chris Box from Martin Box Marine stating that the 2010 event proved successful with many genuine buyers visiting their exhibits, and the proof was in the sale of their newest release.
“We sold the Maritimo 470, worth $1.1 million, which was good since this was the first time it had been shown in WA,” said Box. “We met with several genuine clients and got a lot of good leads, so all-in-all it was a good weekend for us.”
Maz Yahiya from All Boat Business agreed that this year’s Show was much more successful than last year.
“Sales were good this year, up on last year, and traffic flow on Friday and Saturday was brilliant,” said Yahiya, who added that despite poor weather on Sunday, boat buyers were still out and about.
Luke Chivers from Chivers Marine said this year’s Show was the most successful they’ve had for at least three years. He said their exhibit was busy all weekend and visitors seemed undeterred by the wild weather on Sunday.
“All round, we were happy with sales results and crowd numbers,” said Chivers. “We were showing our new range of Smart Wave polyethylene boats from New Zealand, and made enough sales to show us that people were impressed by this new product.”
Karen Jackman from Challenge Marine was pleased with the quality of customers the Show brings in. “The Show had a good vibe and a positive atmosphere, and the result was that a good number of sales were achieved,” she said. “We were certainly very happy with the sales we achieved over the weekend, and we posted sales after the Show as well.”
Stewart Dixon from Jetpower Boatshop said they had a lot of interest in their jetskis and made several sales at the Show.
“Considering the economy, we exceeded our expectations in sales,” said Dixon. “We sold between 15 to 20 ’skis and also made several good leads.”
Dixon said his shop had been busy in the days following the Show, and contributes a lot of that interest from people who visited their display.
THE FAMILY BOAT SHOW
Major sponsor Club Marine dubbed the 2010 Mandurah Boat Show “the family boat show”.
Well-planned entertainment across the weekend meant there was never a dull moment, and there was something for each member of the family, organisers said.
The new Western Angler Super Fishing stage and the Engel Aquatank at the end of the super marquee was said to be a huge drawcard for those interested in fishing tips. All fishing presentations were well attended and included Mike Roennfeldt, Jeni Gates and Hodgy the Barefoot Fisherman, filleting demonstrations by Peter Anderton, and the 14,000lt Aquatank, filled with barramundi, for live angling demonstrations.
Club Marine celebrity chef Bart Beek took to the Club Marine stage every hour to cook some of his favourite Mediterranean dishes — and spoiled some lucky visitors who got to sample his meals. Surprise special guest of Sunseeker Australia, current Miss Universe Australia, Jesinta Campbell, took to the stage on Saturday afternoon, and had a chat with Bart before cooking lunch for her and a friend.
Officials said that even the cold weather and wind on Sunday didn’t stop the displays of the fashion parades, which showcased the latest in swimwear and casual wear from Musto, Club Marine, and Bather Bar.
TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND
Since 2001, Malcolm Douglas has been a huge part of the Mandurah Boat Show, and he was greatly missed this year, said organisers, who added that exhibitors and visitors shared their stories and memories of this great man who may be gone, but will never be forgotten. The Malcolm Douglas casting competition raised more than $1000, which will be donated to Malcolm’s Kimberley Bilby fund, while banners depicting his life in photos were displayed around the Show. Mandurah Boat Show organisers said they will make sure the legend will live on in years to come.
The 2011 Club Marine Mandurah Boat Show has been confirmed for October 14, 15 and 16. If you would like to receive a copy of the prospectus (mailed out in February) register your interest by emailing: info@mandurahboatshow.com.au