POST SHOW BULLETIN
MARCH MADNESS AT LIDS 08!
The 2008 diving season got off to a flying start on the weekend of 8/9 March as 13,611 divers made their way to London to visit the big Spring show for divers.
The halls at ExCeL were busy from the minute the doors opened, and visitors left the show at the end of both days laden with new kit, and with holidays and training courses booked for the coming year.
In the presentation theatres, freediver Sara Campbell wowed audiences with tales of her recent record-breaking dives; and Jarrod Jablonski, Innes McCartney Mark Ellyatt, Richie Stevenson and Carl Spencer spoke to rooms bursting to capacity.
Dive Show regular Monty Halls again proved that his talks are a huge draw, and Fabien Cousteau enthralled audiences with descriptions of his recent film projects. Not to be outdone, Jack Ingle’s popular kit configuration workshops and the Digital Photo Clinics, hosted by Saeed Rashid and Alex Mustard, also drew big crowds.
Left to right: Speakers Sara Campbell, Fabien Cousteau, Mark Ellyatt and Jarrod Jablonski
WHAT THE INDUSTRY SAID …
Mary Tetley, BSAC
"The show was extremely successful for the BSAC. We had more than 100 people join the BSAC over the weekend which is our most ever! We handed out over 2,000 of our highly successful BSAC DVD - Best of British Diving and signed up plenty of participants to our Go Dive and Try Dive campaigns. It was also very useful to catch up and have the chance to chat to so many of our members.
Daniel Lion, Longwood Holidays
“LIDS 2008 was our most succesful Dive Show to date. We booked more than double the number of holidays that we would normally expect to book at the show, and have been inundated since returning to the office with Dive Show visitors wishing to take advantage of the 10% discount offered to those booking before 31 March, and the Buy One Get One Free offers on various dive packages and courses. It was great to see so many familiar faces; Longwood clients complimenting us on recent trips to the Red Sea, new and existing clients collecting brochures for their next trip and visitors armed with credit cards ready to book their next holiday.”
Terry Driscoll, YouScoob.com
“We chose to launch YouScoob.com at the show and signed up lots of visitors and we were also inundated by requests from companies as well. The show was a bigger success than we could have ever hoped for.”
Jim Standing, Fourth Element
“The show was another success for Fourth Element. We were busy both days with plenty of divers, and of particular importance to us was the number of international visitors. The show offers us a fantastic opportunity to meet these visitors and expand our business overseas.”
Andy Goddard, Andark
“I would just like to say on behalf of Andark a big thanks to the Dive Show team for making the London Dive Show such a success. The mix of talks, holiday and training companies as well as equipment manufacturers and retailers combine to make it a great day out for the visitor. We were really pleased with the number and quality of the customers. The show is now an established part of the diving calendar - if you dive you should be there!”
James Little, PADI
“Another stunning show for PADI and its fellow exhibitors. LIDS seems to be going from strength to strength due to the professionalism and quality of both the organisers and exhibitors. I am very much looking forward to Dive 2008!”
Tim Roberts and David Messer, Abbey Global Ltd
“We had a good show and took away well over 40 new contacts for the Marsa Alam Beach Resort.”
VISITORS ENJOY NEW EXPERIENCES
New to the show for 2008 was the British Isles Experience, an area that promoted British diving and housed dive centres, training organisations and boat skippers. The feature was so well received by both exhibitors and visitors that it will be repeated and expanded at Dive 2008 in Birmingham.
The two Try Dive Pools were busy with divers and novices trying out kit, and BSAC World and the Caribbean and PADI Villages were hives of activity. Meanwhile, the Historical Diving Society’s display and the New Dive Gear feature provided showcases for the sport’s past and its exciting future.
LIDS PROMOTIONS PULL IN THE VISITORS
A number of new initiatives were put in place to attract new divers to LIDS 2008. Promotions with Tesco Club Card and Transport For London’s Oyster Card were tried for the first time and proved extremely successful. Other promotions included National Rail vouchers, a DLR awareness campaign, and competitions with some of London’s biggest employers and blue-chip companies.
It’s not too early to reserve your stand for Dive 2008, taking place on the weekend of 1/2 November at the NEC in Birmingham. To make sure your company doesn’t miss out on this Autumn’s diving blockbuster, contact Richard Thompson or Sharon Platt on +44 (0)20 8943 4288, or email richard@divermag.co.uk or diveshows@divermag.co.uk.
The Show Scene
