READERS' OPINIONS SPLIT OVER 2021 SHOW ATTENDANCE

Service Dealer asked our readers for their opinions on the trade show scene for this year - and you didn't hold back in letting us know what you think.

There appears to be a real split in views amongst our readers. There are those keen to get back out to experience in-person events once again - and others with a nervousness about interacting in large groups this year. 

Below are the questions we asked and your responses:

If possible, would you attend an in-person industry trade show or event this year?

• Yes - 42%
• No - 31%
• Undecided - 27%

Would your preference be this year, to attend a show  . . .

• Outdoors - 51%
• Not at all - 20%
• Indoors - 15%
• Virtually - 14%

Thinking about attending an in-person event, what time of year would you prefer it to take place?

• Autumn - 37%
• Not at all - 23%
• Summer - 20%
• Winter - 17%
• Spring - 3%

Which of the following events, still scheduled to go ahead in 2021, would you be most keen to attend in-person?

• GMA Saltex - 23%
• Local or county show - 15%
• Tillage-Live - 12%
• APF - 12%
• Agri-Scot - 11%
• Service Dealer Conference - 8%
• Glee - 7%
• Cereals - 5%
• BIGGA's Festival Of Turf - 4%
• Agritechnica - 3%

Comments from readers on the trade show & exhibition scene for 2021

It is a very difficult call. Trade shows were sorely missed last year - they are a big part of the year. If you are a service dealer, distributor or OEM, they are events you have to get involved with. Looking towards the end of this year it may just be possible to put on a show.

It will have to be policed and within guidelines - whatever they are at the time?! We need to make sure our own staff will be safe.

Put them all on hold till at least September.

Would look forward to attend and chat, viewing the latest innovations at another Saltex exhibition at the NEC with everyone under one roof.

Forget it.

I don’t think indoor events will be allowed, and I would be uneasy in attending an indoor event. All meetings I attend are all done remotely. There haven’t been an in-person meeting for coming up one year.

We have to ask why shows need to go ahead this year? Is anyone going to die if there are no shows? Definitely NOT. Are machinery suppliers going to lose sales? Definitely NOT. If shows go ahead it will be impossible to limit numbers or social distance, so there will be a high risk of passing the virus on and consequently it's likely that people will get very ill and possibly die.

I think it is too early to start having shows until at least late summer. Although we all want to get back to normal, it is not critical to hold physical shows yet and it is one thing that can and should wait. Hence the choice of Tillage-Live as the earliest event I would attend - and it's outdoors.

If shows are allowed to go-ahead this year, I'm not even sure the attendance numbers will make them viable. Most people I speak to within our industry also have the same view.

Customers are getting very tired of virtual events, some in fact unwilling to engage with them. To rebuild business to normal levels there is a desperate need for face-to-face contact. Some such events must go ahead!

If shows are to go ahead it must be 'in full' with no restrictions on numbers etc. If a show proceeds with restrictions it will provide possibly a poor experience for the visitor (and exhibitor). Poor experience = bad memory, bad memories are likely to impact on the decision to re-visit/exhibit in future years!

I don't think we can plan on there being any shows/events to attend until September - and then it will be the outdoor events that will be the safer to attend. I think as an industry we need these events to go ahead again to be able to get contact with the customer base, and stimulate interest. The farming community still generally like to kick the tyres etc.

I dont think any show should be going ahead this year unless it’s virtual. We need to get through this pandemic and have a clear spell before thinking about shows again.

I personally think that shows that have been organised later in the year stand more chance of happening. Anything before September is still too much of a gamble. If Lockdown is sorted, most people will be looking to get away for a break, not attend shows. So, I think late this year, or next year, people may be more inclined to attend an industry show.