YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
Incoming IOG SALTEX Event Director, Jon Gibson, believes that the number of serious buyers who attended this year forms a solid platform on which major growth can be built. Speaking on the third day of IOG SALTEX 2012, he commented: “Well over 100 stands had been optioned for 2013, which reflects great support for the show. There’s no doubt that this year’s show faced a number of obstacles – not least the austere economic climate that is headlined by the fact that local authority budgets continue to be put under tremendous pressure. But it is clear that decision-makers from across the open space spectrum, including local government departments as well as our other core visitor markets that include sports turf, did turn out in their thousands – over 6,000, in fact - to not only keep abreast of the latest developments and technologies but also to buy, order and request demonstrations of kit that will make them even more effective and efficient.”
The Children’s Playground Company said it saw representatives from around 40 local councils – and signed “a substantial order” at the show – while Broadwood International’s Peter Farndell reported that, as a result of the show, the company had over 100 leads and bookings for more than 30 demos for products from its SnowEx and Wessex ranges.
Jon Gibson again: “IOG SALTEX continues to be the only annual event where open space professionals can see everything they need at the same time – and we are determined that next year’s show will provide visitors and exhibitors with even more value for the time and money they commit to the show. We will be working closely with exhibitors and partners to develop initiatives that will deliver highly relevant content and features for each of the show’s key market sectors that include machinery, turf, play and landscaping.”
What exhibitors thought of IOG SALTEX 2012
“The quality of the visitors was very good. We could spend more time with the customers and took some orders on the stand.” (Nick Darking, General Manager, Charterhouse Turf Machinery)
David Jenkins, Managing Director of DJ Turfcare, reported an "excellent" IOG SALTEX with sales of two Plugger aerators on the stand. He also took large orders for MO Bacter. "We saw real quality visitors and had serious inquiries. Windsor is always a good show for us.”
BLEC Global reported a very successful show during which it sold four machines off the stand. One machine, the GKB Sandfiller, was sold to Peter Knight of Bury Turfcare, who used it the following week to treat 18 golf greens at The Oxford Golf Club. Gary Mumby, Managing Director of BLEC Global, said: "The quality of the visitors was outstanding and we now have many demonstration calls to make." The other machines sold were a Laser Grader, a Multiseeder and a Laser Power Box Rake.
Schiller Groundscare reported a record opening first day at this year’s IOG SALTEX. Having secured several firm orders from the outset, the company received a multiple order by Northamptonshire garden machinery dealer, the Mower Shop. This included the new Mantis Deluxe and XP Tillers, cordless hedge trimmers and hand shears plus the Little Wonder HPV Vacuum and Optimax Blower. In addition, the company’s new Little Wonder Pro-edger was purchased by machinery dealer, Ben Burgess Groundcare. Mantis UK Managing Director David Goose said: ”Our new location at the front of show area ensured that we saw the top buyers immediately after they entered the event. Coupled with the superb weather, this has been a very productive three days! The quality of visitors is high - which ultimately is the most important factor.”
Stem Injection Systems, Europe's supplier of the innovative patented stem injection system for the treatment and management of invasive, non-native plants, enjoyed a very successful IOG SALTEX - helped in no small way by an opening day seminar that was well attended by the amenity sector.
David Layland commented: "It was a great success for us and hopefully for those that attended. The seminar attracted a good mix of councils, contractors, land-owners, colleges and training companies.”
IOG 2013
IOG SALTEX 2013 (www.iogsaltex.co.uk) will be held on September 3-5 at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.
