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Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:14 pm
by Tony McC
Anyone else going? I'll be there all three days, making a nuisance of meself and pestering the manufacturers as usual, but if anyone wants to meet up for a cuppa and a slice o' cake, let me know.
I'll try to have a review of the show online by the following weekend, but that's not a promise!
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:08 pm
by Sean Buxton
Tony,
I plan to be there Sunday morning. Will you be based at any particular stand?
Sean
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 10:17 am
by Tony McC
No, I wander around trying to annoy as many manufacturers and retailers as possible. 
Actually, some of the exhibitors are very friendly and helpful, providing a chair for my pore ole back and a mug of tea for me parched frote while they take the opportunity to impress me with their latest sales push. There are a few that you can tell are thinking, "Oh no! It's him again and he always has really difficult questions". Then there are the ignormamuses, the so-called professional paving sales reps who aren't even aware of the website (and two of the large national manufacturers are guilty of this) because they were selling sun-beds or industrial fasteners a month ago. Worst of all are the bullshitters, the ones who don't have the answer but will promise you the moon on a stick if they think there's the slightest possibility of a sale. I feel it is my duty to make these buggers tell ever-bigger porkies and then watch them squirm when their ineptitude is revealed.
Give me a call on 07971 029499 when you get there and we'll have a brew
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:50 pm
by mouldmaker
I knew I should have checked the site before I went!
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 1:17 pm
by Tony McC
My review will be online some time this weekend, but I'd be happy to hear your thoughts on what was there, and what wasn't, Mike.
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 11:28 am
by mouldmaker
Biggest 'wasn't' was Westminster Stone, unfortunately; their stands are always worth seeing, and I was looking forward to catching up with John. I did see Paul briefly, who seemed to be enjoying the anonymity of not exhibiting...
Was nice to see a lot of old faces, unfortunately the same could be said of the paving. Aside from Stonemarket, who seem to be making a genuine effort to put some spark back into the concrete paving industry (as well as hedging their bets with some new natural products) it was all pretty muc the same old same old.
It seemed several manufacturers were either absent (EJ exhibited for the first - and possibly last, now AI have acquired them - time last year) or reduced their footprint, which I guess is reflective of the downturn in sales most manufacturers have experienced.
Picked up some business, so it was well worth my while attending (don't you just love those 'chance' meetings?) and some juicy gossip. And I didn't pay for lunch. All in all, apart from nearly 8 hours on the road, not a bad day.
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:27 pm
by Tony McC
My review is bigger than ever (ooh err missus) and I uploaded it to the news section last night. I'd be very intersted to hear other people's thoughts.....