Hot San Diego Nights
Posted by Fred Jandt
Editor, Mass Transit magazine
Ok, I know that sounds like an overly cliched title, but San Diego was much hotter this week than first predicted with temperatures in the 90s during the midday. Good thing most of it was spent within the confines of the San Diego Convention Center walking the aisles of this year’s International Public Transportation Expo.
It’s always difficult for me to judge just how good a show is overall — which is probably the case with most people. We each have our own demarcations as to what we’d call a successful show. If we don’t hit that point, then the show is a failure. If we zoom by it without a scance look backward, then the show is a booming success. In the words of Einstein, it’s all relative.
In that vein, I spoke with several exhibitors who were disappointed with the show traffic. Some extremely disappointed. Others were happy with attendee turnout and one even remarked to me she barely had time to finish up with one person and turn around because there was someone else behind them. See, relative.
Relatively speaking, it looks like the key factor at Expo (as it is in any business endeavor) was location, location, location. Those along a main arterial aisle had the most traffic (as did those with visibly accommodating booths). It didn’t matter which hall you were in as several exhibitors in the Sails Pavilion told me they had great traffic. Again, others did not.
Wednesday was a bit slower, but as someone pointed out to me, Monday is always the busiest day and it tapers off from there. It looked to me like the attendees all decided to take the afternoon off on Wednesday and enjoy the beautiful weather and sights of San Diego — and who could blame them! Still that is something for APTA to consider looking forward to 2011 as I am sure New Orleans is going to prove just as distracting as San Diego was.
As I said above, all in all it was a good show with a somewhat upbeat feeling tempered with a solemnity I would attribute to the current economy and the trepidation of potential funding issues in the future. The presidential election is staring us right in the face and 2009 is just around the corner. Expo showed us what the future of transit can look like, we just need to make sure we get to the station on time.
Thanks for reading the MT Position updated every Friday,
October 10th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Fred: It was great to see you in SD. You are right on with the need for a good location. I felt bad for the suppliers upstairs as I know they were somewhat off the beaten path. Having said that, as a supplier I always find the best way to attract people to your booth (and your Company!)is to have something of value to them. It is not about selling stuff, it is about helping solve the problems and challenges that all Transit Authorities face! If your product or service helps them meet their goals or objectives, and you can clearly articulate that value, they will beat a path to your door!
Keep up the great work. BTW, the planes at your booth were a hit!
Thanks…Keith
October 10th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I have attended four previous Expos, and they are all much the same inasmuch as the large item vendors are “in your face” with their products and other, more specialized suppliers are not paid attention to as much.
After all, we all purchase vehicles, software, shelters and tires from the same [relatively] small group of vendors. Most of us don’t deal directly with the people who make slack adjusters, fuel filters or wiring harnesses. Hence, the level of interest in the specialty products is far less.
I am an operations person (scheduling and runcutting), and a former bus driver, and I would like to add that my hat is off to San Diego MTS and NCTD for making every trip on transit in the city a positive one. The presence of knowlegeable MTS staff at all major stops in the downtown area along with a courteous and visible security force, helped to make every transit ride a smooth one.
The first Expo I attended was held in New Orleans, fifteen years ago. I hope to attend that event in New Orleans in 2011!
October 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Fred, The APTA Expo was a rounding success for NextBus. We had 5 people working the booth and all were pretty much busy most of time. Oddly, unlike your comment, traffic for us was far heavier on Tuesday than it was on Monday. Wednesday was slow with salespeople from other booths visiting trying to sell us. All in all we are very happy with the results and have already signed up for a booth for the 2011 show in New Orleans. Sorry we missed you in San Diego.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Fred,
I had a booth in the Sails Pavilion and, yeah, it got a little lonely at times, especially in the afternoon. But I enjoyed meeting people who I had only known through e-mail or by phone. And I was able to introduce myself to many others who were not familiar with my business.
Overall, I was not disappointed with the event. I only wish I had had more time to walk around to view the other exhibits. From what I was able to see, the industry is pushing hard to develop forward-looking products; too bad the transit properties are handcuffed by funding constraints.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
It’s all relative is a good phrase.
I think because of funding cutbacks as well as atendees budgets, it was less lackluster for both sides, however there was a lot to see.
The estimate was that there were about 70 buses there (who counted?), but no actaul railcars. Mockups yes, but not the real deal.
Back to buses though;
One now wonders what actually qualifies as a bus? There were several examples of vans and paratransit conveyances, then you go all the way up to the BRT models. Oddly, it seemed to me that the paratransit and lower capacity vehicle exhibits were much more accomodating this time than the “big boys” (yes, I’m talking about you guys in the major leagues with the 40′, 45′ and 60′ standards and articulateds). By that, I mean that manufacturer’s reps seemed more interested in answering questions and showing off the goods.
It’s also a treat to see new entries into the mix. BCI had a nice display, but got tucked into a far corner. A tip of the hat also to MCI. They brought a working driving simulator, the best I’ve seen in the industry.
I’m sorry I missed some of the other journalists like Steve Hirano. I would hope that in 2011, all the publications could be grouped together. Possibly even have a journalists breakout to discuss the industry from our viewpoint.
Overall, the ‘giveaways’ and ‘trade bait’ was a little on the slim side. That again goes back to what I mentioned about budgets. I see where many exhibitors have cut back on printed material and would rather refer you to thier websites. I can understand saving resources, but if the reps don’t have (or won’t offer) business cards with a proper web address, once you’re off the floor, any questions are moot.
I would also notice how conservartive the show has become since the 1981 Chicago Show (then called IPTE). There used to be a lot of ‘showgirls’ and ‘booth models’ (read: “twinkies”) on the floor that you really don’t see at this tradeshow anymore.
We’ve come a long way.