Issued by: ITP Communications


The show not only attracted thousands of Gautengers, but a large base of visitors from South Africa's provinces and beyond our borders too.

Heidi Warricker, Managing Director of Biz Events, organiser of the show, says that even prior to the event it was clearly evident that there was a marked increase in the level of interest in the show, being demonstrated by the public. She adds: “We noticed there was a lot of public interest in our website this year, with people visiting the site to glean information on the show and what attractions they could expect to find there. The result is, the site had some 4293 visitors prior to the show, of which an amazing 4246 were unique visitors, that is to say, not duplicated. More significantly, the average time spent on the site was just over six minutes.”

When you consider the facts, it's not surprising that interest ran so high in this year's show, what with 22 000 sqm of boats, accessories and leisure products on display, it was the biggest show ever. Add to that an estimated R1-million worth of prizes being given away, the live hosting of the final weigh-in of the BASSAFRICA Classic bass fishing tournament on the Sunday afternoon, a superb Dive 2007 pavillion and a spectacularly exciting and interactive Wake Wars Zone, and its easy to see why visitors were spoilt for both choice and entertainment.

It wasn't just the visitors that found the show to their liking, however, exhibitors were full of praise too. Ivan Maehler, of Maehler Trading described it as “very professional and well organised”, BASSAFRICA editor Roger Donaldson found it to be “very impressive” and Darryl Curtis of Bandit GPS summed it up with these words: “fantastic response, nice people, upmarket visitors – an all-round success.”

Donaldson, who played in integral role in the BASSAFRICA Classic fishing tournament, says he was especially pleased with the opportunity the show offered, to promote bass fishing to a cross-over audience of boating and outdoor enthusiasts. Certainly, the live final weigh-in at the show was the first of its kind to ever be staged in South Africa and was met with general enthusiasm and excitement.“

Headline sponsor, Absa Leisure and Asset Finance, was similarly pleased with its first-time participation in the show. William James, Marketing Head: Vehicle and Asset Finance comments: “The show was a big success and really adds value and assists dealers with their pre-sales efforts. We certainly hope that the leisure boating industry continues to prosper in the future.”

Rhys Couzyn, Director of Scuba Equipment Africa, an exhibitor in the Dive 2007 component of the show, adds: “Dive 2007 went very well for us as exhibitors and we felt it attracted a very good quality and quantity of visitors – definitely a big improvement on the number and quality of visitors in 2006. We hope to see more dive shops and destinations participating next year, to satisfy the demand that was clearly evident, from the number of visiting divers who expressed the desire to see more of these companies exhibiting in future.”

The Wake Wars zone, host to the 2007 Wake Wars pro wakeskating competition, was undoubtedly the biggest crowd-puller at this year's show. Thousands of spectators flocked to this strategically located action area, outside the main entrance and alongside the beer garden, to see South Africa's top professional wakeskaters compete in the knock-out competition, which ran throughout the weekend. The competition was won by local pro Russell Daymond.

Wake Wars organiser, Jim McFarlane of XS Promotions comments: “The competition was awesome and we saw some totally new moves that have never been performed in South Africa before. We also experienced the biggest spectator crowds we've ever seen at the show. I believe this was the best National Boat Show ever. It certainly went phenomenally well for us and if Heidi will have us back next year, we'll definitely be there.”

Phil Medlock, Franchise Principal of Pam Golding Properties Vaal Dam and River, is another happy exhibitor. He says: “The show was very successful for us and generated a lot of leads that have already led to physical sales. This was our second year exhibiting and we will certainly be back next year, only with a much bigger stand.”

The crew at the Boating International stand was a busy one indeed and according to Marketing Manager Durand Boshoff, the company concluded a good few sales at the show and secured some quality leads as well. Apart from that he says they also enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with old customers, some of whom came along to chat and others to talk about upgrading.

Heath Mitchell, Marketing Manager of Suzuki SA's Marine Division says the show was great, the organisation very good and his company will be back to exhibit in 2008.

Zac Wessels, whose company Wave Catamaran trades as Hobie Cat SA, says it was encouraging to see the level of interest demonstrated in sailing by the youth: “Lots of kids who visited the show signed up for our Hobie Dragoon courses, which hopefully will lead to their parents buying them boats when they become adept sailors.”

The Absa National Boat Show may have celebrated its fifth birthday this year, but it was the visitors who walked off with all the gifts. The record number of competitions held at and concurrently with the show, yielded a great many winners. Among these were John Tambourlas, the Star newspaper reader who won the Waterworld-sponsored Carrera TT boat with Evinrude 115HP motor and galvanized trailer worth R 135 000; Julian van Zuydam who won the Bassafrica Classic's Heaviest Bass Prize of a Terminator Bass Boat fully rigged with 150hp Yamaha outboard; and Nicolas Dubber who won the prize for the Heaviest Five Fish over Three Days, also in the Bassafrica Classic and took home a fully rigged Skeeter Bass boat with a 200HPDI Yamaha outboard and a Toyota Hilux High Rider sponsored by Imperial Toyota!

Dubber comments: “In terms of sponsors and prize value, this is the biggest competition in South Africa and it was amazing for me that it should be my first win in four years of competitive fishing. The tournament itself had a completely new format – running at two different venues and ending with a live weigh-in at an outside event – which worked well and really opened up the field as it negated any home advantage a competitor might have.”

Warricker concludes: “It is immensely gratifying to see how this show has grown and developed to become the premier platform for the launch of the newest, most advanced boats, gear and watersports accessories, by South Africa's foremost players in the boating and related industries. Equally gratifying is the feedback we received via our visitor evaluation forms, which indicate that exhibitors are giving visitors exactly what they want to see. So well done to them!

“Given the tremendous growth in the boating and leisure markets in general, together with the immense buying power of the Gauteng market, we anticipate an even bigger and more successful year in 2008, when the show takes place from 15 to 17 August, at the Coca-Cola Dome. We hope to see all the same faces and many new ones next year, but until then, invite everyone interested in this thrilling show, to visit the website at www.nationalboatshow.co.za”

Visit our PRESS OFFICE: Biz Events is a full-service event management company that is in the business of developing and executing events including management services and company owned events. - more....

[11 Sep 2007 09:56]

SEND TO A FRIEND  |   PRINT