Are Car Show Trade Stands To Expensive?

Explore the rising costs of car show trade stands and their impact on vendors. Discover potential solutions and how car shows can adapt to create a win-win situation.

Over head shot of a car show

The Thrill of Car Shows

Picture this: the vibrant buzz of a car show, gleaming metal under the sun, the roar of engines, and enthusiastic gearheads everywhere you turn. We all love car shows and car events, and the best ones are those that have that extra excitement or activities, such as drift shows, stunt shows, and race days. I've been to quite a few, and they all vary in size and excitement, but one thing I think could be improved is trade stands.

The Missing Piece: Lack of Trade Stands

There seems to be a real lack of trade stands at modified and JDM car shows, or the ones present are expensive and don't have much variety. I visited a classic car show near where I live in Chester, and their market area was packed with lots of stalls, loads of parts and merchandise, and most importantly, plenty of happy customers milling about, looking for that bargain or part they need for their next build. It was a stark difference from the car shows for modified and JDM cars I often visit. I have been doing some research and looking at the prices of the popular shows I visited as I was considering taking a trade stand for the magazine, I was shocked at the actual costs of the trade space these shows offer and now I am understanding WHY!!

There is a lack of traders at shows, the prices vary from £95 to over £3000, and they all mostly only have 4 size options usually 4 metres by 6 metres being the cheapest on the scale, you may say £95 is cheap, does sound it doesn’t it, but wait, factor in travel, wage, food and that price is now close to £200, so, if you're a small trader each sale as this cost factored in, so like us, for example, we make £1 on a magazine so we would have to sell over 200 just to pay for the costs for the day, this is a major factor for any small business and this is more than likely why they are not appearing at our shows, now this price was for a smaller show Yorkshire Modified Show, Tunerfest at Olton Park starts at £195, £145 at Santa Pod Raceway and some of the other shows are even higher,

Yorkshire modified trade stand prices

The Potential for Excitement

We all know that at a show, we have a walk around, take pictures, mingle with others, and chat, but then there are those couple of hours where we're just standing around, bored and tired. But what if these shows had more trade stands with lots of variety? We could spend a few hours shopping, giving the show that extra layer of wow.

The Hidden Struggle: Skyrocketing Costs

But amidst this excitement, a hidden struggle unfolds. Trade stands, the lifeblood of these events, are facing a significant challenge: skyrocketing costs. This puts a strain on small businesses, limits vendor participation, and ultimately threatens the very fabric of car shows themselves.

The Ripple Effect

When trade stand costs become prohibitive, it's not just the vendors who suffer. Car enthusiasts miss out on the opportunity to discover new products, find rare parts, and engage with passionate businesses. The overall experience is diminished, and the car show community loses a vital component that fuels its growth and vibrancy.

Finding Solutions

So, what's behind these rising costs, and what can be done to ensure car shows remain vibrant marketplaces for car enthusiasts and businesses alike? It's a multifaceted issue that requires collaboration between event organizers, vendors, and the community itself.

Community Involvement

Car enthusiasts themselves can play a role by actively supporting trade stands at events and advocating for their inclusion. By demonstrating the demand for these vendors, organizers may be more inclined to prioritize their participation and find ways to make it more accessible.

tunerfest trade stand prices

The Price of Participation: Why Costs are Rising

There's no denying that car shows are expensive to put on. Venue rental, security, insurance, and logistics all add up. Unfortunately, these costs often trickle down to the vendors, who are expected to pay hefty sums to secure a booth space. Here's a breakdown of some factors contributing to the rise in booth costs:

Venue Costs: Prime locations within convention centres or large outdoor venues come with a premium price tag. These costs are then partially recouped by charging vendors higher booth fees.
Show Production Expenses: Staging a successful car show involves a lot of behind-the-scenes work, including marketing, entertainment, and logistics. These expenses are factored into the overall budget, often leading to higher vendor fees.
Third-Party Vendors: Many car shows rely on third-party vendors to handle booth sales or construction. These intermediaries can add an extra layer of cost for participating businesses.

The Squeeze is On: The Impact on Vendors

The rising cost of trade show booths has a significant impact on vendors, particularly small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Here's how it affects them:

Limited Participation: High costs can make car shows financially prohibitive for smaller businesses, reducing the diversity and innovation showcased at these events, small traders have a very small profit margin so for each sale these costs hit more.
Profit Margin Squeeze: For participating vendors, the high cost of booths eats into their profit margins, making it challenging to see a return on their investment, for example, if a trader only makes £1 profit and the stall costs them £195 this trader would have to sell 195 items just to break even, before they factor in travel costs, wages and food for the day.
Focus on Larger Businesses: High costs favour larger, established companies with deeper pockets. This can create a homogenized vendor landscape, limiting the variety of products and services offered to car show attendees and harming the user's experience, we all love to shop but we also love to shop for bargains.

castle combe trade stand prices

Shifting Gears: Finding Solutions for a Win-Win

The high cost of car show trade stands is a problem that needs a solution. Here are some ideas to create a win-win situation for both car shows and vendors:

Shared Booths: Facilitating shared booth arrangements allows multiple businesses to share the cost of space. This can be particularly beneficial for companies with complementary products or services.
Alternative Vendor Experiences: Exploring alternative vendor experiences beyond traditional booths can be beneficial. Dedicated showcase areas, product demonstrations, or interactive displays can offer greater value for vendors.
Sponsorship Opportunities: Creating sponsorship packages for vendors can help generate revenue for the car show while offering valuable benefits, such as branding exposure or product placement, to participating businesses.
Focus on Networking: Car shows can facilitate networking opportunities between vendors and potential customers or partners. This can create long-term value beyond just booth sales.

The Future of Car Shows: Collaboration is Key

Car shows remain a vibrant part of car culture, offering a unique blend of spectacle, education, and community. However, to ensure their continued success, adapting to the changing landscape is crucial. By working together to address the issue of high booth costs, car shows and vendors can create a more sustainable and engaging experience for everyone involved.

Here at Stance Auto Magazine, we believe in fostering a strong car culture community. We encourage car show organizers to explore alternative solutions that make participation more accessible for all vendors. Together, we can ensure that car shows continue to be a thriving platform for showcasing the latest automotive trends and bargains for us all.

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