Minneapolis show, did anyone go?

[R J]

This is the first year in all my years that I can say I didn't go. Don't know why but time and other activities kind of put it on the back burner. I'm a bit upset I didn't go because it has been tradition to do so but oh well.

Since I didn't hear a radio spot, a tv spot or it advertised on any billboard I wonder the following. Plus it was later this year which may have contributed to it as well?


1) Did anyone go?
2) Good, bad or Ugly compared to other years?
3) Attendance in general?
4) Anything worthy that made you glad you went?

 

[Mn Mtn Man]

show

1. I went Fri evening. Show website said open 4-7 so I hustled to get there by 5:30. Site was wrong, open til 9 or 10? Tues I went to show website to look up vendor list and it said, "will be updated soon". ???? Maybe because vendor list was so slim.

2 and 3. Bad AND ugly. Seems like it's getting worse. Only a few lodges represented- no Togw or Cooke City or other good spots. Fewer booths in general and more metal polish and misc booths-- thought I was at Hay Days swap meet
All 4 manufacturers were there at least. I think a couple years ago the Century Power Sports booth doubled as the Cat display. No premium aftermarket companies like SLP, Klim, etc.
One guy said show had dramatically lowered vendor price as they were not going to attend but then couldn't pass up lower price.
Fri attendance seemed very low. Remember old days when line was hundreds long when show opened?
Not sure how many went Sat or Sun.

4. Got info from Island Park group that rents out many new big cabins.
Yamaha handed out $300 coupons if you bought sled at show.
Got a chance to tell factory reps the 3 words they need to hear--- FACTORY MTN TURBO. Heard the usual, they're concerned about reliability etc. Did Yamaha forget they made a turbo bike 25 years ago?

You didn't miss a whole lot.
Welcome other opinions, your experience may be different.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

1. I went Fri evening. Show website said open 4-7 so I hustled to get there by 5:30. Site was wrong, open til 9 or 10? Tues I went to show website to look up vendor list and it said, "will be updated soon". ???? Maybe because vendor list was so slim.

2 and 3. Bad AND ugly. Seems like it's getting worse. Only a few lodges represented- no Togw or Cooke City or other good spots. Fewer booths in general and more metal polish and misc booths-- thought I was at Hay Days swap meet
All 4 manufacturers were there at least. I think a couple years ago the Century Power Sports booth doubled as the Cat display. No premium aftermarket companies like SLP, Klim, etc.
One guy said show had dramatically lowered vendor price as they were not going to attend but then couldn't pass up lower price.
Fri attendance seemed very low. Remember old days when line was hundreds long when show opened?
Not sure how many went Sat or Sun.

4. Got info from Island Park group that rents out many new big cabins.
Yamaha handed out $300 coupons if you bought sled at show.
Got a chance to tell factory reps the 3 words they need to hear--- FACTORY MTN TURBO. Heard the usual, they're concerned about reliability etc. Did Yamaha forget they made a turbo bike 25 years ago?

You didn't miss a whole lot.
Welcome other opinions, your experience may be different.

I would say you nailed it. We went Friday night also (better items in the little swap meet area somtimes). and it paid off because I was able to get a new Ski-Doo rigid tunnel bag for $40. Other then that the show gets smaller every year. There was a few good deals on gear and a little bit of last years stuff.

I would say you did not miss much RJ.

 

[Heypal]

Yes, it was smaller then ever. But I don't really care. For me and our group it is just an excuse to get together and hang out. I bought a new HJC motorcross helmet from Bob's cycle for 79.99. Retails for $130.00..damn good deal! That made it worth while for me.

 

[6Mile]

I went Friday afternoon as well. This show has been getting smaller every year. This year there was a lot of non-snowmobile stuff. There were booths displaying boats, Ice fhishing trailers, Docks, etc. I guess it is a sign of the times, until the economy picks up and buyers have more disposable income smaller shows/no shows will be the norm.

Personally I think they should tie it in with ski/snowboard croud again. At least then the show is more related to winter activities.

we have areally good boat show here in Jan/Feb so why does it need to be part of a winter show?

 

[Ector]

I would agree with everyone as far as smaller and smaller and not very good. To give you an idea, they had two of the “domes”(the usual) in the convention center and everyone(oem’s and dealers) had to bring in their semi’s to put at the edges so it didn’t seem so empty. I too miss the days of it being the ski and snowmobile show. I asked myself this year, “did I not like it because I really didn’t need anything?” The answer was no.

 

[TKswild1]

My Sat. Observation

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skidoo fest at the convention center

Alot of skidoo dealer's

The big 4 were present,

Wisc. Dell's Vendor
DaVinci Teeth Whitening
CutCo Cutlery
Kitchen craft
Mary Kay Cos.
Tupperware

There were a few more but whatever.

I think I seen two vendor's selling ski's SLP and something else.

84 vendors' in all. I would say 1/4 of em did'nt have any thing to do with power sports or related to powersports.

All the klim stuff was pretty much the same as if you went to the store.
FXR had some jackets that were marked down pretty good.
I noticed that the togwatee glove was a little cheaper than what I paid for a year ago by 10 buck's.

I don't think anyone was selling beacon's, Saw the (SPOT).

I got there at 10am and left by 1. I walked through it twice.


What do You all think of the show. I guess it was allright so-so. My kid's loved sitting on every machine there. lol.

HIGH LIGHTS Yamaha and ISOC girls (*)(*)
__________________

 

[thefullmonte]

Heypal, I'm glad you found a good deal with us. I get so sick of places like Bristow's telling people we have those low prices because we are going out of business. Well, I guess we've been going out of business for about 37 years now. Sorry, just my little rant.
6mile, very good point. The prior weekend they had a very unsuccessful ski/snowboard show. Bringing the 2 back together could only help. Especially, with the vacation destinations.
Unfortunately, the people promoting the show know nothing about the industry. Hence the reason it continues in a downward trend. We are going to try and work with them for next years show. There are a lot of things that could bring the crowd back as well as the desired vendors.
I think all I saw for aftermarket was True North Adventure Gear and Bikeman. They had a nice perfume stand along with a cooking class.

 

[thefullmonte]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skidoo fest at the convention center

Alot of skidoo dealer's

The big 4 were present,

Wisc. Dell's Vendor
DaVinci Teeth Whitening
CutCo Cutlery
Kitchen craft
Mary Kay Cos.
Tupperware

There were a few more but whatever.

I think I seen two vendor's selling ski's SLP and something else.

84 vendors' in all. I would say 1/4 of em did'nt have any thing to do with power sports or related to powersports.

All the klim stuff was pretty much the same as if you went to the store.
FXR had some jackets that were marked down pretty good.
I noticed that the togwatee glove was a little cheaper than what I paid for a year ago by 10 buck's.

I don't think anyone was selling beacon's, Saw the (SPOT).

I got there at 10am and left by 1. I walked through it twice.


What do You all think of the show. I guess it was allright so-so. My kid's loved sitting on every machine there. lol.

HIGH LIGHTS Yamaha and ISOC girls (*)(*)
__________________

Klim allows us to do a 10% discount at the shows. We had the Ortovox M2 Avalance beacons there. I think True North had the SPOT didn't they? I didn't really get a chance to check it out.

 

[TKswild1]

Yea

I stopped at Bobs The rep you had there helped me out. I did'nt find the size I needed. I think 12 was the largest boot you had. I looked at alot of Klim boots. Bristo's had size 13 but the price was the same as buying on line. They had no were to sit and try em on or I might have bought them.

 

[firecatguy]

show suks used to be good show back in the day!!was it not ski&sled then?

got a great deal on one awesome cover from monte

this also needs to be said

I got a scheer madness cover at haydays and it did not fit my m8, called scheer madness for weeks till someone answered the phone and told me it was the wrong cover at this point ive drove to ther house few time and called!! so I just wait till snow show cuz I new they would be ther and they were so they tell me no cash around as that's how I originally paid. I go to avy class and come back at the end of the night and still no cash but they took my CC# and said they would put my money on it MONDAY!
WELL TODAY IS MONDAY AND NO MONEY!!!
now I have no cover and no money!!this is one great company.....

Monte,

thanks for the skinz cover that thing fits like a glove!!hope you are getting more as 4 of my friends will be comming to BoBs to pick one up!!!

 

[diggerdown]

I skipped the show this year. After the downhill trend the last couple of years I did'nt think it was worth the cost to go.

 

[mtn_klimer]

I usually stop at Bristows on my way back to the homestead on the weeksends when i get the chance, i don't really have any problems with them and i get a 15% discount on everything i buy there, and sometimes more, Pays to have connections with the owner Couple years back i got $175 fox snowpants for $80!!

 

[thefullmonte]

Sorry we only had one place to sit. Our booth was sorta small we know, but we can't justify having it any bigger with the way the show is.
We have some 13's in stock at the store now if you need. And we already have more sled covers on order. Have your buddy's give us a call so we can be sure to have a cover by the time they need it. Plus when they come in we can give them a call right away.
And thanks to all of you that did stop by the booth. Not just for buying stuff, but it was really great to meet so many of you. So often you see people posting on here, but never really get a chance to put a face to a name. Always fun to talk sleds with fellow enthusiasts.

 

[AsylumCycle]

worst show ive seen ther in years, they need to work on promoting it better and getting more vendors for snowmobiling crowd. Not worth the time.

 

[R J]

Kind of what I expected. Glad I didn't go, I think I would have been disgusted because like most of you have seen the decline in the past few years or more and every year wonder why they don't try and make it better instead of just letting it dwindle.

1) Get it out of the convention center and downtown minneapolis.
2) Put it outside "the loop" to grab more interested people that may just
show up because they were driving by. No one is going to show up downtown and say hey, why not spend a hundo parking and getting in plus a few beers etc.
3) It's in one of the most F'd up tree hugging cities in the country. (Screw you R.T. Rybak!)

Here is my suggestions for locations:
1) Blaine Sports Center
2) Canterbury
3) A field north of the twin cities (whoops that's where Hay Days is)
4) Duluth convention center?
5) St.Cloud or something?