Tuesday and Wednesday this week saw the second edition of the new show in the turfcare machinery calendar take place once again at Stonelegh Park.
GroundsFest's sophomore effort delivered in spades - being both bigger and better than 2023's edition.
As soon as visitors arrived, improvements could be felt. The car parking and entrance into the show was a much smoother operation - and once you walked into the showground, it was clear immediately that there had been a distinct step-up in the event's footprint and arrangement of stands.
Also an improvement were the exhibitor and visitor numbers. By those metrics, there's no doubt it had grown since last year.
However, what is much harder to quantify, is the feeling around the show. This idea that it was 'better'. With an intangible like that, I'm only able to make a judgement call based on the many conversations I held with stand holders and visitors - and by the demeanours of everyone else I saw around me. And by my estimation, there were a lot of happy people in attendance. Both satisfied punters and exhibitors.
If anything, what the feeling reminded me of was that first SALTEX back after Covid. My memory of that, was that it felt pretty special with a genuine excitement pervading the halls of the NEC. Of course a lot of that feeling came from the joy of being able to interact with each other again, but it was nonetheless, a show that felt significant.
This week felt special as well, but in a different way. Thinking of how to define it, perhaps this year the vision of the organisers had clicked into place and aligned perfectly with the wants and needs of its exhibitors and visitors? That feels about right.
Of course, the success or otherwise of a trade show lives or dies on the quality and breadth of its exhibitors - and in the interest that the target audience has in what they've brought to display. At Stoneleigh this week, there was plenty to catch the eye of the many specialist dealers and professional end users (possibly more on the landscaper side, rather than pro sports?) in attendance.
You can read more about what was seen to interest dealers, here.
A complete package
As well as the machinery exhibits, there was plenty of other attractions to keep visitors interested including live demos from the lads from Machinery Nation as well as a music festival in the evening.
Machinery Nation
There was a whole programme of talks and interactive seminars across both days too, including one which boasted an appearance from our very own Laurence Gale, the editor of our sister title TurfPro, and who dealers will know through the articles he contributes to Service Dealer magazine.
Laurence Gale
Loz was speaking on a LANTRA organised panel about the challenges that the professional turfcare sector is facing. The discussion covered ground that could be equally applicable to the dealer channel, with recruitment and retention of skilled staff at the top of the agenda. Laurence said, "It seems that the new generation either do not know about the opportunities available to them or they are shy of getting their hands dirty." He went on to implore all trade associations and bodies with a vested interest in the sector, to come together to speak with one voice, to find a way of promoting the industry and solving this problem.
Loz on the panel
Overall, I believe the organisers of GroundsFest deserve a hearty well done. To take was what was a good concept from year one, and improve it to the levels experienced this week, is admirable. Of course an outdoor show will always have one eye on the weather. It helped that it wasn't a wash-out like day one last year - but it still wasn't perfect. I watched some people rescue their gazebo down off of the top of someone else's due to the high winds and the downpour late on Tuesday afternoon pretty much cleared the outside area. But to not hold a show for outdoor powered machinery outdoors, simply because it might be inclement, doesn't seem right.
It feels like GroundsFest has true momentum now. This was illustrated to me when I bumped into a senior figure from one manufacturer, who I'd spoken to there a year before. Last year they were not exhibiting, but were on a recce to see if it felt right. This year they had a stand that they were delighted with - and crucially, no plans to return to SALTEX.
The GMA's show which is coming up next month, was mentioned to me a lot this week. Pretty much always in the context of, 'how do they follow this?'
It's a legitimate question. Will visitor numbers hold up? Will there be this same buzz under the lights of the NEC? And long term, does it maintain exhibitor support? Because three national turfcare machinery shows per year, is undeniably a lot.
As always though, we at Service Dealer are looking forward to SALTEX and are keen to see how the organisers have evolved the offering this year.
So whilst we anticipate the GMA's show, we say good job GroundsFest and see you next year.
