WHAT an exhilarating week! A thoroughly enjoyable mix of nostalgia, celebration, controversy, debate, meeting friends new and old - and the frisson created by new ideas and concepts for the future. 

Last Tuesday evening, our Service Dealer Awards were held in a stunning, new venue that really had the ‘wow’ factor. It was an evening that once again illustrated the camaraderie, the fun and high achievement that pervades our small industry. Our Dealer of the Year Awards date back to 2002, and so the move away from Windsor gives us an opportunity to have a fresh look at the event for 2015. Already we have some interesting and exciting ideas up our sleeve which we hope to tell you about very soon.

There is no doubt that the IOG had stunned the industry barely a week before this week’s show with their sudden announcement of a move to the NEC at Birmingham, at the same time putting the show back two months to November 2015.

A presentation to exhibitors on the first day was by all accounts fairly coolly received by those who attended, whilst many of the questions at an early morning press conference on Wednesday were ‘dead-batted’ away in a manner befitting Sir Geoffrey.

Out on the showground, there was only one topic of conversation. “What do you think of the move?” And like the impending Scottish referendum, the Yes and No votes were passionately expressed, and mixed with a fair number of floating voters.

I guess you could boil the debate down to three topics.  Inside v outside, cost and timing.

However, there was also an acceptance of the view that time was up for SALTEX at Windsor.   In an exclusive interview, IOG chief Geoff Webb told Service Dealer “The show has faced many difficult times over the past five years. First, the recession from 2008, and just when we were starting to see an upturn, the 2012 Olympics severely altered the available space for us that year at the Windsor Racecourse site because of the nearby rowing events”

“The past couple of years have seen improved visitor numbers but with our 10-year contract with Windsor coming to an end this year, we had major decisions to take. Including, incidentally, asking ourselves whether we wanted to run at show at all?”

“The process provided us with a clean sheet of paper – and allowed us to explore a whole range of options.  The upshot of which was that we plumped for the NEC – and for a date that many of our members, particularly those in colleges and schools, consider much more suitable than early September”

“I know that there are differing views amongst exhibitors, the trade and visitors – and yes, there is risk attached.  But not withstanding a certain amount of sadness that a 33-year history for the show at Windsor has ended, the feedback we have received has been largely supportive of our decision”

Naturally the question of a potential clash with BIGGA's Harrogate Show cropped up, now the shows are nearer both geographically and in the calendar.  "I can only speak from an IOG membership perspective, and say that we regard them as two different events - and in reality the exhibitor cross-over is much less than you imagine, less an a third attend both shows"

INDEED, as the show progressed over the three days, there was a growing and palpable sense of acceptance, even changing of opinion,  that perhaps the new NEC venue could energise SALTEX in a way that could never have been achieved at Windsor Racecourse.

Naturally, the cost of stand space pro-rata at the NEC is going to be much higher than at Windsor, but many companies seemed to suggest that they would be prepared to pay the same, but for a much smaller space. This will inevitably mean less machinery on view, but that in itself could reduce costs, and will focus the creative minds of exhibitors.

One final thought.

Will we see a greening of the NEC? The copious use of grass, real or synthetic, could turn the venue into an indoor park with stunning effect. After all major sport is played on grass under a roof – and didn’t Stephen Fell of Lindum Turf follow up his turfing of Trafalgar Square by laying real turf in York Minster for a major celebration?

Then put in a water feature, paint a castle on the wall and hang a model 747 from the rafters (sans noise) – and we will feel quite at home!