FYI - Regarding the empty flea market After picking up a flier announcing that they would not be at the Hamvention, I paid a visit to Mendelson's near downtown Dayton. Mendelsons Liquidation Outlet has had a large tent in back of the HARA Arena every year I've been to the Hamvention. Their home is a 1 million square foot warehouse in an old Dayton Delco factory. As I was about to leave the store, I noticed a guy who looked like a boss, and asked him how come they weren't at the Hamvention this year. His story is somewhat enlightening. Seems the convention now charges $70 per space for 1 or 2 outdoor spaces, increasing to $90 per space if you use 3 or 4, and up to $130 per space for 7 or more. If you use 7 or more, you pay $130 per space for all the spaces. You do not get the first two at lower prices. The Mendelson tent took 60 spaces, and would have cost $7800. Add the cost of the tent, cost to move all the stock, and employee salaries, and I can't see how the event could have come close to profitable. I certainly can't blame them for not coming. The guy also noted that his uncle or father was part of the Hamvention from the start, even when it was small. He also pointed out to me that a few years ago, many of the exhibitors, both inside and out, were in the computer business. Almost all of them are simply out-of-business today as computer prices and consequent profit margins have plummeted. Additionally, the Internet is now a low-cost alternate for offering many of the electronic products. It seems that a good percentage of the empty spaces resulted from a combination of loss of computer vendors and overpriced space rents. I echo the positive comments many of you have made about the ARRL presence. 73, Dick, N6AA Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ wrote:
I think Steve's observation that without ARRL EXPO the Hamvention would have been hurting this year is spot on, although we should be careful not to say so publicly. Without EXPO the "buzz" would have been all about the empty flea market and exhibitor spaces, the perception of declining attendance, and so on. That buzz will still be there, but we gave them something positive to balance it.
Dave
-----Original Message----- From: k8je@earthlink.net Mail Account [mailto:k8je@arrl.net]
To all, I could not have said it better than Kentucky Section member, W4NHO, below. I particularly applaud our HQ team for what appears to have been the assembly and operation of an unprecedented and highly successful team that developed the EXPO concept and area.
-----Original Message----- From: Steve Morgan [mailto:w4nho@arrl.net] Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005 10:54 PM To: Jim Weaver, K8JE Subject: Dayton Expo!
Without the league display and floor space, Dayton Hamvention this year would have really hurt.