SELECT@Bath Reviewed...

This time last week we were in the Assembly Rooms, Bath expectantly waiting for the next potential buyer to walk around the craft trade fair.

I guess we knew it was going to be a disappointment for a while, there were several indicators: the S@B website was looking decidedly the same as last year, the number of exhibitors seemed low and the quality of exhibitor was nowhere near that of BCTF. But we'd committed; I must admit, we put off making our final payment on the trade fair 'til the last minute, I just thought that there might be a chance it was going to be canceled and I was worried about loosing the money. It seems a few of the exhibitors I spoke with during the fair had one the same.

The rooms were open while 9:00pm on the Saturday for set-up so we didn't have to leave YORK too early; I drove down in one stint, no stopping and we arrived at 6:45; it doesn't take very long for us to set our space up we have this honed now; then off to our guest house and out for dinner.

We arrived at the Assembly Rooms at about 9:30 the next morning, we needed to fold brochures and trade price lists; at 10:00 the rush DIDN"T happen and all day there seemed to be more exhibitors than buyers.

Of those buyers that did come many were with children and it seemed more of a day out than a buying or looking for new suppliers spree. One wonders why the buyers don't seem to take this trade fair seriously, some people put it down to location, it's not ideal for parking &c, but I think it is too close behind BCTF and in a time of year when shops and galleries have spent their money and now gearing up or concentrating on selling. At BCTF buyers want everything ASAP, here they seemed happy with delivery in June or whenever! I don't think many of the exhibitors here are inspiring too; too many shared stands, too many magazines and publications, some like the craft and design magazine just leaving unattended tables with piles of magazines!

Monday was better than a very uninspiring Sunday, we had some great interactions with a number of municipal galleries &c. The halls were empty of buyers by about 2:30 and we had to wait 'til 4:30 before we could pack-up.

So why did we do it if we thought it wasn't going to be a success? Well, we love visiting Bath, you get a short break in a beautiful city and can put it all on the businesses accounts.

Will it happen next year? I'm certain it won't, the aisles were too wide, there was too much space and not enough exhibitors or buyers. If it does go ahead, we couldn't justify doing it again. It's a shame really because it's one of the few fairs that gets exposure in the south-west, though most of our orders seemed to come from Wales this time around.