Expo spoils ??

[ChristinaM]

I wasn't at this one, but definately will be at the Sept one, along with some of my dragon babies

But the reason I make the 3hr drive, to socialize with other like-minded herpers, to learn from some of the more experienced people, to talk.

I will usually scan the vendors a few times, hang around and watch how they interact with others, see if they acknowledge me, etc. I will go wanting to buy something...but.....if you are a BUTT, I will walk away. I ask questions, some people cannot be bothered with them, those people I cannot bother to give my $ to.

Whoever said it, about it being a trip to the zoo.....I think that holds some truth. I love looking at the diffrent animals, colors, specimens, etc.

But anyways, it looks like I didn't miss too much at this show.

Hopefully the Sept. show will be great.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Cruciform is right. Business cards RULE. I had 182 taken at last year's Red Deer show, and it was worth every penny. For sure.

And get 'er done Tim. It would be totally cool. Start small and solid, and then go from there.

[pikachu]

i didnt make it to this show.
i have to say i was a little discouraged from the last one.
i got a beautiful atb from the last show and it died within a week.
it seemed to get weaker and weaker, it also had mites which i treated it for.
i was paranoid about it , had perfect temps, little stress, good humidity.
it still passed on.
needless to say im going to be a lot more careful next time.
hope the last one was good, see ya next time.

[exotic_66]

hm..lets see wut i got ..a nice little friend which i cant say wut! AND I got the nice adult nothern pine snake from JORDAN .m. for ..helping him at his table thanx jordan for the free snake U ROCK! i wanna go to montreal


~NESSY~ (REPTILE GODDESS)

[GeckoCorral]

I was not at the show as I am in Alberta but I just wanted to make a few comments.

I don't want to "toot" my own horn but I would just like to say that after being to the five shows out here in Alberta last year I did learn a lot about what is lacking and have tried to incorporate more into what I have at my table.

I offer my own care sheets for free for anyone who wants them, at each and every show. I have care sheets on reptiles that I no longer have but I would rather have them there with me for those looking into them then to not have them at all. I have also started taking simple enclosure set-ups with me for selling as I experienced the "I don't have anything set-up what will I need to buy at the pet store?". I'm sorry but pet stores charge far too much and will sell you tonnes of stuff that is not needed or even harmful to the reptile you are getting.

I sell my set-ups for $50 COMPLETE so that anyone making a last minute desicion to buy will have everything they need. No it is not the most "eye pleasing" set-up but it works 100% and a leo can be kept in it from baby all the way through it's entire life.

I LOVE talking to people, even if not about reptiles, so anyone walking by gets eye contact and either a good morning or a good afternoon offered out to them. I do what I can to provide the most information possible to ensure that any animal I sell will get the best chance at a healthy long captive life. Although I have moved into a higher priced morph I still try to keep my prices low enough so people who appreciate the work of those morphs are still able to afford them.

I can't let them go for free, I put far too much time and energy into aquiring my high end breeders and into my high quality offspring to sell them off as $30 disposable pets. I really wish that word did not exist in the pet trade and I feel no captive animal is disposable, free or for thousands of dollars, they are all just as worthy of a healthy, properly set-up enclosure and happy life.

Sorry, I'll get off the soap box now, but I had to express my feelings. I have business cards at my table with all my site/email info on it. No cards to pass out means no after show sales, no matter when the sale comes in. I put out signs for any special offers, as well as a sign stating what all comes in my complete set-ups, can't have it there without people knowing why it is there.

I completely understand about vendors not being "up-beat" when at a show. When I first started going as a buyer I did not want to deal with people that did not want to even say "Hi" or ask how I was doing. It makes all the difference in the world and I love meeting new reptile people, new or old, to the reptile world.

By the way, I can't wait to meet some more new people at the Fraser Valley show that is only 2.5 weeks away!! It will be my first "out of Province" show and I am looking forward to it to say the least.

Diana
The Gecko Corral

[Sunrunner]

I had a great time at the show seen some older loved faces and met some new ones it is always nice to meet new people.... it was a little slow though.
but fun none the less.
Kim

[SaIiLdVaEnR]

Heh, Kim, I saw you while I was sitting outside on the hill. I had 2 bags and a huge glass tank with me. I didn't say hi because I am always shy with new people.

Aidan

[meow_mix450]

it seemed to be less people there this time. Maybe its just me. I was asking questions about there reptiles and all the guy did was give me a dirty look and answered my question and looked away, maybe he thought i didnt have money. But i agree; vendors have to make eye contact and have a good laugh or two with the customers, this will make you and the customer have a better day, i wouldnt mind if i didnt sell one thing as long as i kno that i had a good time and so did the customers. My bet is the vendor that had the most fun and long chats had the best business thats just my opinion, i have not been being the table, but if i had a chance i would give it a try, maybe then i would say something different about vendors.

Prices are a problem these days, customers just finds the lowest prices and i could understand. I think the only reason why jacksons(chameleon) are cheaper is cause of the amount in the states, in canada its kinda hard to find. Thats probly why they cost a lot. But Panther chameleons up there cost a lot more then it is down here. Odd...

Meow

[Bartman]

We tried to make walking by our table fun..we would greet everyone with a how are you or good evening or whatever..at one point i was just throwing out some funny random facts about leopard geckos...my friend who owned the table was making people laugh by saying how leopard geckos are the most famous gecko in the pet trade, infact every freakin single person here has one at their table..lol..i got a good laugh and so did some customers..still didnt make any sales but imo i had a good time..and we broke even so that was good!

[meow_mix450]

haha well im glad that there are people there that are talking to the customers, but enjoying your self there is better then not having fun at all. At this show there didnt seem to be as many people...maybe thats why there was such a low sale???

Bartman: I havnt gotten time to e-mail you about the site, ill try and get back to you as soon as i can, its almost the end of school year and i have to study and stuff but i promise ill get back to you sorry for the late notice

Meow

[Yve]

i had a beautiful piece of art custom painted for me by Aidan which I recieved at the show and would like to share. I took a couple of pics in different lights. the painting has alot of texture and depth...I looove it! thanks so much Aidan

[spidergecko]

That's quite nice!

[Capital Dragons]

Well I have to say that the show was a bit slower than the spring show. Everyone must have been at the cottage. But I still think it was a great show.

I think that the T.O. show is really coming along. Grant (Reptile Central) has been working hard to make the show more interesting, not just a ‘Reptile sale” but a show. The guest speakers and lectures are a great idea. The new location is fantastic! It wont be long until we need more room. But we still need an ATM!!

Also I have felt a little off sometimes when dealing with some of the reptile people in Canada. Like they don’t have time to talk to me. I like to treat people the way I would like to be treated. I think more people out there should adopt that attitude. On a positive note, I sold a hypomelanistic dragon to a cutie couple that must have been in there 70’s. They were just awesome! They have all kinds of reptiles at home and they were even expecting baby frilled dragons! That made my day.

I have been to quite a few U.S. shows now and it’s a different ball game down there. You just don’t see venders selling reptiles out of cardboard boxes as I’ve seen in Canada. I attended the National Breeders Conference in Philadelphia last Oct and I believe the attendance was over 5000. There was another show in Chicago and the attendance I heard was close to 10000 (correct me if I’m wrong please). The displays were amazing. The Timberline booth even had it’s own flooring. But at least 50% of the vendors at that show were professional breeders. I don’t really know how many professional breeders there are in Canada but you don’t need to be a professional breeder to have an appealing display. A tablecloth does wonders!

I have received a lot of positive feedback regarding my show setup. I was really impressed by many of the U.S breeders when I was down there and I thought why couldn’t Canadians step up and spouse up our shows…

[Bartman]

Great post guys...i agree, our booth didnt have a table cloth Ill tell them to get one for saterday at newmarket at least...im going to bring my tortoise down to bring in some attraction

EDIT: I was up their looking at some stuff capital had, and their whole set up just attracts you to go look. They had 2 beauty uro's up their i was asking about, and got very nice answers..she even offered me to pick it up if i wanted...great people!

[Big_V]

I must add myself that I talked with the Capital Dragon people and they were awesome. My friend bought his 3rd beardie off them and as far as being professional, they would be the definition of that.
It would be great if people talked to the prospective customers alot more. There were some tables that did this quite well while others just turned their noses up.
...but I must say Grant at PCPC is doing a great job expanding this hobby in Southern Ontario just by putting this event on. A big thanks goes out to him and the those who put these great shows each year.