Boat show

[illiniboarder88]

Alright, I went to the Chicago Boat show, and I was a little disappointed last night. I didn't see Tige there. Now, maybe they were there somewhere, but I sure as hell didn't find them. I really wish they'd been there. Just my observations from the boat show. None of these comments are meant as a knock on any boat (other than the appearance of the malibus). I'd be happy with any of them. The malibus had nice interiors but were hideous. The Mastercrafts had the most bling. The Nautiques from my perspective seemed to be the most refined as far as a combined interior and exterior (from a purely appearance standpoint, they did the best job of justifying their large pricetags). The Supras and Moombas seemed to offer the most value of the boats there. Particularly the Moombas. You could have driven off with a brand new open bow direct drive moomba for just barely over what a lot of 19' IO's were going for. The darkhorse boat there was the centurian. I didn't get much time to check them out, but they were a good looking boat. I particularly liked their tower design. Somehow they got put off in exile away from all the other wake/ski boats.

[tessa]

Alright, I went to the Chicago Boat show, and I was a little disappointed last night. I didn't see Tige there. Now, maybe they were there somewhere, but I sure as hell didn't find them. I really wish they'd been there. Just my observations from the boat show. None of these comments are meant as a knock on any boat (other than the appearance of the malibus). I'd be happy with any of them. The malibus had nice interiors but were hideous. The Mastercrafts had the most bling. The Nautiques from my perspective seemed to be the most refined as far as a combined interior and exterior (from a purely appearance standpoint, they did the best job of justifying their large pricetags). The Supras and Moombas seemed to offer the most value of the boats there. Particularly the Moombas. You could have driven off with a brand new open bow direct drive moomba for just barely over what a lot of 19' IO's were going for. The darkhorse boat there was the centurian. I didn't get much time to check them out, but they were a good looking boat. I particularly liked their tower design. Somehow they got put off in exile away from all the other wake/ski boats.

Tige wasn't going to be in Chicago. They are in Milwaukee till next Sunday.

[hoopykat]

Don't feel bad. They weren't at the show in Pleasanton last week either. Had to deal with the MasterCrap and 'Bu dealers....ick. I guess Tigé doesn't need to promote West Coast sales, huh?

Sad...

-Mike

[mtnsmith]

I think the dealers typically just stick to the shows they have had more success at. It's pretty pricey and a lot of logistics to get to a show. Some dealers are small enough they would have to close shop to attend a show, then if the show is light it really wasn't worth it.

[mtnsmith]

I was just looking for some of our local shows and Tige got some front page time on one of the shows homepage.

http://www.boatshowflorida.com/

[five o'clock]

When I lived in Chicago I knew a Tige dealer form South Western Michigan. He brought some Tige's to the show one year just talked about how expensive it was to go to the Chicago show. He said he wouldn't go back because he couldn't sell enough boats to justify the cost.

This was a couple years ago and this guy is no longer a Tige and dealer and I think for good reason. After I bought my boat form him he kinda became a jerk. Anyway my point is that it just really costs a lot to have a booth at the Chicago show. Maybe the new local dealers couldn't afford it either or they theought they would get a better return on their investment in Wisconsin.

[Lunchbox]

I do a lot of trade shows for work and the union labor in Chicago is very expensive and mandatory most of the time... There was a little buzz over the last couple of years about shows not going to Chicago because it is too expensive... (Not boat shows but just trade shows in general at places like McCormick place...)

[tessa]

When I lived in Chicago I knew a Tige dealer form South Western Michigan. He brought some Tige's to the show one year just talked about how expensive it was to go to the Chicago show. He said he wouldn't go back because he couldn't sell enough boats to justify the cost.

This was a couple years ago and this guy is no longer a Tige and dealer and I think for good reason. After I bought my boat form him he kinda became a jerk. Anyway my point is that it just really costs a lot to have a booth at the Chicago show. Maybe the new local dealers couldn't afford it either or they theought they would get a better return on their investment in Wisconsin.

There aren't any what you would call local Tige dealers in Chicagoland. I heard the Benton Harbor Michigan Dealer is no longer selling Tige and the next nearest dealer is Reeds out of Delavan,Wi who is small and shows in Milwaukee at the same time Chicago is going. The next closest dealer is in Nort Webster Indianna and that is 3 1/2 hours away and he is a small lake dealer.

I bought mine in Delavan for 10K less than North Webster wanted for same boat but conservative colors and 315 HP.

[five o'clock]

I do a lot of trade shows for work and the union labor in Chicago is very expensive and mandatory most of the time... There was a little buzz over the last couple of years about shows not going to Chicago because it is too expensive... (Not boat shows but just trade shows in general at places like McCormick place...)

Yea I worked at McCormick Place for a little while. The unions do make it pretty hard to get thing done. And they definately raise the prices of things. But I will say that McCormick Place is definately probably the best convention centers in the country. I also think that Chicago is a great city to host out of towners.

[five o'clock]

There aren't any what you would call local Tige dealers in Chicagoland. I heard the Benton Harbor Michigan Dealer is no longer selling Tige and the next nearest dealer is Reeds out of Delavan,Wi who is small and shows in Milwaukee at the same time Chicago is going. The next closest dealer is in Nort Webster Indianna and that is 3 1/2 hours away and he is a small lake dealer.

I bought mine in Delavan for 10K less than North Webster wanted for same boat but conservative colors and 315 HP.

There is a Tige dealer in Edwardsburg, MI its about 20-30 min past Benton Harbor so that puts about little more than 2 hrs outside Chicago. So I'm sure its a bit further form Elgin. When we move back to Chicago thats the dealer I will use for service or a possible new purchase.

[five o'clock]

Since there isn't really a Tige dealer close to Chicago maybe I should open one when we move back.

I am trying to figure out where I will work when we get there. And I've always wanted to work for my self. Does anyone have any ideas what it would take to open a boat dealership/service facility? Is it hard to get Tige to allow you to rep their line?

[chpthril]

Boat show space is expensive for dealers. They need to sell X number of units to justify the expense. If the show is too far away from your market, it may not be worth the cost.

The other thing to consider is whether or not the current Tige dealer has been in the WindyCity show before? Its hard to get in unless you are a returning vendor, or there is an opening or the promoter expands or something. We spent 4 years on a waiting list for a 10x10 booth before one opened up at our boat show and I'd say it's just a medium sized show.

[Jason B]

I was a bit disappointed as well. It was my first boat show; maybe I expected too much. I really wanted to see some speaker vendors, board reps, some surf boards, that kinda thing. Nothing. A few of the ski oriented marinas brought some to sell--the prices weren't great, the staff was clueless, and the models were obviously old inventory.

On the positive side there were some pretty cool boats including a 43' Cobalt yacht that was insane.

I also got to verify that Reggie Fountain's hair is just as f***ing stupid looking in real person as it is in the magazines. If you have that much money why have hair that looks so ridiculous?? That and, on your way to the salon buy a suit that fits. some people man

[mtnsmith]

Yeah, but he's Reggie Fountain, how many drop dead gorgeous girls did he have around him??? Every time I've seen him at the Miami show he is surrounded by them...tacky polyester shorts, hawaiian shirt, and socks with his sandals and all.

[tessa]

I do a lot of trade shows for work and the union labor in Chicago is very expensive and mandatory most of the time... There was a little buzz over the last couple of years about shows not going to Chicago because it is too expensive... (Not boat shows but just trade shows in general at places like McCormick place...)

The company I work for will not show at McCormick place because every union has there hand in the pie. I could not plug in computrs unless I had union electrician supervise. The money they make an hour is sickening.