VEE - Does anybody care?

**Striderswife** · 02-08-2012, 06:30 PM

How I wish I was going. I've been to VEE twice, the last time was about 7 years ago. Now, due to recent circumstances, my chances of going back have been sent back to zero%. I know everyone says that VEW is a lot smaller and not always worth it, but I never got to go.

I would pay someone postage to send me a stuffed Hush Puppy from the Kenmark booth.

**KCB** · 02-08-2012, 07:41 PM

I havent gone in years but was thinking of going this year. Anyone know a good hotel close to the convention center?

**Steve Machol** · 02-08-2012, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Striderswife

I would pay someone postage to send me a stuffed Hush Puppy from the Kenmark booth.

I used to bring those home for my wife. She has about 20 of them.

**Striderswife** · 02-08-2012, 11:07 PM

Awww. My collection has integrated with the countless stuffed animal friends my son has accumulated in his short four years. At least they're getting some playtime now.

**Tito** · 02-09-2012, 12:07 AM

I am catching two flights just to get there,love N.Y.

**Chris Ryser** · 02-09-2012, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by hcjilson

What a convenience, to have all vendors in one place at one time. It is a shame that not all portions of the retail optical industry embrace this concept. It is really rather narrow minded to pooh pooh Vision Expo. Why can't we look at it for what it is......an investment, not an expense.

Harry + Johns.............I have invested 16 times into VEE at an average cost of $ 10,000 for that weekend. This might be peanuts for some, but for me it was a major expense plus the frustration with the unionized services ( If I remember right about 15 different unions).

You go there for the fun and steer right to the booth of the companies you deal with and most often ignore the others. Its the law's of average, the more people you have stopping at a booth the more chances you have to make sale to visitors.

These days I have a very successfull website that gets an average of over 500 visitors every day, 365 days per year. That results into 18,250 visitors a year, and not into 70 to 100 of them on a three day weekend at VEE at a cost of whatever it is.

I could actually fly first class to NY, blow $10,000 on hotels, restaurants and broadway shows, never set a foot into VEE and it would make no difference. I would still get 1500 visitors for the weekend without standing at a booth 8 hours per day for 3 days.

These trade shows are antiquidated and are slowly dyeing out and have maybe one reason left, which is the tax deduction you can take for that particular weekend as visitor. Never forget that you can reach every exhibitor on internet from your armchair at home or the office and learn more details about the products you are interested in than from a salesrep that pushes you for an order at VEE..

**Fezz** · 02-09-2012, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by Chris Ryser

These days I have a very successfull website that gets an average of over 500 visitors every day, 365 days per year. That results into 18,250 visitors a year, and not into 70 to 100 of them on a three day weekend at VEE at a cost of whatever it is.

Chris,

That all sounds very impressive, but how much of that website traffic actually turns into money spent? Traffic is great......if you are a traffic cop, window washer, rose seller, or panhandler! I would rather have 70-100 orders written over 3 days than 18,250 Lookey Lous!

**Chris Ryser** · 02-09-2012, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Fezz

That all sounds very impressive, but how much of that website traffic actually turns into money spent? Traffic is great......if you are a traffic cop, window washer, rose seller, or panhandler! I would rather have 70-100 orders written over 3 days than 18,250 Lookey Lous!

Dead wrong Fezz.........................We never had 70-100 orders we had that many visitors at VEE and 10 to 15% were sales. For years I advertised in 20/20 magazine 1/4 page for $ 750.00 per month and used to get 20-30 enquiry cards that very seldom translated into sales.

The website brings in a daily stream of enquiries from thse optical and electronic sectors as well as orders from all around the globe and not only from a half circle circomference of 500 miles around NY. I have never seen a fish at VEE.

**allanon** · 02-09-2012, 02:43 PM

It's the best 3-ring-circus in town! Go for the entertainment value and free pens if nothing else!

**jherman** · 02-10-2012, 02:02 PM

I'll be there. I'm contract with Skank Eyewear to model tshirts or something like that.

**Johns** · 02-10-2012, 04:07 PM

Does anybody care??? I think the proper question that eyecare professionals should be asking is....

Where are the vendor sponsored parties?????
C'mon people, we've got to eat somewhere, and it might as well be for free, at the expense of the Big Boys marketing budget!!

**obxeyeguy** · 02-10-2012, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by jherman

I'll be there. I'm contract with Skank Eyewear to model tshirts or something like that.

That's a division of Revolution, right?

**Johns** · 02-10-2012, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by obxeyeguy

That's a division of Revolution, right?

I think you mean Revulsion.

**acar** · 02-29-2012, 01:37 PM

So many positive and negative Vision Expo comments. Full disclosure....I work for Vision Expo and I always think it's interesting to hear that we're not doing so well and no one does business. Last year alone (just for our NY show), 15,118 ECPs plus another 6,390 exhibit staffers verified attendance in NYC. Our attendance is audited by a third party. We're ahead of last year's attendance by close to 5% at this time. Plus, the size of the show has grown 20,000 net square feet (that's equal to two hundred 10x10 booths added).

But...what you really want to know about is the parties. Here's a link but I think you should all come to the Vision Expo sponsored "Tweetup Meetup". It's not just for Twitter users. It's so people in the online world can meet face to face. We're hosting it at The Paramount Hotel at 235 West 46th Street b/t 7th and 8th Avenues on Saturday, March 24 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. http://ive12.mapyourshow.com/5_0/spe...9F5F0A70D119CF

**sharpstick777** · 02-29-2012, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by coupe

I have an idea. Why doesnt some hot shot ,one of us, design a badge that can be printed out and attached to your entry permit. That way ,while we walk around looking at all of the same frames wrapped up in different packaging, we might be able to meet some of the optiborad members in person. YAH YAH YAH.

FEZZ, MAKE ME A SIGN !!!!!!!!!

Great idea, I have extra sign for my second job, but I would have to block out the "Matress Sale!" on it somehow.

**charan** · 02-29-2012, 02:07 PM

I have been to VEE and VEW, I'll never go to any vision expos again ever! There's no such thing called customer service at these expo/get drunk. I was ignored at most booths like I was invisible and the reps weren't even busy, they were busy drinking their cool drinks. No thank never again.

**Fezz** · 02-29-2012, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by charan

I have been to VEE and VEW, I'll never go to any vision expos again ever! There's no such thing called customer service at these expo/get drunk. I was ignored at most booths like I was invisible and the reps weren't even busy, they were busy drinking their cool drinks. No thank never again.

Did you happen to grab handfuls of stale M&M's at least?

**charan** · 02-29-2012, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by Fezz

Did you happen to grab handfuls of stale M&M's at least?

No but I got loads of catalogue and a couple of pens, woooooooot \o/

**sharpstick777** · 02-29-2012, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Johns

Does anybody care??? I think the proper question that eyecare professionals should be asking is.... Where the vendor sponsored parties?????
C'mon people, we've got to eat somewhere, and it might as well be for free, at the expense of the Big Boys marketing budget!!

The EYE-ROCK concert is one, there is an OD Facebook meetup too but location has not been determined.

**sharpstick777** · 02-29-2012, 02:24 PM

I think the Vision Shows are immensely valuable. I love meeting people face to face that I talk to on the phone every week, plus its very effiecient. I can schedule 10 meetings at VE in 3 days instead of travelling to Cleveland then Florida, back to Denver etc.

Vision Expos SAVE me a ton of money.

Chris, you obviously aren't the networking kind of guy...

**sharpstick777** · 02-29-2012, 02:25 PM

Any ideas for a meet-up? Is there a booth (preferable near a cocktail establishment) we could use beside Live Eyewear? I am not a morning person though.

**Fezz** · 02-29-2012, 02:46 PM

I am partial to the Eye Care Professional Magazine Booth

**sharpstick777** · 02-29-2012, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by Fezz

I am partial to the Eye Care Professional Magazine Booth

Do you know the booth number? Do you want to say Friday or Saturday at 4:30 pm? Can I bring a flask or is there a bar near by? Can I carry your luggage like I did last time? Oo Oo.

**LENNY** · 02-29-2012, 05:11 PM

The main reason I go is to meet up with higher ups of the companies. These days if you have the volume you can't afford to deal with the reps.

**Johns** · 02-29-2012, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by LENNY

The main reason I go is to meet up with higher ups of the companies. These days if you have the volume you can't afford to deal with the reps.

That is the EXACT reason I go. At VEW, I was buying frames, and when I tried to get a better price, the rep got up, went to a back room, and came out with the owner of the company. He introduced himself, we talked a bit, he invited me to lunch, and w/in 2 hours, I was one of their exclusive closeout buyers. That just doesn't happen when the reps call on you in Anytown USA.

Great point Lenny.