The timing of the show has been set to coincide with the start of the season and offer attending customers the chance to buy at special oneoff trade day prices.

"An established trade show is important to the whole of the marine trade, " Mark Dowland told BB . "With the absence of the Windsor trade event, this is the only opportunity that MDM and its suppliers have to get direct contact with our customers. We also want to give them an unrivalled opportunity to purchase product to start their season at never to be repeated prices."

Dowland says the company is looking closely at feedback from this year's Newbury event and already has some great ideas on how to make the show even better.

"We want to make this more of a calendar event for our customers and suppliers rather than just a product buying visit, " he insisted.

The 2005 event format incorporated show deals plus supplier training and business improvement seminars. There was also a dinner and evening event which proved very popular with both customers and suppliers.

"One area already identified for improvement is to expand the show to other suppliers who do not distribute through Mark Dowland Marine, " said Dowland.

"This proved popular in 2005 for suppliers who are still keen to keep their products visible to the marine trade marketplace."