Following the demise of the Sandown show and the debacle of the Wembley event, in 1997 the Marine Trades Association (MTA) gave David Lewin the task of sounding out the UK industry to see if a show was wanted.

Lewin's report left no doubt that the trade wanted the show back. BB lent its weight to the campaign, making a noise and urging those at the top that the show was needed. And we were more than a little pleased when the Windsor Marine Trade Show opened its doors in October 1998.

So when the show folded after eight years at Windsor, we were determined that would not be the end of the show.

Like the research carried out by Lewin back in 1997, the meeting at ExCeL last January left no doubt that the UK trade still wants and needs a trade show.

Next February 22 and 23, the Boating Business Exhibition (BBEx) will open its doors at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) - top picture. It will do this in association with the British Marine Federation (BMF) and the MTA.

Why February? We think - and our research has shown - that the retail trade prefers to gear itself up for the season ahead, rather than carry stock over the winter after the season's finished.

And another very good reason is that the October show failed to attract visitors for the last eight years. So isn't it time to stop hitting your head against the brick wall?

The Boating Business Exhibition will be organised by Mercator Media, the parent company of Boating Business.

Mercator Media runs the hugely successful Seawork exhibition. Seawork sprang from the ruins of the BMIF's Workboat Show? The same management team that runs Seawork will be behind the Boating Business Exhibition.

The Seawork manager, Jane Wilson, is the Boating Business Exhibition manager.

She is backed by Kate Didymus as sales manager.

Katherine Skinner and Alissia Knight will provide the administrative back up.

Brian and Aline Pilcher - as BPPR - will be providing their own unique brand of public relations, as they do for Seawork.

At the top is Andrew Webster, managing director of Mercator Media. With the launch of the Boating Business Exhibition , Webster will have finally put the seal on more than two years of hard work to get the show into the Mercator stable.

The fact that the BMF and MTA have recognised Mercator's expertise in the exhibition field and are lending their support and encouragement to this venture confirms their confidence, not only in the team, but in the creation of a new event.

Mercator Media got the goahead for the Boating Business Exhibition just before the Southampton Boat Show, so Jane Wilson and her team are busily finalising all the details. They have most of the deals in place, but there are still a few things they are working on: by the time you read this, everything should have been finalised and I will be able to tell you all about it in the next issue of Boating Business.

BBEx for all leisure marine companies The Boating Business Exhibition will play host to the full spectrum of marine manufacturers, distributors and suppliers wishing to meet and do business with retailers, boatbuilders and marine outlets responsible for the £2bn pa UK market.

Uniquely, alongside the industry movers and shakers, the Boating Business Exhibition will welcome those small emerging companies with new skills, innovative products or a new take on an existing technology.

Such small players are the lifeblood of our industry: they are also the source of new business and profit.

At the Boating Business Exhibition you could spot the Jack Holts, Mustos, and Tackticks of the future sharing the spotlight with the current industry leaders.

But there is no company too small - or too big - to exhibit at the Boating Business Exhibition : see the sidebar for exhibition rates for BMF members and non-members.

BBEx at the BIC The Boating Business Exhibition is not a make-over:

it's a brand new marine industry exhibition in a glossy and purpose-built exhibition centre. There will be no more tents and cars parked in a field.

The Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) is a prime location in easy reach of 80% of the UK leisure marine industry.

It offers a purpose-built, air conditioned exhibition space on a single level, making access for build up and strike down as easy as possible.

BIC has just undergone a £20m redevelopment and the Boating Business Exhibition will be one of the first events to benefit.

Motorway and dual carriageways link Bournemouth directly with the north, east and west and services from Bournemouth Station connect directly to London Waterloo, the Midlands, the north and Scotland. Extensive secure multi-storey car parking is immediately adjacent to BIC.

There are daily low-cost flights from Belfast, Dublin, Northern Ireland and Glasgow to Bournemouth. Nearby Southampton Airport has extensive internal flights from other major UK centres.

Bournemouth accommodation The Bournemouth area offers the highest number of bed spaces of any events town outside London. There are over 30,000 beds available, ranging from low cost guest houses to four star hotels.

The BIC is in the centre of this vibrant and cosmopolitan resort and it's only a short walk to an excellent variety of shopping, dining and nightlife choices.

And the BBEx team is already working on some very special discounts on accommodation. Hopefully, by the time you read this, they will have obtained some extended stay discounts that would mean, for example, a visitor and partner could make it a long weekend. So one of the couple could come to the Boating Business Exhibition on the Wednesday and Thursday while the other takes advantage of some very special discounts at the major retail therapy outlets in the town.

The Wednesday night It wouldn't be a trade show without something special happening on the Wednesday night. At present there are a lot of ideas we're throwing around, so you'll have to wait until we've finalised our plans.

But we can assure you we have only one thing in mind. Giving you the opportunity to enjoy yourself, with your partner invited as well.

Who will be there?

Visitors and exhibitors will represent every aspect of the marine leisure industry from chandlery, boatbuilding, kayaks and canoes, marine electronics, inland waterways, marine engineering, marinas and moorings, scuba and underwater, fishing, masts and spars, ropes and rigging, propulsion, inflatables - and more.

What's in it for you the exhibitor?

The Boating Business Exhibition has lots of unique benefits:

The dates: 22-23 February are the right time for a boost to pre-season sales Meet your customers face to face Meet your competitors face to face Take advantage of the special discounts on accommodation and shopping we'll have in place very soon How will the visitor profit?

The chance to hammer out the best pre-season trade prices with delivery before Easter Trade with all your major suppliers at one venue in two days Superb VAP (Visitor And Partner) deals in all grades of accommodation - busy successful business days followed by (it says here) romance in Britain's leading south coast resort Take in our seminar programme. Still being finalised, the seminars will be free and will help you make the best of your business opportunities. We have some very good ideas - watch this space.

Stand sales As this is the Boating Business Exhibition , this is unashamedly an editorial puff for commercial ends.

So form an orderly queue for stand bookings and call Kate Didymus on 01329 825335, fax her on 01329 835330 or email her: kdidymus@bbex.co.uk W: bbex.co.uk