Bourne Lounge

We’ve had some very interesting enquiries and have made two appointments in the local area to talk about our 24/7 fuel pump. It’s the first time we’ve exhibited in the marine market and it’s been a very positive experience - Sean Carter, VBI

Up here is the wrong location and having the exhibition in half-term is a mistake - Ian Rippington, Imray

We’ve taken a few orders and are expecting people we’ve invited later on today - Lucas, A-bike

Need more visitors - M S Raza, Azure Wear

Solent Hall

BBEx is a great way for us to promote all the divisions in the group. It’s a useful shop window for creating awareness - Steve Butcher, Salterns Marina

It’s going well. BBEx is a good networking opportunity and the timing allows us to consolidate on leads created at London. It’s even better than last year - Tom Ager, Versadock

BBEx 2006 was the first trade show we’d been to in six years. Boating Business can hold on to the ball and keep running with it to make it work - Dave Benoy, Blue Gee

BBEx is very good for getting new contacts - Lisa Postle, Allspars

BBEx is a good ‘flag waving’ opportunity for us and our distributors appreciate our support - Tim Goodman, Index Marine

We’ve secured some good quality orders from some brand new customers and we’re looking forward to doing more business - Mark Lowery, LM Distribution

BBEx is a good place to showcase our new products to new customers - Craig Johnson, Navimo

Wednesday was quiet but today we’ve had two customers from Scotland come down to visit us and we’re expecting more customers we’ve invited later today - Soltron IW

Not as good as last year - Mike Redcar, MR Marine

It’s a very good exhibition. This show operates on several different levels: it’s part exhibition, part networking. We meet our customers but the inter-exhibitor relationships are very important as well. It’s a good social show - Andy Sims, Cooney Marine

Disappointed. There aren’t the naval architects or buyers from boat yards and ship yards or their technical staff that were here last year - Peter Snare, Seafresh Desalinators

Windsor Hall

BBEx is the first time we’ve exhibited in the leisure marine environment. We’re a new operation and came with the objective of selling the rig as agents for Farrow and to franchise the service. We’ve got some good enquiries and it’s been excellent for building relationships and awareness – not least with other exhibitors - Alexander Cameron-Hollyer, Antifoul Removal Company

All our customers are here under one roof, so it’s a very efficient use of our time. We’re pleased with the people we’ve seen and expect to be here next year - Andy Hussey, Kelvin Hughes

BBEx has proven to be a successful show and it’s the perfect opportunity to finalise orders before the start of the season. We’ve certainly done business we wouldn’t have done if we hadn’t been here - Peter Dury, Quayside

There seems to be fewer attendees than last year but we’ve certainly taken some good orders - Tim Millinder, Marathon Leisure

This is a flag flying exercise for us: seeing existing dealers, making new contacts and showing our new products including the Ocean and Coastline liferafts - Derek Adams, Avon Inflatables

Once again, a great show. It’s become a regular feature of our spring sell-in programme and I’ve already booked the same pitch for 2008 - David Young, Teal & Mackrill

Thursday better than Wednesday. We’ve got a few enquiries - Tim Cheers, Cheers Insurance

Better than last year but need more visitors and more chandler, more local boatbuilders. Target more surf shops/sailing schools - Simon Crowther, Great Kit

We’ve spoken to some good new prospects and it’s certainly met our expectations - Kevin Turner, SM Group

Fantastic show. It was good last year and we’ve had some great orders this year. We’re very happy. We had more than paid for the stand by lunchtime on Wednesday and had visitors from Scotland, the Channel Islands – all over. But we could do with more people and more new people. Exhibitors need to give visitors a reason for coming. We deliberately held products back so we’d have something new to show here. It’s not just about winning the Innovations Showcase award. We bring all our new lines and the perfect opportunity to launch them - Ian Cooke, C-Quip

The most disappointing trade show ever. Need more watersports shops, canoeing centres and surf shops - Stuart Hutchins, Typhoon

There was nobody here on Wednesday afternoon. Thursday has been good. But you can’t judge it just on the number of sales. The networking and meeting people is very valuable. Today has been successful and we’ve had a good quality of enquiry – just need more of them. The exhibition itself is very professional and well organised. We’ve had a couple of really good leads and our presence here has certainly ‘washed its face’ in terms of return on our investment - Chris Bentley, Moorfast

Wednesday as was fantastic. Every one we saw was a very good high quality contact. Thurs very quiet in the morning. More lively this pm. It’s been very worthwhile and we’ll definitely be back next year. Made some good contacts - Martin Edgerton, Yacht Kit

We’ve made some good contacts. Now it’s all down to the follow up - Vincent Cook, Cook’s Maritime

We’ve been approached by two very large wholesalers who want to represent us nationwide. This should open up the chandlery sector to our products. BBEx has exceeded our expectations – and it’s a great place to network - Tom Snook, Outboard Motor Loc

Relatively pleased. Somewhat disappointed by attendance but done some useful business and it’s been good to see the ‘big hitters’ touring the show. Local chandlers must realise the value of making a visit and talking to suppliers and distributors keen to do business as the season arrives - Lalizas

Bournemouth is a great location. We’ve had high quality visitors but would like to see more boatyards as well as chandlers at the show. We’ll always support a good trade show; perhaps some of the other major distributors will realise what they are missing - Martin Cole, Marine & Industrial

We thought it was brilliant, not what we expected at all. Businesses all had time to chat at leisure without the usual rush of the normal leisure boat show crush and hurried conversations. So for a new business such as ours it was a revelation. We made a lot of contacts which I feel will bring a significant amount of new business to the company and will be of great benefit to all concerned – Terry Storey, Giraffe UK