With rumours of the show moving location away from the BIC rife at the exhibition, Mercator Media MD Andrew Webster, issued the press release printed below immediately after the show to BBEx exhibitors and the trade in general asking for views on the future of BBEx:

' When we first proposed BBEx to the British Marine Federation and the Marine Trades Association, as a replacement for the Marine Trades Exhibition, one of the priorities was to find a dedicated venue that offered a professional atmosphere, easy transport access and good value accommodation. We believe that Bournemouth and the BIC has largely delivered this.

On the promotion front, with the support of Boating Business together with the lists at our disposal, we are able to advertise and mail to a large part of the UK leisure marine industry. There is also the website that has been developed at www.bbex.com.

The final piece in the jigsaw is "when". After extensive debates and both qualitative and quantitative research, we decided to hold the event in February. The theory was that this would distance BBEx from Southampton Boat Show and METS and allow for early season buying in time for pre-Easter delivery. Not everyone agreed with this decision but we believed that the case was strong enough to try.

Mercator gave a commitment to produce the event for three years based on this plan. Having delivered this, now is the time to review the overall strategy. While many exhibitors did sign orders and meet new clients, it is clear that the event needs to attract more visitors to square the economic equation for both exhibitors and organisers. Mercator does not wish to produce anything less than an exhibition of the highest quality and in this respect, changes are necessary to increase the footfall.

The first question is, "Does the UK leisure marine trade need an annual event?" There are very few people who disagree with the idea that a successful trade show, a meeting place for the business, is anything but desirable.

Next is location. In many respects, this question is the least important of the three as, within reason, people are prepared to travel to good events. We are reviewing the venue largely because the of the cost of hiring the BIC. The increase in the costs over the three years, and the proposed increases for the future, are both large. If we can hold or reduce venue costs, stand charges can be held and more money can be spent on improved visitor promotion.

Finally, the question of timing. There is an overwhelming view that the event should move back to the autumn, somewhere between Southampton and METS, mid-October.

Given the above considerations, it is important to have a plan. We are going to hold an open "town meeting" to get as many views as people wish to give. It will be a central, south coast location.

If there is sufficient demand, a second consultation will be held further north.

The object of this letter is to stimulate some debate and thought about BBEx. Please let us know your opinion and if you are interested in attending the meeting.'

Many people have responded to Webster's letter with ideas on how the show could progress. These vary from moving the show to October, through cancelling it and letting the industry concentrate on METS, to running BBEx in different locations each year - Bournemouth, Bristol and the NEC have been suggested.

So we look forward to seeing you and hearing your views at the "town meetings".

But please respond - this is the industry's own show, supported by the industry's trade magazine. Mercator Media refuses to put on anything other than a top quality exhibition, but we need your help to take BBEx to the next level.

BBEx Awards

When we took over the trade show, we also took over the Marine Trades Association (MTA) Retailer of the Year Award. And we added a few more.

The Scott Deverell Young Businessperson of the Year Award and the Dyer Burdett Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognise the young business people who will be the future of this industry.

We added the boats.com Website Award this year to recognise the ever-growing importance to this industry of the Internet And we added the English Braids Environment Award to recognise another sector that is growing in importance every year.

Moving away from people to products, the BBEx Innovations Showcase Award goes to the best new product at the show.

Finally, we presented the Boating Business Lifetime Achievement Award to recognise one of those people who have been helping this industry quietly - or even not so quietly - for the majority of their working lives.