Record day boosts SPATEX anniversary plans
Andy Slater- 10 years ago
SPATEX organisers are busy making plans for the third Coventry instalment to mark the 20th anniversary of the exhibition, with ringing endorsements from exhibitors after the busiest last day in the event’s history.
A dedicated Spa Day, with specific training seminars for hot tub and swim spa retailers organised by ISPE, on the third and final day at the Ricoh Arena helped to put the ‘SPA’ into SPATEX and boost the visitors numbers to record levels, which was welcomed by organisers and exhibitors including Jo Catterall of Certikin H&V.
“Tuesday, being the last day of the show, is traditionally quiet but not this year,” reported Jo, “It was probably our busiest day!
“There was a steady stream of customers throughout the day, right up until the show closed at 4pm. What more can you ask?”
SPATEX organiser Michele Bridle, who is now conducting the efforts to secure early exhibitor bookings for the 2016 event, also highlighted the success of the inaugural SPA Day in attracting the record-breaking greater visitor numbers to the final day of the exhibition.
“We all know that an exhibition is only as good as the quality and quantity of its visitors,” said Michele.
“Coventry’s Ricoh Arena more than proved itself as the perfect venue as visitors from all over the UK arrived throughout the three days in their droves, rewarding us with the busiest last day in the show’s history.”
Wet leisure specialist and hot tub accessories company Golden Coast maintained its exhibitor dedication to SPATEX this year and Managing Director Jamie Adams believes the event mirrored elements of the Piscine Global exhibition in Lyon.
“Once again exhibitors raised their game in keeping with the venue to produce an excellent and very professional looking exhibition to a point that we’re beginning to look a lot more like the show in Lyon,” said Jamie.
“It is testimony to the work SPATEX are putting in to make this ‘the’ industry show that everyone has been asking for.”
The reprisal of the event at the Ricoh Arena had a number of exhibitors promoting this year’s latest hot tub and swim spa launches and saw exclusive SPATEX supporter Caldera Spas distributor Certikin International officially fire up its promotion of the ‘plug and play’ Fantasy Roto Spa range with technologically advanced polymers in a RokSolid shell and cabinet from Watkins Manufacturing that is available to all dealerships in the UK.
Spa Crest Europe Managing Director Tony Welsby was also among the exclusively loyal supporters of SPATEX in the Jaguar Arena who had another USA hot tub distribution deal to promote for the Tuff Spas brand for his current and prospect dealers, as well as the newly redesigned Coastal range models from Spa Crest and the manufacturer’s Brand2Go initiative.
Marquis also gave a SPATEX debut for its new Aquatic Training Vessel (ATV) model, which has gained an instant impact with UK dealerships having been promoted in the USA and France and at the two West Midlands exhibitions, for retailers to target the booming swim spa market.
Aqua Warehouse chief and Vita Spa and L.A Spas distributor Richard Hart used the event to give an exhibitor debut to his flourishing Aqua Spas Supplies division to promote a wide range of hot tub-related products while especially promoting cover lifts, including the Covana CS 1000 and the ASC-2 motorised spa cover lift system from Auto Spa Cover; along with hot tub spare parts and a wide range of accessories.
Issy Rickards Sanger and husband Kevin of Elite Spas were also exhibiting at SPATEX this year and have vowed to return exclusively for the 20th anniversary of the event after a successful promotion of a new association with USA hot tub brand Aspen Spas, which has been well received by existing Elite Spas dealerships, and achieving a 65 per cent increase in sales over the previous best exhibitor performance.
“We had an awesome show,” said Issy; “It was so good that we’ve decided to go for an even bigger stand next year.
“It has exceeded all our expectations and we have beaten our best ever exhibition sales figure by 65 per cent.
“We believe that SPATEX has been the best out of the two shows and that is the one we want to be exhibiting at in the future.”
The 2015 BISHTA Awards ceremony was hosted at the Ricoh Arena at the end of the first day and Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards were presented to All Swim, Oyster Pools & Leisure, Hydropool UK, Welsh Hot Tubs, Falcon Pools and Deep End Pools for their hot tub efforts during the past year.
BISHTA Managing Director Chris Hayes declared that the high quality of the entries during this year’s presentation ceremony will aid the association in showcasing what its members can do for their existing and prospective customers. Hot tub retailers can work on their entries for the 2016 BISHTA Awards, which will once again be hosted at the Ricoh Arena, during the spring and summer months before the autumn deadline.
“The award winners keep coming up with even more fabulous entries!” said Chris “The outstanding quality of submissions this year has certainly created some stiff competition.
“The entries will aid us in showcasing what our members can do for their customers and why it is so important to choose a BISHTA member.”
Doric Marketing chief Dorian Davies, who made his debut as an exhibitor at SPATEX, was on the BISHTA Awards judging panel and praised the efforts of the companies that submitted successful entries to embrace online marketing strategies.
“A number of leading hot tub retailers and wet leisure specialists, who have once again landed prestigious BISHTA awards, are tuned into the marketing potential from the latest online technology,” said Dorian.
SPATEX 2016 will be returning for a hat-trick of appearances at the Ricoh Arena from Sunday January 31 to Tuesday February 2 for the 20th Anniversary of the exhibition and a special ‘Early Buy Rate’ for exhibitors is currently available until April 30. For details contact the SPATEX team on 01264 358558 or email Helen@spatex.co.uk or michele@spatex.co.uk
www.spatex.co.uk
