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THE GRASS IS GREENER
Listed under: Comments
Published: Monday, June 13, 2011
Ruthless efficiency, rigid and non variable systems, a plethora of rules which must be obeyed, the POS police roaming the corridors removing non-conformist pull up displays and great sausages. It could only be the High End Show in Munich!
Once again the Germans, with their typical knack for all things organisational, pulled off another excellent show last month. With so much of the British Hi-Fi manufacturing, retailing and reporting industries in Bavaria for four days, it often feels like I bump into more people from the UK at the High End Show than I do at any UK based event.
It’s also interesting to see how many UK based manufacturers are using this event to showcase new products and initiatives. For example, BADA Associate members KEF launched the production version of the Blade concept and PMC announced its new 20 year warranty. It could easily be argued, and indeed it was heard said frequently, that the High End Show is (becoming) the de-facto European Hi-Fi show. Yes Germany has overtaken the UK as the largest market for CE in Europe, but isn’t it a shame that the major show of the annual calendar is no longer held in the country that practically invented Hi-Fi. For so many years the Penta show, as it was then, was THE event at which the manufacturers would meet their retailers and international distributors. Oh how times have changed.
Many people before me have asked the question “Why can’t the UK have one industry wide show?” But, despite the many voices, it’s a question that is still going unanswered. A couple of years ago BADA hosted a very interesting discussion at which manufacturers, retailers, the media and the organisers of the various UK shows which were running at the time were present. The theme of the discussion was exactly that question, and many views and opinions were expressed. What was really interesting to hear was a general consensus that one big show would be a good thing. Whether it was to be like the High End Show and concentrate on hi-fi and home cinema, or whether it would be more like a mini CES or IFA with all CE represented, was the subject of opinion. But the one thing that was agreed was the need for an industry show. And then we saw the usual variety of shows during the ensuing months. So not much progress there then!
It seems that, for some reason, we have a difficulty in the UK in putting aside differing and sometimes conflicting agendas for the greater good of the industry. I don’t know how they’ve managed to overcome such issues in Germany, maybe it is a cultural thing, but whatever the means (and if you know please do tell me), it seems to work. The industry assembles in Munich once a year and puts on a very good show that attracts large numbers of trade visitors from all over the world and vast swathes of Hi-Fi enthusiasts.
I’m sure there are issues raised in Germany around the High End Show that we don’t get to hear about - there always will be when such a large number of people and companies are involved. But, from where I’m sitting, the grass does seem to be greener on the other side of the North Sea.
Which, incidentally, brings me nicely on to something called Project Grass...
GREEN SHOOTS
For the last five years or so, the composition of BADA has been slowly changing and developing. More and more manufacturers and distributors have joined and two of the positions on the board have been given over to the Associate (manufacturer) members. And it’s worked really well, the integration and cooperation between the manufacturing and retail sides of our industry have been very productive. Out of it was born the original Demcraft course and the subsequent Visioncraft, Salescraft, Netcraft and Marketing courses.
During his keynote address at the BADA AGM in January 2011, Simon Byles, chairman, alluded to something that has been talked about by many people over the past few years - the creation of one industry trade association or governing body or whatever it needs to be. Following the demise of the BFA at the end of 2010, Simon said “Whilst the closure of the BFA is undoubtedly a sad event for our industry, BADA will be using the next twelve months to reinforce its credentials and to ensure its offering is suitably tailored and appropriate for all sectors of the Hi-Fi and home cinema industry. It is now time for us to move enthusiastically forwards to the next stage of our development, by turning BADA into the industry’s association with representation for all parties.”
Given that the market is certainly not expanding at the moment and there are many outside socio-economic and technological issues we face, we have no choice but to work much more closely together as a coherent unit if we are to meet the challenges that lie ahead of us. With thanks to Alan Sircom for introducing me to the word, what we should aspire to is co-opetition. We are, of course, in competition with each other, but we must cooperate more closely. We can only be stronger as a collective.
Enter Project Grass. A working title for the creation of the much sought after single industry association for specialist Hi-Fi and home cinema manufacturers, distributors, retailers and media. After the holding of three brainstorming sessions by the Associate members and an in-depth survey of all existing members and consultation with the wider industry, a framework for a new association is taking shape. These plans will be presented to the existing BADA members and any other interested parties from our industry at a meeting in London on 4th July. At the time of writing the venue hasn’t been fixed, but we’ll be communicating it via the website, newsletters, social media outlets and word of mouth as soon as it is confirmed.
So save the date, 4th July, and come along to hear and discuss the plans for the creation of our industry’s new trade association. We can only build it together so your support and involvement is essential. To coin a phrase, ‘Your industry needs you!’
http://www.bada.co.uk
Once again the Germans, with their typical knack for all things organisational, pulled off another excellent show last month. With so much of the British Hi-Fi manufacturing, retailing and reporting industries in Bavaria for four days, it often feels like I bump into more people from the UK at the High End Show than I do at any UK based event.
It’s also interesting to see how many UK based manufacturers are using this event to showcase new products and initiatives. For example, BADA Associate members KEF launched the production version of the Blade concept and PMC announced its new 20 year warranty. It could easily be argued, and indeed it was heard said frequently, that the High End Show is (becoming) the de-facto European Hi-Fi show. Yes Germany has overtaken the UK as the largest market for CE in Europe, but isn’t it a shame that the major show of the annual calendar is no longer held in the country that practically invented Hi-Fi. For so many years the Penta show, as it was then, was THE event at which the manufacturers would meet their retailers and international distributors. Oh how times have changed.
Many people before me have asked the question “Why can’t the UK have one industry wide show?” But, despite the many voices, it’s a question that is still going unanswered. A couple of years ago BADA hosted a very interesting discussion at which manufacturers, retailers, the media and the organisers of the various UK shows which were running at the time were present. The theme of the discussion was exactly that question, and many views and opinions were expressed. What was really interesting to hear was a general consensus that one big show would be a good thing. Whether it was to be like the High End Show and concentrate on hi-fi and home cinema, or whether it would be more like a mini CES or IFA with all CE represented, was the subject of opinion. But the one thing that was agreed was the need for an industry show. And then we saw the usual variety of shows during the ensuing months. So not much progress there then!
It seems that, for some reason, we have a difficulty in the UK in putting aside differing and sometimes conflicting agendas for the greater good of the industry. I don’t know how they’ve managed to overcome such issues in Germany, maybe it is a cultural thing, but whatever the means (and if you know please do tell me), it seems to work. The industry assembles in Munich once a year and puts on a very good show that attracts large numbers of trade visitors from all over the world and vast swathes of Hi-Fi enthusiasts.
I’m sure there are issues raised in Germany around the High End Show that we don’t get to hear about - there always will be when such a large number of people and companies are involved. But, from where I’m sitting, the grass does seem to be greener on the other side of the North Sea.
Which, incidentally, brings me nicely on to something called Project Grass...
GREEN SHOOTS
For the last five years or so, the composition of BADA has been slowly changing and developing. More and more manufacturers and distributors have joined and two of the positions on the board have been given over to the Associate (manufacturer) members. And it’s worked really well, the integration and cooperation between the manufacturing and retail sides of our industry have been very productive. Out of it was born the original Demcraft course and the subsequent Visioncraft, Salescraft, Netcraft and Marketing courses.
During his keynote address at the BADA AGM in January 2011, Simon Byles, chairman, alluded to something that has been talked about by many people over the past few years - the creation of one industry trade association or governing body or whatever it needs to be. Following the demise of the BFA at the end of 2010, Simon said “Whilst the closure of the BFA is undoubtedly a sad event for our industry, BADA will be using the next twelve months to reinforce its credentials and to ensure its offering is suitably tailored and appropriate for all sectors of the Hi-Fi and home cinema industry. It is now time for us to move enthusiastically forwards to the next stage of our development, by turning BADA into the industry’s association with representation for all parties.”
Given that the market is certainly not expanding at the moment and there are many outside socio-economic and technological issues we face, we have no choice but to work much more closely together as a coherent unit if we are to meet the challenges that lie ahead of us. With thanks to Alan Sircom for introducing me to the word, what we should aspire to is co-opetition. We are, of course, in competition with each other, but we must cooperate more closely. We can only be stronger as a collective.
Enter Project Grass. A working title for the creation of the much sought after single industry association for specialist Hi-Fi and home cinema manufacturers, distributors, retailers and media. After the holding of three brainstorming sessions by the Associate members and an in-depth survey of all existing members and consultation with the wider industry, a framework for a new association is taking shape. These plans will be presented to the existing BADA members and any other interested parties from our industry at a meeting in London on 4th July. At the time of writing the venue hasn’t been fixed, but we’ll be communicating it via the website, newsletters, social media outlets and word of mouth as soon as it is confirmed.
So save the date, 4th July, and come along to hear and discuss the plans for the creation of our industry’s new trade association. We can only build it together so your support and involvement is essential. To coin a phrase, ‘Your industry needs you!’
http://www.bada.co.uk
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