Crick Boat Show is well established in the events calendar as the inland waterways event for the trade and industry. We'd like to share with you just some of the reasons why every year, over the late May bank holiday, thousands of visitors, exhibitors, canal enthusiasts and boating novices, arrive at Crick Marina and help to make Crick Boat Show such an enjoyable and successful event!
Over 25,000 visitors and over 280 exhibitors attended Crick Boat Show 2007, and statistics from visitor and exhibitor surveys completed at the show tell us that:
- Almost 5,000 visitors were interested in buying a boat
- The average amount of business generated at the show was £45,000 per exhibitor
- 5,000 visitors came to the show to buy equipment
- 81% of visitors rated their enjoyment of the show as 'excellent' or 'good', and 9 out of 10 visitors said that they were likely to visit Crick again next year (60% said 'very likely'!)
- When asked if they would recommend a visit to Crick Boat Show, 89% of visitors responded that they were likely to do so.
- 9 out of 10 exhibitors said they were likely to exhibit again at Crick 2008 - with 74% saying they were 'very likely'!
- 87% of visitors rated the exhibits and trade stands at Crick as either 'excellent' or 'good'
- The total visitor spend per head was £637!
- 82% of exhibitors said they were either 'very likely' or 'likely' to recommend exhibiting at Crick
The following are just a few of the many comments received following previous Crick Shows :
'The atmosphere is so friendly, sociable and thoroughly enjoyable.'
A visitor
'I don't really get to see the show as a visitor, from an exhibitor's point of view it is hard to beat.'
An exhibitor
'I would like to say thank you for such a fantastic show. I have never been before and we ALL had a fabulous time. We will visit again.'
A visitor
'Another good show, in spite of the weather! As usual we had a queue of people wanting to see out boat from 10am to 6pm every day. We shall certainly be coming again next year!'
An exhibitor
'I enjoyed the boat show and the chance to see the many different boats and accessories that are available for canal boats. As I am interested in buying a boat it gave me lots of ideas'
A visitor
The Last Word
Artist and regular Crick exhibitor, Sue Woodward of Sue's Roses and Castles, wrote the following poem which perfectly sums up the "spirit of the show" and all who take part. Imagine what it would be like with good weather for three days!
Oh, what a nightmare! Oh, what fun???
We arrived at Crick in a mudbath
When we really needed sun.
But we got our usual welcome
And we showed determination -
We'd trade whatever the circumstance,
To hell with complications!
The hotel made us comfortable,
We met with all out mates -
And then we joined the traffic queue
To get inside the gates.
And then it rained - and poured - and rained,
But did it stop the crowd?
Not likely, they just poured in too
And trade was brisk (the band was loud).
My stock was disappearing
(My salesman's smile was broad),
For all those hours of painting
I was reaping my reward...
But Sunday, came the bombshell -
A fire had shut the road.
We travelled miles to reach the Show,
To find it could be closed.
But stoic organisers
Were determined to proceed,
And, though a little after ten,
We opened as agreed.
Of course the sun shone bright that day,
It was the best of all,
But, sadly, towpath telegraph
Saw numbers really fall.
And Monday was a dreadful day
With wind and hail and rain,
But still the faithful public came,
And, yes, we sold again.
And so in spite of all the woes,
It was our best show ever,
And tired, we returned to home -
A Crick to forget? NO NEVER!!!
