[derek west]

thursday for me too

[richy27]

thursday also.

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I am finding cleaning carpets, running the website business, Secretary of a City Cleaning Lodge and  sorting out the CLEAN business  leave me with very little time.

I even wrote some course stuff while  on holiday.

I'm sure there will be plenty of people to chat to at Carpex and the best bit is always the drink after.
Cheers

Doug

[Simon Gerrard]

I would have thought that both CLEAN and Hydramaster would have a stall at Carpex, seems odd neither are attending what is a showcase for our industry.

Simon

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I also heard that Alltec might not be going although according to the list they are.

It's too early for CLEAN but maybe next year, it all depends on what the directors decide.

It's a shame about Hydramaster, they were always one of the best stands to visit and they came out drinking afterwards.

Cheers

Doug

[Simon Gerrard]

Doug,
I would have thought that having even a small stall at Carpex would be absolutely essential for a new organisation like Clean, it is after all a showcase for the whole industry with thousands of people attending who do not populate the forums and have never heard of Clean and could have had the opportunity of joining.
And you also have a responsibility to those that do join you in this first formative year to ensure that you get as many people on board as quickly as possible and help ensure your survival as a viable association.
It strikes me that you're trying to open a super market with no stock and no advertising and yet still expect to succeed.

Simon

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

As Carpex is sponsored by the NCCA, I don't think it would be right and proper for us to ask for a stand. We will be there in person on both days, to talk to manufacturers and any cleaners that wish to stop for a chat.

[Robert Watson]

"As Carpex is sponsored by the NCCA"
How does that work. I wouldn't have thought the NCCA had funds to contribute to events like this.
How does that benefit members?
What am I missing?

[Simon Gerrard]

Steve,
Carpex is only sponsored by the NCCA and I very much doubt that the organisers would turn down good money to let you have stand, but did you enquire and were turned down because you're a potential competitor to the NCCA?
I think you've missed a trick here!

Simon

[Peter Sweeney]

Well we would'nt want to be seen wasting members money either and that's not a swipe at the NCCA (before anyone tries the inevitable twist on words).

We are not here to promote ourselves to ourselves, we are going beyond this as has always been made clear for those that have read and understood our policy.

I will be going on Friday to meet and greet fellow, positive supporters of the industry. Reckon I'll be standing next to the short guy in shorts  

Pete

Pete

[Art]

I'll be there Friday Pete. Hopefully i'll get the chance to say hello mate

[Peter Sweeney]

Be good to see you Art. I may even hang around for the evening. It'll be worth it just to get a couple of hours worth of The Doc's anecdotes and short stories.

Pete

[Art]

It'll probably be late afternoon ....how will i recognise you mate 

[Simon Gerrard]

Pete,
Well why do you think all of the exhibitors at Carpex are spending good money to be there in front of the Carpet Cleaning industry, which believe it or not, is made up largely of carpet cleaners, the very same people you need in quite large numbers to breath life into your fledgling organisation, but you don't think it an imperative to have a stand?
You have a responsibility to every single person that joins you to make sure they are not throwing their money down the drain and down the drain it will surely go if you do not build a membership very quickly in order to raise the funds to deliver on at least some of your promises. Exhibiting at Carpex could have announced your arrival in the industry, but none of you think that important?

Simon

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

Simon

No we didn't enquire about a stand, it's simply professional courtesy not to step on anyone's toes. As I pointed out, the NCCA sponsor the show and will also be holding seminars there.

We have a good working relationship with the Directors of the NCCA and we would like to maintain that, we are not in competition with them.

Plus we have the CCDO coming up where we can launch to a large number of interested parties, albeit not as large as Carpex.

Hope that answers your query.

Steve

[Simon Gerrard]

Steve,

You've just said you're not in competition with the NCCA, so what's the problem with being at Carpex? The hall will be crammed with companies competing with each other, surely that is the very nature of an exhibition, to showcase similar products and services in one place so that the buyer can see what's on offer under one roof.
Also, the CCDO is nothing on the scale of Carpex and will only be attended by the populations of the carpet cleaning forums and perhaps some others. You seem to have a mental block on the notion of advertising, you won't advertise CLEAN at the industry showcase, Carpex and seem to think the alternative, the CCDO will advertise it's self. It's as if you think the laws of business don't apply to CLEAN and that without spending a penny will simply come to the awareness of the carpet cleaning community by what, telepathy?

Simon

[Peter Sweeney]

It'll probably be late afternoon ....how will i recognise you mate 

Big red nose mate. Looked like an alchy since I had a bad nose break when I was a kid

[Colin Day]

It's a good job I'm not going Pete, I've got a big red alchy nose too

[Peter Sweeney]

  Colin, when J and I stand back to back we look like a pick axe

[Andrew Briscoe]

Just had a look at exhibitors list on page 28 of Cleaning and Hygiene Today, there are about
13 carpet cleaning stands, which include sebo, lyndhaus, NCCA etc, and over 20 window cleaning stands, plus a few janitorial suppliers, and insurance services stands.
Looking at layout map, the hall is only a third full .
However i will still be going even though the hall isnt crammed.

Andrew