Informal survey says traffic is higher, business better, bad weather helped so far!

By ANN Reporter Juan Jimenez

ANN conducted an informal, non-scientific survey of vendors at AirVenture '03 Friday afternoon. We visited a number of them at different locations on the grounds of the activity and came up with some interesting numbers and comments.

Of those vendors surveyed, 62.5% say that this year's AirVenture has been better, so far, than last year's. Traffic is higher, and customers appear to be "happier." Don Payton of Peltor Communications had the most positive response to our question: "The first two days were phenomenal for us!"

Mike Kerwin of AVEMCO Insurance told us that "Everyone is happier, and complaining a lot less about the cost of insurance." We walked by their booth several times as we hunted the show for stories and it was invariably busy with people asking for quotes. Jim Irwin of Aircraft Spruce expressed similar sentiments when he told us that "As compared to last year, the show has been better for us. People definitely seem happier than last year."

Bob Kihlstrom of American Avionics also expressed a positive opinion. "I think there is more business, even if the weather is not cooperating." The weather has indeed been a factor at the show, with multiple thunderstorms, showers and heavy wind of up to 40 mph sweeping through the grounds. However, Jeff Kroeller of Lamar Technologies didn't necessarily think that was a bad thing. "I think the weather helped by keeping people inside and at the show," commented Kroeller. "Last year on Friday the show was much slower, as many aircraft and the owners left the field trying to escape the weekend departure rush."

The opinions on whether or not customers were buying were mixed. Jamie Valderrama of Unison Technologies said traffic was up, and the show was "better, with many more customers asking about the Lasar ignition system and their spark plugs." Geoff at USATCO had a different opinion, though; he thought the show was "about the same, with sales a bit down."

It was interesting to note how different companies gage the quality of the show. Orville Hale of TAP's WeatherTAP service told us that "we gauge the show by the number of papers we give away, and so far the counts are about the same, with 4,300 copies given away the first day of the show about the same on the second day."

On The Other Hand....

Not everyone was as happy about the show, though. Richard Ray of Navaid Devices said the show was worse than last year, with "less people. It was easier to get in and out of the show as well as the restaurants, so there was definitely less traffic."

Frank Materdomini, representing the Flitz line of polishing products, was very unhappy with the results so far. "The show is getting slower and slower," he commented. "EAA is charging too much for entrance and food, and the locals are not spending, just looking and moving on. It's just too expensive. Bringing a family of four here costs $100, plus easily another $40 in food and drinks. They can afford to lower prices so customers can spend with the vendors, particularly after we paid $1,800 for this 10x10 booth!" (As an aside, this reporter still finds it hard to understand how one glass of water, the juice of one lemon and two teaspoons or sugar can possibly command a $3.50 asking price under any circumstances short of the Gobi Desert at High Noon.)

Bruce Wentworth of Spartech Polycast, the supplier of acrylic sheets who has attended the show for the last seven years with their customer, LP AeroPlastics, thought that there was "less volume and less traffic." Rick Garcia of Gulf Coast Avionics thought that this year his business at the show was "about the same in all respects."

With the show now over the halfway mark (or over the hump, so to speak) all that remains is to see how things will pan out for the vendors over the weekend. Will the weather cooperate, will it keep people grounded and move them to make more purchases, or will it clear up and allow everyone to go home with more money in their pockets?

You'll need to come to the show and find out for yourself to find out.

FMI: www.airventure.org