The PSP Southampton Boat Show, the UK’s leading outdoor boat show, closed Sunday 19 September reporting strong attendance. Over 10 days the Show attracted 122,106 visitors, just ahead of last year.
View of the Marina at the PSP Southampton Boat Show Photo Credit onEdition
Organiser National Boat Shows (NBS) is delighted with the success of the Show, which has brought visitors to the stands of over 530 exhibitors. Over the 10 days, the Show has again provided an excellent platform for the British leisure marine industry to display its quality and diversity. Exhibitors chose Southampton to host 14 global boat launches, four European and 40 UK debuts, demonstrating the importance of this Show and the benefits it offers and the strategies adopted by many companies in managing current economic conditions.
Visitor feedback has also been very positive, indicating a good mix of products, features and activities available in Mayflower Park. Around 1,000 boats have been on show and over 8,000 people have taken to the water aboard a variety of boats from sailboats to pedalos and RIBs to dinghies. The Nautical Imaginarium Show stage, water zorbing and Science of the Sea attractions have also proved very popular with visitors, combining to offer a fantastic day out.
Andrew Williams, Managing Director of National Boat Shows said: “We’re delighted to have gained such a strong attendance at the Show and have delivered such a spectacle, from both the outstanding products and fabulous attractions for all to get involved with. We’ve hosted more exhibitors and 70 more boats on the marina than last year.
Sunseekers at the PSP Southampton Boat Show. Photo Credit onEdition
“The increase in attendance has also delivered incremental opportunities for our exhibitors and at a time of continuing, challenging economic conditions, some positive reports are emerging from a wide selection of exhibitors.”
Frank Dixie, Managing Director and Founder of title sponsor PSP said: “This year’s show has been incredibly fruitful for PSP as we have held several successful meetings, dealt with hundreds of enquiries about our services and cemented our presence within the marine industry. Our successful 10-day run culminated in us filling two brand new sailings, one to Australia and one to Fort Lauderdale in America. These successes are testament to PSP being accepted by the marine industry, a direct result of our investment in and sponsorship of the PSP Southampton Boat Show.”
Exhibitor Feedback
Lombard Marine Finance has enjoyed a highly successful attendance at the 2010 PSP Southampton Boat Show, with business up by 53% on the previous year. Ian Braham, Head of Marine Finance, explains: “The success of this year’s Boat Show only serves to reinforce Lombard’s continued commitment to the marine sector. We look forward to supporting purchasers and the industry into the future and have been truly delighted with the response we received at the Show.”
“We’ve been given the best possible opportunity to show our products and we’re pleased to say we’ve taken full advantage of it,” said Riki Hooker, Sales Director, RS Sailing.
“We’ve had a really good Show. It’s our first time exhibiting and it was definitely worth coming, we’ll be back again. We’ve done lots of business and confirmed around ten deals. We’re also really pleased with the cross promotion that we’ve done here, getting orders from other companies. We’ve attracted a lot of people to our stand with our ‘hose down’ demonstration which has been really popular.” Kieron Sullivan, Pirtek Southampton
“The Show has been exceptionally good and we’ve been really pleased with the level of footfall to our stand. Having not exhibited for the past two years we will definitely be back next year.” Amanda Taylor, SLAM.
“The 2010 PSP Southampton Boat Show has been a good Show for Suzuki and stand sales have been up on last year. We were delighted to be able to sponsor the Marina Bar and show wrap again this year and took the opportunity to display our new lean burn DF 40, 50 and 300 outboards. The Suzuki RIB Experience was a huge success getting over 1,500 people on the water and raising over £1,000 for the Sea Cadets. Well done National Boat Shows on delivering a great show in challenging times.” Gareth Lumsdaine, Suzuki GB.
“Halyard was pleased with a positive and active show, which saw sensible sales and laid the foundation for a solid six months’ business,” said James Grazebrook, Managing Director, Halyard.
Fairline has reported a steady flow of sales, which, Miles Moorhouse, marketing director, says is what the company expected. “We’ve had a steady flow of sales not just in the small boat range but sales have extended across all models. We’re also expecting to confirm a new dealership in California which is really exciting news for Fairline.”
NRG Marine Ltd, manufactures of the ultrasonic Antifouling System, Sonihull, say the company has enjoyed an outstanding Show. Darren Rowlands, sales director, commented: “We are flabbergasted by the amount of sales and interest in our Sonihull system. As we started morning seven of the Show, we were well ahead of our Show target.”
PSP Southampton Boat Show highlights
‘All At Sea’ sailing celebrities Nick Hancock and Dawn Porter officially opened the Show on Friday 10 September, arriving into the marina aboard an historic Royal Navy gunboat. An original Grace Spitfire ML 407 flew above them and performed a spectacular demonstration over the Solent
The Show featured a fantastic calendar of feature boats, including Callista, the University of Southampton’s research vessel; an Armed Steam Pinnace 199; an eco-yacht, Calypso, and a tiny 21ft racing yacht
One of the Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced warships, HMS DAUNTLESS, paid a three day visit, with over 4000 visitors climbing aboard and exploring the Type 45 Destroyer
The Show achieved its aim of getting people afloat, with over 8,000 choosing to try a RIB, powerboat or yacht with Try-A-Boat with onthewater.co.uk, experience sailing with Rockley Watersports’ Get Afloat, enjoy the Suzuki RIB experience or get out on a pedalo. Plus over 500 sampled scuba diving with Andark
1,000 people enjoyed the Platinum Experience with Princess Yachts. Chris Cleverly, Managing Director of Princess Motor Yacht Sales was exceptionally pleased with their involvement in the Platinum Experience and said: “It’s been excellent working with NBS on the Platinum concept. Since we have been involved, numbers have grown by 50% to just over 1,000 visitors enjoying the benefits of the Platinum Lounge and their time on the water in a Princess V62 or V48 at this year’s Show. We have enjoyed developing this concept which has been of huge benefit, not only to Princess and NBS, but the visitor experience too.”
Platinum Ticket guest enjoy life onboard a Princess Motor Yacht at the PSP Southampton Boat Show Photo Credit onEdition
Ladies Day on Thursday was a great success and helped raise funds for the Wessex Cancer Trust. The ‘Best Dressed Lady’ competition with the Southern Daily Echo was popular among visitors
Paul Strzelecki, Chairman of National Boat Shows concluded: “We look forward to working closely with Show exhibitors to build on the success of the PSP Southampton Boat Show with an even more impressive Show in London in January. The 2011 Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show will see a host of brand new features and attractions, including a 70 x 24m watersports pool and a used boats marina as well as many regular favourites, making the new look Show an unmissable event.”
