NorrthDown2 Posted January 21, 2020 Posted January 21, 2020 I'd spotted this before, but is this the last year of BETT being on on a Saturday? I know there aren't many there on Saturday but it is a chance to see the event without costing the school money. I've alternated a year about - Saturday only and include a weekday on the other years. Next year would be a Saturday only year but it seems that it won't be on. I have to say that no Saturday may mean the loss of grassroots people coming on their own bat, like myself. It's great going round stalls on the Saturday - plenty of opportunity to talk to vendors and see the products without fighting the crowds. The only thing about Saturdays was there weren't many seminars organised by firms. Has there been another year for some time where there was no Saturday? A shorter, but equally action-packed show – Bett 2021 will run Wednesday 20 – Friday 22 January giving you all the value of a 4-day event whilst helping you reduce your T&E costs
elsiegee40 Posted January 21, 2020 Posted January 21, 2020 (edited) 2021 is the first time that there will be no Saturday. I am not surprised. Having done all 4 days of the show for many years, the Saturday is noticeably much quieter and the people who attend generally appear not to be those who control purse strings. Because of this, the suppliers exhibiting send the bulk of their staff home and run their stands on a skeleton staff. It’s just not cost effective for them to have to pay staff to work and stay in London on the Saturday. In these days of tighter budgets in business and in education, I assume there has been pressure on the organisers to drop the Saturday. Primarily BETT is a trade show. Suppliers are only there to make money. If they’re not making money then they won’t attend at all and the organisers don’t want that. Big names have pulled out in recent years. The show had to adapt before even more pull out. Edited January 21, 2020 by elsiegee40
DrCheese Posted January 21, 2020 Posted January 21, 2020 That's a shame - We like to go on the Saturday as usually all of us can go & we don't have to worry about understaffing at the school. But I get why, usually people start packing up early & with the odd exception (us) you're right about it not usually being those who control the purse strings.
NorrthDown2 Posted January 21, 2020 Author Posted January 21, 2020 If I hadn’t come the first year I came on a Saturday to see what it was like, I might not be coming now on weekdays. I understand where the businesses are coming from in pushing for 3 days, but sad that I may not make 2021. Friday teatime in the exhibition hall could become strange as folks pack up.
Kingstech Posted January 22, 2020 Posted January 22, 2020 That's a shame if they are stopping Saturdays. I've been for the past 4 or 5 years on a Saturday. I make it a weekend away as it's about a 5 hour drive from home. Plus it's hard to get time off work when I such a small team.
john Posted January 22, 2020 Posted January 22, 2020 That's a shame if they are stopping Saturdays. I've been for the past 4 or 5 years on a Saturday. I make it a weekend away as it's about a 5 hour drive from home. Plus it's hard to get time off work when I such a small team.They defo have ended for next year all the see you next year signage is up and it's just 3 days as per the quote. So no going back for 2021.
elsiegee40 Posted January 22, 2020 Posted January 22, 2020 I understand the show will be open until 8pm each day. This is going to cause more problems than it solves, I suspect. Open for 10 hours means the stands are going to need staff working in shifts to cover it. I am not sure the suppliers will prefer this arrangement 1
NorrthDown2 Posted January 23, 2020 Author Posted January 23, 2020 8pm doesn't help me coming from Northern Ireland - and I am in charge of the purse strings in my institution (obviously in the minority on a Saturday). 8pm may help educators in the Home Counties get to it after school/college but not me unfortunately. Even if I try to come for the day, I don't benefit from late night opening as I have to catch a flight home. Oh well, will have to savour this year...see you Friday. Thanks for the info elsiegee40.
hardtailstar Posted January 23, 2020 Posted January 23, 2020 Well thats disappointing. I've never been able to go during work time so Saturdays is the only day of choice.
elsiegee40 Posted January 23, 2020 Posted January 23, 2020 Well thats disappointing. I've never been able to go during work time so Saturdays is the only day of choice. Would the 8pm finish help you? What time do you finish work? Could you start early/use some TOIL ?
DrCheese Posted January 23, 2020 Posted January 23, 2020 8pm makes it a long day if you can only really get out mid afternoon from work. Coming back from London late then going back into work the next day sucks
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