That's just sad, man! While it's costly it's also a great way to showcase and stay in touch with the market. The decrease here just seems so dramatic - down to some 10% in consumer products in just two years, even though all days are now publicly accessible.
Well, do Coke and Pepsi need to continue advertising more heavily than any other soft drink companies? Absolutely - it's the only reason they can maintain their positions with products that are not very unique at all. Exactly the same goes for Fenser, Gibson, Marshall and the likes. Their products are not worth the premiums except for the excessive marketing - which we pay for through the premiums. It may take a few years to go down but it surely will without the marketing.Does Marshall really need to spend over 100k be at one of these shows.....or does the world know the Marshall brand enough? Digital media is likely the better investment in marketing dollars.
Just my opinion...
Well, do Coke and Pepsi need to continue advertising more heavily than any other soft drink companies? Absolutely - it's the only reason they can maintain their positions with products that are not very unique at all. Exactly the same goes for Fenser, Gibson, Marshall and the likes. Their products are not worth the premiums except for the excessive marketing - which we pay for through the premiums. It may take a few years to go down but it surely will without the marketing.
Had a great time despite the no-shows in terms of completely unexpected masterclasses and clinics and I will return being way more interested in products I could actually try rather than the products I came intending to try. Online marketing only for products depending on tone and feel? Forget about it, those vendors will lose out big time!
Yeah well, I could argue the opposite - we all know exactly how those cans taste and even how they feel on a hot summer day. But chosing an amp through a video? Just doesn't work at all and how about the feel of a neck or attack of a pickup? The "different market" is incorrect according to most Harvard professors. The Five Conpetitive Forces are equally relevant and it's beyond doubt that some of the lesser known companies being hugely present will start eating share from the big ones. Line 6 had tons of Helixes up for test including clinics and showcases. You honestly don't think it would be worth it for KPA and Fractal would benefit from doing the same? Ibanez had two Kempers for their testing and you couldn't even get to them.Nobody said they won't continue to advertise....I'm saying does it need to be at Messe/NAMM type shows?
Two of my close musician friends buy tube amps about every other month (because they're always searching for tone), and they do it almost 100% from internet video demos.
I think the Coke/Pepsi analogy just doesn't apply here. Product markets are way different.
You can hear an amp in a video...you can't taste a soda through a video.
And let's not forget.....how did we all find out about Fractal?
Not sold in stores, no booth at NAMM/Messe....yet they are gaining some excellent market share.
I'm not saying I like it...I would have much rather played with my Fractal before I made the leap....but I heard plenty of vids and decided it was worth the risk. Especially since Fractal (and most online retailers) have a return policy.
Ever tried to return an opened can of Coke?
With more than 100k visitors most YouTube videos don't reach that but you also forget all the videos filmed AT the shows.It's the Internet plain and simply
A product release on your site and a YouTube demo will cost way less and
Reach 10 times the people
NAMM and the Messe and big trade shows are yesterday's way of doing
Business and creating hype
With more than 100k visitors most YouTube videos don't reach that but you also forget all the videos filmed AT the shows.
So you agree that videos are a valid media to make sales?
So take it a step further....why did you need to spend 100-150k to go to a trade show if you can film a video demo in your own shop for zero cost?
Of course videos are a valid PART of marketing - I don't agree that it can stand alone. I also don't agree that it has to cost a 100k because I see plenty of small custom shops present who barely gross that in a year.
But the show videos I was talking about were the known reviewers actually attending the shows to shoot content about new products. Products even they will never know exist without going to the show.
For my own part I came here only recently as part of the decision process. While it has been very informative it will never make up for trying the gear and as it stand I will probably opt out, simply because I can't get to try a Fractal product anywhere and I've made more than enough mistakes buying based on videos alone. Obviously there will be a lot of people thinking the same way.
Return policy is fine, although often a hazzle, and in case of Fractal when my receiving address is in Europe it's not really an option at all.
1) I travel so much I may not even be home to receive it.g66.eu offers a 30-days money back so what's the problem ?