Strana 100
TEC
considerably and, as well as plastic models,
now offers a relatively new range of plywood
and paper models.
In the past, the Nuremberg fair was
used extensively by companies for press
conferences, which Eduard also held until last
year. Last year it was just a modest conference
held on our small stand. Due to a lack of interest
from the media and the public, no conference
was held this year. And hardly anyone asked
for one. We simply presented our future plans
individually to those who were interested.
It was more work for us, but we didn't mind,
it was interesting to see the individual reactions.
Everyone could ask individual questions,
we pleased or surprised almost everyone
and I had a nice feeling about it. In the past,
the fair was also used by companies to
announce long-awaited absolute novelties.
I think the trade fair is losing this function as
well, with companies preferring to use social
networks or other online channels for this
purpose. In short, we live in the internet age
and going to a trade fair is probably not so
fashionable for journalists or even modellers.
However, there have been a few exceptions.
Tamiya announced the new Hotchkiss H-39
tank in 1/35th scale, IBG finished their
campaign of revealing new model lines and
brought the first 1/72nd scale mouldings of
the Mk.I
-
V Spitfire range, they also showed
renderings of the Mc.200,202 and 205 and the
Hs 129 in 1/72nd scale.
Now for the negatives. As the number of
other companies in related fields continues to
dwindle, we moved again. This time from Hall
7A to Hall 7, which was not completely full. This
point contributes to the fact that fewer and
fewer people and companies are coming to the
show overall, which weakens the whole show
in terms of making new contacts. Perhaps
this is why most of our distributors from the
USA have not come to the show since COVID,
nor have our distributor from Japan or most of
the manufacturers from Asia. There are also
fewer and fewer media representatives. This
year, the public were able to visit the show for
the entire duration, but this did not increase
the number of visitors, at least in our hall.
The aisles were rather half-empty, there were
no crowds. Another blemish is the catering, the
quality of which is getting worse every year.
Regrettably, the fair also served us a bitter
end in the form of the impossibility to drive our
car into the area to get things from our stand
while we were packing, so we had to drive
on the pavement around the whole area on
a small mobile trolley. Unfortunately, most of
the companies had the same idea, so we had to
dodge various adventurers with pallet trucks
or hastily constructed improvised trolleys.
But as I said at the beginning, I am convinced
that the show is still relevant to our business.
It may be declining in importance, but it is still
worth attending. We see meeting our business
partners live as an important and strengthening
part of our business relationships. Finally,
I would like to thank everyone who visited our
stand. See you next year!
INFO Eduard100
February 2025