Mandurah Resilient Despite Lower Numbers

by Jeni Bone on 15 Oct 2008 Although numbers were down and the big spenders were cautious at the Club Marine Mandurah Boat Show, exhibitors were pleased with sales considering the downturn in the economy and consumer spending.

From humble beginnings 14 years ago in what was then a quiet holiday village, the Mandurah Boat Show has grown on the back of the commodities boom as Perth residents bought up its real estate for holiday homes.

'The local fishing club started it 14 years ago,' said director Peter Woods of Premiere Events. 'They used to have 30 boats and you paid $2 to get in and it was a community show. Now it's like Perth's Gold Coast.'

The Mandurah Boat Show is now widely regarded as a barometer of consumer confidence in the west. 21,000 visitors attended this year’s show, down on the 25,000 last year.

On show were 6000 boats, including $30 million worth of luxury Sunseeker motor yachts which sell for up to $9 million each and a fleet of Boston Whalers for about $150,000 each.

This year, for the first time, the show opened on Thursday morning, giving patrons 4 full days to check out the event and spend more time with the dealers.

Positive reports from those involved with the 2008 event proved that the small drop in numbers didn’t stop sales and strong sales leads from being made, with some enquiries becoming closed deals. Sunseeker Australia featured their biggest ever collection of boats than any other show in Australia as part of the on-water display (which this year featured a record 175 boats).

Sunseeker Australia commented that there were a lot of genuinely interested people who were serious in making a purchase. 'The 70 Manhattan which featured at the show for the first time got a lot of attention, with one even being sold and great sales leads collected', said Sunseeker’s Executive Assistant, Coni Zangari.

Other on-water brands included; Riviera, Bertram, Princess, Meridien, SeaRay, Fairline and Haines Hunter. Visitors flocked to the jetty system to see all the brands on show and were appreciated the addition of newcomers, Horizon and Bella Marine.

Riviera's two dealers - R Marine's Brendan Grieve and Beacon Marine's Tony Walker - reported strong leads, despite not selling a boat during the show. 'Both of them were very positive about exceptionally strong leads for Princess and Riviera,' said Denby Browning, PR and Media Manager for Riviera. 'We also had enquiries about Grand Banks, even though we didn't have a boat there. Next year we most likely will add a Grand Banks to our exhibit.'

Browning added that while numbers were noticeably down, 'there was more room for people to spend more time on the boats'. 'Last year it was very crowded around the boats and that could have deterred people from getting onboard.'

Challenge Marine’s Business Development Manager, Stephen Wren, said there were considerable sales made at this year's event. 'The show was very successful and worthwhile with the number of large boat sales over 25’ well up on last year.'

According to Wren, his sale staff will be working hard in the next few weeks and months to follow up on the healthy sales leads generated from the show.

The credit crunch is biting everywhere, but West Australians are believed to be more insulated for weathering the conditions with a buoyant local economy fuelled by continuing need for the state’s resources by emerging economies like China and India.

Lower numbers did not dishearten organisers. Said Peter Woods: 'We got 21,000 people through, despite the economic downturn, which was still a very positive turnout. Business was done and lots of leads were generated which created an encouraging environment for the boating industry'.

Alf Barbagallo, the Australian importer of Sunseeker, said business this year had seemed quieter but he did close the deal on two big sales totalling $9 million.

'A lot of people have been hit hard by the downturn, but there are still a lot of people making a lot of money and they seem willing to buy,' Barbagallo said.

More at www.mandurahboatshow.com