What you call "whining" I would consider as offering constructive criticism and voicing an opinion as a "repeat customer".
Official Overland Expo 2011 thread: Videos, Pictures and Updates
- Thread starter Christian P.
- Start date
What you call "whining" I would consider as offering constructive criticism and voicing an opinion as a "repeat customer".
Corey
OverCamping Specialist
I was kidding about the Washington thing.
Everyone knows it rains here most of the time.
Good weather does not start here until the 5th of July, and it lasts until the end of September, or the first few weeks into October, then the rain sets in again.
Some would be to cold here anyways.
A nice warm day to us is mostly sunny and near 60°.
We actually had one of those last Friday.
Everyone knows it rains here most of the time.
Good weather does not start here until the 5th of July, and it lasts until the end of September, or the first few weeks into October, then the rain sets in again.
Some would be to cold here anyways.
A nice warm day to us is mostly sunny and near 60°.
We actually had one of those last Friday.
ColoradoBill
Adventurer
I for one think that Amado is a great place to have the Expo. For all the reasons Jonathan mentioned and for a few others. It’s all about Overlanding. The Expo should not be in a perfect place that is down the street from everyone. It should be an adventure just getting there. It should be off the beaten path. I drove form southern Colorado, by far not the farthest distance some traveled and I was happy to do it. It is an overlanding event….
It was advertised as an event to learn and see equipment and supplies related to overlanding, that is exactly what they provided, perfectly.
I did think that some off the classes could have been more advanced but that is for me. In the classes I did attend I heard several people asking very basic questions, these people are new to our lifestyle so it was perfect for them. They got great information from the instructors, I am sure they came away from it feeling much more confident about there abilities.
I only have one little complaint. That darn gravel! I don’t know how many times I told my self I would not push my wheelchair through that stuff again. But I kept doing it, to much stuff to see so I had to do it and I will again next year.
I would also like to thank Roseann Hanson for getting me set up where it wasn’t so difficult to camp. It was a great spot, thanks Roseann…
It was advertised as an event to learn and see equipment and supplies related to overlanding, that is exactly what they provided, perfectly.
I did think that some off the classes could have been more advanced but that is for me. In the classes I did attend I heard several people asking very basic questions, these people are new to our lifestyle so it was perfect for them. They got great information from the instructors, I am sure they came away from it feeling much more confident about there abilities.
I only have one little complaint. That darn gravel! I don’t know how many times I told my self I would not push my wheelchair through that stuff again. But I kept doing it, to much stuff to see so I had to do it and I will again next year.
I would also like to thank Roseann Hanson for getting me set up where it wasn’t so difficult to camp. It was a great spot, thanks Roseann…
Tacovendor
Explorer
I think this thread was originally here for pictures and stories of the 2011 Overland Expo, as with most forums they can get very opinionated and someone will get their toes stepped on. As for me Amado is fine, dust, heat is part of the Southwest as is heat and humidity in the south. I found out that the Amado area had a big freeze this winter and had done some significant damage to the desert flora, you know those things that make shade, trees. The trees at the event were green last year but had little or no leaves on them this time. It makes a difference. As for the location, I agree with JH about all the requirements for the location and yes I'm sure there are plenty all around the US, but to move it is a logistical nightmare. I have attended all three events and all of them have great memories and could they have been better or worse? of course. To put on event cover the costs and to have monies to give to causes is awesome. For those of you that think it should be moved to another location try one of the Overland Rally events,http://www.overlandrally.com/Overland_Rallies_and_Workshops/Home.html
they are held all over the US and are very similar to Overland Expo. Maybe one of the admin's will start the "Official Overland Expo 2012" input thread so we can get back to the stories, pictures etc, so we can honor this great event. Mi dos pesos.
they are held all over the US and are very similar to Overland Expo. Maybe one of the admin's will start the "Official Overland Expo 2012" input thread so we can get back to the stories, pictures etc, so we can honor this great event. Mi dos pesos.
Dave Bennett
Adventurist
I never imagined my question would be so controversial.
Anyway, my only suggestion is that if you are coming there as a vendor, come there as a vendor. Bring stock to sell!
Some did, but many didn't. And, had they had items on hand to sell, they would have cleaned up like the ones who brought stock (Goal Zero, Load Tamer and Overland Gourmet brought the win!). It's not that hard to bring a box trailer full of stock. And with the increased foot traffic in the vendor area brought on by increasing day pass sales it's a ripe sales environment...
This is a recurring issue I see at events where vendors pay to show up and "showcase" their stuff only to lose sales because they don't actually have anything on hand for sale and potential customers with cash in hand are lost. It's a buzzkill for most everyone I talked to.
Obviously, we're not talking GXV's, Adventure Trailers and larger stuff but you get the drift.
Well, it's a long road trip out to Amado for 99% of us whether we come by by trail or the super slab. For most of us who travel out there from afar, when we get there the "camping experience" part is HUGE.
I would say that to improve the evening atmosphere in camp at the current venue (besides the dust issue which you guys are already on top of) a "communal fire pit" would be a huge hit if laws/regs down there permitted one in camp.
**Honest feedback, please consider it as such!
Anyway, my only suggestion is that if you are coming there as a vendor, come there as a vendor. Bring stock to sell!
Some did, but many didn't. And, had they had items on hand to sell, they would have cleaned up like the ones who brought stock (Goal Zero, Load Tamer and Overland Gourmet brought the win!). It's not that hard to bring a box trailer full of stock. And with the increased foot traffic in the vendor area brought on by increasing day pass sales it's a ripe sales environment...
This is a recurring issue I see at events where vendors pay to show up and "showcase" their stuff only to lose sales because they don't actually have anything on hand for sale and potential customers with cash in hand are lost. It's a buzzkill for most everyone I talked to.
Obviously, we're not talking GXV's, Adventure Trailers and larger stuff but you get the drift.
Well, it's a long road trip out to Amado for 99% of us whether we come by by trail or the super slab. For most of us who travel out there from afar, when we get there the "camping experience" part is HUGE.
I would say that to improve the evening atmosphere in camp at the current venue (besides the dust issue which you guys are already on top of) a "communal fire pit" would be a huge hit if laws/regs down there permitted one in camp.
**Honest feedback, please consider it as such!
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Wes Craiglow
Member
CO is not in the retail business, and likely never will be. Ergo, I know nothing about it. That said, if a visiting retailer sold merchandise in AZ, wouldn't that retailer have to pay sales tax on those gross receipts to the state of AZ?
Just a guess here, I really have no idea about this stuff, but maybe that's too much trouble for many retailers; just not worth the hassle. It might also explain why the "discount cards" have become so popular at national trade shows instead of vendors actually selling anything. They can give you a card and guide you into the website for the sale, all while keep their accounting simple and clean for only the state in which they're registered.
Any retailers out there want to chime in on this? Am I off target here?
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Dave Bennett
Adventurist
I had heard some vendors grumbling about the "AZ resellers/tax thing" but then there were other out of state vendors who did their homework in advance and had no problems with this issue at all. YMMV.
TangoBlue
American Adventurist
Thanks for your response Jonathan; I know you'all will take it with careful consideration.
This evening I attended our monthly TLCA-sanctioned club meeting and part of it was spent briefing other, more skeptical members about the event. There is some momentum among this group for a challenge but this is an experienced, seasoned group, some even did this stuff back in the day when they called it "camping." The vendor I brought with me was very enthusiastic after finally attending the event as well and is interested in focusing more efforts on this population, too.
I care about the event as much as I care for many of the new friends I've been introduced to through this forum. I'll be so bold as to even take a little ownership for this event, too. I care enough about it to see it grow and prosper; otherwise I wouldn't have squandered the TangoBlue treasure on two thirds of the events if I didn't enjoy it. I appreciate your taking my and others observations seriously to make OUR event even better next year.
cruiseroutfit
Supporting Sponsor: Cruiser Outfitters
I've not done Overland Expo so I can't comment first person but in talking with some that have they relayed that is wasn't a 'selling' atmosphere so much as an excellent 'networking' atmosphere. Those that brought product in the past didn't find it effective compared to passing out discounts and working with customers on future orders.
I do a handful of vendor shows a year, some I bring lots of product and sell, others I bring a sampling and let people play with them and line up future sales and customers. You really just have to make a guess as to what will sell and hope you have enough, you rarely nail it every time
Also remember that for many of the vendors in this niche community, its a vacation and fun atmosphere for them too. And when you have mom & pop companies you don't have a fleet of staff to run the booth all day long and pack everything away each night thus they scale things back to a manageable size that will let them enjoy the event too. Again I wasn't there so I can't comment personally but in talking with quite a few vendors that have shown there in the past this was my take.
I will throw my three cents in since everyone else is--
Amado is a TERRIBLE location. There, I said it. Maybe weather was good last year, but this year it sucked. Hot and dry and dusty made for a very uncomfortable and unpleasant event all around. I cant imagine trying to camp in that or be a vendor. It is an outdoor event and the weather is part of being outdoors, however, there is a reason I dont camp in Alaska in the winter or in Texas in the summer. Its not difficult to make an event comfortable for everyone involved and it will be a greater success if you do.
I realise you dont control the weather, but planting grass and installing sprinklers is not the answer, IMO. Move the event to another location or make it earlier in the year to avoid hot weather if necessary. Temps in the 60-70s for the day would be fine; the 80s and especially 90s just sucks *** when you are outside for three to five days.
Now, to present another side of the coin. I have absolutely zero interest and travelling through Africa or Mexico or China or really anywhere outside of the US and Canada honestly. I therefore dont care about exploring the back roads of Mexico (hot, dry, dusty and dirty) or being in the desert at all. I come from the east coast where its green and 75 degrees this time of year. Flowers are blooming and the weather is beautiful. Why do I want to go on vacation to a place that has worse weather than my home? I come to the expo as a tourist, a consumer, a camper, a hiker, a mountain biker, a cyclist, an off roader, an outdoorsman and to have a good time with friends and see something a bit different that we dont get much of on the east coast. I would venture to say a lot of others do the same.
That said there are plenty of people who drive/ride to the event and regardless of where its held people will continue to do that. I dont see anything special at all about Amado other than being 30 mins from Tucson for those who are flying or to draw people in from that area who may live there. This can be said for almost any city in the US. There are over 14,000 airports in this country.
I would not advocate an expo show in downtown Denver or in LA at the Colliseum, that is not the right venue by any means, but there are literally THOUSANDS of cool small towns all across the US where this could be held. Pretty much anywhere from northern Arizona and New Mexico upto the southern ends of Wyoming and Idaho. Venues could be coordinated with schools, sports facilities, community centers, churches, charity or humanitarian organisations, private resorts, campgrounds, off road parks, ATV parks, ski resorts, city, state or national parks, resorts, fairgrounds, etc, etc, etc. These places would allow plenty of room for camping and parking and most likely have infrastructure for food, meeting rooms, etc. already in place.
Amado has nice facilities as far as having a place to show movies and eat and display products, etc., but its not unique by any means. I have been to many an off road event with 200-500 vehicles and several thousand people all around the country, so it can be done with some thinking and some planning and have even helped plan and operate some of these events. Its not rocket science, trust me. Get the right people for the job, research and plan. I will be happy to help if you need it. I have also attended Off Road Expo in Pomona and large events like CEDIA, InfoComm and international auto shows. Again, all much larger than this and they move around regularly, as do rock crawling competitions and other outdoor/off road events.
The east coasters realise that much of the off roading community is in the desert south west, however that should not limit the show to Amado or southern Arizona or any other location. Move it around, plenty of shows much larger than this one move every year or every other year. I believe that you have an obligation to the participants, vendors, consumers and members of this board to seriously consider another location. Colorado and Utah are beautiful and I think many people would rather see green trees and blooming flowers than be hot and sweaty and covered in dust and sand for 3-5 days.
No hard feelings, you guys put on a great show, but I think it would do MUCH better with a different location.
.03
Amado is a TERRIBLE location. There, I said it. Maybe weather was good last year, but this year it sucked. Hot and dry and dusty made for a very uncomfortable and unpleasant event all around. I cant imagine trying to camp in that or be a vendor. It is an outdoor event and the weather is part of being outdoors, however, there is a reason I dont camp in Alaska in the winter or in Texas in the summer. Its not difficult to make an event comfortable for everyone involved and it will be a greater success if you do.
I realise you dont control the weather, but planting grass and installing sprinklers is not the answer, IMO. Move the event to another location or make it earlier in the year to avoid hot weather if necessary. Temps in the 60-70s for the day would be fine; the 80s and especially 90s just sucks *** when you are outside for three to five days.
Now, to present another side of the coin. I have absolutely zero interest and travelling through Africa or Mexico or China or really anywhere outside of the US and Canada honestly. I therefore dont care about exploring the back roads of Mexico (hot, dry, dusty and dirty) or being in the desert at all. I come from the east coast where its green and 75 degrees this time of year. Flowers are blooming and the weather is beautiful. Why do I want to go on vacation to a place that has worse weather than my home? I come to the expo as a tourist, a consumer, a camper, a hiker, a mountain biker, a cyclist, an off roader, an outdoorsman and to have a good time with friends and see something a bit different that we dont get much of on the east coast. I would venture to say a lot of others do the same.
That said there are plenty of people who drive/ride to the event and regardless of where its held people will continue to do that. I dont see anything special at all about Amado other than being 30 mins from Tucson for those who are flying or to draw people in from that area who may live there. This can be said for almost any city in the US. There are over 14,000 airports in this country.
I would not advocate an expo show in downtown Denver or in LA at the Colliseum, that is not the right venue by any means, but there are literally THOUSANDS of cool small towns all across the US where this could be held. Pretty much anywhere from northern Arizona and New Mexico upto the southern ends of Wyoming and Idaho. Venues could be coordinated with schools, sports facilities, community centers, churches, charity or humanitarian organisations, private resorts, campgrounds, off road parks, ATV parks, ski resorts, city, state or national parks, resorts, fairgrounds, etc, etc, etc. These places would allow plenty of room for camping and parking and most likely have infrastructure for food, meeting rooms, etc. already in place.
Amado has nice facilities as far as having a place to show movies and eat and display products, etc., but its not unique by any means. I have been to many an off road event with 200-500 vehicles and several thousand people all around the country, so it can be done with some thinking and some planning and have even helped plan and operate some of these events. Its not rocket science, trust me. Get the right people for the job, research and plan. I will be happy to help if you need it. I have also attended Off Road Expo in Pomona and large events like CEDIA, InfoComm and international auto shows. Again, all much larger than this and they move around regularly, as do rock crawling competitions and other outdoor/off road events.
The east coasters realise that much of the off roading community is in the desert south west, however that should not limit the show to Amado or southern Arizona or any other location. Move it around, plenty of shows much larger than this one move every year or every other year. I believe that you have an obligation to the participants, vendors, consumers and members of this board to seriously consider another location. Colorado and Utah are beautiful and I think many people would rather see green trees and blooming flowers than be hot and sweaty and covered in dust and sand for 3-5 days.
No hard feelings, you guys put on a great show, but I think it would do MUCH better with a different location.
.03
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While this wasn't a huge deal for us, I will say you're right on the money here.
We ended up buying a tent we hadn't planned on buying because the vendor was setup to demo it, answer questions, had product on-hand and were offering a reasonable discount.
On the other hand, a product we'd intended to buy we weren't able to because the vendor had no product. Which is fine - we placed an order. However the vendor wasn't terribly organized and I suspect we'll have to chase it down with another phone call.
Again - not a huge deal to us - like any expo/trade show, some vendors are just better at it than others.
Granite
New member
I was at the Expo as both a vendor and spectator. I think the event was great the location was interesting. Would I be bored there if it stays there for five more years? Probably. I love the desert though. The dust was awful but we dealt with it. I don't think the event could ever be in a place that pleases everyone.
I was able to buy a full skid plate set up for my FJ at the event and have it installed for free at a great price. That was sweet. Loved the camping and meeting some really cool folks and swapping stories.
You can either make the most of what is offered or ***** and moan. Your choice.
I'll be there next year armed with a bigger hat and a few new stories to share.
Regards,
Steve from Colorado
I was able to buy a full skid plate set up for my FJ at the event and have it installed for free at a great price. That was sweet. Loved the camping and meeting some really cool folks and swapping stories.
You can either make the most of what is offered or ***** and moan. Your choice.
I'll be there next year armed with a bigger hat and a few new stories to share.
Regards,
Steve from Colorado
For those who have always been curious about the dust at Burning Man...well Amado this year gave you a little introduction...
:sombrero:
:sombrero:
The Swiss
Expedition Leader
I'm a little surprised about all the weather comments. Overlanding is an outdoor activity after all, isn't it? Are we getting so spoiled that we are freezing if temperatures fall below 65 and melting if they are above 75? Can't we toughen it out and feel sticky for a couple days? If not, should the organizers be looking into renting a dome so we all can camp inside a building, out of the sun, out of the wind and out of the rain?
Digging in my memories, bad weather or even really crappy weather made for more memorable experiences on my travels than perfect conditions. The same with other things that did not go according to plans. That's the "adventure" part in our well organized lives.
Off my soap box (I'm still too young to become an grumpy old man :elkgrin
Digging in my memories, bad weather or even really crappy weather made for more memorable experiences on my travels than perfect conditions. The same with other things that did not go according to plans. That's the "adventure" part in our well organized lives.
Off my soap box (I'm still too young to become an grumpy old man :elkgrin