A lot of the vendors I know have all been saying the same thing, "Sales are way down!" Many are cutting back on how many shows they do because it is too expensive to make it worth their effort. Besides the show fee they have to factor in travel, lodging, meals and shipping. The numbers really add up. It's also a lot of time and work on their part so a "so-so" profit from the show just may not be worth it to them.
No one seems to have a sure fire answer as to why the sales are going so far down.... economy, too many local stamp stores, too many chain stores, too many conventions, not enough "new" stuff to keep the seasoned stampers shopping, a shift from stamping to scrapping, an increase in internet shopping.. the list goes on and on but no one knows for sure.
In my area we have had a ton of local stamps stores as well as all the big name craft stores. Some of the LSS have been closing. I also think we are saturated with conventions. One of the conventions comes twice a year and there is another just a few miles away that comes once a year. Then there is a third one about 100 miles away. I've heard the second one may be gearing up to be a twice a year show. All this makes me less excited about going to the conventions. It use to feel like a big event and I didn't want to miss one because it would be a long time until I could get to the next one. Now it's more like going to the stores at my convenience except I have to pay $6 to get in the door. Once inside I don't feel like there is much that looks new and exciting. I don't know it that is because I already have so much or if the companies really are becoming stagnant.
My guess is that Carson is suffering from the same woes as all the other conventions. Let's hope it hangs on and the future gets brighter.
Carson Convention
carson convention
