A strong attendance of fishermen and associated businesses from all corners of England and Wales visited the expo last Friday and Saturday (25 and 26 November), along with a number of Scottish fishermen. Stand space for the expo was sold out, with exhibitors coming from diverse sectors such as boat building, marine electronics, engine suppliers, safety equipment, creels, chandlery and deck machinery.
Sharon Boyle of organiser Mara Media said: “We were delighted by how busy the show was and many stand-holders remarked that business had been excellent.”
One of the leading attractions at the expo was a GM7M fishing vessel built by G Smyth Boats. After the show, director Gerry Smyth said the expo had been a massive success.
“It was a very successful show for us and we sold two boats. It was without a doubt our best show yet,” he said.
David Dalgleish, sales manager for exhibitor Kort Propulsion, described the show as “great” and said it had surpassed the company’s expectations.
“We received countless enquiries and the show felt like it passed in hours not days. It was great to meet like-minded people and professionals from the marine industry. We found this show to have the perfect relaxed balance and atmosphere to carry out business and socialise with new and existing customers. We have taken new enquiries from all over the UK and Ireland.”
Sharon Boyle said: “Such has been the support for the expo, we can now confirm that we will be holding another show for English and Welsh fishing communities in 2014, and it is our intention to make it an annual event.
“We would like to thank all our exhibitors and visitors, and Skipper Expo Int. Bristol underlined that there is strong support for a show of this type from fishermen from England and Wales.”
Mara Media’s next fisheries exhibition will be the 10th anniversary Skipper Expo Int. Galway in Ireland held on 7 and 8 March 2014. This will be followed by the Skipper Expo Int. Aberdeen in Scotland on 30 and 31 May 2014.
