“It was a success, but it wasn’t,” Bob Goodrich said several days after the close of his York One-Day Antiques Market on May 29 at the York Fairgrounds. This show, designed to fit the economy, was “what the dealers needed and most of them want us to do it again, and we will,” Bob said.
He stressed that the next time around he will increase his signage at both the fairgrounds and the immediate area, probably move the show from Friday to Saturday, and adjust the hours to a later start. This time the show opened at 7 am for early buying, at $12 per head, with regular hours from 9 am to 5 pm at $6 per head.
He indicated that some feedback addressed the times of the show with people feeling that there was too much time between his early opening and the start of The Greater York Antiques Show at 11 am, another show on the fairgrounds that same day. About 100 people were in line for early buying, but the gate “was slow for the remainder of the day,” he said.
The tone of the show was set with five words on the program, “As found †In the rough,” and it was very clear that “refinished” was not welcome.
Old surfaces and paint were the order of the day, shown on cupboards, dry sinks, pie safes, blankets boxes and bucket benches. Stoneware and other pottery, wooden bowls, coffee grinders, baskets and cutting boards were plentiful, and some of the dealers hung quilts against the back wall of the booth. Booth rent was a mere $150 for a 10-foot-by-10-foot spot, with additional space available at $50 per five feet.
There was not a great deal of selling, which seems to be the norm these days, but “most of the exhibitors liked the concept of the show and will stick with it. Two of my dealers also had booths at the Burk show,” Goodrich said. With 25 years of show management behind him, he indicated that “we will study this show, make some changes, and be back on the fairgrounds next spring at the same time as the Burk show. One change is certain; we will be in a different building, one that has more exposure than our location this year in Horticultural Hall.”
In addition to this show, Goodrich & Company Promotions, Inc, also runs The Antiques Show at York, set for November 20′2, and again in 2010 on March 5‷. A number of trade shows are also on the Goodrich calendar and more information is available from 717-796-2380 or www.goodrichpromotions.com .
