Melco will not be at Orlando ISS?

[Steve]

I have looked at the ISS page for Orlando as well as Melco's events page and there is nothing saying they will be at the show in less than a month. In the past, embroidery machine manufacturers have said most of their orders come at trade shows. I understand many companies are cutting back on costs but trade shows is where they should be advertising. Not sure what this means for Melco but I would think they could have set up one 10' x 10' booth with one or two sales people to show off the new XTS, Melcojet, and Bravo machines in one booth.
I didn't notice any other manufacturers that are not there.

[levelbest]

Didn't see them listed for Atlantic City either and was surprised.

[ January 29, 2011, 10:41 AM: Message edited by: levelbest ]

[GF]

I think that would be a big mistake on their part. They haven't been a presence in much lately.

GF

[Steve]

There are only a handful of booths left with most of those against the back wall. Location is important at the trade shows. I have seen the Melco salespeople at shows writing up a lot of orders in the past. Sounds to me like they are cutting back expenses a little too much and in the wrong places.
I don't think any machine manufacturer can survive long without going to the trade shows.

[Wayne]

Face it, the home embroidery machine has put a hurt on Melco and others. Everyone has a home embroidery machine these day.

[Rod or Sharon]

But remember that many of us stepped up to the commercial machine because of our home embroidery machines due to the slow sewing speed and the single needle! (I also paid nearly as much for my home machine and software as I did for our first Amaya and Design Shop Pro+).

[Greenwing]

This just points out how Badly melco is being run, if they don't even push themselves at trade shows.

I purchased my Amaya at Dax in 2008.
(went looing for a machine was leaning toward an Imbro but the did not have a booth. So I when with the Other machine I was looking at The Amaya..

Not smart for them to skip trade shows...

JMHO

[Steve]

Hirsch/Tajima has 3 booths in Orlando which is much less than they used to have 7 years ago when it was a competition who rented the most booths at a trade show. I remember them having around 8-10 booths and bringing in 8 head machines. They have scaled back to bringing a 2 or 4 head machine and a few single heads as well some other stuff they sell. But at least they are at the show advertising their name and taking orders.
Even if Melco has one booth showing the XTS, Brava and MelcoJet, it will help them in the long run. You can't rely on just current customers and a website if you want to stay in business. People want to see the machine before they spend $15,000 on it.
If they decide not to do any more tradeshows, they won't be around in a few years.

[GF]

Seems to me like Melco is giving up and that's really a bad sign.

[levelbest]

I don't know if I'd read it as giving up but there may be some research on their part as to what generates actual sales and what doesn't. Maybe print, online, direct mail or something else does better. Still, I'm suprised that there isn't at least a minimal presence (single booth).

[Knehmer]

I was going to post what John wrote... Just as with your own company, Melco knows what works for them. It is hugely possible that trade shows didn't make them money, and in today's economy, they just don't have the extra money to spend when they are not getting a return on their investment. I don't know if that's the case, of course, but only they have access to the financials and I have to assume they know how to run their company.

[Judy]

I'm wondering about their marketing to foreign markets. The growing economy might be the place to put the marketing dollars...

[GF]

I'm sure they know what's best for them and I wish and hope nothing but great success for them. What I worry about is their present customer base and the lack of followup and support for the people who already invested in their machines.

[Steve]

Everytime I go to the Melco booth at a trade show, there is a 15 minute wait just to talk to a rep because so many people are around the booth. I also see the salespeople writing up orders all day. I'm just looking in from the outside but it seems to me they make money by going to the ISS shows. I have also been to DAX when I lived in Minneapolis which the Melco booth was much slower mainly because they don't get the crowds the ISS gets. I think they are shooting themselves in the foot by not showing up. I'm sure if they sell 10 machines, it would pay for itself. I don't know what the profit margin is but even at 10%, it's $15,000 profit for the weekend.
Hotels in Orlando are probably the least expensive in the U.S. I got a Hilton a few months ago for $37 on Priceline. The advertised rate was $79 which is still good. Airfare isn't that bad because every airline flys there.

[Greenwing]

I was just wondering
John wrote

"I don't know if I'd read it as giving up but there may be some research on their part as to what generates actual sales and what doesn't. Maybe print, online, direct mail or something else does better. Still, I'm suprised that there isn't at least a minimal presence (single booth)."

Has any one on ths list ever seen any of these alternate forms of customer contact??

I purchased my XT in 2008 and I have Never been contacted By Melco EVER..

I have had contact but only when I needed an issue fixed at my effort.

Three weeks ago I assked them to Contact me about getting Information on a new Machine and I never got a responce, Went with the used option I had.

I am not sure what is up but I don't like this it is uncomfortable to think I may be out in the cold.