AGD,Skyball and marketing blunders

[steveg]

So I went to skyball this year, Angel was there with their
40' long booth, AKA was there, Smartparts was set up at the
badlands booth, autococker was more than well represented
at all three major toronto dealers (champains,badland and
Premium). Viewloader was present.
Halo was not there, After publicly stating that they would be,
And after not publicly stating that they wouldn't be.

AND of course no AGD, 1200 players+hangers-on and an
unknown number of spectators/tradeshow deal seekers were
not exposed to AGD goodies.

Last year AGD with just a table and a flag, the booth
looked busy to me. I even bought my long nose bolt there
(should have bought the parabolic plug too but I didn't know)

All in all a great way to NOT market your product

[meanelvis]

Or, you could have just asked "Why was AGD not represented at skyball this year?"

I'm sure someone would be more than willing to explain...

[steveg]

We can't make it to Skyball because we are going to the LA NPPL with the booth and it has to get shipped there. You guys have a ball, take some pics and post them up for us!

I already have the official reason.

Another hobby of mine is woodworking(or at least collecting
the tools)
At the same time that Skyball was on there was also a
woodworking show in Toronto.

Many of the vendors at this and other trade shows make a
significant portion of their income at trade shows or at
least exhibit and demonstrate their product.

If PB dealers are doing a poor job of selling automags,
how good an idea is it to miss perhaps 1/3 the paintball
players in Canada, Detroit is only 4hrs away, Buffalo and
NY state about 3hrs

[Phil]

AGD has top notch customer service, high quality product and the worst marketing plan I have ever seen. It almost seems like they are focusing on the military aspect of their business because they are definately not focused on selling paintball products to paintball players.

[Quiet]

No wonder rumors persist that AGD is going out of business.
Thousands of paintballers get together and they are no shows. Many people entering the sport are introduced to different brands of markers at these events, they don't even get a chance to try AGD products. Saw lots of cockers there, and on the fields in the area, I don't think its coincidence.

[hitech]

I can't speak for the paintball industry, as I do not work in it. However, trade shows are NOT necessarily a great marketing tool. Every industry is different, but I wouldn't assume that companies are successful because they are at the trades. It's more likely that they are able to attend the trade shows because they are successful.

[Omicron]

just so you know.....

AGD wasn't there because they were at the LA NPPL instead of skyball. I was sad that I didn't see a AGD booth too, but crap happens

[steveg]

actually its this weekend skyball was last

[Muzikman]

Think of it this way. AGD wants to be at the LA NPPL, yes the events are a week apart, but the drive is almost a week. Tom might fly between the events, but the booth does not. That would have been one hell of a trip from Toronto to LA in a week, pulling a trailer

[steveg]

Muzic yes TO to LA is a bit of a drive But the point is that
last year they did fine without it, just a rented table and
an AGD banner.
And you can be sure that the evil empire (angel) will be there
with their 40' booth

[Muzikman]

I bet WDP will not have as big of a booth for LA NPPL. They had such a big booth because they where a major sponsor of Skyball.

[shartley]

I bet WDP will not have as big of a booth for LA NPPL. They had such a big booth because they where a major sponsor of Skyball.

There is a big difference between a smaller presence and NO presence.

I have to agree that not being at Skyball was a mistake for AGD.

I can't speak for the paintball industry, as I do not work in it. However, trade shows are NOT necessarily a great marketing tool. Every industry is different, but I wouldn't assume that companies are successful because they are at the trades. It's more likely that they are able to attend the trade shows because they are successful.

It's more likely that they are able to attend the trade shows because they are successful.

If PB dealers are doing a poor job of selling automags,
how good an idea is it to miss perhaps 1/3 the paintball
players in Canada, Detroit is only 4hrs away, Buffalo and
NY state about 3hrs

BINGO!

No wonder rumors persist that AGD is going out of business.
Thousands of paintballers get together and they are no shows. Many people entering the sport are introduced to different brands of markers at these events, they don't even get a chance to try AGD products. Saw lots of cockers there, and on the fields in the area, I don't think its coincidence.

Valid point.

[Dragoon]

Even if a show is not directly profitable (and few are), the main issue is getting Exposure

I think this is especially true with paintball where marketing is so important.

I love AGD products for many reasons. But it took me a while to figure out that their products were built to a higher standard. As for customer service, I found out how good it was after buying a mag. I think AGD has to spend some time working out their marketing stratagies. This forum is a huge step towards doing that, but more needs to be done. It's time to start fighting it out in the trenches with some of the flashier companies out there.

Douglas.

[hitech]

Originally posted by shartley

To go, or not to go... The company I work for struggles with that question for trade shows all the time. AGD is a company run by "techies". "Techies" usually make poor marketing types.

[Dragoon]

Originally posted by hitech


"Techies" usually make poor marketing types.

Bingo!!
I think it's time a marketing guru was hired/brought into AGD to give it some marketing punch. Afterall, customers don't buy the best, they buy what they are told is the best.

Douglas