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Wrap Fest at Silverstone, Northampton.
I think this is a pretty good idea. Just wondering if anyone is planning on going to it?
Wrap Fest, a new vinyl installation and vehicle wrapping event debuting in the UK 2023
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21 Replies
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Quick reply, I will be going Gary.
I am planning to go for two days.I would have preferred it later in the year, rather than close to Sign & Digital UK, but doing both shows, anyway. looking forward to it. If you plan to go, let me know when your there, happy to meet up for a pint and a chat. 😀
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I’ve never heard of it before but looks interesting. i have just registered on their website. thanks for the heads up. 👍
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i think it is a good idea but i would much have preferred if that had done this at the Birmingham sign & digital. everything under one roof at the same time. it lets you plan around having to close your business for a couple of days.
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have to agree with karen. this would make more sense at the Birmingham sign show. i would like to go but there is no way i would get my boss to attend both. 🙄
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Oh, I like the sound of this and it’s closer to me (finally).
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I’m just contemplating this now, kinda lost my mojo a bit lately; so not really sure I can be bothered to shut up shop for a day, spend £120 on fuel, ticket and lunch, for a day out!
I’ll potentially go on the wednesday if I do go.
I doubt I’ll do sign UK, it’s another 2 hrs travelling and too close to justify doing two shows, though I’m sure they’re both very different.
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I agree Hugh, it would be better if the dates were spread apart more. Or better still, all hosted under one roof.
I am not a fan of multiple UK sign industry shows. Just my opinion, but Signlink tried to cash in on Sign & Digital UK, which has been running longer than I can remember. Signlink created their own, called it “The Sign Show” and tried to mimic S&D for a couple of years, but failed. They then resurfaced doing the same again, but this time calling it “The Print Show”. The problem is the UK is tiny, our industry even smaller and multiple shows just dilute the appeal to visit either, by the likes of you, me and anyone else for that matter.
I think suppliers are in a worse position. I imagine they are of a similar view, that they must attend both in case of missing out, perhaps losing potential machine sales in the second half of the year blah blah blah. So what can they do? Downsize their presence at Sign & Digital and exhibit within both shows. This results in two sleepy smaller shows with much less or nothing new to see.The internet is great for live events, zoom meetings and more, but you cannot beat networking face-to-face, seeing and feeling products in the flesh and gaining inspiration from what you see at the show. Throw in a few pints and a bag of peanuts at the bar and all is good!
The Sign Awards are being hosted on the second day in the evening at this year’s Sign & Digital UK, so I will be at that also, even though ISA-UK has taken a break from hosting them at the moment.WrapFest, I am of the same opinion as above, it would be great if it was hosted at Sign & Digital, but I don’t see what they are doing in the same light as what Signlink did.
WrapFest is hosted by Fespa the world’s biggest print association representing all areas of the industry.
At their Fespa Shows, they have hosted different heats of the world wrap championships throughout the year in different countries for maybe 10+ years now, and have been very successful in doing so. Wrapping is very appealing to many, but it is a tiny aspect of our industry. So it will be interesting to see how the event goes.
If you do end up going to Wrapfest and spot me, give me a shout and I will buy you a pint, same applies to you @Dan-Evans ! be good to catch a chat over a pint! 😀🍺👍 -
My interest in visiting any of the sign shows is zero at best. I think they’ve had their day.
I’ve been over the years, thr first time about 10 years ago there was buzz, and excitement loads of new stuff on show. People wandering around with handfuls of samples.
Now its the same old, I don’t see anything ‘new’ or amazing.
I’ve seen direct to substrate printing, its not something I need. The fact machines are quicker, quality is better, and special finishes, still aren’t any benefit to me. I’m aware of Latex, UV, Solvent and resin printing, I’m not in the market for a new machine, and if I was, I’ve kind of decided what direction I’d go… I don’t need to travel to the NEC to see it.
There’s more suppliers of the same hardware, so prices are already pretty keen, so I’m sceptical of show specials.
The perk is networking, it’s good to meet up with people off the boards who have become friends, but with technology now, we actually talk quote often on here, Facebook, WhatsApp, even the good old phone.
I’m a member of a group on Facebook (I actually unfollow it and pop in occasionally) I do what I do, I don’t take every job on, I see the opposite on the group, people getting involved in wrapping, signage, printing, embroidery, workwear, printing floor mats, flags, carrier bags, literally anything! The industry has been diluted with “add ons”, the show might be good if your into that sort of thing, but I stay in my Lane.
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David, get your bum down to the show and I’ll buy you a couple of pints and we can talk about how we are going to change the world, mate! 🤣🤓
Joking aside, I agree with you on several things you have said and I was only speaking about this yesterday afternoon with a supplier. I too see sign companies online starting to do this and that, all sign or print-related but in a totally different direction to what they do and know. If you want to start offering something completely new, it normally involves a decent financial commitment, at a time like now, when most machines and products are at a premium. adding a new line of whatever in the hope to increase turnover takes further staff commitment or requires new staff when they are very hard to come by and starting someone new is yet another financial commitment. Is increasing your company’s debt and new staff really a good idea with the price of “everything” just now?
My opinion is, Instead of scratching your head looking for new ways of making money, why not focus on what you already do? become a much leaner company, shop around more, rather than just the usual suppliers. streamline your processes and turn around jobs faster. in turn, your costs are going down and you are increasing the volume of what you do. Ultimately turning over more money and lowering your outgoings. I know it is easier said than done but seldom do companies actually give themselves a good shake and start addressing bad habits. I would much rather be great at what I do, than just ok at doing multiple things. the busy fool and all that, also comes into play.-
I’m off the beer @Rober-Lambie , have been for coming up to 12months nearly.
You’re right – We started doing this back during covid and scaled right back, and conentrated on what we enjoy doing and what we’re quite good at, whilst at the same time, reduced overheads, prepared for my dads retirement at the end of the week.
The trouble being, it’s not easy (even I started doubting myself, and I’m a stubborn sod), it takes some guts to say no to some work, it seems counter productive, and it does take time to kind of repoisiton yourself. Where it seems the ‘easier’ option is to just do more stuff. Sell it and they’ll come, doesn’t quite work.
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@DavidHammond
Good to hear David, hope you are feeling better for it mate.
I stopped drinking after about 4 weeks into the initial lockdown in 2020.
I used to have a drink after work on a Friday night, then Saturday ide often go out for a meal and have a few beers. but really got bored of it. so just stopped and feel better for doing so.
that said, if I go to an event or I go out for the night, which is very seldom, I will have a few then, but only takes me a couple of beers now and I am rocking. 🤣 -
So if anyone spots you at the Fespa show, they can claim a pint, rob? 😉
and is this only for the first pint or can we keep approaching you throughout the two days? 🤣
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VERY good question!
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🤣
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Now, if you handing out pints rob… i might have to take you up on that too! 🤣🤣
i am seeing a bit of momentum building up on wrapfest via social media. 👍
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Saved myself more than what the carpark costs at Sign & Digital with Signgeer, they’re giving 10% off this week, whether I went or not.
New cutting matt, that I was after anyway, so no need to visit.
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I am not a fan of signgear, i would rather pay the extra 10% than deal with them again. 😏
got my cutting matt from mountersmate.
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I’ve touch wood, not had an issue with Signgeer
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Until today! 🙄
Cutting matt arrived, not only have I saved 10% they’ve sent me about 30% more than I needed, they haven’t cut the matt the size I requested.
Understandably, being a ‘cutting matt’ it’s not the easiest of things to actually cut myself 🙄
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So I’ve booked my tickets to wrapfest. The pint from Rob was what did it for me.
I need to clarify, I’ve booked to go both days so do I get 1 pint per day or 1 per event Rob?
After Fespa came last time around it was something else (I don’t look at the Sign and Digital event the same as I once did) so I didn’t want to miss out and booked up for both days.
Whether I go both days will be based on the first day but at least I have the option.
Has anyone gone to Sign and Digital this year? I had no interest in going and like others have said, it doesn’t offer anything special anymore so I wonder with Wrapfest around the corner if number have dropped.
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having gone to “small” sign & digital uk, what could wrapfest really offer that is better?
i understand there will be a competition running with some guest speakers. but are we not just going to see an even smaller version of S&D?
vinyl, wrap vinyl, paint protection vinyl, vinyl tools, but what else that I can’t see online or have colour samples sent to me? i am not being negative, just trying to convince myself why attending would be worth it. 🤨
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