What shows are worth attending as a trader?

[Dave Knight]

Test of Resolve attended Carronade, Claymore and Battleground in 2004 and 2025 and are considering our options further south in 2026, althogh being based in Central Scotland does limit us a little in terms of distance.  What shows would people recommend?  It seems difficult to get into the more popular ones such as Vapnartak and Hammerhead.  We take a gaming table alongside the stand and run short participation games to give people a feel of the rules.

[Jim Webster]

My experience selling books at conventions and similar (so not wargames show but the economics are probably the same) is that the three big costs are
The cost of the Table/floor space
How far it is from you (cost of travel)
Do you have to stay overnight because of the distance


I suspect you know what sort of sales you can expect, but the first thing I'd check is how much they're charging for the space. You can cope with expensive space if you live near by.
But if you have to travel two hundred miles to get there and book a B&B then frankly the table better be inordinately cheap 

I came to the conclusion that overnight stays pretty much never paid

Jim

[Imperial Dave]

I guess also is how much store do you put into advertising rather than direct sales. Obviously direct sales to cover costs on the day is a great starting point and yet there is the unquantufyiable bit about getting your face and product known

[Dave Knight]

I came to the conclusion that overnight stays pretty much never paid

We do make money on local shows, and as I have relatives nearby Battleground in Middlesbrough qualifies, but it is as much about making people aware of our rules as selling books.  We have put on participation games at Hammerhead and Historicon on this basis, but find that we reach more people with a trade stand / taster game combo, as well as defraying the cost of the expedition and perhaps even making a profit,

[Dave Knight]

Phalanx looks doable but there does not seem to be any obvious way to contact the organisers!

[Erpingham]

Phalanx looks doable but there does not seem to be any obvious way to contact the organisers!

I think it is run by St Helens Spartans. I think they have a website, possibly Facebook etc.?

[Sharur]

If Middlesbrough's a possible stopping-ground, you might find Border Reiver in Gateshead (first or second Sat in September usually) an option. It is a smaller show, but usually draws a decent, enthusiastic crowd. It's the sole survivor of what were once about three annual wargame shows in the Newcastle-Gateshead area back in the late 1970s-early 80s.

[Dave Knight]

If Middlesbrough's a possible stopping-ground, you might find Border Reiver in Gateshead (first or second Sat in September usually) an option. It is a smaller show, but usually draws a decent, enthusiastic crowd. It's the sole survivor of what were once about three annual wargame shows in the Newcastle-Gateshead area back in the late 1970s-early 80s.

I attended Border Reiver as a member of the public this year and it seems to have declined somewhat over the years.  It is a shame that it is not better supported.  I was one of the organisers of the Warrior show that ran from 1981 to 2006 and there too numbers slowly dropped off, and with it trader interest.

[Sharur]

I attended Border Reiver as a member of the public this year and it seems to have declined somewhat over the years.  It is a shame that it is not better supported.  I was one of the organisers of the Warrior show that ran from 1981 to 2006 and there too numbers slowly dropped off, and with it trader interest.

I was there too! Yes, it's never really recovered since the pandemic, and I don't think having to shift it to the Sunday this year helped at all, given how lousy public transport is in general in NE England.

[Jim Webster]

About the only show we regularly support is Phalanx in St Helens. I reckon it still as a good show but it probably isn't as good as ten years ago?

[Dave Knight]

About the only show we regularly support is Phalanx in St Helens. I reckon it still as a good show but it probably isn't as good as ten years ago?

I managed to find a contact email and have sent off an enquiry so we will see what the response is.  It would be good for us to venture further "down south" from Scotland

[GavinP]

Ones where attendees have deep pockets and want your products would seem to be the simple answer to your question.


But seriously,
Personally I think Partizan and Hammerhead are good shows, but probably very much too far for you to travel

[Dave Knight]

Personally I think Partizan and Hammerhead are good shows, but probably very much too far for you to travel

We did attend Hammerhead with participation games twice.  It did necessitate an overnight stay and so was quite an expensive trip but early on we just wanted to spread the word about the ruleset. We did the same at Historicon, which was much more expensive again.

Our observation was that an awful lot of wargamers at shows are much more interested in the traders than looking at the games in any detail.  Also it is much easier to have a conversation (sales pitch ) from a trade stand than whilst trying to run a game.

The problem with Hammerhead and Partizan now is that they have waiting lists for traders and it is not easy to get in.  We would be willing to make the trip even if it made a loss for the publicity value alone.

[Imperial Dave]

So on that point is it better to have a game led event rather than a trader led event?

A game led event might have a few traders but the majority of space is taken with competition games etc

A trader led event has on balance more trade space than games

[Jim Webster]

For me, personally, a trader led event. But then I'm lucky to have a decent wargames club close at hand so get to play games every week.