SAMS 1995 Review - By Dean Garraghty
(c)1995 Dean Garraghty
On April 15th 1995, we set off to do another Spring All Micro Show.
This time we set off at 5:30am to avoid traveling in the dark. Also,
getting to the hall half an hour later than usual meant that we didn't
have to queue outside waiting for them to open the side entrance! We
just drove in, collected our passes, and set up!
I had some serious doubts about this show, because it was a pretty
well-known fact that Micro Discount wouldn't be exhibiting at this
show. This would obviously reduce visitor numbers, because many people
initially come to pick up goods from them, and then wander over to the
other Atari exhibitors and hopefully part with some more cash!
It was obvious as the day went on, that my doubts had been confirmed.
Visitor numbers were WAY down on usual as far as the Atari was
concerned. After an initial "rush" from opening time to about 11:30, it
was almost completely dead and we found ourselves sat down with nothing
to do. I could see money going down the drain as we sat there. It had
cost us about 120 pounds for the stand and transport, which is a lot to
make back when nobody is buying anything! It was obvious to me that we
were wasting our time being there. We saw the usual faces, but nobody
new.
This time we had very little used hardware and software left, but we
still had some interesting items and these went quite well. Just two
days before the show we were offered a very large quantity of 5.25"
Verbatim Optima branded disks all in plastic cases at a stupidly low
price which we couldn't refuse! We took 2000 down to the show, and
managed to sell pretty much all of them, which doesn't surprise me
really because we were able to let them go at just a quid a box, or
just 9 pounds per 100! Beat that!
We took our entire PD library down as usual, but were shocked when we
sold a massive THREE PD disks all day. This is just utterly stupid. We
were doing them at our usual show price of a quid a disk but this
didn't make any difference.
We also had our entire software range on show at discounted prices, but
again this didn't make a lot of difference. We sold a few copies of
some items, but not enough to cover the costs of the stand, etc.
Richard Gore, who was also on our stand as usual, had his range of
software available as well, including two new releases. Richard
recently got the right to re-publish Black Lamp from Atari, and a "new"
game called Tube Baddies which Atari never released. The deal was with
the original programmer, who only recently got the rights back from
Atari! Both of these sold well during the day, with a lot of interest
in Tube Baddies!
Despite our efforts, the show didn't go well for us at all, and we only
just covered our costs. We certainly didn't make a profit, which is
what we were there to do. I think this is just one more nail in the
Atari's "coffin". It shows me that there is now little interest in the
Atari. Last issue I made my thoughts on the current state of the Atari
known, and asked for people to try and show an interest by ordering
something from time-to-time. This fell on deaf ears, and orders have
now dried up to nothing. This is now an impossible situation for us,
and we have been forced to make other arrangements as far as our
business interests are concerned.
It now looks very unlikely that we will be doing any more shows. They
take a lot of time and money to organise, and if future shows are going
to be the same as this one, then they just aren't worth doing.
Obviously, the next show is still a long way off, and things may be
different by then, so it is wise to see what we say nearer the time.
Nothing is yet cast in stone!
Also at the show were Page 6. They had a much reduced stand space,
mainly because they were just selling odd bits of software that they
had in stock. Everything on the stand was just 1 pound. This included
some cartridges, tape bundles, books, cables, dust covers, disks, and
they had some mags also. Page 6 have told me that these offers only
happen at shows, so you'll have to wait until the next one to take
advantage of these!
Also at the show were LACE (London Atari Computer Enthusiasts). I
didn't get a chance to see what they had, but it is usually lots of
used hardware and software as well as their other bits and pieces.
At the show for the first time, were a new group calling themselves ASH
(Atari Self Help) group. They are based in Bristol, and specialize in
technical help for both 8-bit and ST machines. They had lots of bits
and pieces for sale, including bits for other machines as well. Also at
the show were TWAUG.
Micro Discount didn't have a stand this time. I gather Derek was on
holiday.
As far as I know, that was the full complement of Atari supporters
exhibiting at the show.
Also available at the show were disks, boxes, mouse mats, etc., as well
as full PC systems, PC components, software, electrical goods, etc. We
were selling disks but only 5.25". We also had some ST/Amiga mice on
the stand, which actually sold quite well (but then we were charging
some 3quid less than everyone else!).
It was difficult to tell when the show had actually finished, because
there was nobody around to start with! Having realized it was all over,
we packed up and left after a very depressing day.
Originally published in The Atari 8-bit News-Paper.
Click here to Return to the Articles Main Menu