Author Topic: The Ohio National and the Poultry Press  (Read 958 times)

Suki

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The Ohio National and the Poultry Press
« on: January 09, 2017, 09:57:34 PM »
Quote from: Mike Stichler, Director and past President of the Ohio National
To all Ohio National exhibitors and Friends,
Thank you for your recent participation in the highly successful Ohio National and the largest APA National meet ever held. In the January issue of Poultry Press, Bill Wulff wrote an article on the show. In the article he criticizes the show for where he was designated to set up as a vendor. He specifically names Clell as the reason why he was put out in the concourse. He gives the impression that Poultry Press is singled out and treated unfairly.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. I would like to explain our actions to you as an exhibitor.All vendors at the Ohio National are placed in the concourse. Major sponsors ($3,000 or more) are offered spots in the main show hall. This is a reward for them helping our show in a major way. Our annual rent on the Voinovich building is $18,000 and these sponsors are valuable assets.

This money helps to pay the bills and keeps the cost to you the exhibitors lower. After the ABA National in 2014, it was decided by the officers and directors, to place all vendors and breed clubs in the concourse in the future. The exception would be the National meets of the ABA or APA. In 2014 the concourse was an enormously busy "shopping mall". All vendors were extremely pleased with their sales. Vendors express their needs to us and we try our best to accommodate them, such as wifi, electric, need to be against a wall ect. At our past show, I placed Poultry Press part way down the hall, next to one of the main entrances to the show, and with actually more space than other vendors due to a "around the corner" place to put their photography box.

As I lined up tables for our decorating committee, we felt this would be an excellent place for high traffic and access to the show hall. As a result, Poultry Press sold 6 pages of advertising - most likely the most by any show in the country in 2016. In contrast, we placed our own Ohio National inventory of poultry equipment donated by a past exhibitor to be sold to benefit the show, clear at the end of the concourse at the worst possible location, and we sold it all out by Saturday at noon.Poultry Press is a vendor - no more, no less.

They were treated fairly and equally just like all other vendors and breed clubs. They were offered a major sponsor spot in the show hall (this was the $3,000 price) but declined. This spring all vendors will receive a letter asking if they would like space at the 2017 show. If they do, they must send in payment and any requested needs by a deadline. After the deadline the price goes up.  Based on first come first served and if they have been a vendor with us for several years, they will be accommodated.

 Saturday afternoon of the 2016 show, I walked the concourse and talked to all vendors. 90% were pleased based on their product sales and indicated they wanted to come back.All decisions regarding the Ohio National are made with the following items in mind--- we need to pay the bills, we want the exhibitors, vendors, and breed clubs to have a great experience at our show, and we want to improve our show every year. Decisions are not always made in our meetings, but are always made by the directors and officers. One person does not decide what to do. Many people put in countless hours each year to make the show happen.

For Bill Wulff to single out one person to blame, to unjustly complain, and to publish it in the Press was inaccurate and wrong.  Regardless of this issue, Poultry Press will continue to be treated fairly and equally just like any other vendor.Thanks again for your continued support. Looking forward to seeing you at the 2017 Ohio National.

Mike StichlerDirector and past President of the Ohio National
stichlers@zoominternet.net
« Last Edit: January 09, 2017, 10:13:15 PM by John W Blehm »