The International Countertop expo...ICE

I know Im asking for a letdown by asking this..but I just gotta know...Will I not see my Fabnet friends this year again? JEEZ..The design contest is gonna be cool..I always like that and I like the seminars...

Count me as a definite maybe.

I posted this question a couple of months ago...  I have not heard of any companies going, and the website does not show who is going to exhibit.

I thought about going, but kinda decided against it. It seems all the companies are going to be at the builders show in Vegas next month and then at KBIS in Chicago in April.

Gene,

I have talked with quiet a few vendors and I haven't found anyone that is positively going. Like paid their money for the spot going. Now maybe they will but I just can't seem to find anyone.

Hopefully it is successful, but this economy is just not cooperating.

I am going to try to make it, but if I have surgery close to the date, I will not be able to make it. Otherwise, I will see you there.

I wish I would have gone to the Green show but someone forgot to mention it.

Andy ....Surgery???... all you California people have surgery.

We tried to tell you if you drove a mini-van too long, some bad things would happen!

Gene,
We won't be going, wife can't travel after her surgery.

Kelsey,
He's just trying to make sure big brother doesn't get to decide if he CAN have surgery.

Posted By Kelsey Crisp on 08 Dec 2009 05:52 PM
Andy ....Surgery???... all you California people have surgery.

We tried to tell you if you drove a mini-van too long, some bad things would happen!

I blew my knee out before the minivan. Tore my ACL and the meniscus is completely jacked up. Californians have more surgery because we are more active. Plus we have perfect weather so we have more time to get injured. :)

I'm gonna try, but no guarantees.

Jon..are you going to the superbowl party?..and when You say Sterling is sending 3 employees...does that include you? You will be missed if you dont go as well

man guys..I guess I hafta maybe face the fact what impressed me at the show along time ago will never happen to the new generation of fabricators...I guess they just have to be stimulated by pictures...

to me its like watching previews of a movie or reviews...just got a be there...i do understand people that useta see CROWDS of people at the  shows in the past are just let down at the numbers today...people are just impressed with numbers of people I was at greenbuild and was impressed at 28,500 but I still only met about a hundred new friends

It sux..cause if ya start a new type of venue and it has 300 people we would think great..but comparing to those days of the past is what kills your mood and it shows...so to all the new people who never saw a show and this may be your first one...hope you have a great time   lets get together and discuss the future...

lets just face the fact the old timers arent coming unless there are lotsa people registered...then they register if the number hits 1000...so camon guys lets make the old timers proud and pump up the registrations...

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but things change and the show has a duty to stay relevant. People were attending the show and the show went and created some serious problems with the major manufacturers. This was a big hurdle and to this day has not been resolved. There is a lot of past animosity. It has nothing to do with the fabricator.

It is not our responsibility to make the show good, it is the responsibility of the people who create it. I suspect they are working their ass off to make it a great show but things change.

Example: we used to communicate around a campfire, then the phone was invented, now computers and text messaging has taken over. Doesn't mean the other are bad, just not as relevant.

I have always gone to the show to meet people and have fun. Bring the fun back and you will have a show.

Posted By Andy on 10 Dec 2009 11:16 AM
I have always gone to the show to meet people and have fun. Bring the fun back and you will have a show.

Andy:

The show's gotta be more than fun. It's got to make business sense. If I think that the return in connections, technical knowledge and helping me see the future is worth the plane fare, food, hotel bills and fees, I'll go. I can have fun at home for a lot less money.

I'm considering going, but I'm with Lenny; a definite maybe.


Joe

Joe,

I think that many want to learn and that is important. I do feel that many go only because they can use it as an excuse to have fun with others in the industry.

I see your point though.

Well I seem to have fun learning new ideas...If fun is what ya want ...it will be in Americas Playground..but Im somewaht a weird case..I have fun all the time....I like putting faces to fabnetters without a picture avtar and meeting new friends...

I figure out the costs ahead of time and estimated food , etc..Im finally bringing my two employees with me to cover more classes.....well..I been offering a nice vanity top of remanant material for that price...It might turn into two vanities or small kitchen...

then when I get back I see how much IT really cost and balance that out with what I learned, Innovative news, etc...How much was the fun worth to me and the guys...and then I usually come out ahead

The tools I even make a little bit too. I buy at the show and dropshipped to the shop...add up all those little pearls and you will see that the show is FREE..but ya gotta know whats valuable to you...

If i spend too much then I hafta sell maybe two vanities

We estimated it cost at least $1500 a person if you factor in everything. Not so bad if you can get the value out of the show. It is not like you forget what you learn. Just make sure you take advantage of everything at the show and really soak it all in.

MY guys are on the ghetto budget plan..shared rooms, they can even do the spoon position if they like... and the RT plane tickets are crazy cheap...I guess the airlines get casinos to cheapen it somehow...??? anyway It is what it is and I am looking forward to meeting friends I havent met yet...

Maybe the question is how much is a mistake worth that might not had happen if you met the right distributor of glues or materials...let alone knowledge from seminar leaders...you should hear me repeat bits of Lennys seminar,,,what i learned about the difference in Poly to acrylic was worth cash

Gene, I have been thinking of going, looking at all the seminars and then got to who the speakers were going to be, then I saw they were bringing in a politician to speak...  made me think of your avatar...