A Resounding Success!
The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show 2024 concluded with a resounding success, offering visitors a huge selection of latest technology, boats and fishing equipment. Exhibitors reported strong sales outcomes of new boats, far exceeding expectations, and the new layouts and features rolled out by organisers XPO seem to have hit the spot with the tens of thousands of boat lovers and families in attendance.
Marine industry exhibitors at the show reported what organisers XPO have described as “remarkable on-site sales of boats, along with a robust number of quotations and leads to follow-up on; many expected to translate into post-show sales.” Despite initial concerns due to economic factors, the marine industry were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of genuine buyers present with their wallets out. XPO who runs 19 shows seem to have made inroads in attracting a higher quality buyer attendance to the show; in part from their cross marketing to boat lover attendees and visitors across other popular build, construction, engineering and manufacturing trade shows they run.
XPO Head of Sales, Helen Kay comments “We’ve been tapping into builders and engineers with tailored messages reminding them to get along to the Boat Show, and that seems to be paying off for exhibitors – as too a revamped marketing & PR campaign that is by far best in market.” It’s hard to argue with them also reporting nearly 22% of visitors claiming to be first timers to the show. The sales of boats and marine tech by exhibitors has been reinforced with many asking already to renew their positions or increase them in 2025. “We’re going to have a big challenge pleasing everyone as we have hall demand exceeding supply across our main halls” says Kay.
The show’s revamped floorplan layout received much positive feedback, making navigation more intuitive for attendees and premium brands enjoying a walkaround island stand experience. The biggest improvement being a new central boulevard opening up the line of sight for visitors across main halls 1-3.
As one influencer Bill Chissell notes on the NZ Fishing Community Facebook page (enjoying more than 101,000 followers) “…New layout that seems to make more sense than how it’s been laid out traditionally.” He also goes on to say “The best stand of the show in my opinion was a stand out for Shimano. That’s a must see if attending. It’s leagues above anything they have done in the past and looks great.”
Garry Hart: Surtees/Yamaha Grand Prize Winner Garry Hart, a Taranaki farmer, emerged as the Grand Prize winner. Garry attended the show on Saturday with 10 fishing club buddies.
When the live draw took place, Garry initially thought it was a prank call from his mates. It took a while for him to believe he had truly won. Garry, who grew up fishing, has a 32-year-old son (a Coast Guard volunteer) who shares his enthusiasm for angling, along with his partner Sue – the president of the South Taranaki Fishing Club.
Garry sold his boat 4 years ago “as money was a bit tight” so this win is huge for him and his family. Garry’s love for chasing snapper and blue cod remains undiminished.
Fishing enthusiasts flocked to the new Shimano Fishing Pavilion, where masterclasses by Matt Watson and the Shimano fishing simulator captivated attendees. There were long queues of kids across the four days gravitating to the new bumper boats, an inflatable pirate ship, and the rodeo shark providing for more family-focused entertainment. The show floorplan in halls 1-3 showcased hundreds of boats. Rayglass wowed visitors with the impressive Rayglass 3000, while the epic 12m Sealegs drew crowds. Brands like Surtees, Extreme, Senator Boats, Machina Boats, Offshore Boats, and McClays had boaties eagerly eyeing their next purchase.
Hutchwilco celebrated in style onsite for their 130 years in business.
The organiser held a new format exhibitor function for the industry on Saturday evening, enjoying more than 300 in attendance, many dancing well into the night with the Jordan Luck band. David & Veronica Gibbs who had organised the Boat Show for 24 years on behalf of long time owners the Auckland Waterski Club, were inducted in the Hall of Fame for 2024. Organisers XPO had consulted with the marine associations, former Hall of Fame inductees and key industry stakeholders who believed David and Veronica as very worthy recipients, including industry legend and MD of Hutchwilco Gary Sutton who presented the award to their daughter Jaimee and other family members on the night.
The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show 2024 truly lived up to its reputation as an angler’s paradise, celebrating all things marine and boating.
