| Headline | News | Date posted |
| Events in 2021 | All traders who attended the virtual shows in 2020 have received an email to say that we will be holding another big virtual show on 6th March 2021 to replace Kettering Spring Show. We will be in touch in due course about advertising costs for this show.
The Summer Show in Doncaster is on 5th June 2021 and at the moment we are planning for this to go ahead but we will not know for certain until the Government decide what will happen with large scale indoor events. We do not expect to hear anything until March 2021 at the earliest.
Guidex is scheduled for 4th & 5th September 2021 at the new venue of Bingley Hall in Stafford County Showground. Again, at this time, we are planning for this to go ahead
This link takes you to an advertising image for the three shows in 2021 to add to your website
https://www.gaugeoguild.com/downloads/email/shows.jpg
Meanwhile, thank you for all of your support during 2020. It has been a very difficult year for many people in many ways.
I hope wherever you are, that your Christmas can be as enjoyable as possible during the current circumstances and all the very best for 2021. Let's hope we can physically see each other gain next year.
Thank you
Jackie Kneeshaw
Chairman of Events & Trade Manager
| 22 Dec 2020 |
| Christmas One day Trade Show | One of the requests after the October show was to explore the possibility of a one-day Christmas Trade Event. The Reading Trade Show, which we all enjoy, has had to be cancelled and there is interest from traders and members to have something in its place
Guildford O Gauge Group who run the Reading Trade Show have no problem with us doing this so long as it is a one off. We will advertise their 2021 dates for them.
The opportunity on offer is:
• A one-day O Gauge Christmas Trade Show
• Saturday December 12th 2020
• 09:30 – 16:30
• Free of charge to you as this is another pilot to test the new platform
• Free of charge to visitors (Members and non-members)
• Visitors get the chance for another O gauge shopping expedition before Christmas
• You get the chance to do some more free advertising before Christmas
• You can do some Christmas special offers if you wish
• We will ask for feedback after the event to see whether it was worthwhile for you and what you
thought about the new platform
• The new platform can then be developed further for the next virtual show
• Please tell us any feedback you get from your customers too
• We are planning another big virtual show with layouts, demonstrations, live sessions and more
advertising opportunities on Saturday 6th March 2021
• We are preparing an advert pricing strategy for that show
If you have any questions or would like further information contact me via trademanager@gaugeoguild.com
Thank you
Jackie
Chairman of Events & Trade Manager
| 22 Nov 2020 |
| Virtual Show 31st October 2020 | All traders are welcome to join us at the Virtual Show on 31st October 2020.
You can send a logo and website link, use the day for launching new products, have a promotion to attract people to enter your website or perhaps do a live or pre-recorded video session about something relating to your products.
For further details contact me on trademanagergog@gmail.com | 06 Jul 2020 |
| Guildex 2020 Cancelled | The Management Committee have made the decision to cancel Guildex 2020.
The most recent remote meeting with the Telford International Centre (TIC) management was held on Thursday 25th June. This meeting was attended by the Guild Chairman, the Secretary and the Events Chairman. At the meeting the most recent rules issued by the Government were discussed. The focus was that meetings of more than 30 people are not being allowed and that Exhibition Halls and Conference Centres remain closed by law. The TIC continues to believe that changes will soon be made that would allow our exhibition to go ahead. They wished to continue with a wait and see approach. Our answer was that this approach is not acceptable to the Management Committee nor to our membership. We stated that with the extremely serious Covid-19 problems still facing the country an indoor meeting for in excess of 1000 people was not going to happen in the near future. They claimed surprise to hear that we were not prepared to delay our decision further despite being advised of this at our last meeting. The meeting was adjourned so that their representatives could discuss this with their Group CEO and legal team.We would add that the two representatives from TIC were polite and pleasant.
The health and safety of all who might have attended Guildex, in any capacity, has been the most important factor in all of the MC’s deliberations.A comprehensive risk assessment was prepared by the Events Team and was updated following our previous meeting with the TIC on the 18th June. This risk assessment formed the basis of discussions with TIC.
The financial aspect, although important, has been of secondary concern.The present financial situation is that we have paid a total of £13,328.34 to TIC (all paid before Kettering) with a balance of £9,809.58 outstanding. There are no other financial commitments attached to Guildex. No money has been spent on hotel or other bookings. We must now wait for further negotiations with the TIC which will address all aspects of the termination of the contract.
Management Committee
26thJune 2020 | 26 Jun 2020 |
| Guildex 2020 | Guildex 2020
The Guild Events Committee continues to work towards a decision about Guildex 2020. This relies on reaching a satisfactory agreement with the Telford International Centre (TIC). Discussions have been taking place since the start of the pandemic, and are ongoing.
Richard Clark, Alan Redgwick & Jackie Kneeshaw have had a Zoom Meeting with the Managing Director and our personal exhibition manager at the TIC this morning. (18th June 2020).
The TIC said that an announcement from the Government via the Association of Event Venues is imminent and this will provide us with the facts required to make an informed decision.
The safety of the public, all exhibitors, and the organisers is our top priority.
| 23 Jun 2020 |
| Forum - Rule 7 Suspended | Rule 7 which prevented traders promoting products or special offers on the Traders' section of the Forum has been suspended for 6 months initially, during these difficult times.
You can therefore now promote your products via the Forum and promotion of products is also being permitted on the Gauge O Guild Facebook page | 27 Mar 2020 |