Toy Boys fail to splash cash at show
Monday November 09 2009
IT was a case of window shopping for most at the 'Toys 4 Big Boys' exhibition over the weekend with organisers admitting that spending was down on previous years.
Attendance was on a par with last year and around 30,000 people turned up at the testosterone-filled show, after ticket prices were cut and special offers introduced.
The four-day demonstration at the RDS in Dublin underwent a makeover this year with a live action arena added to the hundreds of gadgets and gizmos on show.
But organisers revealed last night that spending at the exhibition, now in its eight year, was down on previous years.
"We don't have figures for it yet but certainly, anecdotally, it was down ... but there's not an awful lot you can do about that," event organiser John McDonald said.
He said there was a "remarkable reaction" to the presence of David Prowse, the actor who played Darth Vader in 'Star Wars', as well as to the stunt shows in the arena.
He said the sport of zorbing, where people run about in giant inflated balls, was also popular.
"It was fantastic and we were really pleased with the new stuff that we tried," Mr McDonald said.
"Preliminary research indicates that we got it right in terms of the value offering and in terms of the stunt shows."
Ticket prices were cut by €2 from €18 last year and a two-for-the-price-of-one deal ran on Thursday and Friday.
Mr McDonald said the exhibition would certainly be running again next year and revealed that they were planning a smaller version to take place between now and then.
"We are looking at doing a mini one of just the stunt show in the interim, a real smoke and rubber event, but we haven't set a date yet."
- Stephen O'Farrell
Irish Independent
