Honiton Show retains its links to the farming world

THE strength of the Honiton Show is that it is a good business show, appealing to farmers across the area. That was the view of some of the companies that hire stands for the event. Although none of them expected to do a great deal of business on the day

THE strength of the Honiton Show is that it is a good business show, appealing to farmers across the area.

That was the view of some of the companies that hire stands for the event.

Although none of them expected to do a great deal of business on the day itself, they hoped to meet new potential customers and chat to their existing clientele.

Chirs Keitch, of CJ Keitch Engineering, from Dunkeswell, said: "I come each year to meet my customers.

"I have been coming for 12 years and I would hope that six contacts will lead to business."

He said that, while he does attend other shows, the Honiton Show is central to his area.

Charles Jolliffe, of Buglers, a farm machinery company that was founded in 1851, said they like to be at Honiton because it still a good agricultural show and they had supported it for a long time.

He said some had become a bit 'touristy' and were not as useful from his point of view.

He said: "The Honiton Show is the centre of our business territory, it is a local agricultural show and we meet a lot of our established, committed customers.

"It is a local, one-day show but we do very little business at it, although might do some follow up business afterwards but it is about flying the flag.

"If we were not here, tongues would begin to wag so it's important for us to be here."

He said, over the years, farming has changed from being a family way of life to being far more professional in its approach.

"Farmers make their decisions and will often come to us knowing what they want, rather than us having to guide their choice."

At Pearce Seeds, they said it gave them a chance to talk to their customers face-to-face, although it was not really to do any business with them.

One member of staff said : "It is about letting customers know about us and we are seen to be here.

"We go to quite a lot of shows and this one is good because you get a good turnout of people from the farming industry.

"It tends to get busy at around 11am and remain that way until the middle of the afternoon, when the farmers start to head back to get on with milking and the like, so it is a very concentrated period."

Andrew Sampson, of A1 Farm Buildings, also said business dealings were limited at the show, particularly with his company's specialism.

He said: "We come here because it is part of our promotion for the year and we get good leads from this one.

"We can talk about people's projects and in a good year I would hope to get 25 enquiries.