Observations from VDTA 2009

I spent most of last week at
the VDTA/SDTA (Vacuum and Sewing Dealers’ Trade Association) convention in

Las Vegas, together with about 50 other Tacony associates
including Ken Tacony.  Here are some
random observations:

1. Las Vegas is definitely hurting in this economy, but not
   too much.  My ride from the airport
   to the convention center took less than 10 minutes, much shorter than
   normal.  My cab driver said he had
   been waiting at the airport 45 minutes for a fare.  The Las Vegas Hilton, a 4,000 room
   hotel, was sold out the night I arrived. 
   It took about 20 minutes for them to find my confirmed room.     
   

2. There were 4 conventions at the hotel/convention
   center last week and quite a strange mix. 
   In addition to ours there was the Aviation Support Show (everything
   to do with aviation except the planes), the World Pizza Expo (including
   the Pizza Olympics), and the Native American Nations Economic Conference
   (apparently the national meeting of all Native American Tribes). 
   

3. Attendance at the VDTA Show was much better than
   I had feared.  Although attendance
   may have been down slightly from last year, our booths were busy most of
   the time.  The Keynote Speech was
   well attended (more about that later this week) by about 500 people.  The seminars I went too were quite full,
   with the Sucksess panel discussion standing room only.  (I later was quite proud to find out
   that all four presenters are good Tacony customers.)
   

4. The two young people who received this year’s
   Bernie Epstein scholarships were very deserving and quite passionate about
   making a difference in college and afterwards.  Other than making me feel quite old, it
   was fun to see their enthusiasm. 
   

5. The food at the Wednesday night reception was
   very good.  It was fun talking to
   everyone until they finally turned the lights out on us.  (My first time closing down a bar.)  Dagon Browning from Kalispell, MT can not only can sell sewing machines and vacuums, he can really sing.  He’s also a great teacher.  What energy.
   

6. Stan Ingram was inducted into the VDTA/SDTA Hall
   of Fame.  I did not know the other
   two inductees.  From his acceptance
   speech, it was clear that Stan had loved his time in the sewing industry.  He explained he grew up on a dairy farm
   in Wisconsin and was motivated to do well at the University of Wisconsin because he had milked enough cows and shoveled
   enough stuff.  Many Singer and
   Viking dealers are certainly thankful that Stan didn’t return the farm.
   

7. I had expected the mood to be quite negative
   based on the economic situation. 
   This expectation was also anticipated in the Keynote Address and
   Scott Wells’ opening remarks. 
   Instead, I found almost all of the dealers to be cautiously
   optimistic.  Several said they had
   had their best year ever last year and 2009 was starting off strong.  In general, they said that they had to
   work harder to get the same amount of business, but didn’t seem to
   mind.  One husband and wife from CA
   said they were going to be hiring more staff.
   

8. Ken Tacony commented how pleased he was with the
   very positive reception that our new Koala cabinets received.   Hats off to Ed Moore for his constant
   attention to every detail in designing the best looking sewing cabinets
   ever made (in my humble opinion). 
   We’re proud that they are built right here in the USA.  Ed also
   wins the “best dressed worker during teardown” award for working non-stop
   for 4 hours in an Italian suit and tie. 
   (Mike Queen finished second, having the suit but did take his tie
   off.)
   

9. The new Criss Angel Believe show at the Luxoris the only Cirque du Soleil show that I would
   not recommend.  Quite
   disappointing. 
   

10. After attending my 21st VDTA show, I
    can honestly say that I have never been more proud to be a part of our
    sewing and vacuum industry and the retailers who make it all happen.  A truly wonderful group of people.   

Bill