Stalls at hamster shows

[Amethyst_ice]

Hello all,

I was just wonderign what stalls are available at the other clubs. I made a suggestion to teh MRC and was a little taken back to have it essentially pushed aside and the response i recieved.

Personally I feel the stall our club has does not offer the most varied and appropriate hamster items..small plastic rodent houses, odd bag of harry hamster and cages not the best..i must say i was dissapointed with the availble items on the stalls.I expected to at least buy bedding other than sawdust.

just wondered if other clubs offer more?

[Vectis Hamstery]

Since becoming show manager, I have come to realise that what seems simple about organising a hamster show on behalf of a club is far more complicated (and often involves a lot of discussion between club officers and members of the committee)!

Regarding stalls, there is very limited space at shows. Even if the hall is large, there are not usually many tables (I had never realised how much thought I would have to put into tables!) and needed for hamster sales, show pens, judging, pet class, show sec, PRO items etc as well as accessories. All stalls or cage/accessory sales, even second hand ones, have to go through the show manager (and committee where appropriate). I can see the rationale for this, although it does tend to fall lower on my list than things like juggling judges for the shows, especially at this time of year!

The accessory sales are run by a few members to provide some bits and pieces at as reasonable a price as possible to member. The stock is obviously limited by what is available at the wholesalers at the time, and depends on the things people at shows usually buy (e.g. not a large range of cages because there are not loads of people at shows without cages, but many bottles and wheels etc). Those running the accessories can't bring everything possible just in case as the trailer is a work of art to get everything to fit as it is though the large bags of Harry/Best Pets/Megazorb etc. are often available on request.

The championship shows (London, Bradford) have a lot of stalls with bedding, accessories, food, ornaments... The stall holders pay a significant price for these stalls, although I haven't seen any cages on sale there.

[Amethyst_ice]

Oh i know, i have discussed this with other people its just my rationale was that many of the venues are used my the midland rat club and ive seen them have a few outsider stalls there. With a member commenting on the show threads about coming to buy some treat for their ham made me remember the lack of things there compared to some other shows etc.

im aware the club needs a stall for its own profits but just purely in comparrison i thought it would be nice to see and may draw in more of the public as well.

was just a bit taken back by the quite, what i read as, sharp reply.

I have no issue with the club running its own stall but it would be nice to see more appropriate products..as i mentioned the small rydon houses and small wheels (in comparison with only a small amount of the ..willy wheel (as sammybingo and i had a giggle at). for example some wooden trixie items for me and a few others im sure would eb more appreciated than the small plastic stuff.

in regards to cages im aware of space issues, to me, those rydon cages arnt much use other than holiday cages so i wonder if improving the stock available would eb a better use of resources..carrier etc

xxxx

[lisab]

I would think if you had a problem to email the club directly if you have a problem with what is for sale. as not many club members come on forums and wont be able to see what you have said.

Many people will be happy with smaller cages for many reasons and i am sure that if they were not sutible then they would not be sold.
Its aimed at all hamsters not just syrians

[Amethyst_ice]

this was a response after i emailed lisa i know there are products for dwarfs too i was commenting on the lack of syrian suitable products, i should have made that clearer

[lisab]

Who did you email?

[Amethyst_ice]

dan from mhc x

[Ellie]

I had a 'new' person to shows mention to me about the sales on Saturday, but as I explained to her - The majority of people at the shows are members of the club and show their hamsters. They have everything they need at home and just like to pick up the odd bits, or are more intrested in show pens etc! Most people there have a large amount of hamsters so cannot have huge cages and just have to settle for minimum. Not many people go for the reason just to buy goodies - it's more of an after thought i'll pick this up while your there. The shows main focus is the showing of hamsters and the sales bit doesn't take priority - everything can be bought online and I'm not sure where people get the impression that shows are a place to buy hamster supplies... Hope this makes sense as I did have to edit it quite alot so to try and not sound rude at all!

[Amethyst_ice]

its fine ellie, im not having a go at the show, i go mainly to see my online friends Just after going to a few rat shows, most held in the same venues i have to say i enjoy coming home with rosettes (if im lucky) and some treats and bits and bobs is all. x

[vanilla-yazoo]

i know what you mean a.i
things like the wheels available are 6inch or smaller, only the smallest flying saucers
only smaller houses, unless a stool for multiple pets, then the guinea ones are syrian size
not lots of types of bedding materials,(say trial size bags of aubiose, megazorb, instead of a while bag, a decent cage worth to try)
treats that are safe for dwarfs would be nice

bottles are always great at shows

i was quite dissapointed at the burgess show, no rosettes for entering pet class, whereas the southern shows you get a small one for entering, i really like that. for the southern shows its classed as male-female-dwarf for pet class, so i asumed it was the same, but not at burgess.

they should also price things

i got a hamster brooch, no price, so i thought what, 50p-£2, but the man said about it being silver backed and charged more then what i really was wanting to spend on it. i still got it, but if it was less i would have got more then one.
if it had its price displayed i probably wouldnt have got it at all.

great that fuzzbuts where there, wish i got more then one hammok now!!