The Honda Owners Club

Friday must have been down quite a bit on last year Alan to have dropped the overall figure by 3%.

Regards

Chimpy

Well it was very busy today on the Honda stand and I was there when they got the stats through this evening .. and they were saying that the figures this year also include children so the real figures are a bigger decrease than perhaps the statistics initially appear to indicate (as last years didn't include kids). That said.. it was almost non stop on the stand today until late afternoon ... the time flew by!

Lets face it, once the recession is over (and don't let anyone believe otherwise), the figures will start to look really good !!

Alan

I took my son and his mate today (saturday) and having been there since wednesday, it was busy compare to the week days. I spoke to Charlie from Honda today he reckons there were at least 15k people there today, and it felt like it trying to walk around, especially when you arrive at 8am and can walk around empty stands, very wierd!

Saturday attendance 15,792
Sunday attendance 16,391

Grand total 134,465 - down 10% on 2007.

I was there on Sunday and it felt empty. Certainly a lot less people that the first Sunday. Loads of bargains to be had if you haggled.

I have also attached a PDF showing the daily figures with 2007 as well. Enjoy

Alan

It was very quiet this year and there are the obvious reasons for that. I know as I got told 3 days ago that I've lost my job as of the 29th December, so there are many more like me this year so money is going to be scarce...especially as the NEC insist on charging a fortune for everything like parking and food, then letting the police do their supposed safety checks on all bikes arriving on the last saturday....we ended up late for work due to getting collared for that one Isn't going to help matters. I also think having it later and too near xmas and the bad weather are also contributary factors, but I personally think we need to still be there every year, as we said it never makes us money, but it's more about brand awareness. As Chimpy said, some people have never heard of us, so we need to keep getting out there while we can afford it and let people know we exist. The other problem (well sort of a problem) is that now we have the option of joining online(which is a godsend), people are taking the info away from the show and joining online when they get home....which is fab, but alas we have no idea where they found out about us...so the NEC could've worked brilliantly for us, but we'll never really know. It's just such a shame that we have no way of getting new members to give us a bit of info when they sign up online, so we know what they ride, where they found out about us etc etc...as Graham and I said on the stand..paypal is a very impersonal way of joining unfortunately. But still it has done us a massive favour. We have way more members because of it, so we certainly won't knock it.
Anyhew, lets look forward to next year...I know some of you are already signing up to work and have a great xmas and New year.
Lots of Love Ro xxxxxxxx

gonzocbr wrote:I got told 3 days ago that I've lost my job as of the 29th December, I also think having it later and too near xmas and the bad weather are also contributary factors, but I personally think we need to still be there every year, as we said it never makes us money, but it's more about brand awareness. As Chimpy said, some people have never heard of us, so we need to keep getting out there while we can afford it and let people know we exist. Anyhew, lets look forward to next year...I know some of you are already signing up to work and have a great xmas and New year.
Lots of Love Ro xxxxxxxx

Hi Rona, I'm sorry to hear about your job situation, if you could e-mail me with details/qualifications I will certainly spread the word for you in area's I know, I know what its like, I've been there.
I think your right about the time of year, show needs to be earlier.

Do we have a flyer we/I could post, pin up in bike meeting places, pubs, bike shops etc, I would willingly distribute where possible.
Lets not forget the relentles work you & Phil do for the club, you are not the only two who can/should make a difference.

If I can help in anyway I will.

Have a great Xmas & NY
See you soon

The other problem (well sort of a problem) is that now we have the option of joining online(which is a godsend),................ , but alas we have no idea where they found out about us...so the NEC could've worked brilliantly for us, but we'll never really know. It's just such a shame that we have no way of getting new members to give us a bit of info when they sign up online, ............as Graham and I said ............paypal is a very impersonal way of joining............ . But still it has done us a massive favour. We have way more members because of it.

It seems to me that in allowing people to join 'on line' the HOC has made it clear that their objective is to increase their membership regarless of the the HOC services readilly available to them. - more is better. This seems to be at odds with the Chairman's often stated position that 'big is not necessary best'.

In claiming to be a 'National' club, the HOC does give the impression that there are Branches in all areas. As we all know, this is not the case. Does that mean that many join, 'on the web' only to find that they are still isolated? Is it the HOC hope that by recruiting many members they will somehow gel together to form new Branches?

If the objective of the HOC is to improve the motorcycling experience for its members, would it not be better to confirm membership via the Branches. It would certainly give struggling Branches a little bit more pertinence and authority.

Barry,

Your statement "It seems to me that in allowing people to join 'on line' the HOC has made it clear that their objective is to increase their membership regarless of the the HOC services readilly available to them. - more is better." misses the point completely.

The only way they can get to join on line is via the web site - and by going through that, they can see exactly what "services" we can offer. What we are doing is making it easier for them to join - something that, I think, everyone will agree with (maybe even you?)

Alan

COLIN.............Thanks so much darl...just got a small problem in that I can't drive or anything at the mo, so very limited to where I can work, but any help is gratefully recieved, so I'll do that, thanks hon. I will get something organised as a flyer for you to take round if you wouldn't mind, that'd be great. Have to say I personally don't consider all I do for the club as work...lets put it this way if the club could afford to pay me for doing anything for them I'd bite their hands off for it....I'd love to do anything to do with bikes as a job. It's not work if u love it and are passionate about it.

BARRY.........You do have a point, but I think the major problem with lack of branches is lack of volunteers......as most club members are probably only in it for the discounts, then that leaves very few left to set up branches..those that can, have done so already, but as Phil and I know to our cost, it's so hard to motivate people and force them to come to meetings and rideouts, but hey, some of us love this whole way of life and all the wonderful friends that we make, that you just do it anyway....there will always be those rewarding times when it's all made worth the effort.We've had a member leave cause we don't ride fast enough and others that think we'll ride too fast, you can never please all the people all the time, you just have to work with what you have and make the best of it. I certainly would never give up on it even though we have sundays when no-one shows for a planned ride, or meetings when there's only 2 die hard members that show up. I love all the people that I do know in this club....I know for a fact they are the sort of friends that would be there for me if I ever needed them, so that alone keeps me going and makes me go out at 9am on a sunday to find no-one else there, but hey Phil and I usually just go out for a blast anyway, so it's never wasted. But online sales of membership have made such a difference and as Alan says they have to pass through everything about the club first to get to that point, so if they weren't interested they wouldn't join would they.And the more people we can get involved the more chance there is that some will find their way to setting up their own branches....I know every branch secretary would help anyone who wanted to start one near them.


Love Ro xxxxxxx

gonzocbr wrote:BARRY.........You do have a point, but I think the major problem with lack of branches is lack of volunteers......as most club members are probably only in it for the discounts, then that leaves very few left to set up branches..those that can, have done so already, but as Phil and I know to our cost, it's so hard to motivate people and force them to come to meetings and rideouts, but hey, some of us love this whole way of life and all the wonderful friends that we make, that you just do it anyway....there will always be those rewarding times when it's all made worth the effort.We've had a member leave cause we don't ride fast enough and others that think we'll ride too fast, you can never please all the people all the time, you just have to work with what you have and make the best of it. I certainly would never give up on it even though we have sundays when no-one shows for a planned ride, or meetings when there's only 2 die hard members that show up. I love all the people that I do know in this club....I know for a fact they are the sort of friends that would be there for me if I ever needed them, so that alone keeps me going and makes me go out at 9am on a sunday to find no-one else there, but hey Phil and I usually just go out for a blast anyway, so it's never wasted. But online sales of membership have made such a difference and as Alan says they have to pass through everything about the club first to get to that point, so if they weren't interested they wouldn't join would they.And the more people we can get involved the more chance there is that some will find their way to setting up their own branches....I know every branch secretary would help anyone who wanted to start one near them.


Love Ro xxxxxxx

Very well said Ro, I don't think anyone could have put it better. Without doubt this club is about friends and I've met some smashing people in the HOC and hopefully will continue to do so.

Very sorry to hear about your job, there's so much of it going on at the moment. I hope you can find something soon.

Very best wishes to you and Phil for Christmas and the New Year.

Regards

Chimpy

P.S. Don't change your oufits at the show, it's not as if you're strutting around in a bikini is it?

CHIMPY..........Aww thanks hon, yeah there is an awful lot of it going about, that's the problem...all those thousands of people are now going to be fighting for what little jobs there are out there, but hopefully something will show up soon.....well it had better had anyway or we're in big trouble
But Phil's said before now that we should just give up on the branch we run cause of lack of attendance, but then I'd miss the managers meetings etc which is the only time you get to see some of your friends so I will be fighting to the death to keep the branch alive......and this year has been the best by far anyway...we have not had a single meeting where no-one has shown...ride-outs are a different matter, but meetings are always attended now, even if only by a couple of people, so we'll keep going. And just try our best to make other people see what fun they can have...I mean u'll always have a few members that can't attend, like we have a few that work permanant nights, so we'll never see them, but I have about 10 or so members on my e-mail list, so it's not too bad I guess.
Anyway, have a fab chrimbo and I'll promise to wear a bikini next year for u then

O Rona, Rona, Rona I sooooo echo your thoughts and centiments in your posting and so sorry that you are a victim of these troubled times but there is alot of it about and to be honest I sure things will get better, there a song in there somewhere
Being the branch Gen Sec of a very new branch I fully understand the reason why we do this, I would'nt want it any other way

Thanks Veffer, yeah u sing it I'll hum it babe Something will show up I'm sure, but least of my worries right now...I lost my mum on new years eve, so puts things into perspective really eh

Sorry to hear about your mum as they say 'it nevers rains'
A work colleague lost his dad on Xmas Day

And yes it certainly focuses your thoughts when stuff like that happens Been there, done that and worn the 'T' shirt