Exhibitors looking to hook interest at this week's fish show

By Tina Comeau

SOU’WESTER

It would have been pretty hard to miss DSS Marine Inc.’s booth at the last Fish Canada show.

Aside from the fact the life-size life raft – used by the company as its exhibitor’s booth in the show – took up a fair amount of floor space, it’s bright orange color was pretty eye-catching.

You won’t miss the company this time around either. That’s because like another 100 or so exhibitors, DSS Marine Inc. of Dartmouth, N.S. has made it a regular habit to participate in the Moncton show, which is being held this week.

Asked why the company feels it is important to take part in the show, taking place Feb. 7-9, Darren Trites says it’s all about product awareness.

In this case the product the company deals with is marine lifesaving equipment.

“From a safety point of view, we want to make sure that the people that are working on the water are aware of the products that are out there that can help save their lives if they need it,” Trites says.

While Trites says there isn’t necessarily a lot of new equipment out there, the technology in existing products has changed so the Fish Canada/Workboat Canada show is a good opportunity to get the word out.

The companies that set up booths at the Fish Canada show come from throughout the Atlantic region, as well as Quebec, Ontario and parts of Maine. There’s even a new exhibitor this year whose clothing company is based in Norway.

For A.F. Theriault and Sons Ltd. in Meteghan River, N.S. – who like most exhibitors also takes part in the Yarmouth, N.S. fisheries show every other year – an appeal of the show is the region and the audience the Moncton show draws. It gives the shipyard a chance to make contact with people it might not otherwise get to meet.

“You get different people from different areas because of the location of it,” says Gilles Theriault. “You get people from New Brunswick and P.E.I. more than you would in Yarmouth.

“The value to the company is to touch base with our customers on the repair side,” he adds, but another value-added bonus is the chance to get a feel for what’s on the minds of those in the industry. For a company like A.F. Theriault, which sees itself diversifying from just fishing vessels, the show can allow it to broaden its markets.

Many companies also participate in the show because they see it as a commitment that they’ve made to the industry.

Marindustrial Inc. in Moncton, for instance, falls into this group.

“We do it to let people know that we’re still at it,” says Bob Fullbrook. “Many companies seem to come and go. Also, we don’t want to be perceived as Good Time Charlies. We’re in this industry in good times and bad and we will participate regardless.”

The company, whose main product is marine transmissions, says while it predominately sells its product through re-sellers, the industry trade show is a chance for it to talk to the end users and to hear their input.

Although Fullbrook obviously has a bias for Moncton’s location – after all, it is home to their business – he says the show’s location works well because of the areas it attracts people from. For instance, he says, he finds people from Cape Breton, N.S. are more apt to come to the Moncton show than the Yarmouth one, even though the latter is in their province.

Henri Gibbs of H. Gibbs Marine and Industrial in Bouctouche, N.B. says really when it comes down to it, businesses participate in the show because they can’t afford not to. Gibbs’ company – which deals in marine equipment like propellers, underwater gear, shafts, hatches and prop repairs – takes part in the shows to make contacts.

“You have to be there because if you’re not there they think you’re not in business anymore,” he says. “You can’t afford not to go.”