Discussions

Has anyone heard anything about the Brandon Home Show?  
 
We are Vendors and had just transferred our fee from last year to this year. We haven’t heard anything about this years and with Covid restrictions I am guessing it’s canceled but there has been zero communication. I have emailed and no reply.  
 
Anyone know what is happening?

To figure out.  
 
Is the home show in 2021? If the answer is yes, it’s cancelled.

Website says April 9-11 2021.  
 
https://brandonhomeshow.ca/

Website says it’s a go. Don’t know how it possibly can. My emails are going unanswered. We have had zero communication from them so even if it is a go we were not prepared for it.

contact the Brandon Sun and ask if they know what is happening.

Maybe call the Keystone or ask around to other exhibitors.

Why is it so easy to figure out? Can you explain?  
 
In the same boat over here too, have emailed a few times and no replies about refunds. Called the Keystone they said they would phone back  
 
Edited by BiG Mack, 2021-03-05 20:15:45

With the large amount of vendors I was kinda hoping I had just missed the email. I have messaged and called (got voicemail and left a message).  
 
Last year there was good communication. I was surprised to see the countdown clock on their website. I kind of panicked actually. I don’t necessarily want a refund but communication would be appreciated with what our options are.

and have had zero......ZERO...... communication on the status of this year's show. I am very disappointed in the communication. They are on my hit list to call Monday with a third attempt to find out what is happening. I assume it is canceled but they still have my fees carried forward from last year. That is a lot of money!

The reason you're not getting a response is likely due to staff layoffs. Display Manitoba runs the Home Show (not the Keystone). The Provincial Ex owns Display Manitoba. The Provincial Ex (and Display Manitoba, and any other business that depends on events for revenue) has been decimated by the pandemic. They have laid off virtually all their staff and there are only a couple left to run the entire organization.  
 
Frustration with the lack of communication is understandable, but I would gently suggest you consider the fact that they can't predict the near term future any better than anyone else. They may be working on something, but are waiting on changes to restrictions from Health authorities before they can commit to a date, they may be planning on cancelling and carrying over another year since they have no staff to plan the event, or there could be something else.  
 
I would suggest that vendors (politely) reach out and ask if there is any information available, or if there is any indication when more information might be available. Remember when you call that there are only a couple of people left to do their jobs, as well as the jobs of all their coworkers who were laid off due to the pandemic. Not to mention all the additional fundraising efforts they've been making to ensure the existance of the organization when we come out the other side.

any of you actually called or contacted the Brandon Sun. Newspapers and reporters have there contacts who are quite often able to get answers Joe Public cannot find.

You seem to know a lot about this- do you work there?  
 
I totally understand we are in a pandemic. But why is the website counting down to the home show. At least give a statement saying it’s postponed.  
 
Booths are very expensive and I personally don’t mind deferring it again until 2022 but at least say so. We don’t need exact answers but at least say something! Send out a mass email ( like last year) or do a public announcement.  
 
As for contacting the Brandon Sun - well not yet but I guess we will see.

I'm just familiar with the organization.  
 
Why is the website counting down to the home show? Maybe it was set up that way a year ago when they postponed the 2020 show?  
 
As for lack of communication, as per my comment above maybe there isn't anyone there to communicate?  
 
I totally understand your frustration, just trying to share some info that might help explain some of the questions you're asking.  
 
I would start with trying to contact the Provincial Ex, you might have better luck than emails that might not be getting monitored due to layoffs?  
 
Good luck!

We have recently inquired about joining the show as a vendor, we received a response within a day or so. It was confirmed there is no home show for April, they are hopeful it can still happen this year but at this point that is unclear. Follow their page on Facebook to receive updates when they are announced.  
 
I don’t think provincial regulations allow a show of this size to proceed and no ones knows when regulations will allow it again. Hopefully this information can help a few other vendors to not worry about getting ready for an April show.

If they have someone able to reply to you then there definitely should be someone able to tell us what is going on.  
 
Last year we were told it was canceled with a possible date in the fall, if not then this spring. There is no reason it couldn’t be the same again.