I did know, Brian; I put it there! The problem, as ever, is not having the muscle to "insist" that traders stay open until four. The hope was that they would do, imagining hoards of customers, and then being happy with the odd handful. Sadly most simply wanted to pack up and get off home as Monday for them was just an ordinary day, and what we ended up with was the typical weekend-long craft fair last hour...people rushing to beat the traffic and pack early.
The truth is that the traders are never going to make a massive killing at the seminar; it's a small event in trader terms, and populated by a target audience who probably have most of what they need already, and may only be persauded to part with cash for something they've seen in a demonstration or something that's new on the market.
The ideal would be for delegates to plan spending at the seminar rather than in the months before. Axminster, for instance, will take phone orders to be collected at the seminar and save you the postage. I'm sure the others would do the same.
The traders are a huge part of the seminar; toolpost, axminster and Phil Irons provide lathes, camvac provide the dust extraction, all provide raffle prizes, and many provide incidental equipment and finishes Etc., and without this support the seminar would be a much poorer event. So the aim is to support them as far as possible in the hope that they consider it worthwhile continuing their support in coming years.
The traders hour may not be perfect, but it's the best compromise we could come up with.
And for the record, I have no problem with criticism or comment, so there's no harm done and no offence taken. All ideas are welcome becaue you never know when the gem of a idea will be proposed.