Slow expo sales 'point to missed NZ opportunity'

By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK

Some businesses exhibiting at the America's Cup Viaduct Expo this summer are disappointed by the absence of people and sales along the west side of the harbour.

After five weeks of trading, Bennett Marine Products director Sandra Bennett said she was surprised at the lack of interest taken in the expo, which has been promoting a range of New Zealand-made products, real estate and tourism.

The small Howick business, which manufacturers ship wheels and furniture, had not recovered the $5000-plus cost of hiring a site at the expo.

"The foot traffic's been pretty disappointing," she said. "We haven't had as many people down this end of the village as we thought we would.

"We thought there would be more New Zealand products on sale around the village, given the amount of overseas people here."

Southland tourism promoter Suzanne Clemence, who was also based in the expo tent, said New Zealand should have taken a more active role in promoting home-grown products at the Viaduct Harbour.

"It's just not what we expected. I think that's the general feeling among most small businesses around here.

"I would have liked to see more New Zealand on offer here. As a nation we seem to be pretty pathetic at promoting ourselves."

Peter Doake, the expo organiser and director of the Christchurch events business Display Force, said the country appeared to have missed out on a great opportunity to promote its products.

Advertising the expo closer to the waterfront could have increased foot traffic, he said, but Display Force was not allowed to promote it at Viaduct Harbour because of America's Cup sponsorship issues.

Mr Doake said the company had lost at least $90,000 organising the show and some stallholders had packed up and left early because of poor sales.

"There's plenty of food and wine around but no one seems to be promoting New Zealand product.

"This was a great opportunity for New Zealand and it needed to be picked up by the people behind the America's Cup, too."

American Express NZ Cup Village spokeswoman Sue Foley said the expo was a completely separate event and it was not up to the village to promote it along the waterfront.

She said sponsors had paid a lot of money for the right to advertise their logos in the village.

"They [the expo] should be incredibly grateful considering they weren't a part of us."