2012 Oriental Boat - Record Turnout and Great Weather
Visitors from ten states and perfect weather converged for record-setting attendance at Oriental’s In-Water Boat Show.
Oriental’s 4th Annual In-water Boat Show has grown exponentially since its beginning in 2009. The 2012 show was complimented by sixty-six vendors from as far as Hampton, Virginia, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Bryson City, NC. There were maritime and nautical goods and services, plus the vendors also increased the number of boats brought by ten percent to over eighty, of which thirty-nine were in-water.
While Oriental is a somewhat distant destination for much of the boating community, 2012’s nearly 1,740 attendees set a new show record, as did Saturday’s paid gate of 957.
Continuing an Oriental show tradition, many attendees appear to have been
motivated buyers too. Many dealers and brokers reported garnering substantive leads on boat purchases. Last year’s show accounted for over $500,000 in boat sales along with $135,000 in sales of complimentary products and services. Early vendor reports indicate that 2012 might well top that sales performance.
Based on the combination of number of vendors, number of boats, sales attributed and number of attendees, the Oriental show has every indication of having become one of the largest and most successful in-water shows between Annapolis and Savannah. The 2013 show is scheduled for April 12-14.