FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Joan Kureczka]

The center of Colmar itself is lovely, but I recall that the convention center isn't in town -- it's outside, along the motorway. And unlike Munich there is no convenient U-bahn to get into town quickly and easily.

[Tomasz Praszkier]

Thats true that hall is outside of town center. But this is walking distance. From the very center it is about 2 km.

[Jordi Fabre]

Tomasz,

I read your arguments with great interest here as well as in the Mindat's thread.

As a "veteran" of Ste. Marie I got many requests from different people about the Show, and my hearth is divided. I'm firmly convinced that the future is Colmar considering the impossible circumstances already existing in Ste. Marie (just consider that if a day a fire started in Ste. Marie during the Show all of us would died broiled ;-) but I also firmly beleive that in this history is not only the brain which speaks but also the heart.

Many of the people involved in these discussions we are people that we visited / exhibited Ste, Marie during at least 30 years. A main part of our life is deposited there and is very complicated for the veterans of Ste. Marie approach to this crossroad as a "cold fish" because our sentiments are strongly involved.
Those terrific storms, that unforgettable deal, the soirées at the Cromer Hotel, that friend who already isn't with us.... too many memories! ;-(

If isn't enough hard move to Colmar, now with the new Show in Ste. Marie the situation is still harder because our brain is in Colmar but our heart wants to stay in Ste. Marie, so we are divided! ;-)

The only positive thing in this so complicated history is that due the new technologies something than in the past would happened "in the dark" now is publicly discussed here, in Mindat, GeoForum, FaceBook, etcetera.... and everybody can publicly explain their thoughts, which I believe is very positive.

[Tomasz Praszkier]

Jordi,
I agree with you but... Of course if we can have "new Sainte Marie" in Sainte Marie there would be no problem.
Unfortunately we have to choose. Support both shows is the worst idea for me as a dealer and buyer in SMAM/Colmar.
For me it is clear that this is the end of SMAM, and if we will partly support them this just make this story longer, shows less profitable for sellers and more difficult to buyers.
This is time to make a choice.
Best!

[alfredo]

Having two shows at the same time is not necessarily such a bad thing. Competition between organizers will result in better services for all of us :))

In America we have Tucson (with about 25 different venues, some 10 km or so from the center) and Quartzite (also with multiple venues), with different styles, and MUCH further apart from each other than Colmar and Ste Marie. And does this bother anybody? Not at all.

And smaller shows are not necessarily worse shows. Do I care if a show has 200 dealers or 1,000 dealers, when I never can personally visit more than 20 dealers in any single show?

[COLMAR 2012]

EURO MINERAL & EURO GEM 2012 COLMAR 2012: A new beginning for the 49th edition of the oldest trade fair in France!

With the right balance between indoor and outdoor (tent villages) exhibitors, find the atmosphere of the traditional mineral show and take advantage of the facilities offered by an exhibition area.

The same team, the same concept, the same atmosphere, the same conviviality: joins us to Colmar from 21st to 24th June 2012, at the Colmar exhibition area!

All informations on: https://www.euromineral.fr
Any question: info(at)euromineral(dot)fr

[Christophe Houble]

[Jordi Fabre]

Is not so easy Christophe... ;-(

[arturo shaw]

[COLMAR 2012]

Hello everybody,

I saw all your post and I want to give you more details about the situation.

In order to verify the viability of EURO MINERAL & EURO GEM, we undertook two studies in 2010: the first regarding regulatory and administrative aspects and the second regarding safety and security. The verdict is clear; with 25 critical or outright insurmountable obstacles
I would like to ask you : If an event of this scale took place in your country would it be authorized in condtions like in SMAM?

Following our announcement, during the 48th edition in June 2011, of our planned move to Colmar in 2014, the Municipality of Sainte-Marie aux Mines requested major changes to our partnership agreement, most notably with respect to the use of public spaces.
We took into consideration the requests made by the Municipality and analyzed their impact, which called into question the very foundation of the long-running agreement, making it impossible to move forward.
After more than two months of negotiations in these conditions, it became clear that we could not be certain of a successful 2012 season at Sainte-Marie aux Mines. So we decided to move to Colmar in 2012.
It was with heavy hearts that we were compelled to make this decision. We understand your tearing and yours regrets to leave SMAM but we don’t have another choice.

The context made that we had to decide us quickly in order to insure the good progress of the 2012 show.

Today we are completely working for the success of Colmar 2012. We sent the registration forms two days ago and we worked a lot on the plans and on all the communication supports.
Keeping the same atmosphere as in SMAM is one of our priority. Villages of tents will be implanted on 20 000m ² and we will find the right balance between inside and outside spaces.

Moreover, we don’t go to Colmar in order to have more exhibitors but there, we will be able to satisfy the numerous requests of enlargement of stand. So, the exhibition grounds of Colmar allows us to put ourselves in agreement with the law but it also offer more facilities to our exhibitors, customers and visitors (access, logistic zones…)

Let us build the mineral show of a stable future in COLMAR.
Since many years, our company is in the same sector as yours. Between fascinated professionals, our interests can only be common.

We thank you for your continued loyalty, and we invite you to join us in with complete confidence at COLMAR… en route to a new success!

If you would more information about the reason for our move in 2012, please visit our website: www'.'euromineral'.'fr
or contact us directly under michel'.'schwab'@'euromineral'.'fr

Regards

Michel Schwab

[Jordi Fabre]

Merci Michel!

[blackink]

More information

[Jordi Fabre]

I copy below the information published (in French language) about this topic in the last issue (102) of the French magazine Le Règne Minéral

What is sure is that the topic is complex with two shows already launched. We'll see what happens in the future...

Thanks to the Règne Mineral magazine for granting permission to reproduce the magazine here. His website for sales on line is located in Minéraux et Fossiles and they are some threads created in FMF related with this magazine, like: "Le Règne Minéral n°100"

[Sainte Marie]

Hello everyone,

My understanding is that the Sainte-Marie-Show-Place is not moving - it remains in Sainte Marie!!!
And the Sainte-Marie-show-place is continuing with its well-known exhibitors.
It is also my understanding, that who relocates is the Euro Gem promoter, making effort for getting people to relocate with him.

For some exhibitors this may be a difficult time to be clear on what to do. Because it seems to be that two shows would take place at the same time but different locations.

Here are some thoughts for sharing:
Needless to say, that the world most famous mineral show city Sainte Marie has its mining history and greatest & charming tradition.
Apart from enjoying the show in Sainte-Marie-show-place as such since 48 years now, all of us as well recognize that generally fair fees around the world are increasing fast.
Now, in Saint-Marie, with the city of Sainte Marie running the show, having different mind-set and mainly focused on the dealers & the region, the city likely will be able to keep the cost as stable as possible for the exhibitors in a longer term in order to attract them to return year over year. As well, one should trust, Saint Marie understand and will surely do their very best to provide good services and advertisement to and for the exhibitors, as these are as well pre-conditions for the exhibitors for a good show.
Plus, as we know, too big shows are simply over killing. Those shows might be looking professional from a logistic point of view, but how often do we have to experience that the exhibitor’s shares of cake are getting smaller and smaller and the visitors are exhausted and tired & confused too by the size of the show. One of the statements the major of Sainte Marie has given to the regional France news paper recently during his interview is, that Saint-Marie will also try to keep the size of the show in a good shape in the interest of the exhibitors and visitors.

Considering the history of Sainte-Marie-show-place and experienced logistic team, Sainte Marie could very well be a success.

Here is the website: https://www.sainte-marie-mineral.com

Although there are still some construction areas on the web, at least we can receive the handy key information we need.

Regards,
Murphy

[lluis]

Dear Murphy

Well, certainly Sainte Marie has a long history, and landscape is wonderful.

But I suppose that you would agree with me that the logistics is a nightmare.
You should fly to Colmar and then rent a car or drive a lot of km for not ever very good roads.
I was refraining to go to Sainte Marie because for one side, I should take a long trip from Barcelona (well, I could visit some cellars), get a hotel far from Sainte Marie and then return home.
In Colmar, I think to remember that there are two flys per day, at peanuts the ticket.
That means that I could go and return same day (being self employée, I appreciate that...I need to work to fuel my hobby... :-) )

Anyway, time will say.

With best wishes

Lluís