FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Jordi Fabre]

At the moment I am receiving a huge amount of information, messages and questions about the change in location of the Show from Sainte Marie to Colmar, as well as about the wish of the Sainte Marie town hall for the show to continue in the town, which is creating headaches and doubts for everyone, visitors and dealers alike, so I have decided to start this topic.

I have started with a link to the original news on this subject -> https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=20517#20517 and now I would like that everyone interested gives their opinion in public, with the aim that this will help clarify the numerous doubts created by the change and by the decision made by the Sainte Marie town hall.

This is the official confirmation that was sent to me by the show we all know so well (Euro Mineral):

The reasons of the moving to COLMAR in 2012 (English) : https://www.euromineral.fr/share/why_a.html
Les raisons du départ vers COLMAR en 2012 (in French) : https://www.euromineral.fr/share/why_f.html
Notre site web EURO MINERAL & EURO GEM 2012 (in French): https://www.euromineral.fr/index.html
Les plans EURO MINERAL 2012 avec les détails par secteur (in French): https://www.euromineral.fr/f_/m_map.html
Les plans EURO GEM 2012 avec les détails par secteur (in French): https://www.euromineral.fr/f_/g_map.html

[Jolyon Ralph]

The interesting thing is that now there will be TWO shows, one in Ste-Marie and another in Colmar.

I'm quite pleased with this - I think it will give more opportunities for dealers, and I imagine most visitors will visit both shows -

[lluis]

Hi, Jolyon, Jordi, List

Well, Colmar is convenient for me.
Sainte Marie is a nightmare logistically speaking.

I would bid that Colmar will eat Sainte Marie (to be in nowhere or to be near an aerport)

Anyway, that happens when I and my wife thought to make a wine prospect trip thorough France to Sainte Marie.... :-)
But Colmar is very convenient and unexpensive.... :-)
Hard decission!

The Schoffit cellar is very good....

With best wishes

Lluís

[Jolyon Ralph]

I'm just worried that Colmar will ruin the atmosphere of the show - we don't need another Munich-type show

[lluis]

Hi, Jolyon

Well, things happen...

We will see...
And, besides, what is wrong with Munich show?
I always have thought that is wunderbar.... :-)

With best wishes

Lluís

[Jean Sendero]

Jordi,

unsure I understand this here. The Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines show moves to Colmar but there will still be a show at SMaM in the Town Hall at the same time? or not? have they identified which dealer will be where?
Cheers

jean

[Jordi Fabre]

[lluis]

Good evening

Well, my thoughts

If there will be two shows, well, the pie is same, so, the slices will be smaller and would be no gain.

I understand that Sainte Marie City Hall is not happy with this (less taxes to collect...), but two shows at same time, well, that would be bad for all.

As said, time will say....

For me, is easy: Colmar.

With best wishes

Lluís

[arturo shaw]

Talking to Fanelsa yesterday we both arrive at the same conclusion: the road between Colmar and Sainte Marie will be jammed!

See you there!

Arturo

[Christophe Houble]

[Montanpark]

Hi all,
i also am concerned about the atmosphere of the show. I definitely know some dealers who will go to Ste Marie, not Colmar. And i will be in Ste Marie too. As Jolyon said, no need for a Munich 2.
But we will see,
cheers
Roger

[Jesse Fisher]

For me, the main reason to attend the Ste Marie show was because it was in Ste Marie. The setting and atmosphere of the show was totally unique. Moving it to a conference center in Colmar will make it just another show, and there are plenty of them already (at least for the time and money I have available). I think it is unfortunate that the show organizer would not keep the show at a size that could be accommodated within the streets of Ste Marie. I personally hope that the people who are attempting to keep a show in Ste Marie are successful. If/when I go again it will likely be to go to Ste Marie, not Colmar.

[arturo shaw]

I've been told that the show in Sainte Marie will have to be very little... or they will get no authorization.

As a tourist I love little towns with "charme" but if I am watching, taking pictures of or even buying minerals I would prefer a "Munich style" fair but in a one single enormous straight corridor under a roof. I've seen the maps of the fair in Colmar and it is not going to be the sort I like, I'm afraid. ;-)



Cheers!

Arturo

[alfredo]

Like Christophe, Roger and Jesse, I will be in Sainte Marie too.

I'm sure Mr Schwab will put on a very nice professional show in Colmar, but (like many of my American friends) that was not the main reason to go to Sainte Marie. We go to Sainte Marie for its rustic european holiday atmosphere, + minerals. Without that rustic holiday charm, we can patiently wait 4 more months for Munich, no need to spend $1,400 on another plane ticket.

[Tomasz Praszkier]

As I was writing on mindat on similar topic ( https://www.mindat.org/msgboard-6.html ) we will be in Colmar. Also majority of dealers which I know go to Colmar.
Do you know that Colmar is much more beautiful town than SMAM? And each evening we can meet together because we do not have to stay spread in hotels 50km around show...
Show in SMAM will be much smaller because only few dealers will attend and because they can not make it so big as it was (this was one of the reasons to move it).
Personally when I am going to mineral show I am going for minerals etc - everything around is secondary. And if I have choice to stay in the more beautiful town, close to the show, with all friends in one place comparing with normal small French town staying 1 hour drive from it I have very easy choice! See you in Colmar!
BTW Please click "photos" for "Colmar" in Google.
Tomek