“Sold to the brothers from Port Hedland”. I heard that at least twice on Monday morning out at Gracemere. They had travelled from a western extremity of Australia to the east coast to buy cattle.
It was the first day of the World’s Biggest Multi-Vendor Cattle Breed Sale – Brahman Week. An annual event that attracts bidders from each mainland state of Australia and even the odd international to the CQLX arena at Gracemere.
Today is final day of the sales and recommend people go out and have a look at what happens in the arena. Listen to not only the prices the cattle are being sold for but where they are sold to.
However, it appears that unless you are in the industry the event flies largely under the radar other than a report on the top price paid.
Could and should Rockhampton region do more with this iconic event?
A few Rockhampton businesses do grab this door step opportunity to directly promote their products to those attending the sales. But it is amazing the number who decline, perhaps believing they’ll get their visitation when in town, even though some don’t open Sunday or the public holiday Monday or after 5.00pm Tuesday or Wednesday, when the sales usually wrap up each day. And there are no attractions taking advantage of the opportunity to encourage all those who have travelled to stay in the region longer this time or next.
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”, Thomas Edison.
Most opportunities involve work to hopefully make it rewarding and yes, with Brahman Week an outlay is required. Setting up a trade display at 6.30am on a public holiday, being prepared to man it all day for 3 days with no expectation of what will be gained, but knowing full well how much it has cost, does take some dedication, add to the fact Graeme also travelled from Brisbane to do it. How many of these products could have been sold at Rockhampton stores?
May, next year is Beef Week. Trade Fair site applications are closed so if you do want to take advantage of the tri-annual event and haven’t booked a site you’ll need to be creative in attracting people away from the showgrounds.
Old ways don’t open new doors. Technology now enables amazing ways to connect; not just for local businesses but global as well. Suggest the planning starts now before the opportunity that is Beef Week looks like overalls.