Reefapalooza California?

[Jimbo327]

I noticed that reefapalooza california is happening next weekend, and there has been zero talk about it on this forum.

Are local reefers going? I know that SCMAS is supposed to help with this show, but have not seen anyone even promote it. Kind of weird, no?

Anyways, I haven't bought tickets yet, and probably will skip it.

 

[peter]

Yeah I barely heard about it last week. The floor plan looks like there's alot of empty spaces still for being weeks away when I checked. $30 is kinda steep.

 

[DanK.Reefer]

$30 is pretty pricey for socal considering the number of reef aquarium stores, frag swaps, and availability of online vendors that I can visit for free. I could see paying that if I lived somewere where I only had 1 LFS and no community to congregate with from time to time. Thats just me though.

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[joseserrano]

Scmas does still help. I got emails from them about it, but they mostly promote on bigger forum (R2r), and Instagram.

unfortunately we have allowed this forum to just be Craigslist, so we have become forgotten.

 

[Tommy Ngo]

Since Reefapalooza is run by WWC now, SCMAS doesn’t get involved in promoting the event on this forum. Most of the promoting I have seen so far are done on Instagram. It’s kinda sad to go onto SCMAS website and see the last time Reefapalooza was promoted on the site was for 2021. Since Covid, SCMAS participation got lesser overall.

 

[mchain275]

I plan to skip RAP this year. Between the cost of admission and the cost of parking, it's a considerable cost just to get in the door, and then vendor pricing is all over the place.

On a broader note, it feels like it's just a matter of time before Bertram Capital or another private equity fund buys up WWC and other companies in the aquaculture space to compliment their dry goods and hardware manufacturer portfolio. I don't think it's a coincidence (or attributable to inflation) that the cost of stuff (a) on BRS has steadily increased (after they bought out one of their main competitors in Marine Depot) and (b) produced by Ecotech, Neptune and AI has exploded in recent years.

As for this forum, it does feel like it's being used principally as a localized marketplace, and it seems most people maintain their build threads and substantive discussions on R2R. I can't blame them, as R2R caters to a much larger national and international community, so the engagement is much, much higher.

How do we address that?

 

[Reef_Magik89]

I thought that the SCMAS was still doing the raffle last year or the year before? Did they stop doing that?

I still saw a few of the members like Greg helping out with making announcements, etc. He has a great voice for that

 

[bustayanky]

Yeah I barely heard about it last week. The floor plan looks like there's alot of empty spaces still for being weeks away when I checked. $30 is kinda steep.

Seems like only 5 booths that aren’t filled when I checked now.

 

[DanK.Reefer]

I plan to skip RAP this year. Between the cost of admission and the cost of parking, it's a considerable cost just to get in the door, and then vendor pricing is all over the place.

On a broader note, it feels like it's just a matter of time before Bertram Capital or another private equity fund buys up WWC and other companies in the aquaculture space to compliment their dry goods and hardware manufacturer portfolio. I don't think it's a coincidence (or attributable to inflation) that the cost of stuff (a) on BRS has steadily increased (after they bought out one of their main competitors in Marine Depot) and (b) produced by Ecotech, Neptune and AI has exploded in recent years.

As for this forum, it does feel like it's being used principally as a localized marketplace, and it seems most people maintain their build threads and substantive discussions on R2R. I can't blame them, as R2R caters to a much larger national and international community, so the engagement is much, much higher.

How do we address that?

The way we address the issues that you speak of, (IE corporate take overs, and lack of fellowship)is to get together and have more inperson community events and club style meetings. Sadly in this digital era there are less and less face to face interactions between fellow individuals. Even worse than that is less and less face to face interactions between buisiness owners and customers.

This lack of real community makes it easier for the big business(Bertram Capital and others) to step in take over and eventually price gouge the heck out of us. Just look at the way our hobby has gone in the last 5 years since they have gotten involved. The availability of imported live stock and live rock has disappeared. Guess who stepped in to fill that void.....big business with their exorbitantly priced filtration and aquacultured livestock. They have been pushing for this for years. The COVID pandemic just made it easy for them to complete the take over. Everyone was told to go home stay away from each other and mail order was normalized.

So back to the question of "How do we address this?"

If we as a community want to stop this progression of corporate take over and exorbitant price gouging of our hobby it starts with us. We need to rehabilitate our fellowship and build our clubs back up. Meet with fellow reefers, engage in the reef community around us do local frag swaps and support LFS for livestock and equipment purchases rather than buying from the faceless online mail order giants. Then start using our local forums not just to sell our used crap but to engage with one another as fellows and organize our own local events rather than waiting for some corporate entity to do it for us.

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[Jimbo327]

I think the event will be packed because it serves the whole West Coast, so lots of people will come from all over to attend. Just weird there is no promotion on the local forums. I guess Instagram is the new way.

As far as build threads, I know I moved mine to R2R because there was a period where the site was down for 2+ weeks and a lot of spam. I don't think anyone wants to lose their build thread and photos if this gets hacked or closed. Personally, I rather have my build thread here because I like talking to local folks more as I'm interested in tank tours and see how other people do things locally.

 

[Jimbo327]

SCR needs more moderators and less sporadic week long down times. Too many inappropriates spam threads started without being taken down.

And I think it all starts with the more veteran reefers to create threads that aren't FS threads. Even asking questions. Or simply just a monthly FTS (full tank shot) thread would be awesome to generate discussion. The strangest part of this forum and today's forum/reefing is that I don't have an idea what everyone's tanks look like at all. Reefing used to meet other people and see what their tanks look like, even the clubs were a great way to see other people's tanks.

I'm doing more trades with local reefers, but it's tough because most want the $. I do find a few more locals at R2R that is willing to trade. Posting a FTS shot will encourage more people to talk and trade.

I think also SCMAS and clubs that don't talk on this forum doesn't help either. There is zero engagement when it's just a snap on instagram. It's more for flexing and leads the hobby into very isolated one way direction.

 

[JojosReef]

I plan to skip RAP this year. Between the cost of admission and the cost of parking, it's a considerable cost just to get in the door, and then vendor pricing is all over the place.

On a broader note, it feels like it's just a matter of time before Bertram Capital or another private equity fund buys up WWC and other companies in the aquaculture space to compliment their dry goods and hardware manufacturer portfolio. I don't think it's a coincidence (or attributable to inflation) that the cost of stuff (a) on BRS has steadily increased (after they bought out one of their main competitors in Marine Depot) and (b) produced by Ecotech, Neptune and AI has exploded in recent years.

As for this forum, it does feel like it's being used principally as a localized marketplace, and it seems most people maintain their build threads and substantive discussions on R2R. I can't blame them, as R2R caters to a much larger national and international community, so the engagement is much, much higher.

How do we address that?

Tough question. I use this forum also for reaching out to locals for ideas, help with things or group buys, but when it comes to engagement, R2R just has too massive an audience. Any question gets 10 answers in a few minutes. I also have yet to get offered pills that'll turn my balls into boulders on R2R. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Not to say we should emulate them, but what do they have going for them? They have lots of sponsors so lots of giveaways and community engagement. Very broad base of people, so lots of expertise at different levels. Website is a bit more user friendly in terms of photodocumenting, editing, etc. (Although socali is not that far off). They also separate the marketplace from the topical section, which is on the home page, so it doesn't feel like a craigslist.

How does this site improve? I think it would require time and monetary investment from the top down. Big national brands might not be interested in sponsorship of a socal only forum, but there are a lot of local coral and fish companies that could do it, the key being able to leverage a local community that can help these comapnies boost sales and give incentives for prizes, discounts and fun stuff. For example, I don't like paying shipping. It's expensive. It's not ideal for the coral. It cuts into my coral budget. If there were an organized local "supply chain", where I could periodically get GSC corals down here in Irvine through a meeting or SFV person that heads this way regularly, I'd be more inclined to buy something from GSC. That might be asking a lot though. My 2c though!

 

[mchain275]

Just FYI re: Bertram Capital and their portfolio. They currently own BRS, what's left of Marine Depot, Ecotech, Neptune, AI and Leap. Bookmark this page and check it every couple of months to stay informed on other constituents of the foodchain they acquire: https://www.bertramcapital.com/portfolio/aperture-pet-life/

Reasonable people can disagree on how private equity firms should be viewed, and the last thing I want is to open up a political discussion. But for what it's worth, I spent a significant chunk of my career providing legal services to private equity firms (though Bertram is not one of them), and I'm very familiar with their practices (and kudos to Bertram for at least being open about their portfolio holdings), and I can say with confidence that consolidation like this will inevitably result in (a) price increases that outpace inflation and (b) disappointing reductions in quality and service to the consumer.

Note that Bertram consummated its first investment in this space in December 2020, in the midst of a private equity feeding frenzy when market prices were depressed. Very few corners of the economy are free from private equity, and now we can count our niche hobby as among the victims.

 

[DanK.Reefer]

Just FYI re: Bertram Capital and their portfolio. They currently own BRS, what's left of Marine Depot, Ecotech, Neptune, AI and Leap. Bookmark this page and check it every couple of months to stay informed on other constituents of the foodchain they acquire: https://www.bertramcapital.com/portfolio/aperture-pet-life/

Reasonable people can disagree on how private equity firms should be viewed, and the last thing I want is to open up a political discussion. But for what it's worth, I spent a significant chunk of my career providing legal services to private equity firms (though Bertram is not one of them), and I'm very familiar with their practices (and kudos to Bertram for at least being open about their portfolio holdings), and I can say with confidence that consolidation like this will inevitably result in (a) price increases that outpace inflation and (b) disappointing reductions in quality and service to the consumer.

Note that Bertram consummated its first investment in this space in December 2020, in the midst of a private equity feeding frenzy when market prices were depressed. Very few corners of the economy are free from private equity, and now we can count our niche hobby as among the victims.

These are the cold hard facts of capitalism. I see it every day in my industry(Auto Repair). Large corporate entities consuming smaller ones just to take the names and stick them on lower quality merch. I also keep an eye on the Apeture website to see who they have eaten up. I try and avoid the brands that they have full control of like EcoTec and AI, but some of the ones that they distribute(HW, and Maxspect) entice me to dance with the devil so to speak.

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[anthonys_aqua]

Yeah I barely heard about it last week. The floor plan looks like there's alot of empty spaces still for being weeks away when I checked. $30 is kinda steep.

theres 5 booths open, wouldnt say thats alot of empty space

 

[Sold4JC]

I just bought my tickets for RAP. I will be there Saturday.

 

[Dipan00]

Im out of town but wanted to attend rap even though I dont have space in my tank for any new pieces lol.

As far as engagement goes I think contests are great, whether it be grow out or photos. I know there was a photo contest a little while back that just died. I get that everyone is busy and doing the best they can. Maybe adding in more moderators to help keep things chugging along? Id rather be on here but I do find myself looking at R2R also. I dont know the cost or man power to run this site so not sure how consuming it is to work on.

 

[Sakudo4]

Front and center

 

[Vee]

I’m not sure if I’m attending either. Have anyone spent the money for early access and was it worth it? It seems by the time the main entrance time rolls around, some of the best pieces were already gone.


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[wishntoboutside]

Stop by and say hello as I will be in the CoralVue booth. We will be showing the Maven and other Hydros. Their may even be some other new products we will be showing