Crash International has been forced to cancel plans for a dedicated bodyshop exhibition in the UK due to a lack of interest. The event was scheduled for October 2-4 at the G-Mex in Manchester, although the exhibition centre says no booking was made for those dates.

Several suppliers had signed up, including Car-O-Liner, Car Bench, and Spraytherm, but the organiser failed to secure sufficient advance bookings. “Many companies support the idea of a specialised show but seem to hold back on signing up,” says Crash UK sales manager Monique Doomernik.

Potential exhibitors say the cost of stand space was an issue, but the main deterrent was uncertainty over the marketing plans. They were not convinced the show, which was backed by the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association, would attract sufficient numbers of visitors. The organiser had already cancelled plans for an exhibition in London scheduled for April blaming economic uncertainty.