Its Showtime for the Swap n’ Shop By Traci Matt STAFF WRITER Native Kansas Citians smile and nod knowingly when you mention the flea market at the 63rd Street Drive-In. Everyone has spent at least one swelter- ing summer morning shuffling up and down dusty rows lined with tables—and stacked with one man’s junk hoping to become another man’s treasure. Nothing fancy. But anyone who didn’t find a treasure at least made a friend or two. That’s the informal look and feel you’ ll find at May’s ERA Trade Show Swap n’ Shop (minus the dusty ground). For the first time, ERA rebuilder members will be able to bring hand-carried items, reserve a table space at the rear of the show floor, and hopefully watch someone else walk off with their unwanteds. “Rebuilders all have something that they have too much of and not enough of,’ said Juan Grube of JIMCO, who, along with wife Carolyn, came up with the idea while brainstorming about ideas to draw people to the show. Last fall’s ERA show shared a convention facility with a gun show, and the thought of people with similar interests bringing things to trade with others sparked the idea for the Swap n’ Shop. “We have to assume that if this is treated as a regional show the majority of people will drive. So what’s to keep a guy from loading up his pickup truck with some stuff and swapping it out?” said Juan. The Grubes were particularly concerned that the all-electrical show was becoming too predictable, including a predictably low turnout. Their brainstorming sessions cen- tered around making the exhibit more appealing to those rebuilders who aren’t necessarily buying high-dollar equipment, as well as introducing some new features to bring past attendees back. “Why go do something that you’ve already done?” Juan said. Carolyn said she’s hoping it will be a comfortable place for rebuilders to inter- act, swap war stories, share opinions of vendors, and find some common ground. “Tf one person walks away from there with something he needed, then it’s a success for him. If it draws rebuilders to the show then it will be successful,” she said. “TI think it will be fun. I’d love to have a table there.” Rebuilder Dan Smith of Boston Auto Electric, Boston, Mass., agrees. “The swap should be a lot of fun as well as a fantastic chance for rebuilders to see the positive impact of networking with other rebuilders. Someone from Ohio may just have a box full of obsolete parts that someone in Kansas has been in need of. I will be bringing some things to swap, along with a wish list of parts I have been looking for.” Smith also said suppliers should be commended for supporting the Swap n’ Shop because it allows their “full sup- port” of the rebuilders. A three-foot by six-foot table space will be available to ERA rebuilder mem- bers for $25 per day or an entire table may be reserved for $50 per day. Each rebuilder is allowed only one whole table. No new products and no complete cores will be allowed, but other parts, tools, or anything attendees can dig out of their shops will be welcomed. Rebuilders will be responsible for their own pricing and merchandise security. Show coordinator Polly Shea said she wants to make it clear to non- exhibiting suppliers that this is not the space for them. “T would like to hope that in the spirit of this new event, we won’t have to chase any stealth briefcase-toting suppliers out of the Swap n’ Shop area,” she said. Call Shea at the Exchange office (913) 642-4682 to reserve your table. Space will be limited so call soon. Those who would like to have their items posted in advance on the EREN Web site and in the Exchange may do so at no extra cost.