Trade shows

elkyinzer

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Sep 9, 2013
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Pennslyvania
Do they benefit the consumer or hunting world in general in any meaningful way? Are there any discrete examples how they truly drive innovation and collaboration?

Rather, are they just an excuse for insiders to rub elbows and subsequently pass along the expense to the shit we buy? Hasn't the instant (and cheap) communication of the internet supplanted their intended purpose?

I have not been to any hunting trade shows but I've attended a couple in my industry. My opinion of those has been unequivocally option #2 to the point of wondering how the trade show/convention industry (it is a booming industry in itself) manages to defy basic economic logic. I suspect the same in the hunting world but curious to hear others' opinions.
 

Akicita

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Aug 3, 2016
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Colorado
"People buy from people they like". . . Industry, government and retail buyers too - Consumer and industry conventions are a time and opportunity to make personal business liaisons and client relationships face to face which may be difficult during typical daily roles, duties and responsibilities. Those who try to sell a product or service instead of themselves or establish a good business relationship at these shows are wasting time and money.
 
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Nuke Man

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May 1, 2014
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Midwest
Crickets on this one! Lol. I have my ideas on trade shows.... but yea I think the same as you. I was just discussing this a couple days ago.
 

Flashmo

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Nov 30, 2016
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Midway, UT
"People by from people they like". . . Industry, government and retail buyers too - Consumer and industry conventions are a time and opportunity to make personal business liaisons and client relationships face to face which may be difficult during typical daily roles, duties and responsibilities. Those who try to sell a product or service instead of themselves or establish a good business relationship at these shows are wasting time and money.

This is correct.

There are almost no companies in the US that make their own product. Manufacturing is all subbed out to specialty manufacturers. Garments are made by garment manufacturers primarily in China. Fly reels are made by just a couple very large machine shops in Korea with 5 axis multi pallet machines. Anything plastic is made by a specialty plastic injection shop using your molds...you get the drift...

My company goes to trade shows to see our industry contacts and meet new ones. Being a manufacturer with extra capacity, probably 65% of our gross income comes from manufacturing for other companies in our industry, not wholesale or retail consumer products. I have never found an outdoor related company who actually makes their own product who does not also make products for other companies in the same industry. If you didn't have the extra capacity...you could not fulfill your own retail/wholesale obligations. It has been this way in every industry since Henry Ford figured out the assembly line.

On the other hand, us owners and the employees that go to shows with us really REALLY enjoy interacting with our retail consumers. It gets us out of the shop showing what we do, design, and what drives us. We really only hope to cover the costs of the show (travel, booth, wages and other expenses) at the show. Long term, those dollars spent on shows are the most effective marketing dollars spent each year. Quality one on one contact with someone makes them your new salesperson.

I, personally, have made some lifelong friendships with people who walked into my booth over the years (one spent this past weekend at the house). Another comes up from Texas every summer.

Most actual industry elbow rubbing is actually done before and after official show hours (we would still like to show and sell our products). We go out to dinner in groups after hours, and are in the venue 1-2 hours before the public is allowed in each day.

For the consumer, the shows are your chance to put hands on products that your local retailer may not carry, or can not afford to carry. NO, my retail products do not come with a buy it, try it, return it if it wasn't quite what you wanted guarantee. Our normal retail customer has been at his outdoor hobby for 10 or more years, is over 50 years old, and knows exactly what he is looking for. 20 years, and not one customer has asked for a return from our main product lines.
 

530Chukar

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Jun 27, 2016
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Out West
As a consumer, I enjoy going to one of the bigger trade shows every couple years primarily to see the new products that some of the larger companies are producing and to see them first hand. For example, there is no where near me that I can go try on any of the Kifaru, Mystery Ranch packs, different clothing systems. Lucky for me I'm only 3 hrs from Reno and Sheep Show is next week. Other than seeing these products first hand I could care less what goes on at the shows.
 

KNPV PSD

Lil-Rokslider
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Nov 5, 2013
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Somers, MT
I have only been to one, the Intl Sportsmans Expo in Sacramento. While it did have some lectures by some recognizable folks and some product demos, it seemed to be 75% outfitters trying to sell hunts. I expected much more from it on the side of vendors showing product. SHOT show it was not...
 

fngTony

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I have only been to one, the Intl Sportsmans Expo in Sacramento. While it did have some lectures by some recognizable folks and some product demos, it seemed to be 75% outfitters trying to sell hunts. I expected much more from it on the side of vendors showing product. SHOT show it was not...
My exact thoughts on the I.S.E. in Denver. A few local shops and organizations but nothing to get to go through the hassle of parking. Maybe if it had a bunch of top gear companies where I could see shelters set up, high end sleeping bags, full line of clothes, that would be worth it.
 

530Chukar

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Jun 27, 2016
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I have only been to one, the Intl Sportsmans Expo in Sacramento. While it did have some lectures by some recognizable folks and some product demos, it seemed to be 75% outfitters trying to sell hunts. I expected much more from it on the side of vendors showing product. SHOT show it was not...


The sacramento show is a joke. Same dates as sheep show in Reno so all the big hitters are in Reno vs sac.


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rgroves79

Lil-Rokslider
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Sep 1, 2016
Messages
165
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Virginia
This is correct.

There are almost no companies in the US that make their own product. Manufacturing is all subbed out to specialty manufacturers. Garments are made by garment manufacturers primarily in China. Fly reels are made by just a couple very large machine shops in Korea with 5 axis multi pallet machines. Anything plastic is made by a specialty plastic injection shop using your molds...you get the drift...

My company goes to trade shows to see our industry contacts and meet new ones. Being a manufacturer with extra capacity, probably 65% of our gross income comes from manufacturing for other companies in our industry, not wholesale or retail consumer products. I have never found an outdoor related company who actually makes their own product who does not also make products for other companies in the same industry. If you didn't have the extra capacity...you could not fulfill your own retail/wholesale obligations. It has been this way in every industry since Henry Ford figured out the assembly line.

On the other hand, us owners and the employees that go to shows with us really REALLY enjoy interacting with our retail consumers. It gets us out of the shop showing what we do, design, and what drives us. We really only hope to cover the costs of the show (travel, booth, wages and other expenses) at the show. Long term, those dollars spent on shows are the most effective marketing dollars spent each year. Quality one on one contact with someone makes them your new salesperson.

I, personally, have made some lifelong friendships with people who walked into my booth over the years (one spent this past weekend at the house). Another comes up from Texas every summer.

Most actual industry elbow rubbing is actually done before and after official show hours (we would still like to show and sell our products). We go out to dinner in groups after hours, and are in the venue 1-2 hours before the public is allowed in each day.

For the consumer, the shows are your chance to put hands on products that your local retailer may not carry, or can not afford to carry. NO, my retail products do not come with a buy it, try it, return it if it wasn't quite what you wanted guarantee. Our normal retail customer has been at his outdoor hobby for 10 or more years, is over 50 years old, and knows exactly what he is looking for. 20 years, and not one customer has asked for a return from our main product lines.

^^^This. I have attended a bunch in my own industry over the years and you can definitely develop some long-term relationships with people you meet there. The different companies getting to see what the others are coming out with also helps drive innovation as well.
 

Mtnboy

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Feb 26, 2013
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ID
I've met some folks at shows that has led to some hunt opportunities that I normally wouldn't have.

Networking is a big benefit of shows.



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charvey9

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Jan 26, 2014
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Hamilton, MT
I have not been to many, but think it is a little bit of both and don't see anything wrong with that.

I just got back from ATA, and really enjoyed the show. There were many "little guys" there with new and/or variations on products I had never seen. Not every one of them was something I would buy, but it gave them an opportunity to connect with retailers who otherwise may never see their product. Not many people go searching for stuff on the internet if they do not know the product exists.

On the other side, it provided some really great connections for both myself and my brother who are looking to expand our small businesses more into the archery industry. We made contact with and lined up purchases with both large and small suppliers that we otherwise would never have had access to all in one place. If we had to travel to each of those manufacturers individual to view, demo, and purchase products no small business could ever afford it and the only options the consumer would have to buy most of these products would be your big box stores.

Ultimately the more places that sell these products, increases competition, drives prices down, etc. So all-in-all its good for the manufacturer, retailers, and consumer in the long run.

Of course there is some elbow rubbing, but even at a show like ATA, there are thousands of other people in attendance beyond those you see on FB and Instagram smiling for the camera. It is certainly not all celebrity. I do not absorb a lot of outdoor TV and media, but there were plenty of people there I recognized and was surprised at how approachable everyone was. I would definitely go back again.

It was very useful to improving my small business, and a good time all around.
 

sneaky

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I wasn't at the ATA show this year, but I've been I think 5 times. When I was running my archery shop it was the best money spent all year, bar none. Nowhere else do you get to see all of the new gear, get the show special pricing and plan out your orders, and be able to network with others in the industry. Customers would be lined up when we got back with questions on all of the new gear. If you haven't seen it, you can't give them an honest answer. But, by attending the show, I could give them first hand knowledge on the new equipment coming out and that helped them plan on what they were going to buy themselves for the year. The consumer shows, on the other hand, can be a total crap shoot. If they were limited to outdoor industry businesses it would help, but you get too many cookware and latest greatest kitchen gadget booths that eat up space and take away from the feel of it. Pretty big difference on the industry shows and the consumer shows. Lots of money changing hands with order writing and such at the industry shows, lots of tire kickers and time wasters at the consumer shows.
 

Flashmo

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Nov 30, 2016
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48
Location
Midway, UT
I should have clarified in my earlier post that I am in the outdoor industry, but not the hunting industry.

Hunting/sportsman's shows suck. I don't go to them personally or for business. Outfitters and hot tub displays...all day long.

If you are in the outdoor industries, book a ticket for summer or winter Outdoor Retailer in SLC, whichever fits.

Mind blowing. Over 20,000 people. None are retail/general public. No retail sales. Ever seen 2,000sqft two story booths...with customers on the second floor? You will see several here.

It is a perspective changing event...
 

kodiakfly

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Jan 25, 2014
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Kodiak
This is correct.
MANYFly reels are made by just a couple very large machine shops in Korea with 5 axis multi pallet machines.
The good ones, and good rods are made in-house and in USA


I have attended a bunch in my own industry over the years and you can definitely develop some long-term relationships with people you meet there. The different companies getting to see what the others are coming out with also helps drive innovation as well.

Very true. I've worked trade and consumer shows and the best relationships happen after show hours at the bar or hotel lobby over drinks. I think they're a good thing for the companies, retailers and consumers. If they weren't successful/needed/wanted there wouldn't be an Instagram hashtag dedicated to each show and people "liking" posts left and right and then discussing the new camo patterns, bows and gear. The shows are a good thing.
 
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