- Joined
- May 31, 2023
- Messages
- 302
I feel like it's my responsibility to post about this in an effort to warn others (both companies and customers).
Last summer I was contacted several times by Shane Barbour. A simple google search will yield results on several forums (to include this one). He doesn't appear to have a good track record in the hunting community. He was in charge of the Vancouver Outdoor Expo. I agreed to a booth for $750. Shane claimed it was going to be busy, with tens of thousands of entry tickets already sold for the show. Some folks in the hunting industry that are familiar with Shane reached out to me when they saw our logo on his website several months ago. They warned me that the show was going to be a dud. I talked with Shane after this new info. He doubled down on this show being big and that we would sell tons of gear. But, after doing my own research, I decided to opt out of the show and chalked the $750 up to a loss. I requested that he remove our logo from his website.
Well, the show was this weekend. I was informed it was a complete bust. Extremely low attendance (nothing close to what was claimed for tickets sold), and I observed several pictures and videos of empty walkways between booths on Saturday afternoon. A lot of vendors closed down and went home Saturday night.
The shows Facebook page was deleted before the show even ended today, as many vendors posted comments on feeling lied to and scammed. Allegedly, law enforcement is now involved with many vendors filing complaints.
What really upsets me is this. A young couple drove all the way out from Pennsylvania to attend this show. They started their business in 2024 and manufacture soaps for the hunting and outdoor community. It reminded me of when I started my business in my apartment living room in 2018 with little resources, money, or revenue. It absolutely breaks my damn heart to see folks like this victimized with lies and deceit. Being told the show is going to be huge, with tens of thousands of attendees, showing up with a car load of merchandise, and soon realizing you were played like a flute. The fact that many of these vendors are small companies with limited spending power on marketing / trade shows is what enrages me more than the $750 I lost.
If you want to support a small business and your into natural / unscented soaps you can check them out below. I had no clue who they were until today. I bought a bunch to throw into our orders, so some may be sold out for a bit.
I usually don't like getting my company involved with this kind of stuff, but I have to stand up for what is right and just. As I discover more small companies that were at this show...I will post them in this forum in an effort to drive business and support to them.
Anyways, Shane may be involved with other outdoor shows next year in the Washington / Idaho area, so I want both businesses and attendees to be on the alert.
Thanks guys!
-Tyler
Last summer I was contacted several times by Shane Barbour. A simple google search will yield results on several forums (to include this one). He doesn't appear to have a good track record in the hunting community. He was in charge of the Vancouver Outdoor Expo. I agreed to a booth for $750. Shane claimed it was going to be busy, with tens of thousands of entry tickets already sold for the show. Some folks in the hunting industry that are familiar with Shane reached out to me when they saw our logo on his website several months ago. They warned me that the show was going to be a dud. I talked with Shane after this new info. He doubled down on this show being big and that we would sell tons of gear. But, after doing my own research, I decided to opt out of the show and chalked the $750 up to a loss. I requested that he remove our logo from his website.
Well, the show was this weekend. I was informed it was a complete bust. Extremely low attendance (nothing close to what was claimed for tickets sold), and I observed several pictures and videos of empty walkways between booths on Saturday afternoon. A lot of vendors closed down and went home Saturday night.
The shows Facebook page was deleted before the show even ended today, as many vendors posted comments on feeling lied to and scammed. Allegedly, law enforcement is now involved with many vendors filing complaints.
What really upsets me is this. A young couple drove all the way out from Pennsylvania to attend this show. They started their business in 2024 and manufacture soaps for the hunting and outdoor community. It reminded me of when I started my business in my apartment living room in 2018 with little resources, money, or revenue. It absolutely breaks my damn heart to see folks like this victimized with lies and deceit. Being told the show is going to be huge, with tens of thousands of attendees, showing up with a car load of merchandise, and soon realizing you were played like a flute. The fact that many of these vendors are small companies with limited spending power on marketing / trade shows is what enrages me more than the $750 I lost.
If you want to support a small business and your into natural / unscented soaps you can check them out below. I had no clue who they were until today. I bought a bunch to throw into our orders, so some may be sold out for a bit.
Products
Handcrafted / All-Natural Tallow & Lard Soap Bars. Inspired by the outdoors, for the outdoors.
racosoap.com
I usually don't like getting my company involved with this kind of stuff, but I have to stand up for what is right and just. As I discover more small companies that were at this show...I will post them in this forum in an effort to drive business and support to them.
Anyways, Shane may be involved with other outdoor shows next year in the Washington / Idaho area, so I want both businesses and attendees to be on the alert.
Thanks guys!
-Tyler
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