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Posts: 880
Location: New Berlin,Wisconsin,53151 | I really like the interaction of the speakers in the seminars. I've seen just about every bait and the way it's guarrantied to catch big fish. But being able to ask a question and see the speaker relate to the answer, this is why I pay to attend. $10.00 bucks is pretty cheap for answer to why, what, or when.
Bruce |
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| Guest - 3/15/2013 11:49 AM
I know it's been said before, but I just want to make it clear on why the "deals" by the manufactures have gone away...
They can NOT undercut the retailers or the retailers will pull their product from their store. Without retailers, these small business are gone. It's a fine line you have to walk to keep the customers happy and the retailers happy. That is why the builders and makers of these baits have mostly show colors because they can't sell stock colors and compete with retail sales.
What you say is very true and I agree, but I also see and am predicting “retailers” will continue to lose their power for calling the shots. We are already seeing them bow out of the musky shows. I see this power continue to erode away for the same reasons as why the musky shows declining. My gut feeling is eventually the majority of purchasing will go directly to the manufactures through shopping online and the role of these middle men will be lessened. There still will be big box stores, but we already see how their selection is limited.
With social media and the internet, the manufacturer can be easily found and their products shopped. Maybe Mr. Worral is onto something here…
As for improving the shows? Less retailers that are all selling the same stuff, more manufacturers who can sell their stuff without the middle man mark up. Without the markup we can hire hot booth babes and give out free beer
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | Now you guys are getting to the core of the real problems in the fishing lure industry in general. I am a small manufacturer. We do all the work here from raw blanks to finished products. We almost cant afford to sell wholesale at all. Booth cost for any large show has climbed right out of our price range. I cant lose two months of work to go lose money at a show. Its that simple guys. We cant afford to lose money like bigger companies can.
The new Show started this year by the Michigan Musky shop is the only one we can afford to attend at this time. He has no large Retailers there , inviting only manufacturers so he can see new the products first hand. He purchased all of our remaining product after this years show. He only asks us not to have colors he has in the store. Most of the companies who attend don't even have baits in his store yet. This is the incentive for up and coming small companies to get a chance to showcase their products and even end up in Jason's store.
So I don't go to any of the shows that my retailers are selling at. I offer enough other options with online, Ebay and even selling excess product here. I would rather sell retail as we don't have the capability to build tens of thousands of baits every year even if we could sell them. If the Big retailers stayed home? You would see all the smaller manufacturers BACK in those shows. That is not going to happen so expect to see less and less manufacturers at the big shows and less and less retailers at the smaller shows. Big money runs the big shows. If to dont have the capital to play you stay home. Mike |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Show Promoters need to find ways to get the small vendors to have a booth at the shows, maybe smaller booths at 1/2 the price of a large full size booth, motel deals for the vendors, and most important PROMOTE the SHOW !!!! find new ways to promote and that will get new people to attend the shows. Someone from the Show come out to all the Musky Inc, and Fishing Club meetings in town a few months before promoting the show.
Edited by PIKEMASTER 3/15/2013 8:53 PM
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | I (Tackle Industries) really try to do a lot for kids and Veterans at the shows. I think TI has given away over $5000 in retail lures at the few shows we have attended this year to kids and a few Veterans who pass by. Also helped Wausau show give away $12 lures at the door for the first 200 through the door. The best was that a lot of great vendors banded together to buy 100 $75 6' kids rods this year to give away to kids at Wausau this year. I personally think if more manufacturers did some cool give aways at the show that would really help out with attendance and make the show more fun. JMO but if you don't have a buddy to go to the show with and can take your wife and kids that makes it a nice family day. On the flip side, the beer girls are nice too 
For the Milwaukee show it was great to see the Musky Brothers do so much at the show. I think that really helps get more young people involved and that is the future of our sport IMO.
James
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Posts: 540
Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN | My hat is off to you and all that you do |
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Posts: 225
Location: Ontario, Canada | The Muskie Odyssey in St.Catharines, Ontario has the BEST small vendors there are. $150 for a table. |
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Posts: 358
| Don, Nielsen's Lodge are on my to do list when I retire. I've heard Silvia say great thing about your lodge and its fishing ! Hope you have some American Beer... Busch Light for the after hours Now I just gotta retire...soon ! See you then Cody. |
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| I was working at our booth today at the New London show and it seemed to me that alot of people didnt buy anything. I asked several friends why they didnt buy stuff and they said well they didnt see anything they really needed. That leads me to believe that everybody including myself has enough tens and rubber in their box for the next 50 years. Idk. Just an observance. Talk to a few good friends who had booths and they said they had a decent day. |
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| 1. Lowering the admission price at the door would be a big help.
2. Finding a place for a musky show to be held the has better parking than Chicago and Milwaukee.
3. Not having to pay for parking at some shows.
4. I myself quit going to Milwaukee and Chicago because of the price of gas pushing $4.00 a gallon. Then having to pay to park, and walking sometimes for blocks on ice cover streets, parking lots, or sidewalks etc.
The vendors are great people but they are pay plenty for their booths etc. also.
I'll order online in the future!
Scott
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Location: sneaking out to get on the water ;-) | James, Just wanted to say thank you. We go to the MN show and this year the wassau show as a family. The kids save their own money each year also. They had a blast and loved the free baits from you. Two of them also got rods at the show and it was better than christmass, almost. Getting them involved and the misses too is the best thing ever. Instead of feeling guilty leaving them behind we all enjoy it together. What james is doing really makes it way more enjoyable for the kids. The booth that lets them build a couple of their own baits at the MN show is also great. Get the kids and family excited to go and it's easier all around. Also the veterans need all the support they can get without them we wouldn't be free to complain about so many things. Russ |
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Posts: 326
Location: Plainfield IL | This post kinda cracks me up. Would no entry fee of $10 really make you spend more on $20 lures? Same goes for gas. The consumer needs to see the sellers side as well. Face it the cost of “Hobbies” are going up. Golf, soccer, hockey, groceries all are going up and continue to go up. The cost of mass produced plastic or hand carved lures all are increasing as the components to make those lures are increasing. Have you ever sat down and talked with a mfg of wooden lures to see how many steps or time it takes to complete one. The vendors all have booth costs, hotel costs, food costs and fuel costs.
If the kids are happy , the wife is happy which makes dad happy. I goto all the shows because I like to hear all the stories! The tackle is a bonus. Some ideas I will borrow from Bass Pro/Boat Shows
Trout Pond
RC Car/Boat Race Track
Reptile Guy
Rock Wall
Casting Contest
Kids Lure building/painting
Edited by Running_Hot 3/18/2013 3:30 PM
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I didn't go to the Chicago Show this year. I've been there once in the last three years. It's just crazy. They need to spread the show out. I don't need to feel like I'm at a concert to look at fishing tackle. Going to general outdoor shows, I am always looking for the deals. Having spent a lot of time in retail, I just do not see why there is nothing discounted at the shows. The merchandise that you cannot sell takes up valuable space that you could put something popular in.
I do not see a lot of "excessive salesmanship" that others talk about. I can only think of 1 company that has hounded me a few times. Needless to say, I automatically did not purchase their product.
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| jonnysled - 3/11/2013 9:12 PM
i'd like to see more trolling in the swimming pools and less casting
yeah I'd like to have to be one of those people that has to sit there and watch it too! |
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Posts: 34
| This may sound dumb but the guides and vendors may want to have a happy hour after the show. I've fine to the MN expo for several years and more than once have walked past a booth where I was.going to spend money cause a bunch of industry guys were standing around bs-ing and I didn't want to interrupt. I get that its a social event for them but I'm guessing they'd rather have my $$ than have me walk past. Perfect examples of good self marketing are Custom X Rods - the owner spent tie showing me why he bills rods the way he does. I haven't bought a custom trolling rod yet but when I do it will be from him. Larry Dahlberg is the most approachable guy there. The MH guys are also great, didn't make me feel dumb or like a ogling fab when I stopped to tell them I enjoy their magazine. In general though deals are the main reason to go. I can order almost any lure and get free without leaving home. By the time I drive and park and pay the gate fee I need to save more than 20% to really feel I've saved. |
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Posts: 16
| I have a booth at various trade shows for my industry. My biggest reason for going is #1 to support the industry and to see my customers. I don't anticipate selling anything (it's nice if it occurs), however it provides me an efficient venue to see my existing customers and thank them for their business. It would cost me a ton of money to travel around the state visiting my customers and individually visiting them. Each situation is different, but I strongly feel that (at least in my industry), if you're strictly there to sell as your #1 focus, you're losing sight of the greatest oppurtunity and that is to thank your customer, to listen to your customer, find out what you can do better for them. The sales will follow and in my opionion it is farming...not hunting.
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Posts: 8794
| I think the seminar format needs to be changed. It's the same guys talking about the same stuff over and over year after year. All it would take would be a couple wireless mics, and you could do a very informal Q&A session in place of the standard "here's some footage of fish we caught in a place you likely can't afford to get to" |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | I am really excited about Jason Chaney's new shop AND ANNUAL SHOW/SWAP In Michigan. 7,000 square feet. Its clean, its open and he can fit a bunch of people in there. He has no extra costs except for tables and chairs. This way his booth cost for us smaller manufacturers is only 50 bucks for two days. I like it. He is the only retailer there. He invites manufacturers that build products he feels he can sell on Lake st. Clair and in Michigan and Ohio, Canada and Indiana. H e is thinking of having a couple of speakers next year but this show is all about lures both for sale and trade. He has combined the retail sale of lures and the swap meet. He has room for about 30 vendors and 40 swappers and then several hundred people moving through the building. We had a free booth this 1ST show. We ran deals like buy 4 get one free. Show prices were under retail . We could do this as we had no overhead. You want deals on baits you have to eliminate the overhead. At Jason's show we sold between retail and wholesale. For any of you smaller manufacturers interested in getting into this show next year contact Jason NOW as those 30 booths are going fast. http://www.michiganmuskyshop.com/
Last I knew he had around a dozen vendors lined up so far. Mike |
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Posts: 654
Location: MPLS, MN | I go for the seminars and talking to guys like Don Pursch, who gave me some great tips for Leech Lake last year.
The lures and all that are just secondary. I maybe buy 1 or 2 a year at the show, of which I probably don't need.
Also, agree that the pushy sales guys are annoying. There are a few booths I've learned not to even stop and look so I don't get cornered. |
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | The one thing I would note is that there has to be space for the customers to get to speak with the vendors. I don't mean sit down and go through life of a fisherman, but be able to get the lures bought, ask the questions etc... Last year I walked out with money in my pocket that I was planning on spending but after 4 attempts could not get into the booth. We look forward to it all year, and right now popularity is at an all time high. It figures that crowds would swell. But what needs done at the show still needs to be able to happen. Space to get 'er done. |
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Posts: 59
Location: Chicago western burbs | We are a group of about 10. We live near the Chicago show, however, we have stopped attending. It is basically the same show each year.
For us we make the trip up to Milwaukee which is also basically the same show each year. The reason for this is quite simple. It is a social experience for us all. It is the same show as Chicago, only we can have some beers. We make an afternoon / early evening of it. We meet at the show. Have some beers, do a lot of talking about musky fishing, our upcoming trips, we talk to the vendors, attend the seminars, and have some good laughs. Than we usually head out for a dinner. If the Chicago show offered beer, we would be there. Until than, our group of 10 make a day of Milwaukee. |
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Posts: 193
Location: Mayer, MN | What about a muskiepalooza of sorts during the summer or during the open water season. Have it at a location near a lake, possibly a metro lake like Minnetonka for example. You could have your traditional show, booths, speakers, etc. in close proximity to the lake. Add on the water test rides of new boats and possibly have a tournament running during the show, with a live leader board, interviews, etc. Have a beer tent, live music. Buy a lure at the booth, back your boat in and catch a muskie. Have the DNR doing a stocking demonstration. Have a series of docks where you can test rods, reels, lures in real world conditions and not in a swimming pool. It could become a show/festival of sorts. Going to an indoor/outdoor muskie show on a warm summer day wearing shorts, with a nice breeze and a cold beer in my hand overlooking a lake sounds inviting.
Jason
Edited by lots of luck 3/28/2013 10:26 AM
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Posts: 3150
| has far hads pool demos go how bout one with 'trick shots' like off 4 rails or jumping the 8 etc |
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Posts: 3150
| a booth that does 'musky tatoos' would be cool but I dont think you can get around the health ord that most citys have
Ive always said there should be a booth with a lawyer offering services because most musky guys eventually encounter Divorce or Bankruptcy,,the lawyer could have a 'show deal' where if you sigh up for divorce proceedings you would get 'two' lures free..it would have to be two lures instead of one because the wife may get the one in the divorce.
The shows I think want to improve I know of 2 show promoters who are looking at this thread now,,,at the same time we should enjoy the shows becauise we dont know if we will have them in the future,,weve lost a couple,,the Lacrosse show,Stevens Point and others |
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Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | lots of luck - 3/28/2013 10:21 AM
What about a muskiepalooza of sorts during the summer or during the open water season. Have it at a location near a lake, possibly a metro lake like Minnetonka for example. You could have your traditional show, booths, speakers, etc. in close proximity to the lake. Add on the water test rides of new boats and possibly have a tournament running during the show, with a live leader board, interviews, etc. Have a beer tent, live music. Buy a lure at the booth, back your boat in and catch a muskie. Have the DNR doing a stocking demonstration. Have a series of docks where you can test rods, reels, lures in real world conditions and not in a swimming pool. It could become a show/festival of sorts. Going to an indoor/outdoor muskie show on a warm summer day wearing shorts, with a nice breeze and a cold beer in my hand overlooking a lake sounds inviting.
Jason
This sounds like a blast! |
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Posts: 3150
| muskiepalooza sounds fun but were talking about ALOT of permits for tonka with booze,vending and good luck getting a tournament permit in the summer on tonka the Bass guys have them all locked up,,,They did something much smaller then this after a pmtt tonka event and it was poorly attended,,,its hard to get people to do this kind of sruff in summer |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | Jakejusa, I have been working the major shows for "too many" years. As a exhibitor with Slammer Crankbaits, we have the same issues that you have when the booth is monopolized by groups or individuals with a group that want to tell the complete story of every fish that they have ever caught.
My suggestion for you is to come to the show as early as you can on the first day of the show, and/or as the show opens up each day.
You likely know which booths that you want to visit. Instead of following the flow of the crowd, go the opposite direction of the flow or start at the far end of the show and walk it backwards.
Another option would be to walk the aisles during the most attended seminars, assuming that you can live without a particular seminar. Many times the exhibitors end up talking to each other during the most popular seminars.
Trust me the exhibitors want to talk to you as much as you want to talk to us!
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 3/29/2013 5:15 PM
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Posts: 193
Location: Mayer, MN | happy hooker - 3/29/2013 3:48 PM
muskiepalooza sounds fun but were talking about ALOT of permits for tonka with booze,vending and good luck getting a tournament permit in the summer on tonka the Bass guys have them all locked up,,,They did something much smaller then this after a pmtt tonka event and it was poorly attended,,,its hard to get people to do this kind of sruff in summer
Tonka was an idea. The location isn't as important as the ideas I am trying to generate. I happen to live 10 minutes from the lake, it popped into my head. Waconia regional park is ideal, not saying it needs to be there either, but what it offers is important. Large green open space, adjacent to ballroom that has a full bar, retrooms, level sandy beach and if they ever finish the last purchase of land they are planning another ramp and docks I believe. I volunteer with my snowmobile club for the worlds largest vintage snowmobile show at this location. In 2010 we had approximately 7000 paid entrants and our admission is 15 bucks on Saturday and 10 bucks on Sunday. If the product is good, people will pay we have found out, even after the price was raised. |
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Posts: 480
| White Bear might work if it wasn't a sewer. There is a large VFW lakeside. They had a large tent for the govener's opener a few years back.Could probably fit a few hundred people at a time. Plug the holein that lake and pump some water back in, it would be a win/win.
Food trucks parked outside on Marshall Avenue would be a serious upgrade for the show experience in my opinion. The weather could be at the least tolerable. It would be like bringing the taste of Chicago to the public street just outside of the event.
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