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Posts: 7101
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | This weekend showed me and (sadly) a large number of vendors that there is a new trend in Muskie Shows: lots of lookers, seems to be less buyers. Now I might be wrong, but from my vantage point (sitting in the booth, watching and talking to many who walk by) there are less and less guys and gals walking around with bags full of new muskie baits and other goodies. For those of you who ARENT spending as much this year versus in years' past, why not?
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Posts: 1316
Location: Madison, WI | For me it's the same prices in the stores. I already spent $10 to get through the door (one muskie lure) so i know my bag is going to lighter before i even make a purchase. |
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| I somewhat agree with Magruter...you pay to get there, (gas etc), then to get in , then you are hungry and you get jacked $10 for some food and drink ...It would be nice to see the larger vendors offer things at a discount or on sale or buy x and get x% off or something...Prices for a double 10 at some places just seemed to high when I know I can get the same bucktail as good or better from Gerry Carroll out of Milw and he'll make any color combo I want...at a cheaper price...
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Posts: 8849
| Spent all my money at the Mojo Booth! 
It's an evolution of sorts, goes something like this:
Step 1: Buy anything and everything that looks cool
Step 2: Buy everything everyone tells you you should have
Step 3: Buy all the "hot new" baits
Step 4: Buy everything in multiple sizes
Step 5: Buy everything in different colors
Step 6: Realize that having a dozen of the same lure is dumb
Step 7: Sell all the stuff you bought in step #1
Step 8: Buy the few items that are missing and maybe one or two new lures
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| I don't agree with Step 6 EA! Having at least a couple dozen dawgs, a couple dozen Gerrys Girls, and at least a dozen DRaiders is needed! But I know what you mean....
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Posts: 1290
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | I hope a lot of vendors don't quit because of a lack of sales at the show. I think it's important that they get their product noticed. The sale may happen at a later date. For whatever reason, a lot of people look now and buy later. Consider the show as an advertising cost. You can't sell what people don't know about. |
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Posts: 2024
| AMEN, Brad!
There's less of an incentive to buy stuff at the big vendors when it's the same stuff you could find on their websites or in the store. When I go to the shows I look for CUSTOM colors, not stock colors. I always look forward to visiting the Musky Innovations booth cuz they always have custom stuff. Smokey's had a great selection of custom stuff including some kick @#$ Squirkos and Hellhounds.
There seems to be less and less of an incentive to go to the shows in terms of searching for "show specials" or "show deals." Even 10% off on everything would be cool.
Needless to say, I still spent as much this year as I did in years past... |
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | I think this is a very good topic, I voted for the Internet one, but I think you missed a great choice. The reason I dont buy is because I like to support the local tackle shop guy. Fishing Connection in Tinley Park, Greg is good to me so instead of buying at a show I ask him to order the baits I want and then I will get them from him, or even Ye Old Tackle Shop, I might pay a little more (which isnt much) but it supports the local guy....if you make that a choice change my vote to that...
pga
Edited by pgaschulz 2/12/2007 2:56 PM
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Posts: 619
Location: Verona, WI | I just didn't see many decent deals at the show. Outside of Pastika's Buy Six Get One Free (which used to be buy 5 Get One Free or something like that) the prices were absolutely the same as you get online or if you shop around they were higher. I looked at a GLoomis rod for $220 at the Smokey's booth and the GLoomis rep right away came up to me and said they can't do anything about the price. At that point I can go to my local Gander/Dick's/Dorns/D&S and buy the rod at any given time. |
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Posts: 743
| maybe alot of the Milwaukee area folks went to the Chicago Show, TRI ESOX..and spend a bunch of money there...and only have so much money budget for "show season"...
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Posts: 434
Location: searchin for 50 | $20 for a lure its getting outrageous  Maybe I'm missing something here. If you want to get your lures in peoples hands charge a little less and see what happens . I know vendors have to pay for booth space and lodging and meals. I thought thats why they had the shows was to get their baits out to the fishing public. I probably won't be going back to Milwaukee for awhile. Same reasons gas admittance fees parking fees. |
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Posts: 27
Location: FORT ATKINSON | I bought too much at the Chicago show. This year I have alot of musky trips planned and trying to save up for them. I think that I am still paying for baits that I bought last year. I saw lots of baits that I wanted, but could not afford. I am the one that will buy every new bait that I see. I think that it is important that the vendors show off their product at the shows to ensure that they have future buyers. I was wondering if the number of people booking guides is down from other years? |
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| Great topic! Are the vendors actually selling less? Someone tell me how spending $20-30 for a lure that is made of rubber and could get ripped in half after one fish a great idea. Why is a bait like the kickin minnow $6 but a Castaic swimbait is $12.00? I hope the vendors are selling less maybe they will lower there prices accordingly. BAITS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!! |
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| maybe alot of the Milwaukee area folks went to the Chicago Show, TRI ESOX..and spend a bunch of money there...and only have so much money budget for "show season"...
this is my theory too. the really motivated buyers in the area go to the Chicago show because it's earlier and it's not a far drive. i saw a lot of the same people at the Milwaukee show but they were there to enjoy the show and wander around talking to people.
for Muskie Mojo where i was working, the show was slower than Chicago but still covered costs by a bit.
Prices for a double 10 at some places just seemed to high when I know I can get the same bucktail as good or better from Gerry Carroll out of Milw and he'll make any color combo I want...at a cheaper price...
i was working at the Mojo booth selling double-10 bucktails: $25 for a XX and $30 for a XXX. admittedly, that is a lot of money for a bucktail, but there's much less actual profit in them than you might think after materials, time, hotel, travel, and booth expenses are factored into it.
Gerry was selling his Gerry's Girls at the MuskieFirst swap on Saturday night for $20 each. that's barely less than the other double-10 bucktails were selling for, and there is no overhead cost for him to show up to the bait swap in his hometown like there is for an actual booth at the show for out-of-town companies.
one very important thing to keep in mind is that for those bait makers who sell their products through retailers (which Mojo does, as do the other major double-10 bucktail makers) you can't undersell the businesses who retail your product! if running a "show special" price would compete with your retail outlets that retailer is going to be unhappy with you and stop ordering your product. show colors and prices that are slightly above retail are really the only option for companies who sell through retailers.
it's simple, really: if a bait is too expensive for your budget, don't buy it.
if companies don't make enough money to cover costs they'll stop coming to the show and then everyone will complain that there's not a good selection...
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| Here is what I have found... If you are paying retail price for any rod, you are paying too much!! You should be able to get rods at least 15% off.. If you can not get the price to come down, have a custom rod built.. I had a St. Croix Avid 8'10" custom built (with a decal of a naked hot blonde) for less than a factory 8' avid... As for reels, I have had a difficult time getting people to drop prices, more than a few %.. Seems like there is alot more room to play on the prices of rods....
As for lures, if they will not give you a discount, at the very least, Thorne Brothers gives a 10% discount for musky inc. members for lure sales...
I use to go to shows thinking I would get good deals, but I gave that idea up after 2 years of attending....
I think some of these lure makers should look at the increase in sales they would get, if they had one time show deals on lures.... I know I would personally pay the $10 cover and carry a large allowance of cash to these shows if I knew I could find some good deals... I think I'll save my money for the Thorne Brothers spring sale... |
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Posts: 324
Location: Bloomington, Illinois | I'll go with E50...I buy custom/new baits at the show...Not stuff you can buy online at Gander/other bait shops...The big shops/vendors should consider offering show only custom colors...I know that at least some of the smaller specialty guys are doing OK...In Chicago, I stopped by the Trueglide booth first thing on saturday morning...Joe had sold all of his spinner baits and his selection of gliders was fairly limited due to strong sales on Friday...I left at 4 pm and when I went past his booth it looked like he had maybe 15 or 20 baits left (offering high quality, hard to find baits would seem to be key)...If the big shops want to move quantity of standard baits, they need to take a clue from Thornes at Chicago...Buy 5 baits and get one free...or maybe considering not bringing half the store and concentrating on new intoduction baits and custom color baits...It would be interesting to hear from the big guys in regard to their sales...Up or down?...I guess having half your store there might spur folks into doing some impulse buying...At Chicago, I noticed one booth throughout the day with very little traffic (A neighboring exhibitor told me that particular hardly had anyone stopping all day)...Of course the baits they were selling were in 3/4 of the other shops...I bet they would have done better with some really cool custom colors or significant discounts...All I can say is its got to be hard to make a living selling musky baits...I am truly grateful for the guys and gals who do...I did my part in Chicago...I did spend more than I ever had before  |
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Posts: 1270
| I saw strong sales at the show this year. As far as rods most rod compaies have a set minimum retail, if the dealer sells it for less they can end up loosing there dealership in those rods. Yes you might be able to get a custom rod for less but jut because it is "custom" doesn't always mean its better or even as good as a factory rod. Plus you have a warranty that is better with a factory rod most of the time. How much good is a lifetime warranty from a 75 year old custom rod builder? |
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| It's not just the shows.
I only do it as a hobby anyway, but after making 60 lures so far this year and selling only 10, I'll sit on the box of lures that I have before I even go through the trouble of making any more. Unless guys want me to make some for them and contact me, I'm just making lures for myself.
And as far as $20 being too much for a lure, apparently there aren't many people who have tried to make their own for less than that. Blanks, hardware, hooks, paint, clearcoat....all of which went up between 35 and 50% since last year, and let's not forget that intangible- time. The components for a lure, start to finish, cost about $10-$12. I put about 3 hrs into each lure, figuring drilling, weighting, balancing, sanding, filling, priming, painting and applying 3 coats of clearcoat. I think $20 is very resonable, now that I know what it takes to make one. Good quality lures are well worth anywhere from $20-$30.
I have a box full of 10" blanks that I was going to start turning into lures once it started warming up a little bit, but the way things are going, I'm going to make a dozen for myself and not plan on making any more unless asked to.
I have some hanging right here, and I know what went into making them. I think they look awesome, have a great action and I'll be throwing them all year. They'll be $30 a piece, and they are worth every penny.
Beav |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | I know that everyone is trying to make money, but I think the biggest reason a vendor should go to a show is exposure. |
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| Reelman,
A new St. Croix Avid blank carries the same St. Croix avid warranty.. Also I think that my 25 year old rod builder will take care of me if the rod breaks due to bad workmanship or a bad blank... Just my opinion, if your going to spend the money, get exactly what you want.. I am sure there are rod builders out there that will screw you over, I also believe there are some that want to build a high quality rod for their customer.. If he does a poor job, he will not get the repeat business, so far he has done a good job and I have bought from him the past 2 years.... Only my opinion!!! |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I would say part of the reason for not as much buying, is that 6-10 years ago, there wasn't the internet exposure or access to these lures. Now, every vendor and store has their own website and internet specials. I love going to the shows as nothing is better than seeing things in person, and even better, in the tank. However, I can now go to shows, and leave, not worried about not being able to get something that I saw there. I used to love the show specials(Fudally used to really suck us in as they ran some great ones), and wish they were as common as they used to be, but do understand some of Lambeaus points in his post above regarding pricing as well.
Wish I could have been there, as i've missed the past 3 of them, and always seem to find at least one new thing that I have never seen either in person or on the internet.
That said, 25-27 bones for the double 10's is too much(knowing now how much we can make them for), even at a show. But... they have been selling like hotcakes, so who can blame them. I personnally have been running Baitmaker stuff for years or more specifically, Gerrys girls, till my buddy Greg started making them. But, if I didn't have these guys making my lures, I'd still need/want them and be paying it too.
Edited by Reef Hawg 2/12/2007 6:08 PM
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Posts: 284
Location: Fishing the weeds | I just couldn't make it to the shows this year. Otherwise I would spend a Grand or more. Pat |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | 4-6 months in advance of fishing .... there's a ton of other things to do. snowmobiling, ice fishing, hockey etc ... why drive and spend 500 bucks including lodging and meals to look at stuff that's in the stores? that money alone justifies my electronics upgrade planned for this year. only thing i'm missing is the cold beer, b.s., trash-talking, idolotry and jealousy of the girls in the crowd and i can catch up on all that through the boards, emails, pm's, in the boat and around the bar this summer ...
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I spent plenty....I buy more at the shows than I do throughout the year. I like to get a good look at the lures. I'm always looking for something different. And in Western Illinois/Eastern Iowa....every tackle shops sells 3 different muskie lures. As for rods and reels...yeah I only look at the shows. I can usually get them at a lower cost. Although the reason retailers can't deal much on reels is a very small markup. Rods on the other hand have a large markup. |
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Posts: 350
Location: WESTERN WI | This trend can be related to the only the last year or two, max. In the past Americans have had a very strong habit of spending more than they make. It has come to light that in the last year or so, the average American has less in their average savings account since the Great Depression. The fact that American "overspend" habitually was bound to catch up with them and it has. In general, retail purchasing is down considerably from the previous year. This may be painful for retailers during this recover period, but is necessary to strengthen the American Dollar. As for me I spent the same on baits but have sold/traded more baits than I have in years past to generate the money for trips/boat maintenance/gear and baits.
Edited by Got Esox? 2/12/2007 7:09 PM
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| I dropped about $150 on baits from the little guys. Figure I saved more on shipping then I spent getting to the show. |
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Posts: 412
Location: Waukesha, WI | I voted for Internet sales, but ultimately, why buy today when I can spread those costs out over the next couple of months. There were a couple of Mojo baits I still want, and I saw a couple others that were intriguing. I passed on LakeMaster WI software because their update is on the horizon. Sure I could have bought it at the show for 10 dollars less or I can wait and get the latest without a doubt. I'm guilty of buying lures from Gerry. Little did I know we live within miles, and I talked with him for awhile. I have some loyalty to Smokeys since I met John this past summer, and he invited me to sit down and started shooting the bull. He didn't know me from Adam. If I can order from John, Gordy, Don, Adam and the others I met there, I will. I still have a 40 dollar gift certificate from Smokey's that I held onto. More trolling combos, Mojo baits, electronics, I have to spread out the purchases to get things just the way I want them. |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | how many people who thought the baits were too pricey were walkin around drinkin over priced beers????i have to wonder... is selling expensive beers at a show a good idea or a bad idea, everyone seems happy to have the beer there, but i wonder if it has any effect on people losing sales due to the prices or money people are shelling out for beers. just a thought. the food and beer lines seemed to be fairly long at the busy times of the day! |
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Posts: 144
| This was the first year that I bought anything at the musky show. I spent a bundle. I did notice that some of the custom made lures were really high priced. A guy at rollie and helens tried to sell me a creeper for $60.00!!! He had obviously put a lot of effort into them and they looked cool, but I couldn't see spending that much on one bait. I'd be afraid to throw it much less let some dumb musky scratch it up! |
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Posts: 512
Location: Appleton | I went to both the Chicago and Milwaukee show and spent plenty. When I go to the shows I look mainly at custom colors and hard to find items. I know Mojo got more than a few of my $$ (had to have a 10" weagle). |
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