ISE Show

[jekern1015]

Instead of fishing today I headed out to the ISE show today. I remember in the past there were so many guides you had troubles trying to decide where to go, now it reminds me of a giant indoor swap meet. What happened? Mountain America raised the rent and everyone had to bypass SLC this year. I did book a trip with Jonathan and Tailhunter fishing down in La Paz.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Sigh. A lot of us remember when Doug Miller was a big part of the show...and promo. And most years both Cabelas and Sportsmans had big areas for their store displays...with lots of bargain prices and show specials. When they were competing for patronage they really had some great deals.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]At least we still have some of our fine local tackle purveyors showing up...with good prizes and lots of good info.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]I quit going about 3 years ago. So .
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[k2muskie]

I attended the ISE yesterday first time in like 10 years. Yes there were booths not outdoors related but I liked the show as it wasn’t all outfitters and did have a lot of booths selling outdoors related equipment. So from my perspective I enjoyed the ISE as I got deals on fishing gear and also camping equipment.
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[Tarponjim]

[quote jekern1015]Instead of fishing today I headed out to the ISE show today. I remember in the past there were so many guides you had troubles trying to decide where to go, now it reminds me of a giant indoor swap meet. What happened? Mountain America raised the rent and everyone had to bypass SLC this year. I did book a trip with Jonathan and Tailhunter fishing down in La Paz.[/quote]
Guides, outfitters, and lodges now have more efficient platforms on the web. Most are free if you work it, and a small investment gets more exposure than the whole show circut put together. Just a changing of the times in marketing. Those in the industry should be thankful. A whole winter show tour sucks if you're a vendor.
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[wiperhunter2]

I agree with you Pat, it was much better back in the day when Sportsmans was involved, much better deals. When they went away, I went back once or twice but haven't been back since. Plus they have doubled their price for entrance. I guess some of the Vendors like RMT and KCT still have deals but I'm just not sure it is worth dealing with all those people.
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[lovetofish]

I used to go every year. Always enjoyed seeing new equipment and fishing gear. I never payed much attention to the outfitters. Like stated above it just kept getting less and less as time went on. I haven't been in 5 or 6 years now and doubt I will ever attend again unless things change.
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[PACKFAN]

A friend and I attended yesterday, I hadn't been for several years, very disappointed, won't be going back. No discounts for vets usually turns me off.
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[mtncat1]

i enjoyed the show ,definitely not as good as it used to be in some ways ,but getting the slc show exclusive lures from RMT, and watching the fishing workshops was worth it for me , plus i do like KCT's tackle also . last year on the berry there were some of the exclusive lures from the salt lake show that were deadly on kokes []
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[Bduck]

[quote TubeDude][#0000FF]Sigh. A lot of us remember when Doug Miller was a big part of the show...and promo. [/#0000FF][/quote]

For years I use to go to the Sacramento ISE which by far today still carries its weight with tackle vendors along with some equipment vendors. The entrance fee is same as here but there is a $10 parking fee at the state fair grounds and here its free. Then I moved here in 99' which I was thrilled to see an ISE here. Doug Miller is truly missed for his vision of the ISE and what should be there. Anymore its just a place to visit without what some are in the market for. I would have liked to have seen downrigger and fishfinder demos, as well as other tackle vendors. What I saw a lot this year is more food goodies. Although outfitters were there some of the more popular ones elected to stay away. The price of a booth is keeping these folks away when they have to consider food, lodging, and travel expense especially since it involves a 4 day show plus additional time before & after. I don't know if its just me but it seems like some of the wrong type of International Sports is not represented anymore. Maybe FISHING should be integrated with the Crossroads of the West gun show, after all there is a boat show and RV show separate.
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[Therapist]

SLC is such a small market, that the big vendors don't put the effort in for a show here. While I was attending graduate school in Oklahoma, I got to attend the show in OKC and it was about twice the size of the SLC show, EVERY major vendor was there, with BASS Pro Shops having almost a quarter of the floor space. Lowrance introduced their GPS units one year, which was incredible. They had units installed in vehicles and would drive you around showing you how it worked, neat. You got to see almost all the new tackle, with the professional anglers sponsored by the different companies there. The boat displays were off the wall. The boat manufactures were the vendors, with support from local dealers, not local dealers footing the bill like here. If you ever get a chance to attend a show in a different market, you will get a very different experience.

[fish_hntr]

[quote PACKFAN]A friend and I attended yesterday, I hadn't been for several years, very disappointed, won't be going back. No discounts for vets usually turns me off.[/quote]

Are you referring to a discount on admission or goods? They send out coupons in the mail for a discount on admission and the goods are already cheap, as veteran I have no issue with the expo.
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[fish_hntr]

We went yesterday and I spent a bit in the RMT booth between classes, picked up a Sure Can, spoke with a few guide services, and bought some very expensive hot sauces. Overall it was decent but I didn't live here during the LHM days to compare. I did get a bit annoyed with the "fluff" that had nothing to do with the outdoors, but you just ignore their intrusive approaches as you walk past them.
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[wiperhunter2]

So they don't sell those exclusive lures anywhere but the ISE?
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[PACKFAN]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, thanks for your service, I won't be attending again.
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[mtncat1]

that's right , they are only available at the show as specials . and only at the slc show .
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[wyoguy]

Curt, we have a few items that we sell at the show every year, but don't offer them at our local retail outlets, mostly because they are labor intensive to make and Art thinks he needs to go fishing all summer.
The vendors pay premium prices for the booth space, so its hard for them to discount their wares drastically. We as vendors feel that if we have to pay so much for our booths, our prospective customers should not have to pay so much to get in, but we have no say.
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[rippinlipps]

I remember the great shows of the Doug Miller outdoor expo. So many great vendors there. The past few years, I did not attend for various reasons. But this year, I decided to bring my young son out, in Hope's he would maybe get some memories like me when i would attend with my dad. I have to say the expo, is definitely not the same. There are hardly any vendors with stuff I'm interested in. And I like hunting and fishing a lot. It's all guides, and traveling hunts now. Sad to say, I doubt I'll be going back any time soon. Minus the rocky mountain tackle stuff, nothing else drew my interest. I would think the stuff they make exclusively for the show, sooner or later will end up in the retail stores. If you can move more product, you do whatever you can to expand your business. Not limit it.
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[RockyRaab]

There's another side to that, rippinlips. If a company sells the same gear at their retail shop - where entrance is free - what incentive do people have to see the very same gear but pay $14 to get in?

From the store's viewpoint, what is their incentive to paying not only exorbitant booth fees but also meals, miles and motel costs to exhibit the same stuff they have in the store - which they also have to keep open during the expo?

Both questions can be answered with exclusive merchandise, offered in the show only.
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[wiperhunter2]

Thanks for the info Gary, I understand what your saying and respect you guys for making those extra lures for the ISE. I know Art works hard so his fishing time is special, maybe when he retires, he will have more time to make those extra lures[].
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[RILEYFISH]

Well said Gary and very truthful. We had many show specials at the RMT/ Radical glow/ and velocity super store. These items are done to attract the public too come out and give them a little something to thank them for there support and coming out. These special deals will not show up at the stores unless we see an item that just is so great and that our supporters want. The dutch oven folks and and 3D archery competition is also gone. Its a good chunk of money to come to a show for that amount of time for vendors.

I tried to find a fly rod at the show for sale and there were none to be found. many many vendors have pulled out. It will be interesting to see what the future holds. This is our home show and I will for sure tell you that We will be back next year with even more than what we had this year.

The one thing we do each year is try and provide our supporters with a great deal and availability that they cant always find in the retail stores.

James with Maniac was not there this year either along with many others. I hope things can get turned around a little but I'm not holding my breath.
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