A trade organization comprised of manufacturers and retailers in a niche outdoors sport faced a tall challenge…

The group’s trade show had been organized for years by a third-party company that specialized in such events.

The trade group ended its affiliation with this trade show organizer, amid considerable concern and criticism.

Many manufacturers urged the group to integrate its trade show with a larger, well-established event.

Instead, the trade group coordinated its own expo in a city that was centrally located among a high concentration of manufacturers, retailers, and consumers in this sport.

As a result, the group doubled its trade show revenue, which it now uses to promote the sport as a whole.

Fly fishing? No… Archery.

But the Archery Trade Association took several bold steps to make that happen… [Read more →]

A letter from Travis Campbell. Far Bank Enterprises, President and CEO…

January 11, 2010

To the members of the fly fishing trade community,

With 2009 fading into memory and only a few short months before the start of the traditional US trout fishing season I am writing to urge all participants in the fly fishing industry to support the new International Fly Tackle Dealer Show (IFTD) this coming September in Denver. Far Bank Enterprises and our businesses – Sage, Redington and RIO – will be there and between now and then we look forward to the opportunity to help craft a show that works for all stakeholders.

Since the news broke that Nielsen was no longer going to host FFR there has been considerable… [Read more →]

Since being released by Nielsen from the FFR trade show contract, the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) has taken some bold steps to provide the fly fishing industry with a productive industry trade show.

In a mere 45 days, AFFTA has created the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show,  hired Randi Swisher as the marketing director and show producer,  selected and… [Read more →]