Do exhibitors make money at the big shows?

[spike.t]

I know the establishments in downtown Nashville do not offer discounts on adult beverages . Even when purchasing them in bulk.

Strange.....they must have liked me ....

 

[BRICKBURN]

.......... Mrs. Red Leg owns several lovely pieces of hunting guilt jewelry.

Exactly! The perfect marketing plan.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

At the SCI in Nashville, the DSC in Atlanta and other large shows, are the exhibitors there to make money, or mostly generate interest in future purchases?

From an outfitters perspective, the answer is yes to both. Regarding the "make money" part, some show seasons and/or locations are better than others as far as booking hunts at the shows. Personally as a rep while in the booth, I try to inform a prospective client as best as possible on what we have to offer and matching up what we have with what they are looking for.

I despise pushy salesman and refuse to be one. So if that prospective client wants to book at the show that's great. If they book a week, month, year(s) later, that's great too. Working the shows is not a short time thing, it requires a commitment that lasts years for it to be truly effective IMO.

 

[farmer_john]

I agree with you that getting gifts buys a lot of indulgence and I really got a good chuckle out of the "hunting guilt collection" comments. I imagine I will think of that every time I see Jewelry at the silent or live auction at a hunting banquette from now on.

One area of dissension would be buying a 5-10K bracelet as an appreciating asset. Maybe on paper with the insurance company. But any effort to resell a 5-10K piece of jewelry in real world practice is a good way to turn 10K into 5K quickly.

I ya but it gets you alot less hastle to none when you want a 20k rifle. And think more things to give to kids and grandkids later. The boys might want grandpas favorits rifle the girls grandmas pearl and diamond necklace

 

[Doug3006]

I agree with you that getting gifts buys a lot of indulgence and I really got a good chuckle out of the "hunting guilt collection" comments. I imagine I will think of that every time I see Jewelry at the silent or live auction at a hunting banquette from now on.

One area of dissension would be buying a 5-10K bracelet as an appreciating asset. Maybe on paper with the insurance company. But any effort to resell a 5-10K piece of jewelry in real world practice is a good way to turn 10K into 5K quickly.

I don’t buy my wife jewelry as an investment any more than I buy firearms as investments. I’m certain that the only people making money selling jewelry are jewelers. The only people making money selling firearms are gun dealers. The “investment” is in the joy and pride of ownership.

 

[deewayne2003]

?? Not my spouse at least. I am the one doing the buying. As I said, it will be part of her hunting guilt collection. And to be honest, I am happy to indulge her. If I may offer an observation. A 5-10 K bracelet will only appreciate in value, and will buy a lot of indulgence for a 30K hunt the only future result of which will be a dried up dead thing on the wall that no heir will want.

You’ve posted many times about being married to the same woman and about furniture and things you both care about.

So it seems there is probably very little either of you has to hide from the other.

The wives I’m talking about are the ones at the show that are 2nd or 3rd+ wives that couldn’t care less about hunting.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I'm one of the lucky guys that has a gal that takes ZERO interest in expensive jewelry, furs, or fancy dress shoes

I know you said it at the end, but I was going to say that financially I am lucky my wife likes expensive purses, shoes and furs, I am not sure I could afford two hunting habits.

 

[dlmac]

No not everyone makes money. When selling at SCI in Vegas the cost for the booths 25-50k and some outfitters didn't sell a single hunt, that is a big hit for most outfitters.

 

[Finprof]

I know you said it at the end, but I was going to say that financially I am lucky my wife likes expensive purses, shoes and furs, I am not sure I could afford two hunting habits.

My wife doesn’t like expensive purses, shoes, jewelry or hunting trips. She likes real estate and doesn’t mind if it happens to attract animals. Over the years it has worked out well.