Do exhibitors make money at the big shows?

[skydiver386]

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?

For example, Silencer Central has customers lined up with credit cards in hand. TAG Safari and several boot makers were doing brisk sales of their products.

Safari Lodges, Gunmakers and others are obviously there to talk to potential customers and hopefully generate future business.

The artwork and furniture was interesting, but I didn't see anyone carrying items out to load in their truck

The ones that left me scratching my head were the booths with all the fur coats. Pink Mink is not likely to sell well IMHO, but If they made a Charlie Brown style hat out of something soft, I'd be down for that.

 

[Muskox]

I have not been to those shows, but the hunting fairs are the same everywhere.

Get your name out there generate interest, let people who have not touched your product touch it.

Most guys don't have a shop near them, that has a Krieghoff big five or a Gunwerks on the shelf.

It also gives serious nuts a chance to speak to engineers and find out how the product they are using is working. I enjoy speaking to engineers more than anything at hunting fairs.

Usually by that point of the year I am already booked for my hunts for the year. But it gives you a chance to meet outfitters for future years, or to spend a few minutes with your outfitter.

2026 is going to be weird. I will go to Jagd and Hund and Salzburg.

Mostly I am going to Jagd and Hund to bullshit. Salzburg because I have never been before. Probably book my 2027 hunts then.

 

[SETH RINGER]

NONE WERE PINK BUT MY WIFE HAS MADE ME BUY A COUPLE FUR COATS/JACKETS THERE THRU THE YEARS.

 

[matt85]

I have spent a small fortune at some of those shows. So at least some of them made money .

For furniture and things like taxidermy. You pay for the item and have it delivered to your home. So you wouldnt see someone carrying out something like a chair.

 

[Rare Breed]

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?

For example, Silencer Central has customers lined up with credit cards in hand. TAG Safari and several boot makers were doing brisk sales of their products.

Safari Lodges, Gunmakers and others are obviously there to talk to potential customers and hopefully generate future business.

The artwork and furniture was interesting, but I didn't see anyone carrying items out to load in their truck

The ones that left me scratching my head were the booths with all the fur coats. Pink Mink is not likely to sell well IMHO, but If they made a Charlie Brown style hat out of something soft, I'd be down for that.

Be careful on the women’s handmade clothing from Ireland…my wife walked out with two coats pretty close to a PG hunt lol!!!

 

[Red Leg]

Clothing, jewelry, art, some guns, and decor are there to make money and create future clientele - some taken and some shipped. All have done fairly well by us over the years. Mrs. Red Leg owns several lovely pieces of hunting guilt jewelry.

 

[deewayne2003]

Exactly, and when you’re dealing with the kind of women who can drop REAL money; you would be surprised how covertly those women can spend loads of cash.

These sellers know their clientele and cater to this, notice the presence of QR codes around their table/booth….. wife scans the QR code and buys through website with show discount code and selects delivery.

Husband thinks she’s texting her friends because she’s board…..

 

[Doug3006]

Exhibitors don’t travel across the country or from the other side of the world unless they can generate enough profit to justify the expense. So yeah, the fur coat and jewelry dealers are doing a brisk business. I once sarcastically asked the Bell Helicopter rep how many they sold. He looked me in the eye and said “two for sure.” I’m always amazed at the purchasing power walking around the hall!

 

[wildwilderness]

My Brother in law who runs fish and hunting outfit in Alaska goes. He books a hunt or 2 that makes it worth it. Some shows without any takers or real interest he will drop the following year

 

[Sabre]

The ones that left me scratching my head were the booths with all the fur coats. Pink Mink is not likely to sell well IMHO, but If they made a Charlie Brown style hat out of something soft, I'd be down for that.

I feel like a fur Charlie Brown hat is something pretty specific you would have to make a custom request for. I think most of them would do it though. If you follow through, please post a picture of it on here.

 

[375Fox]

Is selling at the show and generating interest to buy after the show not the same thing? I’ve never bought at show, but I have received show discount codes so I can buy items once I get home. I’ve decided I’m booking hunts at show, but I’ve also never finalized a hunt or signed a contract until returning home. I always want that extra time to really think exactly what I want.

 

[Red Leg]

Exactly, and when you’re dealing with the kind of women who can drop REAL money; you would be surprised how covertly those women can spend loads of cash.

These sellers know their clientele and cater to this, notice the presence of QR codes around their table/booth….. wife scans the QR code and buys through website with show discount code and selects delivery.

Husband thinks she’s texting her friends because she’s board…..

?? 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.

 

[Sabre]

?? 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.

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.

 

[Red Leg]

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.

Yes and no. It depends on what was purchased and when. Most of her gold items purchased as recently as three years ago are worth more as scrap gold now than they were when purchased new. I have only ever indulged her with 18 (a tour or two in the Middle East will cure you of 14k). But your point is essentially correct in the short term. But, even as a residual, any piece will have far more retained value than a buffalo shoulder mount or a dead man's memories.

 

[Sabre]

any piece will have far more retained value than a buffalo shoulder mount or a dead man's memories.

Definitely not disagreeing with that.

 

[Tanks]

I don't get this thing that people assume spouses hide purchases from each other. I don't really see that happening in lasting marriages.

As far as the ROI by vendors at these shows, I doubt they'd keep showing up if they were not making money. When I bought my Shikari they had booked over a million GBP worth of guns in two days. Pretty good ROI.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

You know the cool feeling you get when you walk up to an outfitter’s booth and they recognize you because you hunted with them a few years ago? I get that treatment when I walk by Kay Cotton’s booth, loaded with fur coats. Several years ago, I bought my wife a fur coat, for the cost equivalent of a nice rifle. Happy wife, happy life. More recently, I did a second coat for my wife and an hour later we’re sitting in Nick Nolte’s booth, talking about a possible leopard hunt. My wife and Isabel Nolte are chatting and after a few minutes, my wife informs me “we are going leopard hunting with Nick and Isabel.” Who am I to argue?

One year at DSC, my daughter thought I should buy her a fur coat. It didn’t help that the guy from the Alaskan Fur Company booth was staying at the same hotel as us and we seemed to bump into him a lot. I didn’t buy my daughter a coat, but I did spring for a set of custom earplugs!

 

[skydiver386]

I feel like a fur Charlie Brown hat is something pretty specific you would have to make a custom request for. I think most of them would do it though. If you follow through, please post a picture of it on here.

 

[gbflyer]

I have done lots and lots of shows. The jerky and roasted nut vendors do the best.

Once, stationed next to a southern CA fishing club, I struck up conversation with the booth attendants. We talked about all the folks walking by but no one stopping. The guys said “wait until tomorrow”. They got there the next morning and set up with 2 hot young gals dressed “cute”. They were strippers working a side gig, I had a blast talking to them. Needless to say, traffic stops were way better and I gave away a lot of brochures. Men would walk by with their wives and try not to look then they’d be back :10 later solo ready to sign up. Lol.

Jewelry that appreciates? Hahahaha. Maybe the Hope Diamond.

 

[Rare Breed]

I don't get this thing that people assume spouses hide purchases from each other. I don't really see that happening in lasting marriages.

As far as the ROI by vendors at these shows, I doubt they'd keep showing up if they were not making money. When I bought my Shikari they had booked over a million GBP worth of guns in two days. Pretty good ROI.

LMAO!!! Andy how many wives have you had my friend? Only having fun with you but could not resist!!!