Kirk Deeter has written a reasonably balanced piece over on Angling Trade reflecting back on the recent IFTD show in New Orleans.
KD does the right thing and puts it on the table right up front that he does have a dog in this hunt so to speak…..
Now that the dust has settled, and all of us have returned to our routines after the International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD) trade show in New Orleans, it’s worth a brief reflection on what happened, what didn’t happen, and where this whole fly fishing trade show thing is headed.
After all, as editor of Angling Trade, for better or worse, I do this every year. Interestingly, for the past several years at least, I come away from the trade show having heard many of the same comments: “Man, I wish there were more retailers at the show,” or “Gee, we should change the time of year,” and “We should look at merging the fly fishing show with ICAST… or OR…” Stuff like that. And all opinions are certainly valid. You know, one of the great things about the fly fishing business (and I really mean this) is that there is seldom a shortage of opinions. Qualified, educated opinions, no less… and that’s actually a very good thing.
But let’s start with some facts, and go from there.
Those of you who know me, personally, and those of you who have read my columns over the years already understand that I am no cheerleader for AFFTA. I believe there must be a fly fishing trade organization. I respect the mission. But I have never held back on criticism of AFFTA when I felt it was warranted.
The full article is certainly worth a read, though the comments are probably even better.
Even money says the show’s headed east after Reno and that there’ll be an open to public session on the final or on an ‘extra day’.
While the past few years have been tough on dealers and shops, recent snowballing economic data suggests Santa’s budget might even be tighter this year than last. We’ve chatted with more than a handful in the industry who felt they just couldn’t afford the run to New Orleans this year and who are more than a tad concerned about the upcoming off season after what’s been for many a soft summer.
The concept of value, genuine worth, has become quite the topic these days in the non-fly fishy businesses we’re involved with. We wrestle with it every day and in fact the entire scope of value in our sector has been rewritten over the past two years (and will be again over the next two or three).
Makes one wonder how the context and content of the IFTD might change if AFTA really dug down and found out what their admittedly very diverse membership values the most. Today. Just staring out the window for a bit and wondering………
