ICAST keeps your business top of the pile, says buyer

ICAST keeps your business top of the pile, says buyer

Since his first visit to ICAST in Las Vegas five years ago, Kevin Baxter has watched in awe at the seemingly never-ending line of innovative new products that have graced the world’s largest fishing tackle trade show. And the buyer for the Fishing Department at Kentucky Outdoors is adamant about the value of attending. “You have to go to ICAST if you want to stay on top of the pile in the fishing world,” said Baxter. “Your store or website cannot afford to have the same products year after year. Anglers thrive on new items and the show in Orlando is the only place where you get such a comprehensive array of innovation.”

Baxter added: “ICAST also provides a unique opportunity to sit down and talk face-to-face with the product’s designer. This invaluable insight allows me to be the best prepared to actually sell that product. The interaction gives me a feeling for the product that I wouldn't have by just reading about it or a seeing video. Nothing beats one-on-one interaction.”

For Baxter, a classic example is the Concept Z reel from 13 Fishing, which has no ball bearings and was runner-up in the Freshwater Reel category in the 2017 New Product Showcase.. “Talking to the guys in their booth gave me an in-depth detail and a comprehensive understanding of the thinking behind it. It put me in a better position to explain it to my customers. As a result, we sold out in five minutes.”

Growth of Clermont Ferrand show delights exhibitors

Attendance at last weekend’s Le Carrefour National Pêche et Loisirs – also know as the Clermont Ferrand Show – increased by a staggering 17% on last year. More than 26,000 packed into the Grande Halle D’Auvergne over two days, setting a new record for an event seen by exhibitors as the first opportunity in the year to expose their new products. The timing of the show was also enhanced by good weather and the fact that the town’s heavily-supported rugby team did not have a game.

Exhibitors included a number of Europe’s biggest brands, including the significant return of Pure Fishing after an absence of several years. “It is always a good time to launch new product and other factors came together to make it an exceptional show,” said Franck Rosman of Sert.

Cabela’s executives challenged to add to redundancy fund

As employees sweat over how many of them will lose their jobs following the $5 billion takeover by rival chain, Bass Pro Shops, its new owner has called on former Cabela's executives to donate money from their severance packages to help pay for the redundancies. Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops CEO, has asked former Cabela's executives and owners who got large 'golden parachute' payments from the sale as well as a profit from its stock, to contribute to the severance fund for average workers at its headquarters in Sidney, Nebraska. As part of the challenge, Morris has said that he will personally match all of the contributions to the severance fund, up to $10 million. Bass Pro has already indicated it will pay an additional $10 million on top of its normal redundancy package to help the people in Sidney.

KastKing announces presence in fly fishing sector

KastKing is set to exhibit at the second of the series of Fly Fishing Shows across the US as it announces its presence in the sector. The company – part of the Eposeidon group – launched what it describes as a completely new and affordable range of fly fishing products at the Denver show earlier this month and will be following it up with an appearance at the first-ever event in Edison – formerly the Somerset show – which runs from January 26th to 28th. Among the 2018 KastKing releases are a series of five new fly fishing lines: Exergy Floating, Propel Floating, BackKast Fly Line Backing, Paramount Tipper and Rubicon Nylon Tapered Leaders.