Thoughts on the Game Fair

[Tazz]

Attended the Game Fair on Friday as it looked to be the dryer of the three days. Had a good day as did my partner lots of stuff see see and try and I was impressed with the Pulsar stand and NV tunnel plenty of helpful and knowledgeable staff. I am a supporter of the GF and after the CLA gave it up its good that they now just rotate it through 2 venues that can cope with the volume

While there was plenty of shooting/stalking/fishing on show there were also some notable absences. No stands for Swarovski, Zeiss, S&B the three top optics guys. No Blazer, Sauer, Mauser, Merkel CZ to name a few, GMK had a good stand but why are there so few Rifle and shotgun manufacturers showing given the footfall and mix of customers. All these guys show at the British Shooting Show it would be great to hear why they won’t come to the GF. There was also only one SA outfitter on show that I could see. My concern is that we don’t want to move back to a set up where there is more “ non shooting tat” than shooting stuff. To finish on a positive note we had a great day and I will be going again next year

 

[Lateral]

The only logical explanation, is it doesn't pay them to be there. By the time you pay for the stand, the cost of the display, staff, transportation, and hotels, it can't be viable for a lot of companies.

When you think about it, if you want a scope, binoculars, or rifle, most of us have our favourite brand, and have already decided what we want. There will be a few who may see something, and change their mind, but I suspect the % will be low.

 

[Klenchblaize]

If you want handle binos from the Big 3 visit the Birdfair (Home - Birdfair) but be preaped to bump into Chris Packham!

Clearly they won't have rifle scopes on show.

K

 

[jimbo1984]

The game fair has had more non shooting tat for years hence why I don’t bother

 

[Mickeydredd]

I went on Sunday and my thoughts are:
- Parking at this venue was quite a distance from the show, albeit their was a tractor/trailer shuttle for the last couple of hundred yards
- It seemed to be pretty quiet for the Game Fair, no queues to speak of at stands and food stalls
- I spoke with friends who have a stand and they said that they were told they could not bring refreshments to their stand to offer their customers a drink. A big part of the game fair for traders was traditionally to meet with existing clients and offer a drink and snacks to do a bit of client relations/marketing. I think this is another indication of where all our Game fairs have gone to alienate both traders and the public - huge stand costs, high entry fee, maximisation of income at the expense of a traditional game fair.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

I do enjoy the game fairs but one of the reasons that some are not attending is not just down to costs but down to the changing world we live in. Social media has made huge differences to marketing, why attend a game fair when you can email, Twitter or you tube your product. You don't need to wait for a big launch date. Blaser and all its associated brands are now doing things like the shooting days so peolple come and shoot all the products out to 200 yards, have a bit of fun with the simulated wild boar. They get to target people who are interested in their specific business products. My company has done the same regarding business, we are staying away from big shows and holding open days with customers selected and invited where they can be schmoozed by the sales team and they cannot wander off to look at the competition. Cheaper and more targeted audience.
I also think that most of the brands see the BSS as the priority event for shooting in the uk. So I will be interested to see how that is affected in the coming years.

 

[Lateral]

Even though I only live 30 mins from the show, and as a BASC member would get in free, I still didn't bother going.

Apart from the odd show special, the only "so called deals", are on the tat imported clothing. If anything, you will get better deals from non attending dealers, who haven't had to go to the expense of the show.

I know that I will always be looked after better, and receive better pricing from the shops I deal with regularly.

 

[hedge hunter]

It's a shame what's happened too the shows.i used too love going too them it was the high light of the year for me.now I'm better off dropping the wife and my three daughters off.more for them than me

 

[S&L7x57]

I went Friday and Sunday and spent time chatting to the many friends in the gun trade who had taken space. Turn out was poor to middling on Friday, worse on Saturday and Sunday.
I thought the lay out was bad at the lower end as it was far too close to the clay shooting. Seriously, one needed ear defenders to be in the last row of Gunmakers Row and I pity the poor blighters who had stands there.
The toilet facilities were terrible. My wife has tummy issues and has to have access to a toilet: even when desperate, she could not use several and we had to search out those hidden from public view. I saw people cleaning toilets 1st thing Sunday morning: they should have been on it all the time.
The rain on Saturday made the lower areas of the show into a mud bath on Sunday. It was so slippery that I saw several people fall. Good God, this in England. It rains. Get organised for the inevitable.
I'm sorry to say it but they have cut corners to make a profit and it back fired.

 

[hedge hunter]

I hope the Midland fair isn't going too go the same way or iv done with em

 

[Andyquadra]

I was talking to someone who had a food stall, the smallest plot was just over 2K!

 

[hedge hunter]

Absolutely ridiculous .the shows will be a thing of the past if it's not sorted.not a big deal some might say. But it's another way of killing us off.death of a thousand cuts so too speak.its not good for the shooting community

 

[sikamalc]

All of these fairs take an enormous amount of planning, time and money to hold. But as with most things the costs of Marquees etc is now ridiculously high and a pitch of 2k for a trader is beyond the reach of many and is not workable.
I used to go to the Game Fairs but not any more, it is too much hassle and frankly any so called bargains are almost non existent and can be bought on line. Its a shame really but when you throw in the unpredictable weather, bad sanitation, high entrance fees, car parks miles away and an overall bad layout it dosnt bode well for any future fairs and of course making a profit from it, which is ultimately the aim of holding it.

 

[berettaxt]

gate prices far too high, no bargains once you have paid that

 

[75]

As many others have said, I used to love going to the Gamefair - ever since I was a kid. I recall the Floors Castle mudbath with some affection!!

But one of the appeals was that I'd have a little shopping list I'd accumulated over the year of stuff I wanted / needed and the gamefair had so much choice from lots of retailers, even with the odd bargain here and there. The internet has ended that as it's now so easy to get anything you need in a couple of days.

 

[Mr. Gain]

Aside from the impacts of internet sales, social media,and targeted marketing, I think the major liability for the Game Fair is the weather. The It always seem to lose at least one day, and sometimes the whole event to unseasonable conditions, and whilst the odd shower can drive people inside stands and increase sales, when a day of deluges is forecast people stay away altogether.

The BSS obviously doesn't have this problem, and on its record so far, the Northern Shooting Show seems to have picked its calendar dates on sound statistical predictions of fine weather (!) as well as prudently combining open-air and covered pitches.

I like to see new products at shows, and I often find something to buy (often something I would never have thought of looking for online), but the main draw for me is meeting and talking to people, finding out what they've been doing, hearing about their plans, and generally offsetting the solitary single-malt of hunting with an all-I-can-eat buffet of gregariousness.

 

[kes]

Anyone going to the Midland ?
I keep trying but it often disappoints.

 

[hedge hunter]

I will be going too the Midland. Hopefully will have a pocket full of money. If the wife doesn't sniff it out that is