Best shows for outfitters

[Egan36]

Looking for help from outfitters and hunters.

I am in the states and looking to help a friend who is African Outfitter/PH. Looking to market hunts.

Any suggestions on the best shows to market at. In states or worldwide? What shows do outfitters do the best? Which shows do hunters find the best?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you

 

[sierraone]

Dallas and SCI are the biggest. Can't confirm they are the best for outfitters....or hunters. There are many smaller shows all over the U.S. and Canada. JAGD and HUND in Dortmund, Germany is the largest in Europe to my knowledge.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Well you have the two biggies in the Dallas Safari Club and Safari Club International conventions. Both are very large shows. People travel significant distances to go these shows and are well attended. The downside to these are the costs involved. All said there is a waiting list to get into these, so I'd say overall most outfitters find these shows to be worthwhile.

After that, you have a ton of shows. Some of these are such FNAWS are kind of like DSC/SCI in that they're a club sponsored show. Others are organized by a for profit business. From what I hear your home state has one of the largest going in the show in Harrisburg. But really there are so many all over the country it's a bit hard to say which is best.

One outfitter that runs an operation similar to another will do exceptionally well at one show while the other doesn't. Switch shows to a different venue the next week and it will flip/flop.

I think I'd advise your outfitter to make a trip to the states next year to attend some of these shows. He won't be able to cover anywhere close to all of them, but at least some of them. He can then form his own opinion on what would suit his needs/budget best.

 

[siml]

Your friend should rather than buy booths first do a trip and see some of the shows. Shows don't mean you will always get bookings, it takes a few trips to build up. DSC and Reno are good ones, but so are a lot of the smaller chapters.

 

[CAustin]

Your friend should rather than buy booths first do a trip and see some of the shows. Shows don't mean you will always get bookings, it takes a few trips to build up. DSC and Reno are good ones, but so are a lot of the smaller chapters.

Don't some the larger shows have waiting lists to get a booth at this point?

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

EGAN36:

Agree with suggestion that a new outfitter should go to a few of the US shows and get a feel for what they are like. The well established outfitters that I have hunted with and have booths at several of the big shows have told me they really like the DSC and don't like the SCI as much. This has more to do with the organization and management of the shows and not with the attendees or potential business opportunities.

A smaller show that I think a newbie would do good at is the Houston Safari Club expo. It's usually a week after the DSC and is located at The Woodlands, just north of Houston.

If your friend is really wanting to advertise and generate some business, becoming an AH sponsor has got to be cost effective. Offer a few hunts here and generate a few hunt reports from happy clients.

 

[Egan36]

Thank you for input. He is in process of becoming sponsor on here.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I'm on the board of the Eastern Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation. We have our show in Lancaster around Mid February each year. Would be more then happy to talk to your friend and possibly give him some details.

I am new to the board so I have no idea how successful each booth is or what to expect. There are a few African Outfitters there though.