Grand Rapids Show Review

[alex-v]

We are having a discussion on promotions and fishing shows and the Grand Rapids show came up for discussion. So, for those who went to the Grand Rapids show I have a couple of simple questions.

We are not concerned with what you thought of the show itself but just what did you think of the crowd on the day you went? Was it a large or small crowd or was it not something that stood out. And, what day or days did you go?

[wally-eye]

Saturday between noon and about 3PM and didn't feel that it was overly crowded. Have seen much worse in years past. Just have to say the show this year was not as good as years past.....imo....

[sfw1960]

I didn't see you Dan....
Dawn & I were in there just about 1PM and it started getting crowded after 4PM....
Lotsa rude GR Dutch....LMAO!!!
(that's what I thought if the crowd Alex!!)
:yikes:

Larry Carr @ Navionics hooked me up with some goodies too.
:)

THANKS LARRY!!!! I'll hawk your products anytime , and the new 3D maps ROCK!


RAS

[waterfoul]

I went Thursday afternoon. Crowd was great.

I went Saturday all day... was really crowded from about 4 till I left at around 6:30 or so.

I went Sunday for some seminars and at times the crowd was too much... could not get around the ends of the aisles where the consesion stands were at all... mass chaos, especially in the SW corner near the NRA booth.

Larry at Navionics was good to me too. He figured out why my H2Oc is having so many issues. It needs a software upgrade (it's 3 upgrades behind!) and he is bringing the upgrade on a chip to the D&R Sports Spring sale this coming weekend and will upgrade my unit while I am there. Sweet!

[sfw1960]

NICE hats for sure Larry.
;)
Shoot Mike , doing a firmware upgrade is NBD (no big deal) ...
I've done it a few times on my (old to me) 'Bird 787c2 , once on my 'Bird 797c2 SI and FOUR times on my Lowrance LMS332c. Twice on Mr. Ed's Eagle SeaCharter 480DF too.
:D
All ya need is a blank SD Card & a card reader (which I have) but if Larry's got ya covered ...K00L.

Now we test his memory!!
:lol: :lol: :lol:

[fishindude]

Seeing how nobody has mentioned friday yet, from 5-9:30 it wasn't crowded at all(compared to previous experiences). Only big crowds I saw was when mucc did their big buck night on lake ultimate.

[waterfoul]

Well Robert... I do not own a card reader... and D&R Sports is actually closer to my house than your house is!!! LOL!!! Plus, KVD will be there!!

[sfw1960]

WHO???

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

At NO time did you "hear" me offfer to upgrade your firmware....didya??
:p

Now go kiss some FEET you hotdawG heathen!
:16suspect

[waterfoul]

hey, I would have gone out and bought the chip... but I just won't want to go out right now and buy another piece of computer hardware...

[sfw1960]

The chips are re-usable Mikey.... and I actually use my MP3 player for the card reader....
:lol:
Why spend another $20???
:D

IzDeIceBg0nEyeT???

[alex-v]

I am surprised that the responses are coming from so few people; I would have thought that there would have been more people with an observation.

Let me put the question to you a different way. Most vendors or exhibitors like to see large crowds. This tends to be true even when the crowd does not seem to be in a buying mood. Large crowds have a higher possibility that someone will be interested in the product.

So, do you think the crowd was good from the viewpoint of the vendor, that is, a large crowd is good?

[waterfoul]

I would say a large crowd is great if you are a vendor. I haven't seen any numbers but I think this show did pretty well for crowd numbers... because it sure was crowded a couple times!!

[alex-v]

I was not there but have been talking to vendors that were. I am getting their side to the crowd size question.

By getting the views on crowd size from those who paid to attend it helps to understand both sides. This becomes helpful when people complain that there was nothing at the show and it bored them, etc.

It often seems that if there is a large crowd people say it was a good show. That there was plenty of different things to look at. I will hear comments like "I even looked at hunting stuff and I am not a hunter." or "My wife started to ask questions about the boat and the fishing when me and my buddies were talking to charter captains."

IOW, the larger the crowd the more likely any individual is to become interested in what the other people are looking at or talking about. Low crowds and people say that there was nothing to look at.

[Dave Ash]

The crowd was not bad from 5-8 on saturday. I walked around with MSA and scott from holland the whole time and never had any real issue. Not alot of fishing boths which was kinda sad.

Best boths this year for me were

Fishdog co. (i did buy anything because I have more moonshine then i could ever need)

Wolverine tackle ( I bought a bunch of CJ wobblers)

Okuma (sat and talked to paul for a half hour)



Dave

[Westlakedrive]

I did not go because I did not have a c-note burning a hole in my pocket.
I would be down 40 bucks just in gas and entry fees.
I can add a half dozen hard baits to my collection for that.

[Emily Be]

I was at the show everyday working the G.R. Steelheaders booth. Since our booth is on the end of a row I see alot. In my opinion the crowd was down about 10 - 20%. As was described above the ends of rows get crowded and I only saw the end of ours back up a few times.

[wally-eye]

I did not go because I did not have a c-note burning a hole in my pocket.
I would be down 40 bucks just in gas and entry fees.
I can add a half dozen hard baits to my collection for that.


Should have said something Wes as you would have been more than welcome to ride with me.............went by myself......

[dayooper]

We had a booth (TJ's Tackle) at the show for the first time this year. We were very disappointed in the crowd and the sales. Not sure if we are going to do the show next year. They put us in a very bad spot. We were in the middle of the hunting section across from the Comemerative Bucks of Michigan. We watched alot of people walk by looking at all the deer racks and never even glanced over at us. Quite a few said they looked all over the floor for us and took a while to find us. Just an overall bad location. Don't know why they couldn't have moved us closer to the fishing section.

I would like to thank everybody that stopped in from this sight to say HI and introduce themselves. We did have fun at the show and had fun shariong fishing stories. My Dad even got a hat at Big Buck Night for coming the farthest to the show (Sault Ste. Marie). We are looking into doing the Fliint Steelheaders show next year. Anybody been there and can give me an overview of how that show is?

Thanks,
Benjamin
TJ's Tackle
www.tjstackle.com

[fathom this]

Went Saturday 1:00-3:00 PM I thought the crowd was great! I bought my ussual new fishing rod and looked at new boats along with water dog show.
Did not talk with outfitters this year.

[DAWG54]

Friday afternoon was not crowded at all and Saturday was more crowded but not bad. Certainly more space than the old building. I was real happy with the amount of knowledge I gained from several of the vendors.

[swamptromper]

Only went Sunday 11am - 4pm

I knew what I wanted from years past. Pretty much priced the vendors then bought what I needed. The crowd seemed low, I was disappointed with how large the boat displays were. No offense Scott. Space wise it seemed the fishing area gets smaller each year.

[Hamilton Reef]

I was at the show on Friday from 11-6 and Saturday from 11-5. I go in part to see people that I see only once a year at the show. The crowd was down a bit, but that makes it easier for navigation and more discussion at the booths.

One fly-in fishing trip booth (name withheld by request) made the comment that a down economy may be the problem case for locals and in-state trips. However, for the higher end cliental he said money is no object. To prove the point I pulled my cell phone out and dialed a friend of mine that was working on Saturday and could not come down to the show. I handed the phone to the guide and went over to talk with Mark Romanack for few minutes. When I came back the guide had a trip booking for 3 at something over $20,000. They are now working out date details based on the schedules of the other two cohorts. When the guide handed me my phone back I joked about my phone's commission. I did the same cell phone routine last year and was invited to come along on the trip last year, but that kind of money is out of my class.

My fishing rod/reel combo, however, has a different story. A few years ago I had to back out of a trip to Wiley Point Lodge on Lake of the Woods so my replacement used my rod/reel/tackle on the trip and had a great time without me. Last year the same rod/reel went to South America or the big Golden Dorado. My fishing tackle is doing great! I'm just not rich enough to use my own tackle. :banghead3

[duckman#1]

I was there Thurs 3-9 and I felt the crowd was down a little from past years which was nice ( more elbow room). I did notice a couple fewer small time lure makers did not show and herd from one that was there that booth prices are getting to expensive for the "little guy" to do it and make a profit.
Seminars where nice not having crowds. Glad to see they had the Dock dogs agian this year.
Good show overall.

[fathom this]

The crowd was great on Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.
Went home with my usual new fishing pole.
Enjoyed the dog jumping and looked at new boats