Phoenix Trade Show . RIP ?

[Chapuis]

What I missed most over the last few Phoenix trade shows are the stands which had boxes of bits and pieces that we all rummaged through to find that odd bit we had been looking for for months but never able to find. Andy Allwood used to have these and you couldn't get near them they were so popular.
I have often thought an update of this would be to have a shooting stuff car boot sale during the Phoenix where we could all offload the things we no longer use but which are still useful to other shooters. Bring your own table, set it up near your car boot, set your stuff out and off you go. Pay the NRA a fiver for using the space.
I'm sure there are legal or other reasons why this can't happen but then you can always find reasons not to do something.

No legal reason why it can't be done. We've been doing it for years at the H4H charity shoot. For every sale made the seller makes a small donation to H4H.

[1066]

What I missed most over the last few Phoenix trade shows are the stands which had boxes of bits and pieces that we all rummaged through to find that odd bit we had been looking for for months but never able to find. Andy Allwood used to have these and you couldn't get near them they were so popular.
I have often thought an update of this would be to have a shooting stuff car boot sale during the Phoenix where we could all offload the things we no longer use but which are still useful to other shooters. Bring your own table, set it up near your car boot, set your stuff out and off you go. Pay the NRA a fiver for using the space.
I'm sure there are legal or other reasons why this can't happen but then you can always find reasons not to do something.

Quite true, there are a miriad of shooting related "one man bands" who would take a small table at a knock down rate, boot sale fashion. The whole grass area behind Fultons could be a street of Gazebos paying about £25 a day. There are plenty of leather belt, knife, walking stick, decoy, steel gong, cast bullet, black powder storage box makers etc. who couldn't justify spending a £3-400 for the weekend but would be happy to sit there for a day and take a £100.


True, it wouldn't generate a lot of money directly for the NRA, but it certainly wouldn't cost the anything either and it would bring a bit of added interest. I can't for the life of me think why there's not a shooting gallery set up right in the middle of the plot, they manage it at fairgrounds without too much trouble - whats wrong with operating under the "gallery rifle" rules. (Sec. 11/4. 1968 act). Not even an airgun range. I remember several years ago they had a laser shooting range which seemed very popular.

I went on Saturday and managed to pick up a few bits, but to be honest it was a disappointment, I believe I have been every year but may not bother next year.

[sniper3]

It seems like I ruffled a few feathers and went off in a wrong tangent. Don't get me wrong, I do like to get good deals. In the past even though the dealers were out under a marquee, there were atleast three tents with plenty of dealers of competing and special offers.
What I would say is this time I took plenty of hard cash with me in order to buy goods such as powder and simple items like 357 dies (as my old ones are worn out), and basic reloading items, but all these were hard to find, especially when I should have been at work and used annual leave for Saturday and coming away with 223 ammo, of which I didn't need, but had to buy something to say I got it.

Please accept my apologies if there was upset on my behalf.
A

[mag41uk]

Why compare the AD events with the Phoenix?
There is no comparison and never will be.
The current fac market is a twentieth of the AD times.
I consider myself lucky that any traders turn up for the Phoenix.
Its always nice to see Alan Westlake make the effort.
What ever the NRA put on at Bisley they will be criticised.
Yes - I live 18miles away so I will support Bisley. Its a much improved place over the past 5 years.
Will it be everything to everyone? Almost certainly not.
I wont go the practical shooting show - its too far. Silverstone I will visit.
It is what it is.

[Primer]

The economics of trade fairs are not just as simple as the cost of a single table especially when travel is a substantial part of the operation, one of the issues with Bisley being in such a remote part of the country.

At the end of the day businesses will each make their own decision but with increasing costs, the NRA's attitude and the enthusiasm for internet shopping then the halcyon days of Pistol AD and the Trafalgar meetings trade fairs are long gone never to return.

This year will see the first ever shooting show specifically dedicated to Practical shooting (8th&9th Spetember IIRC). I couldn't wait and started to make plans, get an idea of possible slots to add to my FAC, get saving etc etc. Then they announce the venue, The Tunnel, DORSET! FFS!

Practical shooters are used to having to travel for comps and the like but they might as well have gone the whole hog and had it at Penaznce or Jersey! I've also since learned that the brand spanking new venue/range complex at Silverstone had offered to host (and for free i think) but it was rejected!! Much more 'central' location, free for traders and a range that could handle a comeptition making going all the better/economically viable for punters. Sometimes you just have to

Hopefully IF there is a second one, the venue will get a little more thought!

Mark it's being hosted by The Tunnel but at westpoint in Exeter, DEVON a few miles off j30 of the M5.

I imagine it's being held there due to Richard at The Tunnel arranging it all, I see trade stands are FREE but tickets are £15 a pop which I think will put off even some local shooters never mind anyone that has a fair distance to drive to what is a new and niche show and looking at the list of traders there are some notable absences such as the NRA and Shield shooting club, I know they have indifferences with some of the other traders there, it's a pity they can't overcome these for the sake of the shooters. It's a pity it's not being held at a venue with a range so that prospective new shooters can see what Practical shooting is all about.

For it to be a success I hope they advertise it properly as that has always been a downfall with The Tunnel even when I was a member years ago they would arrange open days and activity days but advertising was always poor as often even the members wouldn't know about it never mind the wider public audience.

[Chapuis]

[quote="mag41uk"The current fac market is a twentieth of the AD times.
[/quote]

I don't know the figures regarding actual value of the retail shooting market in the U.K. now and then, but I would tend to disagree with you on that point.
I think that the market has grown back and is possibly much larger now, just that the sales are in different areas of shooting sports.
For instance in the past pistols and most rifles were reasonably cheap compared to shotguns and an expensive scope cost in the region of say £600. Today people seem to think nothing of paying £3500 for a rifle and then buy scopes that start off at £1,800 and go up to simply stupid money.

[Dellboy]

[quote="mag41uk"The current fac market is a twentieth of the AD times.

I don't know the figures regarding actual value of the retail shooting market in the U.K. now and then, but I would tend to disagree with you on that point.
I think that the market has grown back and is possibly much larger now, just that the sales are in different areas of shooting sports.
For instance in the past pistols and most rifles were reasonably cheap compared to shotguns and an expensive scope cost in the region of say £600. Today people seem to think nothing of paying £3500 for a rifle and then buy scopes that start off at £1,800 and go up to simply stupid money.[/quote]

While the market turnover may have grown due to inflation and the high end gear available its the profit margin that keep people in business .
The cost of rifles scopes etc is allready more than some countries who have a higher ownership rate .

Its that old business saying Turnover is vanity Profit is sanity .....

[FredB]

At the time of the pistol hand-in, our club had sixty-something members. Membership is currently capped at two hundred. How can the market be smaller?
Fred