Sculpin
Well-Known Member
Guys, this is straight from the shows website. "Back this February 2015 and in conjunction with Island Outfitters, Canwest Productions is pleased to produce the largest and most successful Boat, Fishing, & Outdoor Show on Vancouver Island to date!" Island Outfitters owns the show. Period. They have hired CanWest Productions to manage the show and bring in some of the space fillers like the guy that sells hot tubs or TENS machines. CanWest sells the space, takes their cut, and sends the cheque to Outfitters.
Outfitters offers space to anyone who wants to attend. They even invited Trotac. There is a proviso however. Any vendor who wants to attend cannot display any product that directly competes with anything Outfitters sells. This is in the agreement that vendors have to sign to get a spot at the show. Last year, Trotac had arranged to attend the show and were told they were welcome show up with a few of their T-shirts and some toilets.
If Island Outfitters wants to pony up, rent the arena, pay for management and advertising, she'll all their crap down there, merchandise the place, and staff the place all weekend, then they can operate the show whatever way they want. I don't think they misrepresent what the show is, but they certainly don't go out of their way to publicize the fact that it's their show exclusively. I just think it would be a better show if more suppliers were involved, but it isn't my show. It's clearly the Island Outfitters Boat and Fishing Show.
For what it's worth, I will also say that none of the above is opinion or hearsay. I have spoken with folks from all parties because I gave feedback on how I thought the show could grow for next year. This post is a summary of four different conversations I had between Monday and today. I hope there are some changes to the show next year or I won't be back. It's just too limited the way it is designed now.
Franko
MILF (Man, I Love Fishing)
Thank you for your opinion and explanation from what you got out of your conversations. It is much appreciated.
Again, I hope the Trotac folks did well with their sale this weekend .
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