GTW
NEWS
THE GAME FAIR HOTTING UP FOR 2019
Th e Game Fair, the
UK’s top hunting and
shooting consumer show,
had a strong 2018 with
more active shooters
in attendance than any
other event, but crucially
it has more would-be
shooters too. Next year
is already looking to
match or better its 2018
performance.
Chris Ladd from
Ladds Guns says that the
combinations of active
and would-be hunters
“uniquely provides a
commercially active
market place for the gun
trade whilst introducing
vital new blood for the
industry. Th is is why
we are so happy to
support the event next
year at Hatfi eld House,”
something refl ected
in the show’s statistics
- £80m spent at the
show, up £10m from
the previous year, and
the CPSA and BASC
20 www.guntradeworld.com
facilitating thousands of
beginner sessions on the
shooting line.
Carl Russell of Carl
Russell & Co, one of
the earliest companies
to commit to the
2019 event, points out
another dimension of
the audience make up,
commenting “there is
no comparable event
for quality and scale”
meaning trade for
exceptionally highquality
guns sitting
comfortable alongside
entry level and used
fi rearms.
“In event terms we are
focusing solely on Th e
Game Fair” continued
Carl. “With our business
located on the estate,
we have had glimpses
of the new layout and
exciting plans for the
shooting line which I am
convinced will resonate
positively throughout
the gun trade. We are
already getting excited
for the 2019 event,” he
concluded.
Other visionaries
leading the way include
Rigby, Longthorne
Gunamakers and
Holland & Holland.
As participants in
the recent Game Fair
Pavilion in Doha,
Longthorne’s Elaine
Stewart said “Th e Game
Fair has proven its value
for more than three days
in July. With a marketing
and communications
campaign topping £1m,
we are very confi dent of
continued high footfall
and a quality audience
at the 2019 event.”
Daryl Greatrex, MD
at Holland & Holland,
echoed this sentiment:
“Th e Game Fair has
long been a highlight of
Holland & Holland’s
annual calendar. With
our recent showcase at
Th e Game Fair’s Pavilion
in Doha, we can see
only an exciting and
expanding future for this
British Institution.”
Underlining the
strategic importance of
the event, Marc Newton,
the managing director
of John Rigby & Co.
commented: “Rigby is
delighted to once again
attend Th e Game Fair
as it returns to Hatfi eld
House in 2019. Th e UK
is an important market
and Th e Game Fair is
the biggest event for us
in the country, so we’re
delighted to confi rm our
attendance early, as we
have lots of exciting news
to share in the new year.”
James Gower, Th e
Game Fair Managing
Director, said: “We
are often humbled
by the overwhelming
support and aff ection
given to Th e Game
Fair by our exhibitors
and our visitors. Th ere
is something about it
rooted in the lives of
certain communities
spanning many
generations. It is our
job to listen to all of
our stakeholders and to
protect and modernise
so that the event remains
relevant and useful in
the immediate and long
term. With three events
now behind the current
team, we have learnt an
enormous amount but we
will never stop learning.
Commercially, the event
is now stabilised and we
can start to concentrate
on refi nements as well
as trialling some new
initiatives. During the
next few weeks we look
forward to sharing the
results and outcomes
from the valuable
feedback we have
received including our
brand-new show layout.”
www.thegamefair.org
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