FEATURE | IFTD 2018
2018
As the doors closed on what was to be the last IFTD show held in Florida in
conjunction with ICAST, TTW Editor John Watson, caught up with AFFTA President
Benjamin Bulis to find out his thoughts on the show and how AFFTA is looking ahead
to the future of the IFTD show.
TTW – So Ben, how
pleased were you with
how IFTD 2018 went
and what were your
show highlights?
Benjamin Bulis - Overall
we’re pleased with how the
show went. While numbers
were down from last year’s
show, there was a pretty
consistent fl ow of people
walking the fl oor. According
to many exhibitors, they
were a much more intent,
engaged, and savvy group
who were there to do
business, not just kick the
tires, so-to-speak. As far
as highlights, I think there
were a couple. One would
be the new industry awards
(the Jim Range Conservation
Leadership Award and Lefty
Kreh Industry Leadership
Award). They represent the
importance of recognizing
folks in our industry for
their tremendous passion
and leadership—something
that isn’t done enough. The
second would be the fi rsttime
and newer exhibitors,
as well as a few established
brands who have never won,
taking home awards in the
New Product Showcase. It’s
always great to see when
innovation and a great idea,
no matter how large or
small, gets well-deserved
recognition.
TTW - What was the
general feeling from the
exhibitors on how the show
went? Was it all positive
feedback?
BB - We all know you
can’t please everybody all
the time. But we’ve heard
feedback from a number
of exhibitors that this
year’s show genuinely (and
positively) changed their
perspective about the value
of trade shows in general.
Between the calibre of
retailers, reps, media, and
other attendees walking
the fl oor, and the bar the
industry as a whole is
raising as far as the quality
of products and business
practices, there is a great
deal of positive momentum
building around the value
of the show moving into
the future – and especially
heading back to Denver.
TTW - 2019 sees the
IFTD show move to Denver,
how important is this for
AFFTA and its Association
members?
BB - It’s very important.
The foundation of our
industry is specialty retail
with mom-and-pop shops
that truly connect to a
community. Our industry
has grown leaps and bounds
over the last decade, playing
an increasingly larger
the location and time of
year. Honestly, people will
simply be more comfortable
and enjoy a more favourable
and productive pace in
Denver (and in October) and
in the space as well. Much of
that will have to do with the
control we’ll have over the
show logistics—everything
from space planning and
scheduling seminars and
receptions to administering
the New Product Showcase
and even something as
simple as making general PA
announcements so people
know what’s going on in
real-time.
While the exact content
of the show is still being
mulled-over, one of many
things that have been
successful is that we’ve
grown our business
seminar, panel discussion,
and other valuable
presentation offerings.
This kind of information-
and experience-sharing is
priceless from a retail and
industry standpoint.
And we’ve already had
an enormous response
from retailers who are
excited about heading back
to Denver as well. We’re
looking forward to matching
(and exceeding) that
enthusiasm with the best
show possible.
www.tackletradeworld.com 43
role in local economies,
championing local and
national conservation
efforts, and introducing
more people to our sport
and the intrinsic value of
the places we enjoy it. Along
with being a more central,
fl y-centric location and a
more favourable time of
year for retailers, returning
to Denver and gathering
even more of our industry
together for a stand-alone
show is exactly the right
step toward even more
growth and involvement.
From a very practical
standpoint, we’ll also have
far more control over how
the show is run logistically
and be able to build-up what
works and adds value. This
will ultimately generate
even more awareness
and visibility for our
membership.
TTW - I assume planning
is well and truly underway
for next year’s IFTD show
however will there be
some differences between
2018 and 2019? What can
exhibitors expect and also
the shows visitors?
BB - Planning is going
very well. To-date, space
commitments for next year
have already surpassed this
year by more than 30%. The
obvious differences will be
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