IFTD Coverage: Hilary Hutcheson Live from the show floor

Our favorite television star / PR guru / and FlyfishMagazine.com correspondent, Hilary Hutcheson will once again be roaming the show floor at the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show, September 9-11th. She will be scoping out all the new products for our readers while attempting to take photos of industry types in compromising situations for blackmail purposes (not as hard as it sounds). Stay tuned for your personal look at this industry insider only show.

Nielsen Releases AFFTA from FFR Show Contract

Having failed to reach an agreement to combine the Outdoor Retailer and Fly Fishing Retailer shows Nielsen and AFFTA have decided to go their separate ways. Text of the AFFTA press release follows:

AFFTA ALLOWED TO PURSUE FLY FISHING INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW OPTIONS

LOUISVILLE, COLORADO.

Since April, 2009, AFFTA has been in discussions with Nielsen Business Media, owner of the FlyFishing Retailer Expo (FFR) to determine how to improve upon future FFR shows. Nielsen shared AFFTA's desire to improve upon the design and production of future FFR shows.

Thinking outside the box, as the owner of the Outdoor Retailer Show (OR), Nielsen offered to create a "show within a show" by combining FFR with the 2010 Summer OR Show in Salt Lake City. David Loechner, Nielsen Sr. V.P., delivered the "show within a show" proposal to the AFFTA Board at their meeting in September.

According to AFFTA Chairman, Alan Gnann, "When the Outdoor Retailer proposal was first brought to the AFFTA Board's attention, the Board was interested in the opportunities this combination offered. The thought of having our show within a show the size and caliber of OR was initially felt to be a reasonably good fit."

Unfortunately, when the AFFTA Board received the final floor space proposal from Nielsen, the total space allocated to the fly fishing industry was grossly insufficient; the separate space to create the "show within a show" concept was not offered nor was space allocated for indoor casting ponds. In addition, many AFFTA members stated that the timing of the OR Show was not a good fit for the fly fishing industry. Therefore, citing these deficiencies, the AFFTA Board of Directors rejected Nielsen's proposal.

Immediately after the AFFTA Board voted to reject Nielsen's Outdoor Retailer proposal, AFFTA and Nielsen engaged in good-faith negotiations to allow AFFTA the opportunity to acquire the rights and licenses to the FFR show. Unfortunately, these negotiations were unsuccessful and AFFTA asked Nielsen to either produce a 2010 FFR show or terminate the agreement.

According to Gnann, "Nielsen and their predecessors have been great partners and collaborators for many years. Prior to the downturn in the economy, trade shows nationwide were generally profitable and well attended. However, the current economic climate dictates that AFFTA and Nielsen pursue a different business model. Therefore, as of November 30, 2009, Nielsen released AFFTA from its show production contract. It is now time for AFFTA to move on and determine its next course of action."

"Since April, the Board of Directors has been working diligently with Nielsen to consider a wide range of options and combinations for FFR," said AFFTA President Gary Berlin. "Because of confidentiality and non-compete provisions in the Nielsen agreement, the AFFTA Board has been unable to notify the industry of the on-going discussions or issue a press release on the status of the show. Now that AFFTA and Nielsen are no longer contractually obligated, the AFFTA Board is considering multiple options for a 2010 fly fishing industry trade show, including hosting a standalone show or combining with an existing show."

Berlin promises to keep the fly fishing industry up-to-date on AFFTA's plans for a 2010 fly fishing industry trade show.

Update*** Midcurrent has the Nielsen release and they plan on setting up shop on their own.

AFFTA Hires New Association President

The American Fly Fishing Trade Association announced today that they have chosen Gary Berlin to be their President.

A former human resources manager and Area/District Wildlife Manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the recent head of the International Hunter Education Association, Berlin brings nearly thirty years of experience in the outdoor arena as well as proven non-profit association leadership skills. He received a Bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management from Mesa College in Grand Junction, CO and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado in Denver. Berlin, a lifelong Colorado resident, will begin his tenure on July 1 and will be establishing a new permanent home for AFFTA in the greater Denver area.

"AFFTA is in the midst of many new and positive changes to bring better leadership and focus to the fly fishing industry and Gary was the perfect person to direct and implement that change," commented Alan Gnann, AFFTA Board Chairman and President of REC Components. "At our January meeting, AFFTA's board set a series of goals regarding what our organization needed in a new president and Gary fills all of these requirements. The board was overwhelmingly in favor of hiring Gary for this position at our April meeting in Washington, DC during the National Casting Call."

AFFTA Announces Consumer Fly Fishing Expo

The American Fly Fishing Trade Association issued a press release today announcing the birth of The Fly Fishing Expo. Unlike the AFFTA's Fly Fishing Retailer Show, the Expo will be open to the public and aimed at the fly fishing consumer.

American Fly Fishing Trade Association

The Fly Fishing Expo, a New Era of Consumer Fly Fishing Shows

Denver, Colorado May 31, 2007 The first fly fishing consumer show to be entirely owned by the member companies of The American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) will be launched in January 2008. The Fly Fishing Expo will focus on providing a unique fly fishing experience to both seasoned and beginning anglers. The Expo will be held at the beautiful Colorado Convention Center on January 4th-6th. The Expo has already received commitments from many leading fly fishing companies including Cloudveil, Frontiers International Travel, Orvis, REC Components, Rio, Sage, Scott Fly Rods, and St. Croix Rods. Exhibitor invitations and contracts will be received by all prospective exhibitors no later than June 25th.

AFFTA, with unanimous support from its Board of Directors, has made great strides in the planning and delivering of the Expo. The Expo will feature a new breed of exciting and interactive consumer fly fishing activities with areas dedicated to youth angling conservation, casting techniques, and community involvement.

The focus for the events and programs will engage anglers from all along the Front Range and provide unparalleled opportunities to learn from industry leaders, pros and celebrities.

"From the industry's standpoint, The Fly Fishing Expo will be incredibly appealing" said Robert Ramsay, President of AFFTA. "We are uniquely positioned to ensure that the revenue generated from The Fly Fishing Expo will be used to address the critical conservation, consumer development and business needs of association members and our sport. For the first time, the people who make their living producing and selling products and services for fly anglers will be in control of how our sport is presented to the general public".

Website: http://www.affta.com