A CONSUMER fishing show, WITHOUT a retailing element and with lower costs, is being launched next year by DHP Ltd, publisher of such magazines as Total Coarse Fishing, Match Fishing and Total Carp.

The event, which will be a true showcase for the industry, has already been given the backing of many big-name suppliers, including Fox, Maver, Preston Innovations and Garbolino, with many more such as Hardy & Greys and Shakespeare showing an interest.

It will take all three halls at Stoneleigh’s National Agricultural Centre in the Midlands – the same venue as the popular T&G Trade Show – along with an area outside dedicated to carp fishing, including a bivvy and bedchair village surrounding a large pond which will play host to bait boats and other innovations.

Branded the Total Coarse Fishing show, it will be staged from Friday to Sunday, April 25th to 27th, 2008 and will allow anglers to look at new products in a good value environment, with children under 14 being allowed in free, to help grow the sport.

A spokesman for Fox International confirmed: “We have certainly agreed to the show in principle – the non-retailing element is probably one of the major factors that has influenced our decision.”
Meanwhile Ricky Teale, boss of Preston Innovations, told T&G: “We are happy to support the show in principle. We certainly think there should be a showcase consumer fishing event but without any retailing. There are plenty of ‘tackle sales’ out there and we do not support them but we do believe in a show that brings the whole industry together and is a major occasion for suppliers and, on that basis and subject to seeing firm prices and costings, we will be there.”

David Hall, DHP’s managing director, explained: “We felt for quite some time that the concept of trying to run a show which combined the opportunity for manufacturers and distributors to showcase new products and also encourage highly-discounted retailing made for poor bedfellows.

“We also felt that the NEC’s extortionate charge for car parking and the cost of food and drink make staging the event at that venue extremely expensive. We have enjoyed an extremely close working relationship with the NAC over the years, thanks to the T&G Trade Show, and we know it offers all the same facilities but the major difference is that parking is free!

“Having spoken to companies like Fox, Maver, Preston Innovation, Hardy & Greys, Shakespeare and Garbolino, we have booked the venue although there are many more firms we will be speaking to in the coming weeks but we are sure we can attract the very cream of British manufacturers and distributors.”

Opening up
The NAC has a large amount of open space at its disposal and DHP is planning to use much of this for coarse and carp companies with larger items to show off, such as bivvies and bedchairs, while a central water feature will allow various demonstrations of product from exhibitors.

David continued: “We are very excited about staging this show and our experience of running the T&G Show has demonstrated to the industry that when DHP puts on a show it will be done to a very high, professional level.
“The main emphasis will be that there will be NO retailing of tackle – it will be a showcase to be held six weeks before the start of the ‘season’ and we plan to encourage retailers to bring their customers in the full knowledge that they will be the beneficiaries of any sales generated by the event.”

The aim is to ensure it is cost-effective to all, with free parking, free entry to all juniors under 14 and good value tickets for others, together with fairly-priced drinks.”

Heading up the organisation of the show will be DHP’s deputy managing director Sean O’Driscoll who told T&G: “The main reason for the show is to stimulate the whole of the trade. We believe that by staging what will be a ‘non selling’ event we can enlist the help of the retailers in getting anglers from all over the country to Stoneleigh.
“The smart ones will lay on coaches for their customers, get them down to the show and then take them back to their shop and sell them what they have just seen.”

* Any companies interested in exhibiting should contact him on 07788 922976 or sean@dhpub.co.uk .

Tackle And Guns