With the economy in the toilet, I have been kind of wondering what the shows will be like next year. Talking with boat dealers at the Boat Show last year, it sounded like things were pretty slow for them. The only exception being the big yachts. Things are much worse this year.

I work the Boat Show for Lowrance and kind of wonder if some of us Pro Staff are going to get cut back this year. We are not doing the Monroe Show anymore, and instead we were concentrating on in-store promotions.

Could be a tough year for the Marine and Fishing Industry. Although, it has not cut back my spending on fishing gear.

Talking to some of the companies I prostaff for, yes they're cutting out some of the smaller shows in '09...tough time in the fishing tackle industry foresure.

I drastically cut back on the number of shows I attended in 06. It looks like it will be the same in 09. I am adding one show and that's the Seattle Boat Show. It's a ten day event and man what a long slog. Directly after that I will be doing the B.C. Boat Show in Vancouver. Other than that I am sticking pretty close to home. I will be bringing more products to market with modifications and additions to the product line. I would expect that Guide's, Outfitters and Retailers will be scrambling to make ends meet. Mike Hyneman / KoneZone.com

Glacier Bear Lodge decided to add Los Angeles to the agenda, We always do Puyallup, Portland and Monroe.
Monroe believe it or not has been about the best for us, I think it is the Steelheaders out there and with the Situk Steelhead, we get way more interest from that.
I don't think it is the cost of the shows, they are not that much. You really need the exposure year after year. It is the only time you get to BS with the clients and other businesses and hopefully show that the cost is not to bad for the experience you get.