Fishing trade shows attract outdoorsmen and women looking for the latest fishing gadgets and state-of-the-art equipment, and vendors, retailers and other sports business professionals looking for new sources of income or new vendors to provide them with the latest fishing gear. To reach them all, advertise in the fishing trade show guide to help attract visitors to your exhibit booth or offer special fishing tradeshow promotions to foster sales.

For the best results, use fishing trade show services to make a memorable experience for attendees. Additionally, hand out imprinted fishing tradeshow promotional items such as lures or fish-shaped magnets imprinted with your company name and logo. You can find other ways to make a splash with your next fishing trade show exhibit:

1. Take advantage of a fishing trade show directory for additional exposure, or join a committee for even more exposure and involvement.
2. Advertise to ensure your company is before your potential customers' eyes.
3. Get noticed at the important fishing tradeshows with a great design and memorable giveaways.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Follow fishing trade show advice and try to land a plum spot at the show

Fishing tradeshows are organized at least a year in advance, often longer. By becoming involved in an association tradeshow committee or registering early for a convention, you often can get your choice of where you set up your fishing trade show booth.

I recommend: Fred Halls’s Fishing Tackle and Boat Show is one of the biggest in the country for both consumers and businesses in the industry, so is a good one to focus your energy on. The Chicago Fishing Expo is another great place to reach regional and national fishing reps and consumers, so consider being a sponsor. The American Sport Fishing Association hosts a number of conventions and tradeshows in which you can participate.

Utilize fishing trade show information to promote your booth

In addition to putting a booth at an industry tradeshow, you can purchase advertising in the fishing trade show directory to get additional traction out of the event. Nonprofit associations and groups that put on fishing tradeshows also look for sponsorships to pay the convention bills. Consider taking a sponsorship spot in the show to ride even higher above the fray.

I recommend: ICAST is a large fishing tradeshow that offers industry insiders an opportunity to see the latest in fishing gear. Advertise in Tackle Tour, the organization's online publication, to draw visitors to the show to see you and take advantage of your offers. Reach consumers at the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show by taking advantage of its advertising opportunities.

Stand out at fishing trade shows with a well-designed exhibit

If you get a fishing trade show exhibit booth at a niche trade show that's not necessarily only for your industry, you can stand out with your products and services that can be used by a number of businesses. Among your peers, however, you need to utilize creativity and imagination to stand out in the crowd of exhibits. Look for interactive fishing tradeshow activities such as wheel games or putting greens and hand out unique promotional items at the big shows.

I recommend: Check out a professional fishing tradeshow exhibit at the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation for inspiration, then work with a professional trade show display design group like Xtreme Exhibits, which has experience in outdoor recreation trade show displays. Then, find dozens of unique fishing promotional items at Branders to hand out at your tradeshow booth so potential customers can keep you name in front of them.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure that your company name and contact information is imprinted on everything you hand out at your fishing trade show booth. Guests often go through their bags after a show to remind them of important contacts they've made.