Tackle Trade World - October 2023

OCTOBER
2023
04
TackleTrade
www.tackletradeworld.com
EDITORIAL
Editor:
John Hunter
+44 7990 542958
john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk
A journalist all his life and with 20-plus years
of international business magazine experience,
John was the founding editor of TTW and has
now returned to the helm. He has helped
many brands launch and grow over the years
through B2B publications and via his own
consultancy business.
ADVERTISING
North America:
Bart Manganiello
+1 914 722 7601
bartalm@optonline.net
For over 38 years, Bart has been working with
trade magazines, 34 in the tackle industry.
Since 2001, he has been TTW’s North American
Director, providing the best communication
programs to companies, helping them connect
with current and prospective trade partners
around the world.
Rest Of The World:
Guido Knegt
+39 3475036436
guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk
A born and bred Dutchman, he spent five
years travelling the world as a scuba-diving
instructor and English teacher before settling
down in Sardinia. Guido previously worked for
TTW between 2014 and 2017.
China: Robert Li
Li Ziwei
+86 13451914155
robert.li365@gmail.com
Li Ziwei (Robert) has been working as news
editor for over 20 years. He founded the most
influential Chinese fishing forum in the Straits
and successfully organised many industry
events. His love for culture and tourism has led
him to devote his entire life to the exchanges
between China and southeast Asia.
Magazine Manager
Justin Fox
+44 7813 327966
justin.fox@dhpub.co.uk
A hugely experienced communicator with
more than 20 years at parent company DHP,
Justin knows what it takes to grow brands
and businesses across the tackle sector.
Sub Editor: David Haynes
Art Editor: Paul Evans
Editorial Design: Brad Sharp
DHP LTD
Editorial, administration, subscriptions and
accounts to: DHP Ltd, 1st Floor, Nene House,
Sopwith Way, Daventry, NN11 8EA, UK
www.tackletradeworld.com
REIMAGINING
A TRADE SHOW
MUST BE HARD
As I write this I’m in the middle
of finalising details for my trip
to Salt Lake City at the end
of September to attend the inaugural
AFFTA Confluence event.
As you will read elsewhere in this
special Confluence preview edition –
and doubtless have seen in previous
issues of TTW – the American Fly
Fishing Trade Association’s new
venture is designed to be more than
just a trade show.
It’s a brave decision by executive
director Lucas Bissett, event director
Kenneth Andres and the AFFTA
board to try and do something
different other than a traditional trade
show.
Of course, the move will have been
helped by what they perceived as a
poor reception to the last International
Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD) Show in
spring 2022.
If I’m honest, while the exhibitor
numbers and footfall were not
really there (understandable in the
immediate post-Covid world), I
personally enjoyed the event, saw some
old friends, was introduced to a wealth
of new gear and picked up some
additional business.
I told Lucas at the time I was
pleased to see the show return after
the enforced break caused by the
pandemic and I felt that, simply by
putting a show on, they had taken a
step in the right direction.
But it wasn’t deemed to be sufficient
so the whole IFTD concept was
reimagined, starting with a name
change to Confluence – reflecting
John Hunter
its newfound status as a meeting of Editor
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various sectors, from manufacturers
and distributors to retailers, media,
industry analysts and more.
So, while the ‘traditional’ show
elements will remain – a show floor
with exhibitor booths, a New Product
Showcase and awards (proudly
sponsored by Tackle Trade World), an
industry breakfast and the ubiquitous
Party On The Pond and Happy Hours,
there will be other elements too.
A major focus will be research, data
and industry trends from Trackfly
(more on this elsewhere in this issue),
not to mention a series of educational
seminars, plus both one-to-one and
round-table discussions to help us all
get more out of our businesses.
I’m also looking forward to the
Outdoor Experience at Pioneer Park
on the final day of the schedule. Again,
there will be a mix of the ‘expected’
– new product demos in an outdoor
setting – along with the unexpected
such as the Far Bank Olympics, food
and drink and even live music.
The whole thing is designed to
create a convivial atmosphere to do
business, gather key statistics and data
and network with old friends and new
acquanitances.
I’m delighted that TTW is a key
media partner with AFFTA and
Confluence and both Bart and I are
really looking forward to experiencing
a very different show from usual, as
well as catching up with many in the
international fly fishing trade.