So, I've been thinking about this (nice distraction from work and worrying about Brexit and the meltdown of UK politics!).
The root of this is that the shows need to decide what they're for.
It's no longer good enough to pitch them primarily as a retail opportunity. Peter's comments are spot on, people can and will buy elsewhere. I don't see any tackle major manufacturers getting their money back in sales on the day. That leaves you with small players taking small stands and selling things cheap - not really an attraction.
So if the show's reason-for-being isn't as a retail opportunity then what is it? Entertainment that's what!
If I'm being asked to pay £20 plus £5 for parking, plus petrol, plus food and drink, it'd better be good! So, what would good entertainment look like?
- A full program of demonstrations, both coarse, sea, and fly. The demos in the last few years have been sparse and the same people doing the same demos. They don't all have to be beginner oriented either. Where's Charles Jardine? Andrew Toft? Steve Rajeff? Matt Hayes? Whoever else is on the TV just now? Some of the top comp. anglers? Leader to hand? Bugging? Saltwater? Pike? Where are the lure fishing demos? There should be a row of top fly tyers - from abroad too. Allow major manufacturers slots to demo/preview their new kit.
- Films. Why not be a venue for the international film tours - previewing new films?
- Competitions: Put up some serious prizes and get some proper competitors in.
Heck - I'd pay more than £20 for that lot, as long as i knew about it. The only promotion I saw for this year's fair was on little green roadside signs on the A68! How crap is that? I'd be Facebooking and Twittering the heck out of it, and previewing it in FF&FT, T&S etc.
So, this obviously needs quite a bit of up-front investment (and risk) from the organisers and I don't know how feasible this is. However, once you have a decent program and are telling people about it, you can share plans with the tackle trade who may even believe your forecasts for better numbers of the right kind of visitors (i.e. keenies who might actually buy your kit now and again).
They might then see the show as a means to promote their brands and kit to Scottish anglers (as opposed to a cheesy sales opportunity where everyone is asking for a show discount), and maybe (only maybe) divert funds from press ads, social media, and other shows into building decent stands.
These decent stands then add to the overall attraction of the show - improving numbers even more - woohooo!
All of this is risky I admit. Maybe the economics of the thing mitigate against it. But I can't see another option. If it carries on as it is I can see "Fisherman's Corner" disappearing altogether.
There - got that off my chest!