by Ann Horseman
This
year was the first Archery Merchants and Manufacturers trade show for me.
I am an associate with Lake Side Archery in Lapeer, Michigan. The
show dates this year were January 26th through January 28th.
The AMO show lets dealers see what's new and improved in the archery business.
Anyone who is a manufacturer or distributer has a booth and has samples
of their products for the dealers to see and try. There were also
seminars available to train you for running your own archery shop.
This year's show was in Indianapolis, about a six hour drive from our location in Michigan. We left after I got off duty from my "real" job Friday afternoon. It was not to be the smoothest ride, there was a snow storm blowing through. The group from Lake Side was two vehicles big and it was a slow ride all the way due to the weather. Thankfully we all made it safe and sound.
Saturday morning, after a great breakfast at the IHOP near our lodging we found our way to the show's location, the Indiana Convention Center. Like all convention halls, it is huge. The trade show is $50 a head to get in, rather pricey. We wondered if it was going to be worth the fee.
Upon
entering we could see this was going to be fun. The must have been hundreds
of booths and displays. Everything from camouflage, tree stands, bows,
arrows and any accessory you can imagine was up for display. There were
even areas to try out bows. I tried my first cross bow at the show.
A very interesting piece of equipment. There was lots of traditional
equipment as well as the modern compound bows. All the reps and makers
were on hand to tell you and sell you their products. Some celebrities
were around. I saw Ted Nugent and a couple of people from the TV
shows you see on the Outdoor Channel and TNN. I sure recognized the
faces but could not place names. There were too many people crowded
around to talk to them.
It took all day Saturday and most of Sunday to see all the booths. It was exhausting but great fun.
Some other highlights included seeing a full body mount of one of Fred Bear's brownies. The new record non-typical whitetail deer. Best of all was being able to meet clients and friends made online over the years. It was great to be able to put faces and voices to the people I have written to for so long. Meeting some of the South African outfitters I book for was also memorable.
Next years show moves to Nashville, Tennessee.
See you there!
~Ann
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