Open Letter to IFTD

[Karlin Bilcher]

http://busterwantstofish.com/category/common-sense

I found this letter compelling, mostly because it speaks to a conviction that I have made known on this board.  
Enjoy.
 

[Cameron Mortenson]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Zach Matthews]

I agree with a lot of Bruce’s points in principle, but he isn’t actually raising any new questions or pointing to any answers, which I know everyone would like to have.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have a solution for this and neither, it seems, does Smithhammer.  

[Zach Matthews]

Tim –

That doesn’t work with the production calendar for overseas garment manufacturers.

[Bob Riggins]

I don’t know a lot about IFTD (well, actually nothing about it), but Zach is right, the lead time for new products is 5 months minimum.  You’ve got to show your product to retailers, get orders, manufacture the goods and get them to the market by Thanksgiving.  It is one of those situations where “common sense” to one person doesn’t fit with “common sense” to another person, which begs the question whether it was ever “common sense” at all.

[Bob Riggins]

PS I am not covering IFTD this year due to an upcoming trial which we’re getting ready for.  Just bad timing – I’ll be there next year.

You mean you actually work for a living? 😉

[Karlin Bilcher]

Here’s a real life scenario. A buddy of mine reps for several of the biggest tackle companies in the country.  He is in charge of a huge portion of distribution for the country, like 6 states.  He used to go to the IFTD.  No longer.  He basically hosts his own, in a sweet location.  Almost all of his dealers attend.  They fish, eat, drink, hang out and bond like crazy for two or three days.  After putting most of the newest gear in their hands (actually fishing) for a few days, on the last day they sit down and write orders for the coming year.  The point being that its dealer centered.  His event has been successful to the point that some, not all, of the big boys play along as they now have $ projections in advance.  Win, win, win.  Again, this model tends towards the dealers, not the manufactures, which is the way it ought to be.  

More grist for the mill –

  http://busterwantstofish.com/2010/04/15/can-the-ff-industry-get-it-togther-when-it-comes-to-direct-sales/%

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