Dubbed the “big show for the bow,” the Archery Trade Association trade held in Nashville, Tennessee had a successful 2014 run.
For starters, it’s like a “second Christmas.” At least that’s what many eager retailers called the event through comments and posts on their shop’s social media accounts. Yet, the 2014 ATA Trade Show, held in Nashville, Tenn., at the newly constructed, downtown Music City Center, remains first and foremost a business opportunity for thousands of ATA members.
“The ATA Show is] becoming more of a writing show as time goes on,” said Steve Sims, president/CEO of Sims Vibration Laboratory. “We actually wrote a lot of orders this year. Our orders were up from last year. I don’t know if the foot traffic was lighter or stronger, but it seemed that our booth was busier this year than last year.”
A record-setting total of 1,047 retail and distribution buying companies represented by a near-record 3,193 individual dealers, distributors and buyers attended the show.
Exhibitors topped their previous numbers by coming in at 584 strong. This amounted to 186,576 square feet of brands, products and innovation.
“There’s no doubt we were lucky we didn’t get caught in Indianapolis this year, where the snow fall and winter weather were far worse,” said ATA President Jay McAninch. “This show, in spite of travel disruptions, drew record attendance from our all-important retailer/buyer/distributor membership.”
