Paddlesports companies came away from the annual Canoecopia show reporting unexpectedly strong sales and traffic gains that could bode well for the upcoming season, according to attendees interviewed last week.
The show, which ran March 13-15 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI, serves as a bellwether for the industry because it’s the first and the largest of several consumer shows paddle sports dealers produce in the eastern half of the country to kick off the spring season.
Between Rutabaga and dozens of vendor booths, more than 300 brands were available for sale at Canoecopia, including outfitters. This year's show featured more than 90 speakers and 100 clinics covering everything from how to select gear to wilderness hygiene for women and one titled “Tahiti by Stand-Up Paddleboard,” according to the 77-page Canoecopia show guide.
“We were strong across the border it was great,” said Darren Bush, owner of Rutabaga Paddlesports, which produces the show. “We crushed it.”
Bush said attendance and sales at the show exceeded everyone's expectations by double-digits. Attendance reached about 22,000, up about 10 percent from the level seen the last few years.
Traffic and sales were up significantly at Confluence Outdoor's booth, said Brad Taylor, U.S. field sales director for the company, which makes Wilderness Systems, Dagger, Perception and Wave Sport kayaks and Mad River Canoes as well as paddles, accessories and Bomber Gear apparel.
“We noted that consumers were buying in pairs, were prepared to make a purchase, and many had already done their research,” Taylor said. “Price was not an issue. Kayak fishing is definitely catching on in the Midwest.”
Canoe vendors draw crowds
Bush said Northstar Canoes Inc. was one of the busiest vendors at the show. The Princeton, MN company was founded in December, 2013 by Ted Bell, the former founder, owner and seller of the now defunct Bell Canoe.
“We were slammed,” said Bear Paulsen, general manager for Northstar Canoes. “We sold about everything Rutabaga had on order for the whole year, which far exceeded everyone's expectations.”
That amounted to dozens of boats, which will keep Bell and his 12 employees busy for most of the year. Delivery dates were pushed from early June to late June by the end of the show, said Paulsen.
Paulsen attributed the brisk orders to Bell's reputation among canoe enthusiasts and how word-of-mouth recommendations become magnified at Canoecopia.
Bush, however, thinks canoes may be gaining favor after several years of sideways sales.
“We take a little credit for that,” said Bush. “We've told manufacturers it's all about kayaks, but people have been using canoes for hundreds of years. Try to get out of muddy stream with kayak and you see what I mean.”
Paulsen said he was surprised that 300 attended two solo wilderness trip presentations he made during the show.
SUPs draw younger faces, more women
More encouraging, however, may have been the growing popularity of stand-up paddleboards, or SUPs.
“SUP has definitely brought in a new, younger demographic to the show,” Bush said. “There are more women and lot of double sales with SUP.”
One sign of SUPs longevity has been the proliferation of SUP apparel. BIC, C4 Waterman and Riviera Paddlesports all offered SUP specific apparel at the show this year.
“This was Riviera's second year at Canoecopia and we were super stoked to be a part of it again,” said Riviera Founder Brandon Rambo. “Booth traffic was way up and sales were way up. I'm not sure if it was our location or just a busier show. I will definitely be pushing Darren for something front row next year.”
Based on board sales at Canoecopia, Rambo expects entry-level recreational boards to be Riviera's top sellers again this year, followed by touring boards. Fishing SUPs will come in a close third.
The industry will get plenty of consumer feedback over the next two months as shows take places across the eastern and central United States. On deck is Paddlesport 2015, which is held March 27-29 in Somerset, NJ by Jersey Paddler. That is followed by Kiittery Trading Post's New England Paddlesports Show in southern Maine April 17-19. Midwest Mountaineering's Outdoor Adventure Expo runs April 24-26 in Minneapolis.
