Posted on 01/22/2013 12:54:31 PM PST by Second Amendment First
Mike Olien has been planning his first trip to the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show for a year.
His Texas-based company, MN Outdoors, planned the roll out for its new clip-on beverage holder when the show opens Feb. 2.
MN specializes in duck decoys and hunting camera mounts. Its beverage holder isn't specifically designed for hunters. The company does not sell guns or gun accessories.
But the Harrisburg show's new firearm policy has put Olien -- a "lifetime member of anything you can be a lifetime member of," an AR-15 owner and a strong gun control opponent -- in a lose-lose position.
Olien made a business decision to add this show to his schedule in hopes of finding new customers. The demands to boycott the show for banning the sale or display of assault weapons are now blurring the business and political, Olien said.
He has already spent $7,000 to secure his booth at the show, money the show's promoters will not refund, Olien said. If he joins the boycott, that money is lost. It's not chump change for a five-year-old small business. He also risks alienating Reed Exhibitions, the show promoter, that also runs shows he needs to attend closer to home in Texas and Colorado later this year.
Reed has not returned PennLive's requests for comment.
Not joining the boycott could bring greater costs.
If the controversy flattens attendance, which Olien believes a strong possibility, he could waste a few thousand more dollars making the two-day trip from the San Antonio suburbs.
Worse, his name could be mud in the small community of manufacturers and sellers in the outdoors community.
"If I pull out, I lose," Olien said. "If I stay, and the attendance is low and I get on somebody's blackball list, I lose … I'll see people at six other shows this year and it won't take long for word to get around that I was at that show in Pennsylvania."
The chance of a TV host or outdoors celebrity ever plugging MN gear could be ruined for years.
MN needs to get its decoys into stores and stay in stores. Major distributors, like the boycotting Cabela's, might not want to carry the merchandise of a company seen as supporting the show, Olien said.
When Reed's ban was first announced, some companies were encouraging show attendees to wear blaze orange in protest of the ban. Olien thought he might be able to protest the decision by manning his booth in a bright jacket all week, but all the controversy makes that unlikely.
Every hour, his inbox is being bombarded by people he's never met demanding he take a stand to protect their rights. As of yet, Olien said, none of them have offered to refund his costs.
If this were a political choice, it would be easy, Olien said. But this is about dollars and cents.
He's heard talk of vendors mounting a class-action lawsuit against Reed for changing its rules so close to the show, but he doesn't know what the parameters would be or if it could be successful.
Provided Reed doesn't change its stance, something Olien said the company told him it does not intend to do, Olien will decided by the weekend if it's worth risking the trip.
One things is for sure.
Even if he comes this year, there will be no second trip for MN next winter.
He predicts a lot of vendors will be making a similar decision.
"I can't afford to be associated with a show that's so wishy-washy," Olien said. "It's been a wonderful show in the past, but they really flubbed it up. This show will always have a stigma as being that show."
You are correct. The right answer is to not show up and sue for the deposit. I would think that such a situation might qualify for class action status.
The observation that nobody has offered to help these people out is very poignant. I would not blame them, if boycotting the show, for in-your-face appeals to their clientele to help them defray the cost of doing the right thing, at least to do more business with them than before.
Class action suits are good for when you want more to punish a culprit than to get made whole. Typically the culprit settles for ten zillion dollars most of which goes to the lawyers, and his prey gets coupons for $10 off the next screwing. Not sure how appropriate that is here.
The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show is a unique celebration of the authentic hunting and fishing traditions that are cherished by millions of Americans and their families. We are proud to celebrate these pastimes by featuring 1,200 exhibitors offering a diverse range of products from outfitters to fishing boats and RVs, from archery to art and from clothes to cabins.
As a hunting-focused event, we welcome exhibitors who wish to showcase products and firearms that serve the traditional needs of the sport. Clearly, we strongly support the 2nd Amendment. However, this year we have made the decision not to include certain products that in the current climate may attract negative attention that would distract from the strong focus on hunting and fishing at this family-oriented event and possibly disrupt the broader positive experience of our guests.
ESS is proud to participate in the preservation and promotion of the rich hunting and fishing tradition passed from generation to generation by American families.
He also risks alienating Reed Exhibitions, the show promoter, that also runs shows he needs to attend closer to home in Texas and Colorado later this year.
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I would think if Reed Exhibitions keeps this policy, they won’t have any more shows this year. In fact they may as well head on back to Jolly old England and forget their shows in America.
If it were me I would go to the show and put up a sign indicating the people who put on the show are left wing assholes deserving the contempt of all who are there.
Can’t we freep the hell out of these weasels too?
“Big scary guns” are sometimes used in hunting. If they want to make a public disclaimer that they do not personally endorse “big scary guns” then they can do it on a poster at the entrance. They can also say they gave such and such donation to the families of the children slain at Sandy Hook, etc. All of which would be wonderful. But in doing this, they have woken up a very angry sleeping giant.
I would think this article in multiple publications would drive business better than going to the show.
contract
...management reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any product for display...
...union labor only-....
interesting question on refunds what if all you had to display was now excluded? past practice ?
Well, I’d certainly not go to one of their shows. I’ve pretty much been off gunshows for quite a few years. I started out a couple of decades or so ago looking for parts, good military used rifles, etc. It didn’t take too long to learn that most of the stuff of that genre, at least here in Georgia, is pure worn-out junk.
If I want a good deal on a gun that is current, I’ll go to Adventure Outdoors, or to Bargain Barn here in my town.....they can beat gun show prices for guns most any time.
“We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
“Says it all, thanks.”
No, you’re pledging SOMEONE ELSE’S fortune. The guy paid 7000 bucks for a booth and is now screwed no matter what he does. Instead of feeling bad for the small vendors, why don’t you buy something from one? Buy the guy’s cup holder. Send him a few bucks. That would sure beat quoting the Declaration and shrugging your shoulders.
Ruger also just pulled out.
Per their Facebook Page:
Ruger James Ritter & Lance Martin: Ruger has decided not to attend the upcoming Eastern Sports Show. We are very frustrated by Reed Exhibitions’ foolish decision to ban the display of modern sporting rifles. We feel that, as one of America’s firearms manufacturers, we must withdraw from the show as a commitment to the 2nd Amendment rights of our customers. Nonetheless, we are very disappointed not to be attending the Eastern Sports Show. We were looking forward to attending the show for the first time this year and meeting and supporting the 200,000+ sportsmen and women that attend this great celebration of the outdoors. We hope the show will be successful for the many outfitters and other vendors who depend on the show for their annual business.
Some years back I bow hunted Elk in the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico with Gary Webb (outfitter). Gary expressed a thought to do the show,I live 30 miles from this show and offered Gary a place to stay if he decided to come east. He ask me to get information on renting a booth and I did. I started here locally and ended getting the info from the company, I believe out of Boston. Man, they charged by the square inch for space. I don’t remember the figures anymore but it was unbelievable. Gary never came east.
Yes, but this "little guy" isn't afraid of the shake down. FTA:
Every hour, his inbox is being bombarded by people he's never met demanding he take a stand to protect their rights. As of yet, Olien said, none of them have offered to refund his costs.
$7k sounds really expensive. Gotta sell a lot of cup holders to cover time, travel, booth rental, incidentals.
Here’s a list of their shows world-wide.
Quite a few in the US to stay away from in droves.
It’s going to take a while for the Reed Expo outfit to get the stink off, even if they reverse themselves. This decision, with a raft of likely lawsuits, will likely be fatal.
Either you stand up and defend fundamental freedoms, or you don't...Make a choice and stop whimpering!
How about a list of those who will attend?
That seems to be the more pertinent approach. Let’s put the pressure on them.
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