HAWKE OPTICS ADDS AIRMAKS ARMS TO ROSTER
Exclusive distribution deal keeps CDR’s Chris Roberts involved
Hawke Optics has secured an exclusive distribution agreement with AirMaks arms. The deal will be in effect from August.
The team at Hawke have been admirers of the AirMaks Arms brand for a number of years. Over the past few months, they have developed a close relationship with Konstantin Kornievskiy, AirMaks’ owner, and Chris Roberts of CDR Guns, their current distributor. Their passion for the brand and their vision for success in the UK resonated with Hawke Optics, and Chris Roberts has been retained as AirMaks Arms’s UK technical supremo, fronting a fullyfunctioning UK service centre.
“Chris’s involvement was pivotal. He knows AirMaks Arms inside out and approves every rifle before sale—this will continue.” promised Hawke Optics UK Sales Director Jamie Ransome.
The AirMaks Arms product range includes the Caiman, Krait (pictured) and Katran models.
HIGHLAND OUTDOORS BRINGS ALLEN BACK INTO FOLD
“We see massive potential in AirMaks Arms,” continued Jamie. “Hawke Optics wants to take them to the level that the brand deserves to be at, we can look to achieve this with our brand backing along with the support of the trade.”
UK retailers can look forward to robust support and availability of AirMaks Arms products, with the first shipment expected during August. Hawke Optics has promised to keep dealers and their
customers’ expectations realistic, building stock holding as quickly as possible.
To find out about forthcoming promotions to incentivise its trade partners contact Jamie on 0345 345 5555.
LAND MANAGEMENT AT THE GAME FAIR
The Game Fair 2024, is the ultimate destination for farmers, landowners, and land-based professionals seeking to drive innovation, diversification, and growth in their businesses.
In 2023 80% of its audience were land and estate owners who are responsible for 80% of the UK land.
This year, The Game Fair is proud to feature the Land Management Area, a dedicated space designed to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration you need to maximize your land.
With over 50 exhibitors already signed this is your chance to be part of the Land Management Area which will showcase the latest in sustainability, security, real estate, vehicles, agricultural buildings, insurance, surveying, housing, lifestyle, leisure, tourism, fencing, machinery and much more.
From cases to camo, cleaning kits to cutlery, Allen Products have been supplying reliable, affordable accessories to global shooters for over 50 years.
Previously a stalwart of the Highland Outdoors portfolio, Highland has announced it is thrilled to have Allen back in its roster of brands after a brief hiatus.
The news comes as Allen announces the UK launch of its new Breakthrough Clean Technologies line.
Breakthrough Clean Technologies is a market leading gun cleaning product range that offers odourless, non-carcinogenic products that are safe for you and your equipment.
Breakthrough’s solvents eliminate more contaminants than most leading gun cleaners and their lubricants provide the ultimate protection. To find out more contact the Highland Outdoors Sales Office on 0345 099 0252.
(Left to Right) Stephen Walker (Owner Hawke Optics). Chris Roberts (CDR Guns, Ashley Walker (Owner Hawke Optics), Konstantin Kornievskiy (Owner AirMaks Arms), Jamie Ransome (UK Sales Director Hawke Optics)
Published by:
Stable Events, Invision House, Wilbury Way, Hitchin, England, SG4 0TY www.guntradenews.com
Editor-in-Chief: Steve Faragher, steve.faragher@guntradenews.com
Art Editor: Joe Burt
Consultant Editor: Lee Hurst
Advertising: Lee Hurst 07 949 111 539 lee.hurst@thegamefair.org
Publisher: Gemma Payne
Contributors: Stuart Farr, Al Gabriel, Diggory Hadoke, Mat Manning, Conor O’Gorman, Caroline Roddis, Alex Sayer, Karl Waktare
©2024 Stable
WE SAY
As this column is being written, the country is preparing for an election that looks to be as foregone a conclusion as any I have seen in my lifetime.
Our columnists have, as always, picked up the pen and put down their thoughts to share with us. One of the things I really enjoy about editing this magazine is having columnists who challenge my thinking, who make me readdress situations in a new light. That’s what they are for, and no doubt this bunch of writers are good at it.
So please take the time to enjoy Conor O’Gorman and Stuart Farr this month, as I did. Conor has reminded me of a simple fact this issue. That it is harder to hurt people you know than it is strangers. So I think his suggestion of inviting your new MP, of whatever political persuasion, to your workplace and simply showing them what you do is a terrific one. It will help them understand your issues, make them walk a mile in your shoes. And when they are called upon to make decisions about shooting they will—at least—be better informed than they were. As Elvis Costello sang, “What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?”
In his column Stuart Farr reminds us of some of the uncertainty to come. Uncertainty is a definite enemy to good business. We should console ourselves that there is little in the way of manifesto pledges from the Labour party to frighten us, but there will no doubt be continued
“ If there is pain to swallow it would be good to know ”
tinkering around the edges of our industry. The release of the HSE recommendations on lead have been put on hold again during the election, and it now seems that it will be September at the earliest before we hear anything from them. I guess we’re all in two minds about this outcome. If there is pain to swallow it would be good to know sooner so we can plan, but at the same time no one wants to bring forward difficult times.
Steve
Honours for GWCT stalwarts
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust was well represented in the King’s Birthday Honours List announced on 15 June this year.
Peter Thompson, former GWCT advisor, was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Farmland Ecology and Wildlife Conservation, and Hugh Oliver-Bellasis (pictured), a VicePresident and former Trustee of GWCT, was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Nature Conservation and the Rural Community.
New game processing facility to open
A new game processing facility, due to open in August 2024, is set to be at the forefront of venison production and promotion. Oakland Park, a new state-of-theart processing and butchery plant extending to over 1,100 square metres, will be the first new facility to open in the UK in 40 years.
From August 2024, stalkers from across the south of England will have a new facility for the purchase and processing of game of all species: Oakland Park at Hermitage in West Berkshire, just two minutes from the M4. The brainchild of
The Value of Shooting Report 2024
The new Value of Shooting report was commissioned by 24 rural organisations and carried out by Cognisense, a market research and data analytics firm. The report sets out the following useful headline figures:
Shooting is worth £3.3bn (GVA) to the UK economy every year.
The new report has taken a more comprehensive and detailed approach than previous reports, attaching a value to contribution in kind (CiK) and supply chain value, which shows that £9.3bn of wider economic activity is generated.
620,000 individuals are actively involved in shooting-related activities.
Shooting providers and volunteers carry out £500m worth of conservation work, equivalent to 26,000 full-time jobs and 14m workdays each year.
Habitat management and conservation are carried out on 7.6m hectares as a result of shooting.
Three out of four people who take part in shooting said that it contributes positively to their physical and mental health.
Shooters spend £4.4bn on their UKbased supply chain each year.
estate owner Seton Fairhurst, the plant has been developed jointly by passionate stalker John Prince and business entrepreneur Alan Hayward, who has over 50 years’ experience in the butchery and wholesale meat industry. An Open Day to celebrate the launch will take place on July 20 at Oakland Park.
The new facility has pledged support for the wild meat industry as a whole by promising to donate £1.00 per carcass to Eat Wild, the official development board for all wild meat in the UK, who work to promote wild meat, secure new markets
for it, and ensure a fully sustainable ‘circle of game’.
Alan Hayward said: “We are not retail butchers; our market is not even individual catering customers—we are selling to the major catering suppliers. We will be providing a range of cuts as well as products like sausages, burgers, meatballs and koftas, and will also be selling skinned carcasses into wholesale. Export is high on the agenda but also recognition of the enormous demand from individual stalkers, We look forward to providing a place where the stalker can bring his carcasses.”
BASC settles GL43 legal challenge with government
Defra’s decision to alter the general licence (GL43) that allowed the release of gamebirds in certain areas of England has been challenegd by BASC.
The association was granted permission by the High Court to bring a judicial review of Defra’s decision in December last year. BASC’s Fighting Fund was used to support the challenge.
The claim has now been settled following a commitment by Defra to a programme of meetings and constructive dia-
logue to ensure the sector’s voice is heard in future.
In addition, Defra announced this week that a new general licence will be issued to allow the release of gamebirds on the vast majority of Special Protection Areas without any delayed release dates.
Caroline Bedell, BASC’s executive director of conservation, said: “Defra made its initial decision at the eleventh hour without warning or consulting with the sector because of a perceived risk of
transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) from gamebirds to wild birds—a decision which plunged the sector in England into turmoil and threatened the existence of a number of shoots and the livelihoods of gamekeepers affected.
“While the parties have not been able to agree if Defra had a legal obligation to consult the sector, the formalisation of our increased engagement and involvement with Defra going forward should help ensure the GL43 debacle is not repeated.”
COMPUTER SAYS NO
Why has it become so difficult to get a gun licence, asks our stalking expert Al Gabriel. Surely, we should be helped to deal with the deer problem, not hindered?
AT a time when the British countryside faces a multitude of challenges from tightening regulations to economic pressures, a seemingly mundane issue is posing a significant threat to a cherished tradition: firearms licensing. Obtaining a license for a deer rifle, a crucial tool for deer stalking, has become an arduous and time-consuming process, acting as a major deterrent for newcomers and jeopardising the future of the industry.
The stark contrast with our European and American counterparts is undeniable. While enthusiasts abroad can readily acquire rifles for hunting purposes, Britons face a bureaucratic labyrinth when attempting to obtain a single deer rifle. This disparity highlights a growing concern within the industry; the current system is demonstrably out of step with international norms. I am not advocating for a private armoury, but just one deer-calibre rifle to those who wish to have them and meet the criteria set by law. The problem with the current system is multifaceted. While some regions boast relatively swift processing times for firearms certificate grants and renewals, others struggle with significant backlogs. This creates a two-fold issue: individuals are discouraged from pursuing deer stalking due to the seemingly insurmountable licensing hurdle, and secondly, established businesses that offer guided stalking tours are hampered by the inability of their clients to readily obtain the necessary rifles. This lack of fresh talent entering the sport poses a long-term threat to the viability of deer stalking and its associated industries.
Iconsistent
Compounding the issue is the inconsistency in firearms licensing procedures across different police forces in England and Wales. There are currently 43 forces, each with its own interpretation of national guidelines. A major source of contention is the fixation on the calibre of rifles. As many experienced deer stalkers emphasise, it’s the competence and safety awareness of the individual handling the firearm, not the specific calibre, that matters most. Historically, small-calibre rifles such as the humble .22LR have
been responsible for a greater number of accidental injuries than high-powered rifles, although in both cases the numbers are incredibly low. This fixation on calibre creates an unnecessary hurdle in the application process, diverting attention away from straightforwardly assessing an applicant’s suitability and responsible gun ownership practices.
The impact of these delays extends far beyond the individual applicant. Owen
new generation of deer stalkers, steeped in the traditions of responsible wildlife management, could have a significant long-term impact on these businesses, not just in terms of lost sales but also in the decline of knowledge and expertise that is passed down through generations.
The recent debacle with West Mercia Police further highlights the need for a more inclusive and user-friendly approach. In a misguided attempt to im-
“ This lack of fresh talent entering the sport poses a long-term threat ”
Beardmore of Cervus UK, a professional deer management outfit, has witnessed firsthand the negative consequences. Owen said to me “We’re seeing an increase in clients renting out their rifles. Most of them attribute this to delays in getting their firearms certificate granted. A couple of clients have been waiting for well over a year with no sign of progress on their FAC application.” This not only hinders the growth of deer stalking but also has a ripple effect on businesses that cater to the equipment and service needs of deer stalkers. The potential loss of a
prove efficiency, the force mandated online applications for all certificates. This decision failed to consider that some members of the rural community, may not have access to the internet, which would have effectively marginalised numerous potential applicants.
BASC’s Head of Firearms, Martin Parker, echoes these concerns. He highlights the significant delays in processing new firearm certificate applications, particularly for aspiring deer stalkers. According to recent data, Martin pointed out, “over half of all police forces fail
to meet the target processing time of 17 weeks. Worse still, some forces reportedly take well over a year, effectively shutting the door on potential new entrants to the sport. Additionally, certain forces impose additional qualification requirements not mandated by law, further complicating the process and creating confusion amongst applicants. These delays have a demonstrably negative impact. They discourage potential participants from entering deer stalking, thereby diminishing the pool of qualified individuals who can contribute to sustainable deer management practices. This, in turn, has a detrimental effect on the gun trade, impacting not just firearm sales but also the sale of associated equipment like high-quality optics, specialised clothing, and essential accessories. However, there are positive examples to draw inspiration from. Forces like Cumbria Police, where the intervention of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable has led to a significant reduction in processing times. Similarly, Dorset Police has implemented positive changes to improve their service and streamline the application process.”
Sticking
Unfortunately, progress on streamlining the firearms licensing process has been patchy. Police forces in Northamptonshire, Devon, and Cornwall have shown limited improvement, creating a frustrating postcode lottery for applicants. In extreme cases, applications have languished for over two years, a situation demonstrably at odds with responsible governance.
With a potential change in government on the horizon, the future of firearms licensing reform remains unclear. While it’s difficult to predict the stance of the incoming government, one thing is certain; significant delays in processing applications are unlikely to be tolerated for much longer. I am confident that significant work has gone into making the process transparent, safe, and efficient by the major shooting organisations and the more enlightened police forces, now we need action from the new government. In the meantime, we must support newcomers navigating these issues. GTN
DOES YOUR MP VALUE YOUR BUSINESS?
Conor O’Gorman urges GTN readers to invite newly elected MPs to visit their shops, shoots and shooting grounds to get them onside early
IF you are reading this before the general election, please visit the BASC website at www.basc.org.uk to see which parliamentary candidates in your constituency have declared their support for shooting.
I have produced a summary of what the party manifestoes say about shooting below.
Labour
The Labour manifesto promises to ban trail hunting, the import of hunting trophies and the use of snares. A plan is outlined to allocate £20 million from firearms licensing fees to fund initiatives to stop young people being drawn into crime. On conservation, there is a commitment to promote biodiversity and protect landscapes and wildlife.
Conservatives
The Conservative manifesto states that no changes will be made to the Hunting Act, but the party remains committed to banning the import of hunting trophies. Fines from water companies will fund river restoration projects. A new National Park will be designated with more investment to improve existing National Parks and protected landscapes.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrat manifesto mentions banning the routine burning of heather on peatlands. They promise to ‘double nature’ by 2050, which involves increasing the area of protected sites, the most important wildlife habitats, woodlands and abundance of species. Some 60 million trees will be planted and more National Parks designated.
Reform UK
The Reform UK manifesto commits to protecting ‘country sports’, recognising that these increase investment in conservation of our environment and boost rural jobs, communities and local economies. The farming budget will be in-
“ An early positive experience with you, their constituent, will make all the difference ”
creased by £3 billion, keeping farmland in use, bringing more young people into farming, and boosting the rural economy and culture.
Greens
The Green Party manifesto outlines plans to ban ‘trophy hunting’, trail hunting, the ‘commercial shooting of game birds’, lead ammunition and the use of snares. Firearms will be prohibited except on ‘registered premises’. A ‘Rights of Nature Act’ would be passed so that Nature could not be exploited for financial gain.
Other party manifestoes
I have also reviewed the party manifestoes specific to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The only one mentioning fieldsports is Northern Ireland’s Alliance party who want to ‘end global
Invite your MP to visit your shoot, club or shooting business
If the general election has already taken place now is the perfect time to get in touch with your newly elected MP, regardless of what party they belong to.
Many MPs will be new faces and may know little about shooting. It will really help if you could invite your MP to see your shoot, club or shooting business. Lobby groups with an anti-shooting agenda will be keen to influence new MPs with misinformation and a negative slant on shooting.
However, if your MP has already had an early first-hand positive experience with you, their constituent, this will make all the difference for years to come.
Most significant research for a decade
The 2024 Value of Shooting report was recently published and provides vital ammo on the economic, environmental and social value of shooting. This is not about game shooting, it’s about every aspect of live quarry and target shooting, with 24 organisations, large and small, contributing to the research.
So, whatever the aspect of shooting your business covers, there are facts and figures relevant to you and could come in handy for your MP visit and generally. Two facts that will grab attention as follows.
• Shooting is worth more than golf to the UK economy (£3.3 billion vs £2.6 billion).
• Shooting is a key driver for nature conservation carried out on 7.6 million hectares in the UK which is an area of land over 20 times bigger than the combined landholdings owned by National Trust (238,663 ha) and RSPB (134,356 ha).
You can download a copy of the report from www.valueofshooting.co.uk GTN GTN
BASC IS HERE FOR YOU
If you need any advice or support on inviting or meeting your MP please email me at conor.ogorman@basc.org.uk
In many cases a member of BASC staff will be able to attend your meeting with your MP. Just ask well in advance and we would be happy to help.
And as ever, if you become a victim of debanking please let me know as BASC is still gathering evidence for the Financial Conduct Authority banking review and helping and advising clubs and businesses impacted.
trophy hunting’ and ban hunting mammals with dogs.
BRACE! BRACE!
Legal expert Stuart Farr recommends we all calmly follow the instructions on the screen in front of us and adopt the position
ASSUME a seated position. Place your feet firmly on the floor, slightly apart. Bend forward and place your head either on or between your knees. Then, with both hands placed on top of your head, interlock your fingers to ensure your head is protected.
All done? Excellent… now I recommend you stay in that position for the next four years!
By the time you read this, I expect we will either be on the precipice of the British general election or recovering in the immediate aftermath. Once again, we are all faced with yet another year of interruptions to progress, lost potential growth and a continuing lack of resolved national and regional problems.
Downcast
Virtually everyone I have spoken to this year both within and outside the gun trade have expressed a similar sentiment…the country is crawling around on its knees. Nothing is getting done. Progress is difficult and too many people are fed up to the point of jacking it all in. Everything seems to be forever and ever stuck in a queue. Meanwhile, the tragic condition of nearly every public service is a constant hindrance to individuals’ and the private industries’ ability to achieve what the economy desperately needs… a decent bit of growth.
And finally, from the gun trade’s perspective, the inevitable consequence of a general election is that it risks so much of your hard work (and the work of the organisations which support you), going down the tubes. All those measures, concessions and tweaks which you have fought over, lobbied for and negotiated become placed into a political purgatory. Hey, don’t worry, it is not all bad news! The moratorium created by the general election does provide quality time for some other important work to be finished off and given a decent airing.
Value
A good example is the Value of Shooting Report 2024, which provides an interesting and common-sense overview of the contributions made by shooting across the board. The down to earth case studies go a long way to illustrate what many of
us already know, but which others may not yet fully appreciate.
In these testing times, where political parties are looking to find a spare couple of billion down the sofa, a headline contribution of £3.3billion rising to over £9billion as a broader contribution, is not to be sniffed at. Especially when the revenue emanates from such highly regulated and restricted activities.
And just imagine the ongoing poten-
IT woes
Take, for example, the engineering company I came across recently which had become the victim of a ransomware attack. Naturally, they did not pay the ransom demanded of them. Consequently, they have spent an immeasurable number of hours painstakingly reconstructing all their bespoke software, byte by byte.
We’ve all come across these types of scenarios before. However, in this case,
“ There is no IT system any of us can afford which guarantees to be 100% secure ”
tial for shooting to fill the public purse. What other amazing things could be achieved if those within the political arena had the foresight to decide that part of the solution to many different problems could involve actively supporting the shooting sector, rather than merely tolerating it.
And you will probably have also gathered, I do enjoy preaching to the converted. So enough for now. What matters are those niggling day to day issues which crop up and attempt to throw your business off kilter.
the company concerned, being managed by all round good eggs and suitably prudent in their outlook, had paid a lot of money to an IT business on a regular basis expecting to be protected from such cyberattacks.
For the record, there is no IT system any of us can afford which guarantees to be 100% secure. However, when the IT company concerned failed to implement seemingly “bog standard” measures to protect their customer’s business, it was only understandable the victim should begin to point the finger of accountability
in the direction of their own IT supplier. I am no IT guru, but I know my way around liability. Presented before me was a classic example of causative blame. However, therein lies the rub. I suggest there are several things which a small minority of savvy IT providers are good at (well perhaps more than just a few):
• Cribbing heavy weight, one-sided, lawyer generated Terms & Conditions off the internet and adopting them as their own.
• Staying ethereal; living out of a bedroom or lap-top and holding no fixed or tangible assets of any worth.
• Operating via a web of short-term established registered companies with the bare minimum of useful public information available.
• Confidently telling you they are “fully insured”, and then not bothering to obtain insurance.
• Placing the responsibility for insuring against a “hack” on the customer.
• Bamboozling with techno-speak, rather than explaining what they are doing to YOUR system in clear terms.
• Offering you a 24/7 helpline which is permanently set to voicemail. So do your due diligence. Interrogate the IT providers’ credentials and abilities; request a written plan of action across your hardware and software and ask for a list of software they intend to use and upload onto YOUR system. Obtain testimonials from credible sources; review their proposed contract terms before you sign up. Ask to see their current insurance policy and check what is covered…importantly, make a note of the renewal date and ask for each new policy issued to them. Remember, it is difficult for you to insure against the risk of any IT provider messing up and leaving a window open in your system for the cyber-criminals to climb through. Failing all that, proceed with caution and… Brace! Brace! GTN
Stuart Farr is a member of the GTA and a partner in Taylors solicitors. He welcomes contact from any trade organisation, especially those with a problem to resolve.
CANT SAY FAIRER THAN THAT
Steve Faragher lifts the lid on this year’s upcoming Game Fair, and suggests it may turn out to be the best ever, thanks in no small part, to the ‘Blenheim effect’
GAME Fairs are magic. They are deeply-rooted in our rural culture, like the medieval fairs of old: the one place in the year where you would dress your best to meet up with long-lost friends, visit exotic retailers hawking unimaginable wares, and above all, let slip the sense of everyday duty and simply submerge yourself in a crowd of like-minded individuals for a feast and a drink.
All of which is not bad for something that’s history makes it sound like it was dreamt up in a lab in the 1950s.
The pair credited with its creation— Nigel Gray and Charles Cole of the ICI Game Research Station—were, in fact, responding to something that was already happening. They noticed the number of gamekeepers who would visit the ICI stand at Crufts every year, sent along by their estate managers for a chance to talk shop and let their hair down. Surely there could be a better event for this audience? There was, and after teaming up with the Country Landowners’ Association, they put on the first Game Fair in 1958 at Stetchworth, near Newmarket.
Millennium
It was 2000 before The Game Fair made its first visit to Blenheim Palace, this year’s venue, and one of the more popular venues on a tour of the UK that has so far taken in Castle Howard, Chatsworth, Ragley Hall and many other great estates. But Blenheim feels a bit special and is behind what the Stable events team call “the Blenheim effect”. They use that to describe the upsurge in interest in this year’s Game Fair, not only from the paying public whose prebookings are well in advance of their
usual numbers, but also in the response of the trade which has been phenomenal. There’s hardly a spare corner to be had in the newly-designed show footprint, and while all efforts are made to accommodate everyone, it may well be that this year there are a few frustrated exhibitors who simply will not find a space.
Investment
The other aspect of the Game Fair that is growing over the years is the interest of major players from non-specialised industries in this great audience. Rather
© Sarah Farnsworth
Game Fair
in the way that Glastonbury has emerged from being a simple musical festival and become a national treasure that dominates the media when it’s on, so the Game Fair is beginning to cut through to a wider audience.
The scale of The Game Fair and its broad appeal has, in recent years, attracted major sponsors. James Gower and his team will tell you the importance of Investec, or Ineos or Subaru to that growth. And new this year Volare and Whisky 1901 provide seven figure funds to secure The Game Fair.
“ The Game Fair and its broad appeal has, in recent years, attracted major sponsors ”
This sponsorship has a beneficial element for exhibitors too, and explains why the gun trade and wider exhibitor base have enjoyed relative exhibition rate stability at The Game Fair where other events have been forced to hike their rates. For the trade it almost acts
like a subsidy on the cost of exhibiting, and it’s only possible when the vibrancy and scale of an event can attract these vital partners. Nowadays a handful of sponsors pay nearly as much as all of the exhibitors—and thank goodness they do.
GTN GTN
WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR
A ‘Fusion of Artistry and Aviation’
Imagine stepping into an arrival lounge like no other, where the art of taxidermy meets aviation. The renowned taxidermist from the hit series Bridgerton joins forces with our new aviation sponsor, Volare. Together, they will create a breathtakingly unique space that is sure to be the talk of the event.
Debrett’s Partnership
This year, The Game Fair proudly announced its association with Debrett’s, the esteemed authority on British etiquette and tradition. This collaboration underscores TGF’s commitment to enduring values while celebrating the heritage that makes The Game Fair so special.
Esteemed Sponsors
The continued support from Investec and Ineos Automotive, both in their third year of sponsorship, is a testament to the event’s significance and relevance in the modern countryside. Their involvement highlights the commercial power of The Game Fair.
SKOUTING FOR EXCELLENCE
Mat Manning chats with Edward King, managing of Anglo Spanish Imports (ASI), now the UK importer for the groundbreaking Skout Epoch and other leading airgun brands
Skout
has set a new standard for high-end performance PCP airguns
MM Can you give us a history of ASI?
EK Anglo Spanish Imports (known in the UK trade as ASI) was founded in the late 1950s by Andrew and Peter King to import AYA shotguns from Spain and distribute them to the UK gun trade. Over time, it added a number of different products from different countries; amongst these have been brands such as Gamo, FWB (Feinwerkbau), Franchi, Nikko Stirling, Crosman, FX Airguns, Rainson, Accumax, Rey Pavón, Rizzini, GripSwell, Cometa and most recently Skout. Our modus operandi has always been the same: we work as exclusive dis-
tributors for the brands we represent and work closely with manufacturers to tailor their products to the demands of the UK market.
MM Who are the main people on the airgun side of things at ASI, and what do their roles entail?
EK Our main man on the sales side is Tony Miljkovic. Tony ran his own shop in Bedford for a number of years before moving to ASI and has shot airguns all his life. He sold all the well-known brands and this put him in a unique position to know their strengths and weaknesses, as well as how to look after users.
After-sales service is the most important thing to us. Anyone can do well when things are going smoothly, but the measure of a company is how well it copes when things are tough, and ASI prides itself on backing its product and supporting its customers.
On the technical side, we have Simon Lyon, who is never happier than when working on intricate mechanisms. He is fascinated by all things mechanical and earlier this year spent a couple of days in the Skout factory near Pittsburgh, PA, becoming a qualified Epoch gunsmith.
MM How important is the airgun market to ASI?
EK Having been involved in airguns almost since the company was founded, airguns have been a core product for us ever since the 1960s, when we began importing the Gamo brand into the UK, then under the ASI name. Since that date, ASI has always been a player in the airgun market and has been responsible for the success of brands such as Crosman, Nikko Stirling and FX. More recently, we have launched our own brand, Accumax, as well as adding the Rainson and Skout brands to our stable.
The
Epoch
On Air 15
MM What sort of shape is the airgun market in at present?
EK Good shape, broadly. There has never been a time in my memory when an airgun shooter has not had so much choice of product. The arrival on the scene of the Turkish airgun manufacturers has added a completely new dimension to the market. Every segment of the market has a huge number of options.
MM Is there still a strong demand for spring-powered air rifles, or do shooters show a strong preference for recoilless PCPs these days?
EK Yes and yes! This sounds like a contradiction, but actually it isn’t. Airgun users do not automatically fall into one camp or the other: PCP’s are rightly popular, with their lack of recoil and finely adjustable triggers, but by their nature, they are also a more delicate animal than the traditional springer. They need more attention than the springer, but when they are set up correctly they offer extraordinary performance to the shooter.
EK What do you look for when seeking out airgun lines to distribute?
EK Our philosophy with airguns is the same as with all our products: the UK airgun market is not like other markets. Our ‘capable of’ power limits create unique demands for airgun manufacturers, who have to accommodate these unusual requirements into their products. ASI always tries to work with makers who are flexible enough to be able to adapt their products to our markets, so that we can offer a tailormade product to our customers. Our suppliers also have to have a grown-up attitude to after-sales service: all customers should expect to be looked after, whether they have bought an entry level springer or a top-end PCP.
MM You mentioned the Skout Epoch, which has been quite a talking point on the airgun scene over recent months. Can you tell us more about this remarkable airgun?
EK The Skout Epoch is indeed a remarkable airgun. The manufacturers, who have been leading producers of paintball guns for years, have decided to put their considerable expertise into airguns and have created this extraordinary rifle. What is truly revolutionary about this air rifle is that in effect the mechanism has one moving part, which
“ Our suppliers have to have a grown-up attitude to after-sales service ”
takes the form of an air-operated valve—other than that, no hammer, no hammer spring. The mechanism is governed by twin regulators and a sophisticated electronic management system, which governs everything else. The Epoch ‘speaks’ to the user when you switch it on and talks you through the various modes of operation, which include a silent ‘hunting’ mode. In order to keep the user fully up to date, there are software updates which can be directly uploaded, not to mention the most complete set of user videos on the Skout website, talking you through almost every aspect of this unique gun’s features.
MM What sort of feedback have you had from shooters who have used the Skout Epoch?
EK As one can imagine, when an airgun costs £ 2,700, the end-user is entitled to expect the very best and we are delighted to say that
ASI managing director Edward King is committed to delivering airgun shooters excellent value for money right across the market
the response has been hugely positive. People are blown away by the quality of manufacture and finish as well as the performance.
MM You are the UK distributor for several other airgun brands. Can you tell us about those brands and some of the key guns in their ranges?
EK At the entry level, ASI has been working with a Turkish manufacturer to develop our own brand air rifle, known as Accumax. The emphasis with this brand is accuracy, as the name suggests. The Accumax air rifle over-delivers in this area and offers the user a reliable and accurate air rifle which will fulfil all their airgunning needs.
We have also been working with Rainson Armoury in Turkey, and have jointly developed the Edge-X; a fully-loaded twin regulated PCP brought to market at under £600, representing great value for money for anyone new to the PCP market.
We are also the distributors for the well-known Cometa brand of air rifles, made in the Basque Country in Spain—just up the road from AYA shotguns. Cometa makes a range of spring air rifles and PCPs, characterised by top quality European manufacture. In fact, they compare more than favourably to German airgun makers, to a number of whom they supply their legendary cold hammer forged barrels.
MM There have been some remarkable developments in airgun design over recent years. Do you think the innovation can go any further and, if so, in what direction?
EK We are fortunate as a species that humans are forever innovating and inventing. Some would argue that we have reached the end of the process when it comes to airguns, but we said that before the Epoch came on the scene and that airgun broke into a whole new world of sophistication. I have no crystal ball, but one thing I do know is that it would be foolish to say there are no surprises in store.
MM What are your priorities at ASI over the next year or two?
EK Keep going, keep growing! GTN GTN
CHRIS POTTER COUNTRY SPORTS
Alex Sayer slips on her wellies, and heads off to chat with one of the stalwarts of the UK gun trade, Chris Potter
NEED TO KNOW
n YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1978
n NUMBER OF STAFF:
Thirteen staff in total including myself. There’s Dionne who’s been with me 40 years, Duncan for well over twenty then Dominic and Lewis, Tracey and Susie, Leah, Jo and Claire on accounts and then me and Charlie plus John in IT but we all call him Houston.
The one member of staff you couldn’t live without and why…
That would be the girls, and John and Duncan. I couldn’t live without any of them, we all have a part to play to make Chris Potter’s the destination that it is.
Tell us a little more about yourself, and why you’re running a gun shop At the start of my working life, I was alongside my brother who was in demolition. My job was to sell all the bits from the houses including the front door and even the rocks from the rockery. Trouble was, my brother and I would fight like cat and dog. One day Dave Lowry from Otford Gun Room. said “why don’t you come and work for me?” So I started the next day. Dave wasn’t a salesman, he was a gunsmith, an engineer, he didn’t face the public so that was where I came in. I stayed there for seven years and then was able to think about opening my own shop. At first I looked at Maidstone but there was already a shop there so I came to Royal Tunbridge Wells instead. We lived on a shoestring, with every penny going back into the shop. We were doing okay and had even expanded to renting the shop next door but the rent was going up every year and my wife brought this to my attention. We bit the bullet and bought the derelict furniture store directly over the road. We did up it whilst we were still trading and in the
Still going strong after more than 40 years in the UK trade
“ We had one gentleman who changed his gun 27 times over the course of a year ”
end we just swapped over to here, where we are now.
What has been the most successful product area for you in the past year?
Well I have to say the sale of ladies guns with their Monte Carlo or custom stocks have at the very least quadrupled over the past two years. Everything else tends to go as well as it always has.
What’s your clientele like?
We aren’t a London based gun shop so we cater for the local pigeon shooter, the game shooter and of course clay shooters. We serve everything from the beginner to the World Champion. A lot of people are recommended to us for our gun fit and our reputation for doing what is best for the customer.
Here’s an example, a lady came in with a budget of around £2.5k, she spoke to Dionne and the upshot of it all is that
she ended up with an £800 ATA and lots more to spend on accessories, clothing, cartridges, or whatever she would like.
We think that is great service because she will have the gun that fits her best so she will shoot better and ultimately shoot more which is great for our sport.
What was your best day ever?
The Game Fair 1978. The reason I remember it so well is because it was the day Bjorn Waktare gave me an account for GunMark as it was called then. He allowed me to become a Beretta dealer.
This was the leg up that really started the success of the business. We still stock the full Beretta line up and plenty of other brands too like Rizzini and Caesar Guerini and Browning but at that time, it was a blessing from Bjorn.
Becoming a Beretta dealer allowed us to enter the clay market, where people change guns far more regularly. On top
of that this happened right at the start of the 680 series so it was win-win and we were this country’s largest Beretta dealer for a very long time.
Who’s your best customer?
I won’t mention names but we had one gentleman who changed his gun 27 times over the course of a year! I thought he was a good customer but I imagine the staff might have thought otherwise.
What do you anticipate will be the biggest trends for the next year?
Definitely custom stocks, these are the way to go for anyone. We have been doing a lot of these and this will only continue. We are sole importer for Salvinelli so we can cut out the wholesaler and pass on the saving straight to the customer including a custom order within the shelf price. Another thing we have noticed is that people do need showing how to put the guns together these days so we always show them. We are all shooters here and try to be fair to everyone.
Any other interesting facts about the business?
Yes, I actually sold the business to Charlie Harris 22 years ago. He lets me carry on and run the place as my own.
What’s the best thing about working in a gun shop?
Meeting a top cross-section of society. From pop singers to actors, sportsmen and even Princes. I would never have done that otherwise.
CHRIS POTTER COUNTRY SPORTS
n ADDRESS: 2-6 Grover St, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2QB n PHONE: 01892 522208
WEBSITE: www.gun.co.uk
OPENING HOURS: 9-5. Closed Wednesday and Sunday
Store of the Month 17 ON THE FRONT LINE
SERIAL DECLINE?
Although the market is lower is some cases than he has ever known it, Diggory Hadoke finds faith
in Britain’s little tinkerers
I have been taking the temperature of the gun trade this month, talking to friends in the repair sector and the sales sector and the news from around the country is not encouraging.
“New gun sales are dead” said one. “We can sell secondhand for decent margins if we buy it cheap but there are basically no new sales” said another.
The director of one major gunmaker told me 2019 was the best year for orders he had ever had but that, so far, 2024 was the worst.
Meanwhile, repair shops are very busy indeed. This is, no doubt, at least partly because there are now so few competent gunsmiths working for the trade on what we used to consider ‘journeyman’ work. That is to say, general repairs and maintenance tasks on a wide variety of guns and rifles.
Many of the older masters are approaching retirement, have retired or are otherwise incapacitated. Younger men, those apprenticed to the top makers in the last twenty years and now working for themselves, generally do not want to work on older guns.
The current generation are invariably kept busy by the major London and Birmingham gunmakers sending them work to do on new guns, which is easier work, and more profitable.
That creates a problem for traders whose bread and butter used to be picking up ‘sleepers’ and having them restored to a high standard for retail to collectors. The men once entrusted with
the various restoration tasks are no longer active.
Buyers still buy
This notwithstanding, auctions appear to be successful in selling, which means that buyers will still buy but they are
more comfortable in a bidding environment than a retail one.
This spring I bought and sold at auction and I think I came out on top, more by luck than judgement. Readers may remember a Boss hammer pigeon gun I bought a few sales back, at Bonhams.
I ignored my own—oft given—counsel and ‘took a punt’ when the gun appeared on the unsold list, and parted with £900 for it, sight unseen. However, picking it up, I realised immediately that the barrels were dreadful and probably beyond salvation. My barrel maker con-
Auction View 19
firmed the fact and the gun went into the back of the gun room as a salutary lesson in the perils of not taking my own advice. I deduced that it had also been re-stocked a very long time ago.
Eventually I decided to chuck it, along with a pile of random detritus from the back of the gun room; rattly over & unders, ancient semi-autos, pump guns and the like into Holt’s sealed bids, thinking if the Boss chipped £200 from my loss, it would mitigate it somewhat.
To by surprise, the Boss name did the trick (despite it being listed as a ‘stock, action and forend only’) and netted me £1,177 at Holt’s and I put that money onto a Thomas Bissell, hammer, 12-bore I bought at Gavin Gardiner’s, estimated at £700-£900.
When I returned from Botswana, I was pleased to find I had bought it for £800, which totted up to £1,088 by the time I had paid all the fees. So, I had essentially swapped my unwanted and useless Boss for a minty and beautiful Bissell. All’s well that ends well!
Holt’s turned over £2,200,000 in the March sale, replicating the results from the end of 2023. Gavin Gardiner sold most of what he catalogued, with pairs being the exception—only two sold on the day but several shifted after the sale.
Gavin commented that he was not sure if the market for English side-locks and pairs had reached rock bottom yet, but it is incontrovertible that they are better value and more accessible now than they have been in my lifetime.
Mortar
It is perhaps no surprise sales are down; house buying demand has dropped by almost 10% this quarter, even Reddit and eBay vendors are complaining of a falloff in trade of between 29% and 50% in recent months. House prices suffered an 11% slump in 2023, so there is a lot less cash sloshing around in the bank accounts of the middle classes than there was a decade ago.
However, gun nuts are a passionate lot and it cuts across the spectrum of wealth, or lack of it. We all like to collect, we all like to fiddle with old bits of mechanical ingenuity and we will find our niche.
We should not forget that to someone, a Webley & Scott .410 bolt action gun that he can buy for forty pounds, clean, re-finish and make nice in his own workshop may deliver just as much pleasure to him as does the purchase and customisation of a Purdey side-lock to someone of greater means. We seem determined to indulge our hobby at whatever price point we can manage.
The auctions help us do that. Holt’s Sealed Bids auction being a case in point,
providing an Aladdin’s cave of ‘tat’ or ‘hidden gems’, depending to whom you ask the question.
Don’t pass the ammo
I also continue to use The Saleroom and Invaluable to search for the kind of thing that is difficult to source at retail. To me, that often means ammunition for my rifles, which are 7x57 and 6.5x54 Mannlicher Schonauer. I hoover-up old stock whenever I see it.
This quarter, for example, Southams have a sealed brick of 100 7x57 rounds and Lonsdale’s have 100 6.5 MS rounds loaded in boxes of 20.
If you can find it retail, 7x57 is about £70 for a box of 20, or £3.50 per round. Old stock usually costs me less than £1 per round. 6.5x54 is not commercially available, so old stock or me re-loading (or more accurately, getting my retired mate Bill to re-load for me) are the only options open to me.
I also spotted a couple of quality .22 magazine rifles; a Ruger, and a Sako of modern style and an older Walther KKJ, all for low estimates. I put £100 on the first two and £30 on the last.
The Sako is generally retailing for £500-£600 at the moment and the Ruger around £500. The Walther may be old-fashioned now, but back in the early 1970s it was probably the best quality .22 rimfire in the world. That quality, and accuracy, remains.
I also spotted an Air Arms S410 FACrated air rifle reserved at £60, at Southams; with a ’scope. That would cost a thousand pounds new!
There are sales on this month at Southam’s, Lyon & Turnbull, Clevedon Salerooms, Bamfords, Stacey’s, Lonsdales, Minster Auctions and also at Harper Field.
Happy bidding to you all. GTN GTN
“ Gun nuts are a passionate lot and it cuts across the spectrum of wealth ”
Diggory always snaps these up when he sees them
The Thomas Bissell, hammer, 12-bore Dig bought at Gardiner’s
ALL QUIET ON THE ELECTION FRONT
Our media correspondent, Caroline Roddis, bravely summons up the energy to discuss the forthcoming vote-fest
I suppose we should talk about the election. Or, more specifically, the sudden 43-day-long scrabble to justify our existence in the media, on the off-chance that people who may vote or come to power can be persuaded to see things from our point of view.
Regular readers of this column, or indeed anyone in the industry who’s ever opened a newspaper, will be aware that attaining positive media coverage for shooting is in normal circumstances much like climbing Everest without oxygen. (Or if you’re like me, climbing a large flight of stairs without oxygen…)
Conversely, however, during the election period creating discussion about shooting in the media should be easier. Stances on fieldsports frequently crop up in party manifestos and, given that they’re something of an emotive topic, it’s perfect fodder for headlines that are mostly clickbait disguised as news.
Yet, so far in this election campaign, unprompted coverage of anything to do with shooting is pretty sparse. This is largely due to the paltry amount of content in any manifesto on the topic—not necessarily a bad thing—and the fact that what is in them requires some interpretation. It is much harder to write a punchy article about Labour’s unsubstantiated plans to combat knife crime through full cost recovery on firearms licensing, for example, than it is to grab people’s attention with their manifesto promise to ban trail hunting.
Cost recovery
The topic was, it’s worth noting, briefly mentioned in a Daily Telegraph article by Madeline Grant as part of a wider look at Labour’s intentions towards rural issues. With a headline that declared the party to have a ‘vendetta against the countryside’, Grant’s article mentioned cost recovery with the wonderful phrase: “Clearly, some in Labour view the countryside as a Barbour-jacketed ATM to be pillaged.”
“ I’m surprised that full cost recovery hasn’t been the subject of more discussion ”
It’s not just the mainstream media that’s unexcited by full cost recovery, incidentally: social media is pretty apathetic too. And yes, the trail hunting promise is the latest in the bitter, decades-long history of Labour vs the countryside and was therefore bound to attract attention but, given the ongoing public interest in the Plymouth shooting and the subsequent coroner’s report, I’m genuinely surprised that full cost recovery hasn’t been the subject of more discussion. While the manifestos themselves haven’t generated much in the way of media interest, the shooting organisations have been making noise whenever possible. The Countryside Alliance and BASC are both veterans of this kind of thing, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d swung into action as soon as Rishi was back inside No.10 and looking for a hairdryer.
The CA, whose online resources make it ridiculously easy for anyone interested to compare party stances on rural issues (chapeau, chaps), quickly punched in the attack codes and released Tim Bonner from his tweed-lined silo, securing coverage such as this from the Telegraph: “Labour has been accused of plotting a “devastating” assault on rural life by the head of the Countryside Alliance… Tim Bonner said that Sir Keir Starmer’s “utterly absurd” policies will make it “impossible” for countryside sports such as hunting and shooting to continue.”
In addition, BASC used the publication of the Value of Shooting Report to state the case for parties taking shooting and the rural vote seriously, securing coverage in… you guessed it… the Telegraph
And that’s the problem, isn’t it? By now I’ve written the word Telegraph in
this piece more often than a Surrey policeman hits a cow with a car. There’s no trace of these issues also being discussed in the left-wing media, meaning that those reading the available pieces are already more likely to use their vote to protect shooting. Although judging from the latest polling, even preaching to one’s own choir doesn’t stop it from defecting to a new vicar.
Alternatives
I would have much rather seen a publication like the Guardian go through the Value of Shooting Report and provide an informed critique, than for it to be ignored completely. At least that way there’s a forum for rational debate— something that’s a bit lacking in this election campaign as a whole.
The only shooting-related issue that is getting any airtime at the moment is trophy hunting, which doesn’t appear in any party manifesto this time round. Writing in the Times, Ranulph Fiennes notes that [according to a 2022 poll] 92% of Conservative voters supported an import ban on trophies, and says “Now, according to a Survation poll, a quarter of Conservative voters say they are less likely to back the party again, specifically because of the party’s failure to deliver this ban. I am asking myself whether I may become one of them.”
It’s a well-written piece, regardless of what you might think of the contents, and a valuable reminder that individual voices matter—even though some are capable of being much louder than others. Given that voter apathy is at rife and that this election is predicted to have the worst turnout in modern history, we can’t lose sight of the fact that every voice counts. You’re all sensible people, so I hardly need to say this, but do go out and vote. Make sure that your employees vote, too. Hell, give them time off to vote if you have to. If nothing else, at least we’ll all have earned the right to complain for the next five years. GTN
Strictly Shooting with Alex Sayer
AROUND THE GROUNDS
It’s great to see so many grounds doing so much, reckons Alex Sayer. with brilliant collaborations and sponsorships that work well for all
Skeet
Doveridge was home to the English Open Olympics Skeet this year which was also the final selection shoot. Competitors shot 125 targets over the two days with Dominic Cooper taking overall High Gun with a score which contained not one but two twenty five straights, one on each of the days. Arron Eccleston was one target behind him in second place with 119 and
The Jack Pyke English Open Championship
Held at Sporting Targets, this was won by Martin Walmsley with a score of 114/120 The weather conditions were challenging and this was a well supported event with Jack Pyke doing a random ‘golden ticket’ draw which was won by Lucy Austin. The golden ticket winner received lots of clothing and accessories.
Ben Cookson just one more behind him on 118 to take overall third place. Beth Norton won the Ladies with 110, with Annabelle Lane coming second after a shoot off with Sophie Langton. The Veterans’ class was won by Luke Young with a score of 117 with his Browning GTi.
The truth is, there were only 29 entries for the English Open Olympics Skeet this
English Open DTL
As you know this forms part of the Bywell weekend and Kevan Smith gets his name in again after coming runner up with 100/293, he came away with 250 Eley Cartridges for second place and was beaten only by Nick Haley with his 100/299. Nick won a £300 SWATCOM voucher and 500 Eley cartridges for first place. Kevan also won the Veteran High Gun. Other notable wins include Bywell brother Allan Henry winning Superveteran on 100/289 and former England shooter Lorrie Greening coming first for the disabled sitting High Gun. Lorrie has suffered with her health more than usual this year and it was great to see her win. It was no surprise to see Team Hull win the five man team, brothers Paul and Michael Turner took the Womble and Ian and Philip Mills won parent and child.
year—perhaps we need to take it more seriously, although with scores like the above it’s hardly a shoe in. It looks like we will have a very strong team and it is great to see new caps in the England OSK team—well done to Bethany Norton, Sophie Herrmann, Jessica Hambrook, George Downing, Toby Etheridge and Miles Malone.
East Yorkshire Gun Club
Dennis Willey and his son Ryan are the new club tenants at East Yorks with plans to open by August 1. Partnering with Promatic they intend to host two OT layouts suitable for Olympic Trap, Universal Trench and ABT, two further ABT layouts, four DTL layouts, two Olympic/English Skeet layouts, one Compac/ Sportrap layout and a Sporting layout We wish them all the best.
New venture
Delighted to see MJ Sporting take the two man team at the Dougall Memorial with Steven Janes and Rob Dietz: These guys shoot Lyalvale Express Power Gold and MJ stands for Martin Jeminson— former England and GB shooter who has started up selling game days, cartridges and sponsoring shooters. Other shots include Olivia Stevens and Paul Osbourne. Keep an eye out for MJ Sporting as they specialise in Krieghoff and have a new shop in the offing.
English Open Double
Rise
Bywell saw Team Hull member and notable Non-England shooter Paul Chaplow take the High Gun with 91 ex 100 with Keith Blaney coming second with 86. Congratulations to couple Andrew and Sarah Milroy as he took the C class high gun on 71 and Sarah took the Ladies runner up behind Jennifer O’Neill.
The Telegraph Cup that we know and love was won by Daniel Beedan with 100/298. Bravo!
Hodnet Challenge
Now in its second year and sponsored by Hull and CENS amongst others, it seemed Mark Winser was going to win this competition on 115 and yet it was his protege Tom Young who beat him by one point. A classic case of the student overtaking the master!
Dougall Memorial
SHOW ME THE MONEY
In his role at GMK, Karl Waktare often had to decide whether to spend his marketing budget on shows and The Game Fair. Here he unpacks his reasons for being a firm supporter of both
I know what you’re thinking. Waktare is a complete sell out! He starts writing for GTN (ownership connection with The Game Fair) and guess what, here he is writing a gushing article about how great The Game Fair is. Probably after free tickets, now he has to pony up for them himself. Well, you underestimate me. I am actually after a couple of VIP enclosure tickets also—if you’re reading this James do the right thing.
I honestly cannot remember how many Game Fairs or British Shooting Shows I have been to over the years, probably nearing 50. My perspective has always been as an exhibitor showcasing products with no revenue coming in. So why do we do it? They are not cheap to attend even if the actual stand space is often not the biggest cost. I have tried to put together the business case as I saw it below.
As part of the marketing mix The Game Fair falls into the category of ‘consumer events’ or exhibitions. They all have similar pros and cons, the cons being mainly the cost and the disruption to normal business activity. Most fairs or shows happen outside of the peak autumn months which means they are not too challenging time wise.
Product Showcasing
Shows are an opportunity to show your product to end consumers, allow them to see a full range of products, pick up the guns and ask questions without the pressure of some commission-driven sales person breathing down their neck. It enables you to give background to product development and explain much more product detail than is possible to get across in an advert. Sometimes you can correct untrue myths or incorrect rumours. I know that in terms of numbers you cannot reach thousands of people over three days, however you have to remember that often the people who come to these events will hold court and tell many others about the knowledge you have passed on.
Product Feedback
When you are a distributor there is not that much opportunity for direct feed-
The Game Fair offers unique opportunities to meet your customers
The VIP enclosure. Meet Karl in here
Industry Insider 23
Fairs
back from consumers. It sometimes is fed back to HQ but often it goes through a convoluted route, consumer to retailer then to the GMK Account Manager and back. Exhibitions offer the chance to hear it first hand from the horse’s mouth. Often if small product details like standard stock measurements are wrong or a palm swell is too pronounced, seeing and hearing it first hand is when it really can strike home. Beware the nutter enthusiast however, they f@cking love an event, they sidle up to you and before you know it you are 20 minutes into a detailed but boring explanation of how you need to change your product. What they are describing is a product with a market potential of one.
Product Launching
This is an obvious opportunity that I actually went off over the years. If you have a significant new product to showcase then I believe it is far better to have a dedicated event. Exhibitions have a big crowd, many customers and media in attendance. However, they are really busy and often you are competing with other launches and a lot of ‘noise’ and other activity. You have a window from 10.00-11.30, we all know there is no point speaking to a journo after lunch-
time (pissed) and don’t expect them to be anywhere early in the morning (sleeping off the hangover).
Branding
There is no denying a place at the Game Fair allows you to fly the flag(s), put up the banners and project your business. Let’s face it the behavioural science behind how purchasing decisions are made
our sales team. We always had a steady stream of trade customers who would come and see us, often it was the only time I would get to spend time with them during the year. Having face to face conversations would often yield new ideas or unique feedback, or sometimes just re-enforced things that you were already aware of but not yet actioned. Don’t make the hospitality too good or the
“ Seeing and hearing it first hand is when it really can strike home ”
is complicated and imprecise. However, I think we can all agree that Consumers are more comfortable buying brands they know and trust. Showcasing your brand in front of tens of thousands of people at events gets the brand out there, it may even be at a subliminal level. Small brands can buy an enormous space and project themselves as the market leader.
Trade Marketing
Personally, I used to spend less time talking to end users as I got older. My product knowledge was never as good as
chairs too comfortable or you might find yourself with a permanent fixture you hadn’t planned for.
Team Building
Whenever we had a new field salesperson we would always try and get them to a show as quickly as possible. Nothing accelerates the product knowledge as quickly as facing the range of enquiries you get at a show. Added to which all of our product is there on hand. The evenings back at the hotel were also good fun, having a few beers together helped
grow bonds and break down barriers between staff. You can also learn about people too, which ones put in a shift and which ones like to slope off whenever possible (I know, people in glass houses shouldn’t chuck rocks).
We sometimes invited suppliers to exhibitions (and often they invited themselves). Again, a fair can be a good way to improve your relationship with them and also give them to a better understanding of your market.
Competitor intel and Networking
Again, being at an exhibition means you will get to see your competitors’ offerings first hand. You also get to meet new people in the trade where being able to put a name to a face really can improve the relationship.
FOMO
There is also the FOMO argument, what will everyone think if we are not there? Competitors will spread rumours like, ‘things must be tough if they aren’t here’. Everyone will want to know why you haven’t come and people like me used to stoke the fire ��
That just about wraps it up. I will see you in the VIP tent! GTN
The Reximex Zone bullpup is a great choice for all shooters who want a quality PCP air rifle with a regulator for a reasonable price. The stock is available in Turkish walnut and synthetic and is very comfortable and lightweight. The synthetic version has an adjustable rubber buttpad to give the shooter an opportunity to adjust handling & comfort. The gun boasts a 260cc air cylinder to allow for a greater shot count. The shroud is fitted with a 1/2” UNF thread to allow a silencer to be fitted.
Key features:
• Ambidextrous cocking lever
• Regulated PCP
• Screw cut for 1/2” UNF
• 260cc air cylinder
• Comes with 2 x multi-shot magazine and single shot tray
• 4 way adjustable trigger
• Manual safety
Barrel length: 580 mm
Power: 11.3 Ft/Lbs
• Weight: 3.3 kg
PLEASE NOTE: SCOPE SOLD SEPARATELY.