Vendors are a great addition to a shoot and the main reason I go to the Southern cause it sure isn't the shooting there. Ernie has a good vendor turnout as well and good shooting. These shoots are held the same weekends every year and both shooters and vendors can make their plans.

Michigan has a fledgling shoot in early September called The Tunnel of Trees. This is the third year and while they had vendors last year there will be none this year. I asked the reason why and was told "they didn't sell anything". I bought a nice Fox AE 20 from one of them.

The Great Northern is an excellent shoot but vendor participation is sparse there also.

At the end of the day the events need shooters first and foremost to survive. The southern and Ernie's make good on both sides of the event but out of the half dozen or shoots I go to they are the only two that do so.

Previous Vintagers management did a far better job of marketing the event when it was at Pintail Point. Those were great events and it didn’t hurt that it was a bull market for SxSs.

Most vendors, especially the gun vendors, want to know what non-shooting foot traffic they will be expecting. For the most part, we can't predict that. No matter what advertising is done, we can't say there will be X number of shoppers. We can fairly accurately predict how many shooters will attend and some of them are definitely shoppers too. Our event has grown (numbers of shooters and total events shot) over the 4 years. We plan on growing even more. Every shoot seems to have vendors that can't come after they have said they would. Various reasons, but it happens. The collector associations are always a plus when their presence is enjoyed in the vendor area. In the end, throw good targets and have good food and shooters will be happy. If the weather cooperates then the results are even better. Onward and upward lads!!

I was just speaking with Morris and he told me that Gary Lacey hasn't been involved in the operation of the Vintage Gunners since around the first of the year... who knew??

Morris is expecting a good turnout.

Incidentally, he said that they (RST) have updated their website and most items that said they were out of stock... now have plenty of stock.

He will be at Hopkins Game Farm.





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Good to hear Morris will be there. He'll get some business from me

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;251404]I was just speaking with Morris and he told me that Gary Lacey hasn't been involved in the operation of the Vintage Gunners since around the first of the year... who knew??

If he is'nt then who is?

He told me but the name slipped my mind but as I recall he may be a board member of the LCSCA.

Sorry...





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No apologies needed Deano, we're all getting old and forgetful.:)

I just shot a message to Morris asking him to tell me again... and I promised not to forget this time. :banghead:






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Note pads are your friend:)