AFFTA and ISE Announce Partnership to Promote Fly Fishing The American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) and International Sportsmen's Expositions (ISE) will be partnering in two locations to expand the fly fishing exhibits and educational opportunities at ISE's consumer events. Starting in January 2009 and for at least three years, AFFTA, the fly fishing industry's trade association, will become a sponsor of the ISE events in San Mateo, CA and Denver, CO. The two organizations completed the agreement in late April at AFFTA's board meeting and annual National Casting Call event in Washington, D.C. "AFFTA's primary strategic objective is to support our members by growing consumer demand for fly fishing products and services," said Alan Gnann, AFFTA Chairman. "This agreement with ISE, producers of the largest and longest-running outdoor consumer events in the marketplace, creates the most powerful promotional and educational platform our members have ever had. The highly regarded show concept showcased at our January 2008 consumer Expo in Denver will be used as the model for our collaborative efforts with ISE to produce the finest fly fishing events in the country." "This is a great opportunity to expand ISE's product offering of fly fishing manufacturers and retailers," said Brian J. Layng, ISE President and CEO. "The lodges and outfitters that have participated in our shows for the past 32 years will be thrilled to see the support and commitment from the fly fishing industry. Many AFFTA members are among the more than 1,600 active accounts that exhibit in the ISE shows, and we look forward to expanding the number of companies that promote fly fishing." Terms of the AFFTA-ISE agreement include the following elements: 2009 dates for the AFFTA-sponsored ISE: The American Fly Fishing Trade Association represents more than 2,000 manufacturers, retailers, manufacturers' representatives, travel companies, media producers, as well as education and conservation organizations with a mutual interest in fly fishing as a lifelong pursuit and business. Established in 1975, International Sportsmen's Expositions produces the five largest fishing, hunting and travel consumer shows in Arizona, California, Colorado and Utah. Each ISE includes 400 to nearly 600 exhibiting companies, interactive show features, large youth-activity area, and special events such as the ISE Best-of-the-West Distance Fly-Casting Contest. For more information, contact: AFFTA: Mischa Jones, 706-355-3804, info@affta.com or www.affta.com |