To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. HAWAII Russ Thurman Hawaiian vacation represented 24 states and every region of the country. “It is amazing how much continuity there is from across the industry, because the people who are here are a mixture of distributors, retail owners and some retail/counter-sales people. I really appreciate that it spans a broad group of people, that we didn’t just touch any one constituency,” Taylor said. Lavish, First-Class Trip A canopy of stars, traditional Hawaiian music — blending with ocean sounds a few yards away — was the dinner setting for dealers, distributors and their guests as Smith & Wesson greeted them on the first night of the Shooting for Hawaii trip. The lavish dinner set the “first-class” tone and fashion for the entire trip. “Everything Smith & Wesson has done here has been first-class, from travel arrangements, the accommodations, the different events we’ve had during the week. It’s been fantastic,” Ingrao said. During the week, Smith & Wesson held a luau, hosted small-group lunches and dinners and threw a beach party, yet left plenty of leisure time for their guests to swim, golf, explore the Island of Maui — and just relax. The company did hold one halfday “Best Practices Business Meeting,” where Nichols, Taylor and Tom Fimmen, vice president of sales, made presentations. The week of leisure provided dealers with additional business-building benefits, according to a number of dealers. “Our conversations over dinner with Smith & Wesson management and other dealers were very encouraging and will help us achieve our next year’s goals,” said Eddie Essa of Shooters Firearms & Accessories, Jacksonville, Fla. “We’ve gotten together socially at the beach or for dinners or other Todd Vance (right), Vance’s Shooters Supplies, Columbus, Ohio, and Tom Taylor (center), functions with several dealers and S&W director of marketing, relax with their wives, Regina Vance (left) and Ann in the perfect exchanged thoughts, and it’s been setting to discuss business. SHOT SHOW SUPER ISSUE 2008 • www.shootingindustry.com 63 valuable. There are some things I am going to walk away with that I can use in my own business, and I think that goes the other way, too,” Ingrao said. “We’ve built relationships where, if we need assistance or maybe want some advice, we can call the dealer we were sitting with at dinner or while riding a bike downhill at Haneakala (volcano), and they’ll be more than happy to help us out. So, great friendships made, great partnerships and just a whole different perception of who we are as an industry and our relationships with Smith & Wesson,” said Ron