Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Meet The Must-Have-Now Demand ven gun dealers who have never considered stocking turkey-hunting firearms, ammunition and associated gear are aware of the tremendous surge in the number of products available in this market category. During the past decade, virtually every major manufacturer has E addressed this segment with a wide range of products. In addition, a good indicator of whether turkey hunting continues to be profitable is to note the vast number of new products introduced each year. Turkey hunting is particularly profitable for dealers because of its “accesso- Turkey decoys and portable blinds are major sellers in this accessory-heavy segment of the hunting market. ry-heavy” aspect. Your turkey-hunting customers need shotguns, ammo, sights, calls, decoys, portable blinds and an array of camo clothing from head to toe. And turkey hunters are ready to spend money on hot-selling products. “This year, the Primos B-Mobile turkey decoy was a hot seller and last year it was the Pretty Boy and Pretty Girl decoys by Carry-Lite. When you suddenly discover a hot-selling item, it’s helpful if the manufacturers are prepared for a rush. That way we don’t have to stock as much initially, but we can reorder straight from the factory and have product shipped immediately,” Jobe said. Knowing which manufacturers and distributors are prepared — and willing — to rapidly fill your “must-have-now” orders is vital to taking advantage of heavy customer demand. “We didn’t run short this year, but last year we couldn’t keep the Pretty Boy and Girl in stock. I don’t know how many times we reordered Pretty Boy and Pretty Girl decoys, but when we ran out, CarryLite made sure we had inventory in less than a week and a half from order to delivery. Most of the time you get one, maybe two shots to make great sales, but CarryLite really did well with shipments.” nventory is just an expense unless you let potential customers know you are ready to serve their turkey-hunting needs. This means using advertising outlets including newspaper, radio, television, direct mail and the Internet to reach your customers. Finding ways to get the message out in an economical fashion is always a challenge. Rogers Sporting Goods has been in business for 28 years and heavy into the I Use Manufacturer’s Advertising To Boost Sales turkey end of profits for more than a dozen agrees that decoys are hot items years. Jobe combines activities in adver- with turkey hunters. He also tising campaigns to increase traffic and notes that portable blinds like save marketing dollars. the Big Game Eclipse and Es“We usually tie our spring turkey- cape were also hot sellers. Mahunting advertising together with our spring fishing campaign so customers know we are a one-stop shop,” Jobe said. “We’ll run a full-page ad in the local paper and back that up with Internet promotions that include daily updates.” Do these concentrated promotions work? “Take the Primos B-Mobile decoy. Using this approach, 50 of them wouldn’t last very long with this much promotion and I can’t begin to tell you how many Hunter’s Specialties helps hundreds we sold, but it drive sales through its was a bunch,” Jobe said. advertising. The company’s In Tennessee, Mahon- newest turkey call is the ey follows a similar ap- H.S. Strut Voo Deuce. proach to marketing and 26 MARCH 2008 www.shootingindustry.com