ICAST is ‘destination travel’ for tackle dealers

It’s not Disney Land but for tackle dealers the ICAST trade show, located near Mickey Mouse’s largest theme park in Orlando, Florida, may be even better.

An enormous Ferris wheel glows in the distance. First orange, then red, blue, green and purple, The Wheel at ICON Park illuminates Orlando’s International Drive like a beacon every July.

Each year, it signals the beginning of a special event where an entire industry of tackle dealers, manufacturers and media to the industry’s largest trade show—ICAST.

Scheduled for July 19th to 22nd at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), the stage is set for ICAST to steal the spotlight of an entire industry and drive sales once again for 2022-2023.

New products will generate media coverage online and in print. Live demonstrations will place those products in the hands of tackle dealers before many of them reach store shelves. And valuable industry knowledge will be shared at breakout sessions and seminars.

For tackle dealers, the flurry of activity adds up to one thing: ICAST is a one-stop shop for people who want to stay on top of fishing tackle’s latest trends and ahead of consumer demand for the latest and greatest gear.

 

New gear alert!

“ICAST is the only venue to offer an industry-only show to see the new products debuting this year,” said Blake Swango, vice president for Trade Show & Membership for the American Sportfishing Association. “By being here, you’re enhancing your ability to help those who rely on you for the latest information and access to fishing innovations.”

In the past, those innovations have included Best of Show award winners like side-scan and live sonar units, meticulously crafted fishing reels and even kayaks. In each case, the products first seen at ICAST went on to become steady, growing trends at the checkout counter.

“Any tackle dealer serious about attracting customers would be wise to attend ICAST,” says Derrick Filkins, owner and buyer, FlyMasters of Indianapolis, Indiana. “Orlando is an easy flight. The hotels are inexpensive. There’s absolutely a payoff to attending. My customers often know about products highlighted at ICAST. I want to be the source for anglers to acquire those products quickly.”

A dealer’s destination

Attending ICAST can make retailers of all experience levels more successful. And, though the event is well-known for its popular happy hours and extracurricular events that spill over into the restaurants and venues of International Drive, the greatest payoffs occur on the show floor.

From the New Product Showcase, retailers gain access to hundreds of brand-new SKUs ranging from freshwater and saltwater baits to freshly designed apparel and marine electronics. At the showcase, where retailers and media can vote on the ICAST Best of Show awards, competition is fierce for coveted trophies that bring guaranteed media and consumer recognition.

At the ICAST Cup Bass Fishing Tournament, hosted by Major League Fishing, retailers can fish alongside professional bass anglers at Lake Toho, an iconic Florida fishery loaded with ferocious largemouth.

Outside of the convention center, retailers can test new products in action at On The Water Demo Day, where a collection of the show’s premier products will be waiting for them to field test in the water feature outside the OCCC’s North Building.

At the Industry Breakfast, leaders from across the fishing industry will breakdown issues impacting the future of the sport before an inspiring keynote address. And at the show’s Lunch & Learn Business Seminars, dealers can learn about new business strategies, marketing techniques and conservation issues that can change the future of the sport.

With easy flights available into Orlando International Airport from around the globe and the promise of a world class fishing and fishing tackle experience in Florida, ICAST is a can’t-miss destination for retailers who want to see the wheel of business keep moving forward.

Registration for the show is now open at icastfishing.org

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