The list continues to grow:

2010 International Custom Rod Building Exposition Vendors

Batson Enterprises (Rainshadow/Forecast)

Midwest Rod & Reel

Seeker Rod Company

REC Components

Donart

The Rod Shop, Inc.

Skin Shop USA

Scott’s Custom Rods (Fish Sticks/RodDancer)

Kinnikinnick Wood (realseatblanks.com)

Swampland Rods

Angler’s Roost Enterprises

RodMaker Magazine

BackLash Tools

The Woodworking Shop

Mud Hole Custom Tackle

American Tackle

Riley Rods

WoodCraft USA

Mickel's Custom Rods

Long Creek Rods

Renzetti, Inc.

Pacific Bay, Int.

AFTCO Mfg. Co.

NERBS (North East Rod Builders)

Diamond II Epoxy

Bingham Enterprises

North Fork Composites




More to follow...


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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2009 09:00PM by Tom Kirkman.

Tom,

Are you or these vendors offering any workshops for some "hands-on"?

I believe you and I talked about it before as getting some "hands-on" experience with a pro-builder right there to help you perfect a technique not only builds confidence but also encourages the inidividual to go and buy all the necessary materials right at the show! I'm sure some of the guys would donate some materials for this idea as it would come back to them 10-fold!

In my profession, we do workshops for surgeons to try products before they put them into their patients. It gets them the hands-on experience they need to use the product and perfect the technique. This then reinforces their trust in the product and they become a long-time, return customer.

Even if the vendors had demos set up right at their booths to show how to cut and place a snake skin, pour a foam core grip, marble a reel seat, cut cork slices and glue together, guide spacing on a specific blank, etc. Whatever the technique or product they are selling, have them set up demos to allow people to get hands-on. The ideas are limitless.

Just a thought,

I'm guessing you haven't attended the Expo?

What you suggest takes place all weekend long. In addition to the seminars (some like woodturning are hands-on) we have vendors in the booths doing thread weaves, pouring foam handles, skinning grips, doing small impromptu demos on a wide variety of rod building methods. Whatever you want to see, you can see it here. You can even try your own hand at much of it. About all you have to do is ask.

After my seminar on thread wrapping tricks last year, I had a half dozen people stay afterwards and ask to sit down and get some hands on instruction. Done. It was as simple as that. You'll find that everyone is happy to accommodate you in nearly whatever fashion you require to get the hang of a particular technique.

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Believe Tom, it's NOT hype, it happens!!!! I've been to the last 4 Expo's and at every one, I've seen different exhibitors with RodBuilders in their booths doing HANDS-ON!! Especially the NERBS booth, and others that escape me right now, but I'm sure they'll chime in and identify themselves!!

Bill in WV