2022 NWTF Sport Show Recap
As a web based business I don't get to share thanks with those that choose to use Camoretro's marketplace nearly as often as I'd like. While the NWTF Sport Show exceeded expectations, the opportunity to shake the hands of those that keep Camoretro going and growing remains the highlight of every show I attend.
Camoretro Sellers Maddie Halford, Matt Baggett, Jack Collett, Dylan Seabolt, and Hunter Lewis
I've never seen myself as the face of the Camoretro brand. Nearly one thousand sellers trust me to connect them with customers to pass on goods from brands that helped build this industry's foundation of heritage and legacy. Those sellers, customers, and brands are what I see as the core identity of Camoretro. So a resounding THANK YOU to everyone at the NWTF Sport Show that allowed me an opportunity to express my gratitude for who you are to Camoretro.
New Friends
On the first night at Opryland we attended the Pub Crawl sponsored by Nomad Outdoors and County Outdoors. The place was crowded but Don & Sarah Clark of Clark-It Custom Calls were gracious enough to let us join their table. They don't have a digital platform, but Don & Sarah make hand made calls that are field ready pieces of art. If you're interested in commissioning a handmade turkey or duck call I recommend reaching out to them (dgclark@windstream.com).
A poorly designed elevator button led to having time to strike up a conversation with fellow exhibitor Jeff Milam as we were getting ready for the first day of the show. While working for an oil distributor, Jeff managed to develop the 80 Below product line. His products will help clean and protect your gear in any conditions, but are fine tuned to perform exceedingly well in below freezing temperatures. I happily picked up a bottle. You can find a list of 80 Below's dealers or contact Jeff through his website.
The generosity provided to this industry by the Haas family is impossible to overlook. Daniel Haas was kind enough to coordinate loaning me most of the shirts from Mossy Oak's discontinued "Companions" line that were featured at the booth. He and his brother Neill were also Camoretro's first customers of the show - they each picked out some unique original Bottomland pieces. Toxey showed up soonafter, graciously chatted with me about Camoretro, and left with a Carhartt Treestand shirt. A big thank you to the Haas family for your support, being a valuable resource to the Camoretro community, and being a champion for the Game Keeper mentality.
After playing footsie with a snapping turtle last December (and sending that pair off for warranty repair) I tried to tough out the rest of my season with a brand of waders that will stay unnamed. On the 6th straight day of patching yesterday's hole and finding (or making) new ones I counted my pennies and ordered some waders by Chêne. Carter Oliver chatted with me about the new 2022 wader line featuring Mossy Oak Bottomland Original (pictured) and Shadow color options. In addition, the wader's belt loops are more towards the front to help keep the belt up. Chêne announced the new lineup at the Sport Show and within hours two pairs of last season's waders were listed on Camoretro - the camo pair sold quickly, but the limited Olive pair is still available. Chêne also previewed a line of apparel including some technical apparel and a waxed jacket that were definitely made for all the right reasons. I look forward to seeing more from Chêne and always love to see the southern based brands excel. You can follow Chêne on Instagram for more updates about their 2022 product line.
In 2019 the Robinson family began packaging and selling Mom's homemade salsa to raise money for their daughter Emma's softball team. Seann Robinson and I made conversation while waiting in line at the exhibitor's office and after a taste test of Ira's Salsa I gladly picked up a jar for my mom - a favorite snack of hers. Be warned, their hot variant is a little more than what our friend Giezi would consider "white people spicy". You can shop and order Ira's Salsa on their website.
Got the chance to connect with longtime follower of the site Gem Ceasar last week. Gem is most well known for his tracks Timber Anthem and Slangin' STEEL. He picked the kind of stuff that would be in my closet if they fit me - good taste. Gem shared a few of his upcoming projects with me and I can't wait to hear the next track. You can keep up to date with Gem's work through one of his many online platforms.
On the way out the door after the show wrapped I had a chance to introduce myself to Nick Mundt and Michael Waddell. I only had a fraction of the Camoretro inventory on me but they were patient with me as I dug out some vintage Realtree samples to share as I told them about the website.
Old Friends - New Chapters
It was a pleasant surprise to see my fast friends Jacie and Zac working The Finisher booth at NWTF! We met last year at Divebomb's Squadfest and I loved having a chance to reconnect. Don't miss checking out The Finisher's product line at the next trade show you attend - a piece of gear I never go without! Tell J&Z I said hello next time you see them.
I am immensely thankful for the hard work these ladies put in while working the booth throughout the show. They needed no help connecting with attendees and fellow exhibitors while representing the Camoretro brand. I encourage you to follow Aleah, Jillian, and Hayley (bonus cameo by Camoretro seller Maddie) as they continue forging their own path in this industry.
Spring Legion continues to bring a spirit and energy to turkey hunting and conservation that can't be ignored. Hunter, Austin, and company filled our corner of the exhibit hall with a buzz of story telling throughout the week as anticipation for their springtime obsession grows. The Spring 2022 Collection is available to shop on their website. Proud of this crew.
No stranger to the industry, longtime Camoretro customer and friend Devlin Hodges recently announced he'd be hosting the "Duck" Hodges waterfowl podcast series presented by Split Reed. Follow Devlin on Instagram to keep up to date. I truly appreciate Devlin's support of the brand and his voice in the industry! Looking forward to the next chapter.
If you're looking to change up or add something new to your sound this year look no further than Rolling Thunder Game Calls. Their turkey call lineup showed off on the competitive stage and I'm mad at myself for not picking up a limited version of one of their new BRUTER Cutdowns (as pictured). The Rolling Thunder team is family and you're invited to the party at their booth. You can shop Rolling Thunder's full catalog on their website - and maybe they could start listing the limited runs on Camoretro's marketplace? You have my number Spence!
If you ever get the chance to go by the Backwoods Grind booth at a show make sure you pick up at least one bag of the Pinhoti Roast (along with my favorite, Camp House). The Pinhoti is available only by subscription on their site so the chance to grab a single bag is special - not to mention that $6.50 of each Pinhoti Roast purchase goes towards turkey conservation. You can shop Backwoods Grind's entire inventory on their website.
Who I Didn't Get the Chance to Visit:
What I Loved About the NWTF Sport Show:
- The Attendees
- A Family Atmosphere
- Supporting Wildlife & Habitat Conservation
- The Venue
- The Entertainment (Great music throughout the show)
- An Organized Process for Loading In/Out
What I Didn't Love About the NWTF Sport Show:
- $6-8 Bottled Water (we will have some for attendees next year, but I encourage you to bring your own)
- Signing up for Next Year's Booth - we didn't have first right of refusal to renew our current booth location for 2023 and the process was not transparent
- A box of items were stolen overnight after we took down our booth at the end of the show - luckily, the items can be replaced and we had already taken the rest of the stuff to the vehicle - we do not consider this a fault of NWTF's or the venue