Pulled Our Company from a Big Show

[clintofio]

Just made a tough decision yesterday and pulled our company from the largest hunting/outdoors consumer show in the country because they decided to ban AR-15's and told sporting goods stores not to bring them, sell them, display them, or even display logos of the manufacturers...

We don't sell black rifles or anything, but feel it's important as an industry we all stand united and not bow to political correctness.

We issued this press release and have gotten a pretty overwhelming flood of positive support. Thought you'd all like to see it:

January 17, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RE: HARRISBURG EASTERN SPORTS AND OUTDOOR SHOW
KERRVILLE, TEXAS


ANNOUNCEMENT: Nature Blinds has decided to withdraw our participation in the 2013 Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show due to the organizer’s decision to exclude certain types of rearms, accessories, and vendors for political reasons.


This decision was not made lightly. We are a relatively young, USA-based manufacturing company and have to steward our limited resources wisely. We had decided this year to double our presence there from 2012 and allocated over $15,000 for a 40 foot booth space, promo materials, travel expenses and lodging, and transporting our booth, signage, catalogs, and new prototypes to show our fans and friends. This was a significant part of our 2013 marketing budget and there are tens of thousands of people we were planning on seeing there that we will now miss out on.


We are taking a significant financial loss with this decision, but feel strongly that it’s time to stand in solidarity with ALL outdoor enthusiasts, gun owners, manufacturers, and industry friends. We love deer hunting and we love the Constitution, but we also realize America’s founding fathers did not write the Second Amendment to preserve their right to deer hunt. For this reason, we feel that accepting the politically correct stance of giving lip-service to the Second Amendment, while accepting the false ‘sporting purposes’ premise to discriminate against our fellow law-abiding gun owners is missing the mark.


When tragedies occur, we believe it’s important to pray together, grieve together, support, love and encourage one another. We believe in calling evil ‘evil’ and good ‘good’, and not shifting blame to inanimate objects for the evil actions of humans nor changing our behavior for those that would.


We hope the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show will reconsider their position in the future so we may also reconsider our participation.



Please direct inquiries to Clint Fiore at clint@natureblinds.com

[LawDog]

That is a tough decision. I hope you gain more in loyalty from committed purchasers than you lose from this missing this particular show. I also hope that it encourages other vendors and gives them the boldness to do the same.

[Steve Paulson]

Good for you, bro! As I understand it, you provide a product that nobody else does. Couple that with a position of integrity that you've just outlined....in the end I think this is going to go in your favor. Well done, God bless you and your business.

[stinger094]

Kudos to you for taking that stand. Hopefully any financial hit you take by not participating is offset by folks believing in your message a supporting your products!!


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[clintofio]

We've had the facebook status we posted with the press release shared about 250 times last I checked, and it's also being circulated by e-mail. Quite a few people have found out about us because of this and many are saying they're going to order product because of it. I'm hoping this offsets the money and missed opportunities from the show, but I really feel it was the right thing to do either way.

[shunt]

Wow! This type of leadership in business, especially one not directly involved in the selling of firearms or their accessories, makes me very proud to be a Texan.

[von Clausewitz]

That is leadership...

And that is one fine product you have there...

[strengverboten]

Well played.

[tpevehouse]

Cool. Good to see someone from the area doing something like that. I'll be sure to make a note and through your company out to a few ranch owners in the area i'm friends with.

[kilgore]

God bless you and your family. I found your facebook page and shared your announcement on my page. Solidarity..

[StealthNeighbor]

Clint,

I'm proud of you and your decision....and it was GREAT to meet you at SHOT and see both your excellent product as well as yourself. You done good!!

[TNVolunteer]

Clintofio,
I've seen your product at the feed store I frequent for supplies at the ranch. I had not planned on putting another blind on the place until I secured an adjacent parcel of land, but me thinks I'm going to have to make that purchase anyhow. Tribe 4 Tribe. Thanks for standing.

TNV

[pangloss]

I think you ultimately will be rewarded for taking this risk. Thank you.

[DogDoc]

Well done Clint. I'll check out your site and product and recommend them to my friends.

If more gun owners voted with their wallets/business the libertards would shut up in a hurry.

Doc

[ToddC]

Clint,

Wow! Truly a leader standing on principle. Wishing you the best for the future, and praying for your company's continued success. Shared your FB post, too.

[OdieWon]

A smart man once told me that it's always strong to put your money where your mouth is.

Proud to be in your tribe Bro.

[EDELWEISS]

Good for you Bro!

[Las Vegan]

That could not have been an easy decision, but you made a strong stand that may make others more likely to do the same. Well done.

[WinstonSmith]

Utterly impressed. Well done. It obviously took courage, and I think can your loss from this one event can be made back in spades if you get this word spread out. Double points.

[WadeP]

Clint is a stand-up guy and an honorable businessman.

[Photoman]

Very impressive. Thank you.

[Netpackrat]

Clint, I salute you. One regular guy saying he was going to boycott attending the show, doesn't mean much. Losing an exhibitor and thousands of dollars of business, demands attention. Thank you for standing up for all of us.

[jcart]

Good for you. I know this will benefit you in the long run.

[longbowshooter]

Good on you. Stand strong.

[JHawk]

Clint,
Great move. I would also send your press release to the NRA. It would be interesting to know the name of the company that puts on these exhibits nationally and where they are located. My guess is they do multiple venues across industries and some liberal geek on their board or leadership team made this politically correct decision. Many of us are involved with companies that take part and spend dollars at trade shows in a variety of industry segments. If you could post the name of the event company it would be appreciated. If not PM me.

[DC950]

Integrity. More should have it. You'll more than make up for the loss.

[Otis]

Good job! Karma is a powerful force, you will be greatly rewarded!

I will share your business profile with all my hunting friends.

[WVShooter]

Way to make your statement!.
I "Fancied" you on my FB page. Hope it helps your circulation.

[Texican_gal]

Hey Clint, you should also make a video statement. What's the figure? Over 60% of Internet traffic is now video? [I may not be entirely accurate on that but it's a big deal.]

Your letter is well-written and rational.

[HUMPHREY]

I saw your announcement about this on Facebook the other day. My hat is off to you for standing up for right, sir!

[HUMPHREY]

Rest assured I will (once I have made my fortune) buy one of your wheelchair-accessible blinds. I haven't been able to see one in person, but they look to be head and shoulders above the competition!

Thanks by the way for offering the wheelchair option, as far as I can see that is rare in the blind business. :thumbsup:

[Anthony]

Nothing that I can write, hasn't already been written.

I am very impressed.

Don't believe that there are many with these 'balls' that you have to stand by your principals.
There will be (are infact,) many 'sell outs'.

[clintofio]

Thanks for all the kudos everyone. It's very appreciated.

I found out today Cabelas has withdrawn their sponsorship of the event as well as their booth, so it's catching on!

Cabelas facebook says, "Due to recent changes made by Reed Exhibitions regarding the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, Cabela’s will no longer sponsor this year’s event. After careful consideration regarding Cabela’s business practices, and the feelings of our customers, Cabela’s will, unfortunately, not have a presence at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show."

[Anthony]

Thanks for all the kudos everyone. It's very appreciated.

I found out today Cabelas has withdrawn their sponsorship of the event as well as their booth, so it's catching on!

Cabelas facebook says, "Due to recent changes made by Reed Exhibitions regarding the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, Cabela’s will no longer sponsor this year’s event. After careful consideration regarding Cabela’s business practices, and the feelings of our customers, Cabela’s will, unfortunately, not have a presence at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show."Fantastic news.

Just an after thought.
I do seem to remember, more than 200 years ago, that a small group of British citizens, got a bit pissed off with their government. - King freakin' George. - No, despite some doubts, I was NOT alive back then.

So they took a stance.
They were a very small minority.

But they managed to win, and created a great nation.

The wheel turns around and around.

[Bill the Vet]

Good job,Clint!Thanks for standing up:finger::finger:

[WinstonSmith]

Clint, it must feel great being among the ranks of Cabella's. Kudos bro. Your a man that has been blessed and standing up for your beliefs will pay dividends! Maybe not right now.,. But you have placed yourself amongst a chosen group. May you reap a reward. Maybe later........ but that reward has already been paid for...............

I definitely agree with this. You would have regretted NOT pulling out, had you not said anything and attended as planned.

[Tank50]

Integrity bro. I have passed this on to the local board in hopes you nget some business.

[Fulanito]

Tough choice. I hope it works out. All decisions are a gamble to one extent or another. If you follow your heart and do whats right for you, you really cant loose. At least you will be able to sleep with yourself.

In my industry, I really don't care how someone feels or what the current political tides indicate. I just look for a new way to keep the $ rolling in. Adapt, collect and move on to the next contract. Nothing personal, just business.

[choirboy]

God Bless guys who "vote" the way you and Ronnie Barrat do.

Choirboy

[hedgedawg]

I hope you and Nature Blinds are rewarded 10 fold for your honesty and integrity. If you come to SC for Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic (March 22-24, 2013), first round's on me!

[CaptBeach]

Good JOB...

28269

[logcabindawg]

Well done!

[Ride4TheBrand]

Lots of angry folk at their facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/EasternSports

[buckeyebreeze]

Well done Sir!

[LawDog]

It looks like you really started a trend. Lots of big vendors are backing out now. But here, we all know where it started.

I pulled up a quote from Mark Twain that I thought appropriate:


In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, Brave, Hated, and Scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, For then it costs nothing to be a Patriot.

[Otis]

In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, Brave, Hated, and Scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, For then it costs nothing to be a Patriot.



+1


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[DonSmithnotTMD]

http://www.easternsportshow.com/

[TrojanSkyCop1]

Good job, Clint!

[Anthony]

http://www.easternsportshow.com/So they lost.

But this was just a battle within an ongoing war, - a war that has yet to be won.

My hat is off to those who decided to withdraw from the show. - Especially Clint.

[OdieWon]

I smell a businesses opportunity. Which one of you guys is about to become the biggest event organizer/promoter this industry has ever had?

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[BlondeGuy]

Clint, you shut down the show... I know not to get you pissed off.

[clintofio]

LOL you guys crack me up!

Wow, what an unforgettable 7 days!

I'm pretty sure we'll be getting our money back now unless the whole company goes belly up or something, but the people I feel really bad for are all the hundreds of family businesses who make their living at this show selling food, snacks, crafts, small items, etc... missing this show makes a dent in our business but it's gotta be extremely difficult for a lot of the vendors who have relied on this show for decades.

[clintofio]

Well, Clint, perhaps YOU should put together a show that embraces the evil tactical guns & gear, and specifically invite everyone who backed out of this show.

... Clint is busy.... I'll let one of you guys run it and I'll attend.