Fish Expo secrets revealed: Who were the top draws, and why? And what causes the industry to school up once a year in Seattle?

摘要

"It's the mugs. It's gotta be the mugs," said Charlee McRill. Pacific Fishing's ace copy editor and I watched as Furuno unpacked boxes and boxes of the popular item, a traditional giveaway at Fish Expo that always draws visitors to the Furuno boothlike seagulls to bait. Even some electronics competitors keep a collection of Furuno coffee mugs in their offices. In an unofficial poll, Pacific Fishing asked visitors at our booth (next to Furuno's) what company or product at Fish Expo they found mostinteresting or helpful. The question was listed on an entry form for a chance at winning a Stormy Seas jacket. We also asked which seminar was most interesting. Furuno was the favorite booth, with 14 responses. Pacific Fishing, without coffee mugs but with plenty of free issues of the magazine and a chance to win a jacket, came in second with 13 responses. (Perhaps some brown-nosing contributed to our popularity.) A dark horse was next: Exxon's booth came in third, at three responses. Several booths chalked up two responses apiece.