EFTTEX announcement leaves way clear for Angling International LIVE

The European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA-AIBSL) has reconfirmed that its work will be ‘100 per cent’ focused on lobbying efforts in Brussels after signing a new licensing agreement with a third party for the EFTTEX name, under which the association ran trade shows in Europe for more than two decades.

Representing the EFTTA Board, Ross Honey said a recent restructure of the Board, which saw the Association part ways with its CEO and President, ‘allows EFTTA to dedicate 100% of its focus on lobbying efforts in Brussels.’

Honey said: “As the association representing the European fishing tackle trade, EFTTA has an advocacy responsibility for recreational angling.” 

The EFTTEX licence will now be held by Resolutions Ltd. Honey added that Resolutions has ‘full responsibility’ for shows under the EFTTEX name, beginning in 2025.

The announcement means that the only trade show in Europe in 2024 will be Angling International LIVE, taking place in Budapest between September 26th and 28th. Thanks to its connections with Angling International magazine, exhibitors at Angling International LIVE can take advantage of unprecedented promotional packages that combine their booth space with free advertising and editorial space in the magazine and angling-international.com

“This is the best promotional package in the angling trade,” said Rob Carter, the owner of Angling International. “We are redefining what it means to exhibit at a trade show by extending the marketing opportunities from three days in the hall to 3-5 months in the digital space. And at no extra cost.

“That is the power of a trade show connected to an established trade news platform. You get a wider reach and for longer, meaning far greater awareness amongst potential new customers. No other B2B show for angling can match that.”

Carter added that another service designed to increase business connections at the show will go live in June – the Angling International LIVE online matchmaker.

“Our promise is to connect the angling trade in Europe. So we are creating a space for exhibitors to upload their brands and product information, which can then be searched by buyers for making appointments before the show.

“It is not unique among trade shows, but what is new is our marketing to buyers in the months before the show. We are using our deep connections in the trade to raise awareness and drive buyers to make their appointments well in advance. If you are an exhibitor at the show, we are bringing you closer to potential customers much earlier.

“It is a huge effort by our team and already bringing results. We have twenty times more buyers registering and actively engaging with us compared to similar shows in the past at this stage in their cycles.

“Better still, our editors are talking directly to these buyers on a daily basis to gather information on what products they will be looking for in Budapest. We will be releasing that information in Angling International and in our show e-newsletters, so exhibitors can have full faith that genuine customers will be there to meet with them on the show floor.

“This is just the beginning for Angling International LIVE as part of the Angling International service to the trade.”

Visitors are also being incentivised with the chance to win their travel costs in Europe to Budapest in September. All visitors that register online for Angling International LIVE in May will be eligible to win back the cost of their travel up to €500.

 Resolutions is owned by former EFTTA General Manager Janet Doyle, who last oversaw an EFTTEX show in Brussels in 2019. She confirmed that Resolutions is planning to hold its first EFTTEX show at the same venue in September 2025.