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Tackle Trade World - May 2024

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AFFTA reimagines Confluence event<br />

The American Fly Fishing<br />

<strong>Trade</strong> Association (AFFTA) has<br />

released details of its Confluence<br />

NOLA <strong>2024</strong> event, a change in<br />

focus from a trade show to one<br />

focused on networking, education<br />

and discussion.<br />

AFFTA says its aim is to<br />

deliver a summit constructed to<br />

help improve the businesses of<br />

its members. It is scheduled to<br />

take place at the historic Hotel<br />

Monteleone in New Orleans,<br />

Louisiana, USA, on October<br />

22nd and 23rd.<br />

In response to feedback<br />

following last year’s venture<br />

in Salt Lake City, AFFTA<br />

has transformed Confluence<br />

away from a trade show and<br />

into an industry summit<br />

aimed at fostering networking<br />

opportunities, facilitating<br />

educational presentations, and<br />

encouraging open dialogue<br />

among industry professionals.<br />

Confluence NOLA <strong>2024</strong><br />

will feature a<br />

diverse array of<br />

presentations<br />

and round table<br />

discussions<br />

covering a wide<br />

range of topics<br />

pertinent to the fly<br />

fishing industry.<br />

Attendees can<br />

expect to gain<br />

insights from<br />

industry leaders,<br />

participate in<br />

round table<br />

discussions, and<br />

exchange ideas<br />

with fellow<br />

business owners<br />

and manufacturers.<br />

AFF TA’s<br />

executive director, Lucas Bissett,<br />

explained: “Same name, different<br />

Confluence. In listening to<br />

the feedback of our members,<br />

we reimagined Confluence to<br />

be a summit that focuses on<br />

Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans<br />

networking, education and<br />

discussion for AFFTA members.<br />

“Confluence, coupled with the<br />

numerous virtual events we have<br />

planned for the year, will round<br />

out AFFTA’s goal of providing<br />

a real return on our members’<br />

investments.”<br />

Registration for Confluence<br />

NOLA <strong>2024</strong> is now open for<br />

AFFTA members at affta.org/<br />

events<br />

Zebco closes its HQ doors in Europe<br />

After 50 years in Tostedt,<br />

Germany, Zebco Europe’s<br />

headquarters is set to close at<br />

the end of April, bringing an<br />

era to an end.<br />

The brand itself was born<br />

in 1860 and has been one<br />

of the best-known names in<br />

angling over the past 160-<br />

plus years.<br />

When the news broke<br />

last year, Paul Reeves, the<br />

European president of parent<br />

company Rather Outdoors,<br />

said in a letter to retailers:<br />

“The operation of several<br />

locations in several countries<br />

does not make economic<br />

sense due to the significantly<br />

higher costs.”<br />

Zebco Brands – which<br />

includes Zebco Europe and<br />

Preston Innovations – was<br />

only acquired by Rather<br />

Outdoors some three years<br />

ago, in January 2021.<br />

The last orders of products<br />

bearing the<br />

Zebco, Rhino,<br />

Quantum,<br />

Radical and<br />

Black Cat<br />

names were<br />

shipped from<br />

Tostedt at<br />

the end of<br />

February. Since<br />

then, deliveries<br />

have been made<br />

from Rather<br />

Outdoors’<br />

European<br />

distribution<br />

centre, based in<br />

Belgium.<br />

Rather<br />

Outdoors CEO<br />

Ken Eubanks<br />

said the<br />

move would<br />

better serve its European<br />

customers, since the Belgian<br />

warehouse operated in a more<br />

streamlined and efficient way.<br />

Zebco Europe Tostedt<br />

Headquartered in South<br />

Carolina, USA, Rather<br />

Outdoors was purchased by<br />

merchant bank BDT Capital<br />

in June 2019 and is also home<br />

to brands including Fox<br />

International, Matrix, Strike<br />

King, Lew’s and Salmo.<br />

www.tackletradeworld.com<br />

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