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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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