A new trade association promises to represent and benefit all businesses involved in game fairs and country shows across the UK
Game fair exhibitors could see their costs cut and voices amplified as a new trade association forms to meet their needs.
The association, the Game Fairs Trade Association (GFTA), could provide an end to the days where traders perceive that their concerns go unheeded by the organisers of major country shows and fairs.
The GFTA is a not-for-profit company with the sole aim of serving its members. Its founding director Roger Williams said the organisation intends to negotiate substantial discounts on exhibition fees for its members, and provide a unified voice across the huge range of businesses that exhibit at game fairs.
“There are 200 outdoor country fairs in the UK,” said Mr Williams. “We would like to have members who attend all those fairs and we’d like to have discussions with all the organisers.
“We want to be the collective voice for all those people – whether they’re exhibitors, whether they’re trading, whether they’re just doing demonstrations.”
The benefits of becoming a GFTA member include discounts on stand space, contributing to the collective voice of game fair businesses and, potentially, insurance on game fair attendance.
“Hopefully we’ll negotiate substantial discounts, so that the membership will be at least matched by the discounts we can negotiate with organisers,” said Mr Williams. “And we’re in discussion with insurance companies, because one of the problems at country fairs is if there is really adverse weather, it damages the trade. Whether we can economically offer some insurance policy – either as part of the membership or separately – we’re looking into that because other associations don’t do that.
“We also intend to conduct market research and provide the results to our members to help them better target their business.
“We’re not looking to replicate or offer the same services as the other associations. We’re looking to add to what those associations can do. And indeed we will invite some of the heads of those associations, or some of the members, on to our board.”
For more information and to join the Game Fairs Trade Association, go to www.gfta.org.uk.
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