Optimism at Japan show

Trade organisations worldwide are reporting a greater level of confidence among their members following encouraging indications at the first major trade show of the year. EFTTA President Pierangelo Zanetta and General Manager Janet Doyle received optimistic reports from their counterparts when they attended February’s JISPO show in Japan.

JISPO is the annual show organised by JAFTMA, the Japanese Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association. This year it took place at the Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Centre, Yokohama. EFTTA was pleased to be part of the show and was honoured to be invited again to participate in the opening ceremony.

This is the second year the organisers have opened the show to the public for the full three days. In past years the show was trade only for the first day and public for the second and third days. Altogether 170 companies exhibited, occupying 800 booths. At 12 o'clock on the Sunday the total number of visitors was 46,034 compared with 47,192 at the same time in 2009. The total number of visitors in 2009 was 51,938 and the organisers were hoping to have 60,000 by the end of Sunday this year.
Janet Doyle was impressed by how busy the show was, saying “The aisles were full and there seemed to be a more optimistic view on how well the trade would perform this year compared to the same time last year.

“Everyone is hopeful that 2010 will be a better year economically even though the northern hemisphere has experienced one of the coldest winters on record.”

Janet and Pierangelo Zanetta attended the international lunch meeting with senior staff from JAFTMA and the American Sportfishing Association. Each association reported on the current state of the economy in their regions and how it was affecting the fishing tackle industry. The general consensus was that everyone was hopeful for a more successful 2010.

Next year's JISPO show will take place from the 25th to 27th March 2011, later than in previous years. The organisers are hoping to attract more members of the public as the dates will coincide with spring holidays in Japan and the end of student examinations.