Former Freeman SVP has Passion for Archery, 17 Years in Business Development

For more information, contact Teresa Johnson at (860) 904-0497 or teresajohnson@archerytrade.org

NEW ULM, Minnesota – The Archery Trade Association has chosen Matt Kormann of Marietta, Georgia, as its next president/CEO, after a nationwide hunt led by an executive search firm. Kormann will succeed Jay McAninch, who announced in March that 2017 would be his last year as ATA’s president/CEO. Kormann expects to begin his ATA tenure on October 16.

Kormann is currently senior vice president of corporate account sales for the Freeman Co., a $2.4 billion world leader in event marketing. His 17-year career at Freeman helped Kormann learn the best practices of hundreds of businesses, industries and associations while becoming a business leader and passionate team coach. Kormann also learned grassroots politics while serving as a trustee for the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake, Texas, and as a member of its budget and finance committee.

Kormann stood out to the ATA Board of Directors’ CEO search committee for his business acumen and diverse experience, and for his passion for archery. Kormann’s daughter is a compound-bow archer who competes nationally and internationally in 3-D and target archery; and Kormann is a certified archery instructor and judge who traveled over 4,000 miles in recent months to support his daughter in competition.

Kormann’s archery fervor guided his decision to apply for the ATA’s CEO position. “Opportunities like this are exceedingly rare,” Kormann said. “The ATA has an incredible foundation. Expert leadership and a culture of collaboration between members and staff have allowed it to thrive. I’m confident we can bring this great sport to even more bowhunting and tournament participants, while strengthening the industry as a whole. While all of that is exciting for me, this role is really unique. It blends the things I’ve been most passionate about in my professional life with what I’m most passionate about away from work. Our family fell in love with archery almost five years ago. Since then, it’s taken us throughout America and as far away as Argentina. When I learned of Jay’s retirement, I knew I had to take a shot.”

Board members were equally enthusiastic about Kormann after reviewing the qualifications of several outstanding candidates. Kormann’s most distinguished professional experience includes expertise in sales, customer service, business development, strategic planning and event management.

“Matt was the clear finalist to take to the full Board for approval,” said ATA Board Chair Ben Summers, vice president of T.R.U. Ball/AXCEL. “Rather than depending on the information given to candidates during the hiring process, Matt drilled down and talked to several dealers. He knew intricate details about our industry, and had great ideas to fix important problems. It was easy to see that Matt understands business and cares about the people he serves. Most importantly, however, Matt clearly knew archery and bowhunting like a seasoned professional. I believe he will care about our retail and manufacturing businesses like they are his own.”

Kormann said he is excited to combine his work ethic and love of archery to serve the ATA’s membership. “My first responsibility is to listen and learn,” he said. “I’ll be doing just that, beginning Day One. The Board, Jay and our incredible staff have helped build a map that ensures success. It’s focused on time in the field. I’ll be meeting with members, both virtually and in person. I’m eager to hear what’s working, and how we can work together to improve. I’m eager to listen, so that we can design a strategy that will support our members’ goals while continuing to strengthen the ATA.”

ATA Board members are confident in Kormann. “I am very pleased to have Matt joining the ATA,” said Greg Easton, president of Jas. D. Easton Inc., and a member of the ATA Board’s executive committee. “We had a large pool of candidates, and the finalists were all well-qualified, but the search committee was unanimous in our selection and support of Matt. Matt brings some exciting skills, experience and interest in archery to the ATA’s CEO position, and I look forward to working with him.”

Mark Copeland, store director for Jay’s Sporting Goods in Michigan, and a member of the ATA Board’s executive committee, agreed. “Matt brings a level of enthusiasm for archery that was palpable in his interviews,” Copeland said. “His travel this year alone with his daughter’s competitions is a testament to his dedication to our sport. I am very confident in the skillset he brings to our team. I look forward to seeing Matt in action as he guides the ATA into the future, with fresh ideas and outside-the-box thinking.”

McAninch will remain engaged in his current ATA responsibilities to help Kormann transition into the president/CEO role. The “changing of the guard” will help foster strong relationships while building on McAninch’s 17 years of success in the position. The 2018 ATA Trade Show is expected to include a celebration of McAninch’s ATA career, and meetings between Kormann and industry stakeholders.

McAninch plans to spend more time afield bowhunting and bowfishing with his grandchildren, but Summers is confident McAninch will “continue to be a force for good in the conservation community.”

About the Archery Trade Association
The Archery Trade Association is the organization for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, sales representatives and others working in the archery and bowhunting industry. The ATA has served its members since 1953. It is dedicated to making the industry profitable by decreasing business overhead, reducing taxes and government regulation, and increasing participation in archery and bowhunting. The organization also owns and operates the ATA Trade Show, the archery and bowhunting industry’s largest and longest-running trade show worldwide. For more information, like the ATA Trade Show on Facebook, follow @ATATradeShow on Twitter, or learn more about archery and bowhunting at Archery360.com and Bowhunting360.com.

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Senior officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and U.S. Forest Service met with more than 30 representatives of the outdoor recreation industry, including ATA President/CEO Jay McAninch and Jas. D. Easton, Inc. CFO and Vice President, Daren Cottle, at Shenandoah National Park April 24 to discuss improving visitor experiences on America’s public lands and waters. The meeting was hosted by the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable (ORIR) at Skyland Resort – operated by National Park concessioner Delaware North.

McAninch also represented the ATA’s members in a meeting with Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on Monday evening, discussing the impact of the recreation industry as it relates to creating sustainable opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors, including activities like bowhunting and archery.

According to the American Sportfishing Association’s press release, Secretary Zinke provided an overview of his design for a major departmental reorganization, which he described as the “biggest in 100 years,” which reflects the visions of legendary outdoorsmen John Muir and Gifford Pinchot. The reorganization will unite all federal lands around key ecosystems. He told the group that the reorganization will reflect recreation’s large and growing role in public land and water management and substantially boost on-the-ground manpower.

The wide-ranging discussion included plans for ongoing cooperation and collaboration, including the development of sites for innovative, partner-based recreation expansion on federal lands. The Secretary invited the ORIR to return with a list of at least ten sites within 60 days.

The meeting concluded with conversations about how ORIR and the recreation community could support the Secretary’s efforts, including the reorganization. The Secretary is eager to enlist the recreation community and recognizes the opportunities for use of channels ranging from trade and consumer shows to retail locations to social media sites and recreation print and electronic publications, according to the ASA.

Outdoor recreation is big business, generating $887 billion in direct spending and supporting 7.6+ million jobs across all 50 states. At Skyland Resort, ORIR members, key recreation company CEOs and senior administration officials discussed how improved infrastructure and increased opportunities for innovation and public-private partnerships will give more people the chance to enjoy healthy, active fun on their public lands and waters, while helping outdoor recreation continue to grow as a powerful and positive force in America.

“Access to recreation opportunities on Federal lands is critical for the long-term sustainability of our industry,” McAninch commented. “By teaming up with the ORIR and other outdoor trade organizations, the ATA strengthens its ability to advocate for our industry and the access needed to keep people using bows and arrows for many years to come.”

DOI Senior White House Advisor Doug Domenech outlined key goals and challenges, and emphasized the need to expand access on public lands and waters, saying, “the Roosevelt Arch says, ‘For the benefit and enjoyment of the people,’ and bringing people back to the equation is clearly an important issue.”

Meeting participants identified access as a crucial area where the private sector can help federal partners improve visitor experiences in the great outdoors. They discussed the negative impact of access restrictions and the value of adopting practices to help enhance access to public lands and waters, including a “yes first” mentality, the streamlining of permitting processes, and closer management partnerships with state fish and wildlife agencies and the recreation industry.

Participants also discussed the importance of providing visitors with world-class experiences in these world-class places, and the role private industry can play in upgrading facilities, increasing connectivity, implementing electronic passes, modernizing campsites, developing access for hunting and fishing, creating new recreation opportunities such as shooting, and more.

“It was a privilege to be included in the ORIR’s discussions with DOI and Forest Service officials,” Cottle said. “We at Easton, Hoyt and the Easton Foundations feel a responsibility to join the ATA and the broader outdoor recreation industry to engage with government agencies to help improve and expand outdoor recreation. With the ORIR now in place, we can be a unified force to help move the outdoor recreation needle in a more positive direction. It is also encouraging that the archery industry has a seat at the table.”

Industry members offered their ideas on reducing the multi-billion-dollar maintenance backlog plaguing the public lands. Suggestions included longer concessions contracts, extended service hours and seasons, restructured fee retention, reduced barriers to private investment, more efficient fee collection and a reassessment of backlog needs.

“Our ORIR team agreed to create project proposals for 10 sites within the next 60 days, which means we have to walk the talk, just like Secretary Zinke has done,” McAninch explained. “Public-private partnerships are key to making those experiences positive, shareable ones that will keep people excited about visiting the great outdoors, and enjoying activities like archery and bowhunting.”

The recreation industry representatives emphasized their commitment to helping DOI overcome its current challenges. Providing support for DOI funding in the FY2018 budget, encouraging a Recreation Title in upcoming infrastructure legislation and prioritizing the REC Act were just some of the ideas offered during the discussion. They also discussed how public-private partnerships can help promote awareness and support for America’s outdoors by capitalizing on industry efforts like Explore Bowhunting, Go RVing, Discover Boating and TakeMeFishing to spread the word about great opportunities on public lands and waters. ORIR members noted that their trade shows – the eight largest recreation trade shows in the country, including the ATA Trade Show – would provide a perfect opportunity to enhance communications between DOI and the nation’s recreation community.

“There is extraordinary opportunity,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, Recreation Vehicle Industry Association President and an ORIR member. “Never before has an industry coalition with all outdoor recreation sectors come together with a unified voice to offer its assistance in improving visitor experiences on America’s public land and waters. Our great outdoors are a unifying force in an era of political divisions, and the outdoor recreation industry stands ready to join forces with Secretary Zinke and the Department of the Interior in providing healthy, active outdoor fun in America’s great outdoors.”

About the ATA
The Archery Trade Association is the organization for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, sales representatives and others working in the archery and bowhunting industry. The ATA has served its members since 1953. It is dedicated to making the industry profitable by decreasing business overhead, reducing taxes and government regulation, and increasing participation in archery and bowhunting. The organization also owns and operates the ATA Trade Show, the archery and bowhunting industry’s largest and longest-running trade show worldwide.

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Five new videos from the Archery Trade Association explain how retailers and educators can teach Explore Bowhunting to increase archery and bowhunting participation in their communities.

Explore Bowhunting is a valuable educational program that helps instructors and program leaders teach students of all ages basic bowhunting skills. ATA created the program for schools, summer camps and community-based programs, and it’s offered primarily through state wildlife agencies.

The curriculum includes 23 lessons and hands-on activities that help students understand nature, and strengthen their appreciation for wildlife and the woods.

ATA members already have access to the curriculum, but these five training videos ensure archery-shop owners and community members can better implement the curriculum and hone their teaching skills.

“These videos explain how to complete Explore Bowhunting activities in retail-store environments in a quick-and-easy format,” said Emily Beach, ATA’s senior director of outreach and education. “The videos help instructors teach the program more effectively, which will promote our sport and recruit more archers and bowhunters.”

Beach encourages retailers to use the videos to help make Explore Bowhunting activities fit their store’s needs.

“Retailers can adapt any Explore Bowhunting activity to fit their schedules, the students’ skill levels, and the store’s teaching environment — whether it’s indoor, outdoor, a woodlot or parking lot,” Beach said. “They can also use their store’s inventory to demonstrate equipment needs, which promotes sales.”

The instructional videos show retailers and community members how to:

1. teach bowhunting basics to customers;
2. feel confident when teaching bowhunting activities;
3. simplify bowhunting skills for archers;
4. and open discussions about stalking, camouflage, shot placement, bowhunting practice and much more.

Retailers in states that offer Explore Bowhunting are encouraged to partner with their state wildlife agency to teach the course’s equipment section. Click here to contact the Explore Bowhunting coordinator in your state.

Visit ATA’s Explore Bowhunting webpage to watch the videos and learn more.

For more information about Explore Bowhunting, contact Beach at emilybeach@archerytrade.org.

About the ATA
The Archery Trade Association is the organization for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, sales representatives and others working in the archery and bowhunting industry. The ATA has served its members since 1953. It is dedicated to making the industry profitable by decreasing business overhead, reducing taxes and government regulation, and increasing participation in archery and bowhunting. The organization also owns and operates the ATA Trade Show, the archery and bowhunting industry’s largest and longest-running trade show worldwide.

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Resources For Planning Your ATA Show

Trade Show Benefits to Keep in Mind

New Products

Get a sneak peek before hitting the floor in the Featured Products Showcase, an area designed as a passive “preview” for retailers and buyers. Then, find the latest gear and equipment and let the experts field your equipment questions. Be sure to take advantage of the show’s demonstration lanes to shoot newly designed bows and other products hitting the market.

Funding Industry Growth

The ATA Trade Show is the only industry show that funds archery and bowhunting growth. The ATA invests in state agencies that coordinate introductory archery programs such as National Archery in the Schools and the After School Archery Program. To date, the ATA has invested and pledged nearly $1,000,000 to bring archery shooting facilities and introductory programs to U.S. cities, while the group also fights for bowhunting rights in courtrooms across the country.

Write Orders / Gain Customers

The ATA Show allows exhibitors instant access to key industry buyers. No matter what your distribution method; direct to dealers, through distribution, chain and box store sales and even international. The ATA show attracts all types of buyers.

Quality vs. Quantity

All trade shows will sell you on the number of attendees at their show, but the key to a good investment as an exhibitor is the number of “qualified” buyers a show can provide for you. The ATA feels strongly about providing its exhibitors and industry members “quality” buyers. ATA verifies all buyer category badges to ensure that you are not wasting your time and money as an exhibitor. No individual badges are sold.

Shooting Lanes

If your product requires demonstration you can also purchase a shooting lane, where customers can test your product at a 30ft shooting lane. Shooting lanes rent for $1,500 each.

Meet Customers Face-to-Face

Actually knowing your customer is invaluable. The value of face-to-face meeting can quickly be lost in today’s world of email, fax, and telephone communication. But nothing can replace the first time you finally shake a customer’s hand that you have spoken to or corresponded with on many occasions. It also gives you the chance to change a “customer” into a “friend”.

Networking

Connections, connections, connections. Everyone knows that if you want to get things done in this industry or secure future deals you have to develop contacts. Again, there is no other show in the industry that draws this many insiders to one place.

Set aside some time to visit the Member Services Area

If you could invest a few minutes of your time in exchange for growing your business, boosting efficiency and increasing profit, would you do it? Thanks to the Archery Trade Association, you have that opportunity at the upcoming ATA Trade Show.

The Member Services Area on the Trade Show floor highlights the many ATA-member programs that work to grow your business. Many of these programs are part of the ATA’s Retail Growth Initiative, which helps archery and bowhunting retailers improve their bottom line.

Stop by the Member Services Area between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Jan. 10 and 11, and from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 12, to learn how these programs can help your business grow! The Member Services Area is centrally located on the Trade Show floor. This readily accessible area helps you maximize the many benefits and services you earn as an ATA member:

1) Retail Growth Initiative: This program features several profit-building initiatives, and helps retailers …

• Learn about the new ATA ePRO software package, an archery-specific business solution for retail operations.
• Use their shooting range to generate significant revenues.
• Add value to their shooting programs with instructor certification.
• Create experiences that reward customers.
• Build websites that attract new customers.

2) NEW! ATA ePRO: This part of the Retail Growth Initiative is the first and only software package designed specifically for archery retailers. And it’s big news for ATA members! ATA ePRO stands for (electronic) Proshop Retail Organizer, which is exactly what this software does for you. For instance, it …

• Turns your archery range into a profit center.
• Offers electronic sign-in and sign-out, which lets customers reserve a lane from home.
• Automates online booking for leagues and classes.
• Ditches paper clutter by making your work orders electronic, thus improving customer service and perceived value.
• Decreases call volume, which increases employee productivity.
• Works with your existing Point of Sale system, or it uses our POS system that integrates range and bow work into one area.

Visit the ATA ePRO booth in the Member Service Area to learn more!

3) Programs that Create Customers

• Instructor Certification with USA Archery: Become certified as a USA Archery Level 1 or Level 2 instructor. These certifications boost your marketing value and provide your staff with the skills to run programs that increase profits. Register for these classes today by calling (866) 266-2776 or emailing registration@archerytrade.org.
• Explore Bowhunting: This program teaches basic bowhunting skills to students 11 to 17, sparking interest and passion for bowhunting. Its focus is hands-on experiences that help students understand nature and strengthen their appreciation for the woods and wildlife.
• NEW! Explore Bowfishing: This is the ATA’s latest educational program, which teaches basic bowfishing skills. Students also learn about bowfishing gear, the many fish species they can pursue, and the various habitats where fish live.
• Explore Archery: USA Archery’s Explore Archery helps intermediate archers build their skills and confidence before moving on to more advanced archery options. Visit the USA Archery booth for more information.

4) ATA Websites that Drive Traffic to Your Store

• Archery 360: This fun, interactive website provides lifestyle, technical, entertainment and how-to content for millions of archery fans worldwide. Most importantly, our integrated store locator directs visitors from our content to your front door.
• Bowhunting 360: This ATA website recently launched on Facebook and as a content site for recruiting and re-engaging new and existing bowhunters. Like Archery 360, its goal is to strengthen your sales by driving customers to your shop.

 5) Equipment that Makes Customers Happy

• NEW! Archery Equipment Development Program: We’ll test new gear in the field, on the range and in the classroom—and then we’ll provide manufacturers and retailers unbiased feedback about what works best for youths, women and beginners.

6) Advocacy: Working on Behalf of ATA Members

• Deer Protection Program: This ATA program assures hunters the scents they buy met this program’s rigorous guidelines. Scent manufacturers in this program can display the ATA’s “Seal of Participation” checkmark on scent products from participating facilities. This means the supplier and manufacturer are doing all they can to prevent chronic wasting disease from harming the nation’s deer and elk herds.
• Ongoing Legislative Efforts: The ATA spent much of 2016 working with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to persuade Congress to enact the Pittman-Robertson Modernization Act, which would provide more money and greater flexibility for spending these federal funds on shooting ranges and hunter-recruitment efforts. The focus is promoting hunter education, recruitment, and the shooting sports, and broadening states’ abilities to help build and maintain shooting ranges.

To learn more visit the Member Services Area from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 10 and 11, and from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 12!

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Indianapolis is home to historical landmarks, beautiful sights, world-class entertainment, and elegant, local restaurants that you won’t want to miss while attending this year’s ATA Trade Show.

Indianapolis is home to White River State Park, which includes the Military Park, the Central Canal, and White River itself. Within and around the park are the White River Gardens, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, NCAA Hall of Champions, IMAX Theater, Indiana State Museum, Victory field and its premier outdoor concert venue, and the Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn. Tours of this entertaining and beautiful state park are offered by foot, or you can rent bikes, Segways, or even paddle boats. The canal walk on Indiana’s Central Canal is also popular for tourists and locals. This canal was dug in the 1800’s to try to facilitate interstate trade. This canal stretches North through the White River State Park, and there’s a waterside boardwalk for walkers, runners, and sightseers. Gondola Ridos offers old world gondoliers to experience the mystique and beauty downtown Indianapolis has to offer. This charming ride lets you experience breath-taking canal views with a pleasant overview of the city.

Indianapolis is home to a one-of-a-kind canal experience that resembles beautiful Venice, Italy. Along with the canal, there are many things to keep yourself occupied while strolling around in Indy. The 19 Stars of Indiana Art is a bicentennial art celebration that proudly presents a gallery of all sorts of different types of art, ranging from sculptures, to paintings, to design work, and much more. What is unique about this art exhibit is that it shows achievements from those who were born, raised, or worked in Indianapolis. The Old National Center is also among one of the top places to visit in Indianapolis. It was constructed in 1909, and is a significant and historical landmark that hosts some of the best entertainment in the city.

Bartini’s Premier Martini Lounge is a martini-based bar that hosts some of the city’s best DJs for nightclub goers. They feature 30 different types of martinis with flavors ranging from key-lime to s’mores served at three huge bars that encompass the dancefloor. Indianapolis is also home to SIK, or Speedway Indoor Karting, which has one of the largest indoor racing experiences unlike one you’ve ever had before. This speedway has the 1911 two-story bar and grill that directly connects to the indoor carting facility for all ages.

Indianapolis has many unique, local restaurants that are worth considering during your visit for the ATA Trade Show. Mesh on Mass offers dishes in a casual environment that would be ideal for business meetings, romantic evenings, or just a night out with some friends. Rathskeller Restaurant is a German-based restaurant housed in a historical, architecturally notable German building. Built in 1894, this is Indianapolis’s oldest restaurant. They serve traditional German cuisine, and provide live music. For you beer-lovers, they also have brews and microbrews from Germany, Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America. Rick’s Café Boatyard is a full-service restaurant and bar on the waterfront of Eagle Creek Reservoir, providing an elegant dine-in experience with a calming waterfront scenery surrounding the restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.

If you’re looking for a high-class breakfast and lunch dining experience, Café Patachou would be an excellent option worth considering. This café serves high-quality, made-to-order, made-from-scratch gourmet breakfast and lunch. This restaurant has a unique dining setting, and has breakfast that would seem too good to be true.

One of Indianapolis’s more elegant and unique restaurants is The Eagle’s Nest, which is located on the rooftop of the Regency Hyatt Hotel Indianapolis. This one-of-a-kind experience includes American cuisine made from the freshest local ingredients, and it provides a panoramic view of Indianapolis. This is the only 360 degree revolving rooftop restaurant in Indy, and it is one of the most impressive restaurants in Indianapolis.

This city is packed with landmarks worth visiting, lots of entertainment, and delicious, local cuisine.

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Industry-leading TenPoint Crossbow Technologies®, Horton Crossbow Innovations®, and Wicked Ridge Crossbows® are set to launch a collection of highly innovative crossbows and accessories at the 2017 ATA Show in Indianapolis, IN on January 10, 2017.

Visit Booth #901 to learn about each new product and its features, and then head straight over to the Shooting Lane J10 to test them out!

If you are not attending the show this year, you can view all the new products on January 10, 2017 at these websites: TenPoint Crossbows, Horton Crossbows, and Wicked Ridge Crossbows. Plus, find videos and more on Facebook at TenPoint Crossbows’ Facebook and Horton Crossbows’ Facebook.

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The ATA contributed $50,000 to the Tahlequah, Oklahoma, range, which is named after Joe Thornton, a Cherokee Nation citizen, 1961 World Archery Champion and 1962 British National Champion. Thornton, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, gave the order to fire the inaugural arrow, a bull’s-eye shot by his son Ken.

“I’m very happy to see a good archery range here and would like to see other archers come along and be world champions,” Thornton said in a Cherokee Nation press release. “I believe it is a possibility.”

Built on Cherokee Nation tribal land and funded in part by the ATA, the park features a 3-D range, an elevated shooting tower and a 70-meter, Olympic-style range with a 125-foot awning to shield archers from inclement weather.

“The ATA is dedicated to growing archery and bowhunting at the grassroots level,” said Jay McAninch, ATA president/CEO. “By providing opportunities for people to try archery in their local communities, we can recruit new archers and bowhunters, re-engage those who haven’t tried shooting in awhile, and strengthen the archery industry as a whole.”

Cherokee Nation’s 14 counties include 109 schools offering the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), making the Joe Thornton Archery Range an ideal location for future NASP competitions.

Colin Berg, information and education section supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, alluded to the community’s efforts to grow archery in a Cherokee Nation press release. “We’re putting money into schools in this area to give them an opportunity to shoot at the range,” Berg said. “One of the popular features is a tower stand. A lot of hunters like to hunt off the ground, and finding a place to practice in Tahlequah is not always easy. Climbing onto a 12-foot stand to shoot at targets instead of hanging one in your backyard and worrying about whether an arrow will go across the fence is a great thing to offer the community.”

“The Joe Thornton Archery Range represents a strong partnership between the Tahlequah community, the archery industry, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation,” said Mitch King, ATA’s director of government relations. “Ranges like this one are where youths and first-time archers can try the sport while bowhunters and more seasoned archers practice. Our experience confirms that a community’s level of dedication to developing and maintaining archery programs and facilities assures residents will utilize those facilities once they are built.”

To learn more about the ATA’s investments in growing archery through community archery parks, contact Michelle Zeug, ATA’s director of community and international programs, at michellezeug@archerytrade.org.

About the ATA
The Archery Trade Association (ATA) is the organization for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, sales representatives and others working in the archery and bowhunting industry. The ATA has served its members since 1953. It is dedicated to making the industry profitable by decreasing business overhead, reducing taxes and government regulation, and increasing participation in archery and bowhunting. The organization also owns and operates the ATA Trade Show, the archery and bowhunting industry’s largest and longest-running trade show worldwide.
www.archerytrade.org

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During the archery industry’s strategic-planning meeting in May that drew nearly 40 business leaders to Minneapolis, the group focused on how to best help retailers grow their stores and become stronger. Whether it’s best-practice statements or ongoing support for retailers, the attendees agreed the ATA must first revitalize its Retail Council to improve the industry’s archery and bowhunting markets.

“Things are changing,” said ATA President/CEO Jay McAninch. “It’s clear from our strategic planning meeting that our industry understands that its success depends largely on the success of archery and bowhunting retailers. The ATA’s Retail Council is rejuvenated, highly engaged and ready to help forge a better future for everyone in our industry.”

The Retail Council is led by members of the ATA Board of Directors, including Council Chair Mark Copeland, general manager of Jay’s Sporting Goods in Michigan. Copeland also serves on the ATA Board’s Executive Committee. Copeland is joined by Vice Chair Randy Phillips, owner of Archery Headquarters in Arizona; and Peter Gussie, owner of Midwest Cimmarron Archery in Illinois.

“There’s so much work to be done,” Copeland said. “We’ve needed an active and engaged platform for retailers to discuss important issues where the conversation is educational and productive. I keep hearing that retailers are the industry’s backbone. I’m appealing to every archery retailer to use our backbone to step up and be part of the solution.”

McAninch named Michelle Zeug, ATA’s director of community and international programs, to serve as staff liaison to the Retail Council. “We’re trying to focus more of our staff time on these critical issues,” McAninch said. “There’s nothing more important to us than helping ATA’s members succeed.”

Zeug echoed McAninch’s thoughts. “I’m excited to help lead the charge to rejuvenate ATA’s Retail Council,” she said. “As we’ve built the Retail Growth Initiative the past three years, we’ve needed core retailers to help develop best practices for the industry’s ‘backbone,’ and now we have it. I look forward to working with the Council to expand this program to help make retailers more efficient and profitable.”

The Retail Council meets weekly to discuss pressing issues raised during May’s strategic-planning meeting. Its members expect best-practice statements to emerge as the Council’s agenda takes shape. To learn more or to get involved in the Retail Council, contact Zeug by email or by phone at (612) 209-1484.

About the ATA

The Archery Trade Association (ATA) is the organization for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, sales representatives and others working in the archery and bowhunting industry. The ATA has served its members since 1953. It is dedicated to making the industry profitable by decreasing business overhead, reducing taxes and government regulation, and increasing participation in archery and bowhunting. The organization also owns and operates the ATA Trade Show, the archery and bowhunting industry’s largest and longest-running trade show worldwide.

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It’s all too easy to feel alone in the world when you’re a small business owner. The entire concept of owning a business goes hand in hand individualism, but the archery industry has some unique options that aren’t available to the vast majority of other small businesses. There are a lot of organizations that are solely dedicated to increasing archery participation and laying foundations for future growth. Here are some of the allies that are already out there, and the ways they can help an archery pro-shop thrive.

Buying Groups

When considering organizations that help archery dealers, buying groups cannot be overlooked. They offer a lot of perks that many dealers find indispensable:

• Better prices: Buying groups reduce retailers’ overhead costs by combining the purchasing power of shops nationwide. Retailers get the same products they would buy on their own, but at much lower prices. Some buying groups also use their muscle to pay quarterly, annual or performance-based dividends to members.

• Improved payment options: Rather than paying multiple manufacturers for various products, buying groups combine a retailer’s bill for products into one payment. Manufacturers like this because they process only one invoice rather than hundreds of smaller invoices. Advances in Internet communications and other digital technology further streamline billing and receivables, eliminating paper and enhancing convenience for all parties involved.

• Marketing opportunities: Manufacturers get more bang for their buck by incentivizing entire buying groups to stock and sell certain products. Normally, they seldom contact individual businesses with special product/deal/marketing campaigns, but it’s convenient to ask buying groups to share something with their members. This gives retailers the chance to offer unique products or point-of-purchase items they normally wouldn’t stock. Some manufacturers go even further by providing buying-group members advertising programs from their professional marketing teams. Buying groups extend that expertise to their members, benefiting both parties by increasing exposure and sales.

• Access to the latest technology: Small businesses seldom have the time, money or knowhow to stay current with cutting-edge technology. Buying groups provide members with access to diverse digital advancements. Therefore, retailers can easily and conveniently oversee product shipments, inventory quantities and claims processing electronically. This means less hassle and fewer errors.

• Business advice: Small-business owners usually aren’t surrounded by friends and family who own small businesses themselves, let alone one in the same industry. This means when times are tough and difficult decisions must be made they struggle to find solid, informed answers. Another buying-group perk is simply picking up the phone and discussing important choices with an industry expert who’s invested in the small business’s success. Buying groups must also know which items are hot – or will be hot – each year. Such information is vital to negotiating the group’s best contracts with manufacturers. Therefore, as shop owners plan their inventory needs, they have easy access to well-informed industry experts.

• Networking: A buying group’s greatest strength is its combined buying power, but people easily overlook its combined brain power. Buying groups build bonds between independent retailers, making life in a niche market more inclusive and less isolated. Buying groups often host special events for members, including their own buying shows. Besides being a great place to share hunting stories and make new friends, these gatherings are excellent forums for exchanging ideas and sharing ways to fix common issues. This can also help those who are considering selling their business. What better place to find potential buyers than a gathering of like-minded small-business owners? In fact, the buying group might help a member find a suitable buyer. After all, the group wants every member to succeed.

• Extra time: All these perks offer another hidden bonus to retailers: spare time. Because the buying group is handling things like marketing, negotiating contracts, monitoring technology, and scouting the season’s hottest products, the small-business owner has more time to interact with customers and employees. In fact, a buying group’s most valuable asset could be reducing stress for its members and allowing them to focus more on customer service.

NABA

NABA, a nonprofit organization, formed in 1995 with help from former PSE sales representatives Jerry Morrison and Scott Eastman in the aftermath of the Central Oregon Buying Group’s demise. That group’s treasury had a $225 balance at the time, which fueled NABA’s launch. The original board of directors included Norm and Tom Geertsen from Broken Arrow Archery of Milwaukie, Oregon; John Schauble, All seasons Archery in Boise, Idaho; John Nelson, Little Johns Archery in Roseville, California; and Wayne Piersol, Archery Only in Newark, California.

In 2003 they attended the ATA Trade Show, establishing a relationship that has attracted more dealers for NABA and expanded its membership base in Eastern states. NABA has grown about 10 percent each year, and currently has about 375 retailers on its rolls. NABA also hosts its own annual buying show in Reno, Nevada, where members network and address their inventory needs.

Learn more about NABA here.

ARRO

ARRO has roots extending to 1968, but was incorporated by Gordon Bentley of Oregon, Wisconsin, in 1981. It was once known as the Archery Lane Operators Association. ARRO is independently owned and operated, with Bentley’s daughter Lynn Stiklestad serving as its executive secretary and administrative director. It emphasizes bowhunting and competitive shooting in its membership, and supports ranges, leagues and 3-D shooting. With its community of experts, ARRO provides members with great product discounts, and valuable resources and networking. ARRO prides itself on being a member/stockholder cooperative buying group, meaning its members are stockholders who receive annual dividends.

Learn more about ARRO here.

S3DA and NASP

While buying groups interact directly with the business side of a pro-shop, there are a lot of organizations that provide assistance through different avenues. Younger generations must get involved with archery for the industry to have a solid future, and these are some of the organizations ensuring that happens.

S3DA

The Scholastic Archery Association, DBA Scholastic 3-D Archery, was created to foster, educate and guide youth interested in 3-D and target archery.

They consider themselves responsible for:

• Sanctioning and conducting national, local/state, and regional 3-D and target archery competitions and championships.
• Selecting, supporting, and managing teams and staff for 3-D and target archery competitions.
• Creating and maintaining the resources and infrastructure with local sportsman’s clubs that are necessary to support the growth of youth and high school 3D and target archery in the United States of America.
• Promoting the growth and development of instructional and competitive archery programs in the educational institutions in the United States of America.
• Establishing and enforcing rules, regulations, and procedures concerning eligibility to compete in order to ensure fair competition.

Recently they’ve really been picking up steam. Big-name sponsors like Bear Archery, Papes, Trophy Ridge and Extreme Archery Products have allowed them to appoint coordinators for each state. These state coordinators oversee all aspects of the S3DA program in their respective state, including organizing tournaments, dividing the state into regions that will allow S3DA participants multiple monthly competition venues as close as possible to their home location, and recruiting and hiring regional coordinators to oversee and manage these individual regions.

Learn more about S3DA here.

NASP

While S3DA has been providing young adults and competitive archers with quality tournaments, NASP has been instilling a passion for archery early on.

They focus on three main things:

• Archery Curriculum: Units of study that focus on education, conservation, and target archery written by experts to meet state and national educational standards. This enables NASP to speak the language of educators who are intent on teaching core content throughout the school day. These units were designed for inclusion in a school’s physical education curriculum but in a few NASP schools these archery lessons are presented by history, language, art, and even Spanish teachers.

• Teacher Training: Instructor Training was developed so teachers in every participating school could be certified to present NASP lessons that are safe for students, instructors, bystanders and the facility. To date more than 50,000 people have been certified by NASP. During the training, teachers learn how to set up and operate a safe archery range in their gymnasium.

• Universal Fit Archery Equipment: NASP uses highly standardized gear that’s safe, durable, economical, and most importantly, a universal fit for almost every student. In NASP, learning the process of shooting is stressed far more than arrow scores. The only bow used in NASP is a Genesis compound, which has no let-off and is adjustable from 10-20 pounds in draw weight at any draw length. Only full-length aluminum arrows are used in NASP to fit every student and to preserve NASP’s perfect safety record.

These companies sow the seeds for the future of archery. Keep an eye on them to watch their continuing development. A local tournament or event could be a great way to get interested younger archers in your pro-shop.

Learn more about NASP here.

ATA

The ATA is probably the first thing that comes to mind when one considers organizations growing archery. The Archery Trade Association works year-round for the industry, and its role is only growing. Programs like their Retail Growth Initiative and Explore Bowhunting form a two-pronged strategy for making dealers more successful.

The Retail Growth Initiative helps dealers on the storefront side of things, showing them ways to make their business more appealing and profitable. This program focuses on increasing foot traffic to stores, increasing traffic to websites, increased shooting range profits, and increasing equipment sales. This program is 100 percent free to ATA members and truly worth checking out.

Explore Bowhunting works on the other side, increasing interest in bowhunting to ultimately drive more customers to archery shops. Explore Bowhunting is an educational program designed to help instructors, program leaders and educators teach students ages 11-17 the basic skills of bowhunting. The Archery Trade Association has created this program to spark an interest and passion for bowhunting in today’s youth. Through these hands-on experiences students gain confidence interacting with the natural environment and strengthen their appreciation for wildlife and the woods. Explore Bowhunting is offered nationwide through state wildlife agencies. Educators can receive the complete Explore Bowhunting curriculum packet by attending a development workshop.  Contact your state wildlife agency to locate and register for an Explore Bowhunting workshop near you.

Meanwhile, the ATA also acts as a strong-arm for the archery industry for legislative and legal issues.

Check out all the ATA’s amazing resources here.

USA Archery and World Archery

Although USA Archery and World Archery are currently up to their neck with Olympic archery coverage and promotion, they work year round to place archery in front of the eyes of the public. They work hard to promote archery, support athletes, and provide valuable resources for the industry as a whole.

An excellent recent example just occurred.

USA Archery partnered with First Lady Michelle Obama and her “Let’s Move!” initiative. The program’s goal is to get more kids healthy and active by capitalizing on the Olympic and Paralympic spirit this summer. USA Archery and many national governing bodies affiliated with the U.S. Olympic Committee made this commitment to the Partnership for a Healthier America to provide beginner athletic programming to kids in their communities during the year ahead. As part of the commitment, USA Archery will facilitate grants for archery kits, programming and instructor certification to help grow archery. Its goal is to introduce 50,000 children to the sport through the Explore Archery and Junior Olympic Archery Development program during the next 12 months.

This is another excellent organization that’s solely devoted to celebrating archery and the people who love it.

Check out USA Archery’s website and World Archery’s website to learn more about the resources they provide.

JOAD

US Archery also sponsors JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Development), a nationwide program that provides youth age 8 to 20 with ongoing archery classes to help them progress from beginner to advanced level archery, at their own pace. This is another great organization getting kids involved. Learn more at USA Archery’s website.

Easton Foundations

Created by Jim Easton, CEO of Jas. D. Easton, Inc., the Foundations support the building and/or operation of outdoor and indoor archery facilities at city parks, schools, universities and sports complexes throughout the U.S.  In addition to these facilities, the Foundations provide programs to train aspiring archers, trainers, coaches and administrators.

The first Easton Sports Development Foundation was created in 1984 with the mission to introduce this lifetime activity and historic Olympic-style sport of archery to more people in Southern California. The success of that effort led to the formation in 2006 of a second Easton foundation, Easton Sports Development Foundation II.

The Easton Foundations sponsor a variety of programs to increase the awareness of archery. Among the programs initiated by ESDF are Olympic Archery in Schools (OAS), which helps schools to form archery teams to compete in a unique league.  The Foundation also sponsored the 2009 Archery Youth World Cup and the 2010-2012 Archery World Cups in Ogden, UT and runs various youth archery programs from its Archery Centers in Newberry, FL; Salt Lake City, Utah and Van Nuys, CA.

Easton Sports Development Foundation II (ESDFII) also awards several grants every year to clubs, programs, schools, colleges and universities, and organizations that propose archery-related plans or projects. Check out the Easton Sports Development Foundation website to learn more.

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The ATA is an industry trade group long respected for working with state and federal governments on behalf of its members. Forster is a certified wildlife biologist who directed the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division in recent years. He brings over 28 years of experience to his ATA position, working first as a biologist before transitioning into his administrative role in the agency.

“The ATA is a national leader in promoting hunting and shooting sports recruitment, and it’s a powerful industry partner for state wildlife agencies,” Forster said. “I’m excited to be part of such a strong and respected conservation team, and look forward to working with the ATA’s industry leaders and conservation partners.”

Forster has worked at the state, regional and national levels on many wildlife-management, fisheries-management, and policy issues. The division he most recently managed for the Georgia DNR includes over 89 wildlife-management areas and 21 natural areas; as well as fishing, archery and hatchery facilities.

“We’re excited to have Dan join our team,” said Jay McAninch, ATA president/CEO. “Dan’s wealth of experience with conservation and policy, and his credibility among his peers adds greatly to our presence in government relations. We’re looking forward to the perspective and experience he’ll bring to our industry and to archery and bowhunting.”

Greg Easton, president of Jas. D. Easton, Inc. and vice chair of the ATA Board of Directors, commented: “I am pleased that Dan has agreed to join the ATA. After getting to know Dan over the last 5 years, I feel his experience, contacts and professional demeanor will be a great asset to the ATA.”

King echoed McAninch’s comments. “Dan has been a great friend and colleague for over 10 years,” King said. “He’s well-respected within the state wildlife-agency community, and I’m confident he will take the ATA director of government relations position to the next level. The ATA is fortunate to have Dan transitioning into this role.”

Forster is a Georgia native and holds a B.S. degree in forest resources, with an emphasis on wildlife management; and an M.S. degree in wildlife biology. He earned both degrees at the University of Georgia. His professional interests and experience include wildlife research, population management and policy development. He lives in Georgia with his wife, Jennifer; daughter, Lanier; and son, Trent.

About the ATA

The Archery Trade Association (ATA) is the organization for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, sales representatives and others working in the archery and bowhunting industry. The ATA has served its members since 1953. It is dedicated to making the industry profitable by decreasing business overhead, reducing taxes and government regulation, and increasing participation in archery and bowhunting. The organization also owns and operates the ATA Trade Show, the archery and bowhunting industry’s largest and longest-running trade show worldwide.

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