Carry a loaded firearm at the gun show?  None of the clubs at Koko Head will let you carry off the firing line, and that's at a gun range.

There were a few people carrying loaded guns at the show, they were walking around with them in there holsters. But most of the time they just sat around by the main entrance near the magical unicorn stable.

There's not much incentive for businesses and sellers to do fire sales.  Why go through the trouble of going to a gun show to sell stuff at a loss after expenses are factored in.  SEC always has good ammo sales, but I don't think they make much money from it.  I try to sell different stuff at the lowest price I can and end up making about minimum wage for all the effort.  I do it to gain experience and knowledge and help my nephew learn about business.  Most people with gun show tables with displays, non-profits, and businesses do it for the enjoyment of doing it and helping to create the only gun show here.

Agreed, unless they're private party trying to dump the stuff.

IMO the dealers prices were low enough already.  I do a fair amount of pricing around, and the dealer prices on some of the ammo was at least comparable to the average mainland/online prices (which we don't have access to).  Some stuff was cheaper.  Some ammo you can get cheaper online, especially when ordering by the case, I think 9mm and 223 are good examples (again, we dont have that option).  I think overall their prices were more than fair, not to mention no GET or shipping charges on a cash sale. 

For example, a number of tables were selling 22lr ammo (all reasonably around the same price for the cheap stuff)

CCI22LR quiet $35 vs $40
CCI22LR standard $36 vs $50
Federal 22LR $22 vs $23
CCI Minimag $8 vs $9


http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/ammunition/rimfire-ammunition/pc/104792580/c/104691780/sc/104536080/cci-rimfire-ammunition/705571.uts?slotId=0

How about marketing so that we get more than 2500 people out of 1,000,000+ to show up?  The turn out is pathetic, I am a vendor every year and pretty much don't sell anything, a HUGE waste of my time.  I would be willing to pay more for my table if it was spent on getting people to the show.  I would also like to see people stop being such cheapskates.  I sell Monster Vaults, they are $699 in the mainland, I ship them down here and sell them for $650, how are you going to complain about that?  Seriously... I make jack nothing on these safes, but I am still made to feel guilty to give you a discount.  Every year I say I am done, but then I say maybe this year will be different.  Nope!

How about marketing so that we get more than 2500 people out of 1,000,000+ to show up?  The turn out is pathetic, I am a vendor every year and pretty much don't sell anything, a HUGE waste of my time.  I would be willing to pay more for my table if it was spent on getting people to the show.  I would also like to see people stop being such cheapskates.  I sell Monster Vaults, they are $699 in the mainland, I ship them down here and sell them for $650, how are you going to complain about that?  Seriously... I make jack nothing on these safes, but I am still made to feel guilty to give you a discount.  Every year I say I am done, but then I say maybe this year will be different.  Nope!

I share your pain.  One of the reasons marketing sucks is they only charge vendors $5 advertising fee which probably doesn't go far.  This means the vendors, clubs, and attendees have to do the marketing.  I posted flyers at the university,, marine range, at work, and friends along with my social media sites.  Got a bunch of people to attend.  I'm thinking of markets they can advertise to that they probably haven't.  Military, law enforcement, security, shooting clubs, outdoors sportsmen, etc.

The military and law enforcement should be the ones snapping up your vaults, surprised they're not getting them.

Stopped going to Gun Shows on the Mainland.

Cons:
Mostly because of over priced items, made in China junk, stuff for sale unrelated to firearms.

Pros:
Bargin bins, used firearms, and  firearms parts.

I share your pain.  One of the reasons marketing sucks is they only charge vendors $5 advertising fee which probably doesn't go far.  This means the vendors, clubs, and attendees have to do the marketing.  I posted flyers at the university,, marine range, at work, and friends along with my social media sites.  Got a bunch of people to attend.  I'm thinking of markets they can advertise to that they probably haven't.  Military, law enforcement, security, shooting clubs, outdoors sportsmen, etc.

The military and law enforcement should be the ones snapping up your vaults, surprised they're not getting them.

Most of my sales are to HPD but it's still slow, I sell maybe 10/year. 

There were a few people carrying loaded guns at the show, they were walking around with them in there holsters. But most of the time they just sat around by the main entrance near the magical unicorn stable.

That's because they've been given the public duty to protect the peace, while the rest of us have to defend ourselves with knives and sticks.

That's because they've been given the public duty to protect the peace, while the rest of us have to defend ourselves with knives and sticks.

They are the pro-gun rights police officers.  They volunteer unpaid to guard the show day and overnight.  One of the reasons the vendor fees and admission tickets are cheap.

They are the pro-gun rights police officers.  They volunteer unpaid to guard the show day and overnight.  One of the reasons the vendor fees and admission tickets are cheap.

...
The HPD guys at the gun show are our friends.

Most of those officers are active club shooters and one is our club president.
A couple of them were All Guard shooters and some of them weren't in uniform

Most of those officers are active club shooters and one is our club president.
A couple of them were All Guard shooters and some of them weren't in uniform

The truth does not always fit people's narratives
We should have learned that by now...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How about marketing so that we get more than 2500 people out of 1,000,000+ to show up?  The turn out is pathetic, I am a vendor every year and pretty much don't sell anything, a HUGE waste of my time.  I would be willing to pay more for my table if it was spent on getting people to the show.  I would also like to see people stop being such cheapskates.  I sell Monster Vaults, they are $699 in the mainland, I ship them down here and sell them for $650, how are you going to complain about that?  Seriously... I make jack nothing on these safes, but I am still made to feel guilty to give you a discount.  Every year I say I am done, but then I say maybe this year will be different.  Nope!

I would buy a safe if our laws allowed more places to keep firearms/CCW.  Right now for non LEO, the safe would pretty much be a novelty than anything else.  Because our guns don't sit in our cars for very long and can only be transported to certain locations. 

But I thank you for coming year after year even though the shows aren't much profitable for you.  If Hawaii does ever change it's laws I know business will be much better.

Let's vote Obama back into office. He was good for sales!!! [/sarcasm] 

No need. Vote Pelosi back into the Speaker of the House position and she'll do it for you. 

No need. Vote Pelosi back into the Speaker of the House position and she'll do it for you. 

That's Nancy!  we're on a first name basis 

These are the suggestions I have.
1.  Directory of vendors with contact information.  On a handout or on the HHAA website.  Or a poster displayed at the entrance that people can take a picture of.
2.  Have a reloading & casting clinic using inert components.  Or at least a static display.
3.  Organize the show into sections, sales, clubs, displays, other stuff.

Would also like to hear suggestions on how to advertise the show through free/cheap methods.  They charge a $5 advertising fee to each vendor for the show, so that doesn't go very far.

One thing they could do is advertise the show to the military...maybe through the Puuloa or Schofield MWR clubs.

These are the suggestions I have.
1.  Directory of vendors with contact information.  On a handout or on the HHAA website.  Or a poster displayed at the entrance that people can take a picture of.
2.  Have a reloading & casting clinic using inert components.  Or at least a static display.
3.  Organize the show into sections, sales, clubs, displays, other stuff.

Would also like to hear suggestions on how to advertise the show through free/cheap methods.  They charge a $5 advertising fee to each vendor for the show, so that doesn't go very far.

One thing they could do is advertise the show to the military...maybe through the Puuloa or Schofield MWR clubs.

Craigslist arms list other free boards.  Flyers at ranges and gun shops.  Facebook