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Adjustability and durability make the new HHA Tetra a premium moveable-pin sight.

Specialty fitness classes are drawing consumers away from traditional gyms. Why not take advantage of that trend by creating your own fitness class to increase archery range income?

The stage is set for the 15th annual Lancaster Archery Classic, Jan. 26-28, at Spooky Nook Sports, 75 Champ Blvd., Manheim, PA. About 1,500 archers from more than a dozen countries around the world will compete in this unique tournament for over $160,000 in cash and prizes from Lancaster Archery Supply, plus another $190,000 in potential contingency awards from equipment manufacturers. The top prize of $15,000 — plus thousands more in contingency money — will be paid to the Men’s Open Pro champion. Big-name competitors The Classic is the largest indoor archery tournament on the East Coast, which is why it draws many of the sport’s biggest stars, including World Archery’s top three archers in Men’s Compound: Stephan Hansen of Denmark, Braden Gellenthien of USA and Mike Schloesser of Netherlands. Also registered to compete are 2016 Olympic individual bronze medalist and team silver medalist Brady Ellison of USA, World Archery No. 1 ranked Women’s Compound archer Sarah Sonnichsen of Denmark, 2016 USA Olympian Mackenzie Brown and dozens of other elite archers, such as Jesse Broadwater, Levi Morgan, Cara Kelly and Sharon Wallace. The competition also draws a large amateur crowd, with payouts, $40,000 in door prizes and live video coverage for all 15 divisions. Included among the amateurs this year will be more than 200 young archers under the age of 21, who will be competing in a special Youth Trophy Tournament. This “tournament within the tournament” gives young archers the chance to compete in a major competition like the Classic for a fraction of the cost and a fraction of the time commitment. Footage from the three-day tournament will be broadcast live on YouTube, Facebook, www.lancasterarchery.com and Blue Ridge Cable TV 11, attracting tens of thousands of TV and online viewers. An appealing format The Classic’s format is what makes it so popular. One bad arrow doesn’t necessarily eliminate an archer from contention. On Friday, Jan. 26, each competitor will shoot a qualification round of 60 arrows, shot at targets 18 meters away. A perfect score would be 660, since the inner-most bull’s-eye ring — about the size of a penny — scores 11 points. After ranking archers’ Friday qualification scores, the field in each of the 15 competition divisions will be whittled down to top finishers, who will then shoot head-to-head elimination rounds in a bracket-style competition on Saturday morning. Finalists in each division will emerge from those brackets to compete in 12-arrow, shoot-up style elimination rounds, where lower-ranked archers can shoot their way up to the top to win the competition. Some divisions will hold their shoot-ups Saturday afternoon, while the remaining divisions — including Men’s Open Pro — will finish Sunday. Get a look at the latest gear Besides the competition, more than 40 vendors will have booths set up at the venue, showcasing the latest and greatest in target archery equipment.  The 200,000-square-foot TRUBALL/AXCEL Archery Hall could accommodate up to 2,000 archers within the 17-acre Spooky Nook Sports Complex.  Seminars will be conducted all day Friday by various industry experts in the Carbon Express Practice Hall. Tournament hours are 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 28. Spectators are invited to attend the competition for free, however Spooky Nook charges for parking. Lancaster Archery Supply thanks its 2018 Classic sponsors: T.R.U. Ball/Axcel, Hoyt, Dead Center, Carbon Express, Victory Archery, Mathews, Black Eagle, Carter, Bloodsport, Doinker, BCY, Scott, CBE, Easton, Shrewd, SKB, Shibuya, Gold Tip, B-Stinger, Vortex Optics, American Whitetail, Top Hat, Stan, Win&Win, Cartel, Prime, Elite, Leupold, PSE, Gateway, Last Chance, Limbsaver, Neet, Beiter, Big Shot Targets, Speciality Archery, Bowtech, Yeti, Rogue Bowstrings, Gas Bowstrings, No Limit Archery, Competition Archery, Zbros Archery, Brownell and Gillo.

Two things about the new High Roller 21 target caught my eye when I walked by the Morrell Targets booth at the 2018 ATA Show. First, it’s an eye-catching target, designed to look like a giant red die. Second, Morrell was playing a looped video that included footage of a front-end loader squishing the target. Look, I’ve seen my share of marketing videos showing a truck running over a compound bow. But I can’t remember ever seeing someone squish a target on video before. Why would anyone do that? (Besides people who just like to crush stuff with big construction equipment, I mean.) Then I felt the High Roller, and I understood. Because this target doesn’t feel like other foam targets. That’s thanks to Morrell’s new foam formula: FlexBack Solid Foam. It’s a highly durable and self-healing solid poured mixture. Now, when I think of highly durable, the word “squishy” isn’t what comes immediately to mind. And that’s what the High Roller is. It’s not as squishy as, say, a stress ball, but it does have some unexpected give to it. But check out this video from Morrell, particularly the front-end loader part starting at 1:07. Despite being well and thoroughly squished, the High Roller pops back into shape within seconds. Okay, that’s fun and everything, but few archers list “squishable” on their list of qualities their target must possess. They want it to perform. Thanks to that new foam, the High Roller most certainly does. According to Morrell, extensive testing has found the High Roller to have exceptional longevity, and the same properties that allow it to pop back into shape also allow it to heal after being shot. The High Roller can stop projectiles from bows and crossbows shooting 450 fps, and it can handle field tips as well as fixed-blade and mechanical broadheads. It also allows for super-easy arrow removal. The High Roller offers six shooting sides with a total of 21 bull’s-eyes. This 10-pound target measures 13 x 13 x 13 inches and features Morrell’s EZ-Tote handle for portability, making this target perfect for home, camp and, if you’re in the mood to squish something, the occasional construction site.

Kinsey’s has been considering opening a second warehouse for many years, which would allow the distributor to serve existing customers better and reach new markets with faster service. To that end, Kinsey's recently acquired Pape's Inc., which now gives Kinsey's the ability to reach a majority of whitetail states in a one- or two-day shipping window. That will significantly improve service to independent retailers across the country, creating quicker inventory turns for their customers. “The core values and family ownership atmosphere of Pape’s Inc. align seamlessly to create a strong partnership," said Rick Kinsey, Kinsey's vice president of sales. "Pape’s has been a long-standing and well-respected distributor. This acquisition brings together the two largest archery distributors in the country to create one synergized platform from which we can continue to increase the flow of products from manufacturer to dealer with increased speed and efficiency.” When Archery Business caught up with Kinsey on the Show floor of the 2018 ATA Show, he stressed the importance of the two distributors' shared values in making this decision. "Like Kinsey's, Pape's cares about their customers and about giving back to the archery industry. By combining our strengths, customers will see fewer out of stocks and faster ship times." "I think this is going to be a great merger," said Malcolm Snyder of Pape's, who will remain with the distributor. "Customers can buy from Pape's if they want, or they can buy from Kinsey's. They're going to see better pricing and faster service. It's a win-win." Obtaining Pape's, located in Louisville, Kentucky, marks a significant investment in the future for Kinsey’s. It is further evidence of the company's commitment to continually serving its loyal customers better. The change in ownership will occur on April 2, 2018. “We are truly excited for this opportunity to grow our reach in the archery industry and for the benefits it will bring our customers with a greater selection of product ready to ship at a moment’s notice," said Justin Gorman, Director of Sales: Independent Retail, International, OEM. "We wish you all the best of luck in 2018 and look forward to continuing to earn your business.”

Last year, Outdoor Edge introduced the Para-Claw, a paracord bracelet with a small — but effective — blade concealed in the clasp. That product was a hit, but not everyone wants to wear a bracelet (even a paracord bracelet). For those consumers, Outdoor Edge now offers the Para-Claw CQD (Close Quarters Defense) Watch. Like the bracelet version of the Para-Claw, this watch allows you to keep a blade close at hand — literally. “It’s all about access,” said David Bloch, Outdoor Edge president/CEO. “No matter what, you can always get to your wrist.” This attractive watch is available in zinc alloy and stainless-steel models, and in medium and large sizes. Also new in the Para-Claw line for 2018 is the Para-Claw Trainer. This red paracord bracelet conceals a blunt edge ideal for use while practicing deployment skills and defensive counter-techniques. Of course, the original Para-Claw remains available for 2018 and continues to be available in a number of size and color options.

Are you an archery retailer looking to get an edge on your competition? Continuous education is the key. The 2018 ATA Trade Show Seminars offer just that.

As 2017 comes to a close, now is the time to lay out your strategy for a more profitable year in 2018.