BowTech Product Launch Pumps Suspense Into the Show Floor Halls: Day 1

There was a stage, string band, big plasmas atop the BowTech booth structures projecting rapidly moving numbers, counting down to 9 a.m. when this manufacturer's new bow - Insanity CPX , 32" axle to axle - would be unveiled with a literal bang and smoke, like Houdini when he appears somewhere he supposedly never was.

Throughout the day you'll read plenty about the Insanity CPX, written by the industry's outdoor writers who do great work breaking down engineering and design details. The Show had more than 300 members of the press registered for the ATA Trade Show before Show staff even arrived in Columbus and many of them were standing ready - notebooks in one hand, cameras held high over their heads taking shots of the suspense. Meanwhile, what do you think the dealers, among the mob surrounding BowTech's booth this morning, were saying?

"It's the only true Show floor, product launch by a major bow company and that explains the crowd," said Peter Gussie of Midwest Cimmarron Archery. He's here from Illinois. "The only bad thing is, it takes a half hour of Show time." He said that last part laughing, standing with the first layer of people pressed against the booth's guide ropes.

Another gentlemen, Robert Wilkins of Black Bear Archery in Delaware, stood nearby. Why was he here? "To see that new bow," he said. "It usually takes me about a day to get to my BowTech sales rep. He's that busy. "

Lance Andrews of Redneck Booda Outdoors in Texas said, "Product launches like this are a lot of hype and they raise a lot of curiosity. Customers complain about being teased, but once the product is unveiled, they forgot their impatience. It creates a great buzz for us." — Amy Hatfield