NRA chief taken away by police

[ovenpaa]

I do not have last years invoice to hand however I do remember the figure as it was GBP144.00 all in for three days.

This year for us it would have been GBP525.00 for the same period, plus the inclusion of clause 4) No residential use permitted on trade sites. See website http://www.nra.org.uk /Accommodation Bookings for any requirements. meant we would have to effectively empty the stand of all products and firearms in the absence of local security (Me sleeping in the stand) Find storage for the firearms and separate accommodation. All of a sudden the event was just not financially viable for us and let me stress that the Imperial is certainly not an event to make money for us.

Also consider the plight of the larger long term exhibitors such as Norman Clarke, as opposed to paying somewhere around GBP1,000 they would have been looking at closer to GBP6-7,000 and I have no idea how they would have protected their stock if they were not allowed to stop with the stand.

Yes the NRA did change the terms to 2013 costs + 20% at the last moment however it was just too late which is why I attended as a guest of Actionclear.

Am I bitter about the whole affair? Actually not really, in fact I am quite philosophical about the whole thing. The part that really grates is being told by a senior NRA member of staff words to the effect 'If you cannot afford the fees maybe it is time to find a new career' closely followed by the promise to find us over the weekend to discuss future trade events plus some other stuff. Disappointing.

One final thing, I have been PM'd about my NRA bashing, I really thought I was a staunch supporter of the NRA which has always been well documented so to those that think differently I can only apologise.

Trade Site Booking Form 2014.docx

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[Blackstuff]

I too have heard this rumour, 6 days after it allegedly happened, although the person(s) didn't specify why the police were feeling his collar.

[Gaz]

Am I bitter about the whole affair? Actually not really, in fact I am quite philosophical about the whole thing. The part that really grates is being told by a senior NRA member of staff words to the effect 'If you cannot afford the fees maybe it is time to find a new career' closely followed by the promise to find us over the weekend to discuss future trade events plus some other stuff. Disappointing.

It was very noticeable that Actionclear (and Shooting Shed, tucked inside) was the only trade stand at the Imperial. I would hope the NRA are sorting out the silly price hikes and unreasonable conditions. It all seems driven by the idea that traders are a cash cow to be milked and can afford to stump up yet more cash for armoury space and separate accommodation.

[Chapuis]

'If you cannot afford the fees maybe it is time to find a new career'

I find that comment a little offensive but I suppose you would need to be present to appreciate the context of the conversation.

I must say though that having looked at the download of the proposed 2014 charges for trade stands by the NRA I am a little surprised at how reasonable they appear to me. Most game fairs or gun shows seem to charge much more than that. You could easily put another 0 on the end if applying for the CLA. What would be the daily running cost of opening a shop in the high street for comparison.
Clause 4 is the killer though and to be quite fair even without additional accommodation and travelling expenses a trader has to sell a fair amount of his wares before he will break even at any event.

[saddler]

'If you cannot afford the fees maybe it is time to find a new career'

I find that comment a little offensive but I suppose you would need to be present to appreciate the context of the conversation.

I must say though that having looked at the download of the proposed 2014 charges for trade stands by the NRA I am a little surprised at how reasonable they appear to me. Most game fairs or gun shows seem to charge much more than that.

Game fairs & gun shows have TOTALLY different (i.e. HIGHER) footfall/attendance numbers though...or did you miss that part of the discussion?

It's not the traders trying to take an affordable pitch at Bisley that need "to find a new career" - it's those people mismanaging the "National Shooting Centre" that need to be picking up P45's & stacking supermarket shelves instead where they can do little harm.

[ovenpaa]

Yes gun shows do charge more, they also have people attending specifically to view and buy. The Shooting SHED will not be back.

[Chapuis]

I appreciate that they have much higher footfall hence my earlier suggestion that the NRA might like to kick start things and get us back to the situation we were in 25 years ago. The demise of the Anno Domini meeting was partly of their doing after all in not giving pistol shooting the support that it deserved in my opinion.

I'm sorry to hear that the Shooting Shed will not be back because the professionalism of the stand and the type of product that was on display is something that has been missing from many of these events for a long time now. Frankly I thought that it was a breath of fresh air and the sort of stand that needs to be positively encouraged and used as an example for others how to set out their stall.

[targetman]

I heard that the charge to stall-holders at the Imperial went from under £50 per day to over £200 per day and that the NRA wanted a % of sales made.......seemingly to protect the agreement they have made with Fultons.

The charges were challenged at the NRA AGM and the "management" admitted they had got it wrong....how wrong they did not say and what the chrges for next year will be remain a mystery.

It seems that the NRA are trying to make up for all it;s past financial failures in one go.....a pretty stupid way of going about things, alienating so many people in such a short space of time.

I have heard of 800% increases in clubhouse ground rents....how can that be sensible..???

I sincerely hope that newly elected General Council can do something to halt this madness...otherwise clubs like mine will not be able to afford to shoot at Bisley.

[John MH]

The General Council are not really newly elected. Of the 5 vacancies up for election in 2014 the results of the votes saw 4 current or former members of the General Council re-elected.

[the running man]

Bisley cannot exist on victorian charm anymore,we need new facilities,new accommodation,new attitudes............it's a nice quaint little place run bad badly,and always has been,as shooters get less trying to appeal to different disciplines is a good mantra.....but executed justices badlands the NRA always does.....

If some multi billionaire wanted to,they could build a rival Bisley,and a rival NRA,there's nothing stopping it. If it charged reasonably and had excellent facilities then Bisley would become bankrupt in 3 months...