Archery Business: Jul/Aug 2010
6 archeryBUSINESS July/August 2010 Looking for a way to ensure your shop numbers add up nicely for 2010 and beyond? It might be best to start small. Really small. As in, targeting youths ranging in ages from about 9 to 17the core group of the widely popular National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). Once just a big dream with great prom-ise, the program that began in 2002 has now hit its stridewith all kinds of num- bers-heavy proof that spells sweet success for gear manufacturers and proactive pro shops everywhere. Already, many shops and companies have bene\037 tted. But there is potential for moreso much more. A whopping 6,784 students from 384 schools spanning 33 states (even Alaska!) recently returned from participating in the 2010 NASP National Tournament, held May 7 and 8 in Louisville, Kentuckyan event that's being called the "largest archery tourna-ment in the world." Overall, 2010 will see an astounding 1.5 million students participate in NASP, hailing from nearly 7,400 different schools. 1.5 million! Need some perspec-tive? The annual Archery Business Bowhunt-ing License survey tells us about 3.5 million licenses are sold nationwide each year. And then there's Little League participationan institution that's been around for some 70 years. About 2.5 million youths tap into that sport. Did I mention NASP has been around just eight years? I did. And while NASP of\037 cials say they may be maxing out the potential to grow its sin- gle, annual national tournament (if it gets any larger it will likely have to stretch to three days, which could create scheduling dif\037 culties), the NASP program itself con-tinues to grow at an astounding ratewith no signs of stopping. "The neat thing about this year, we pro-jected we would grow by about 1,000 schools, and we grew by more than 2,000 schools," said NASP's Tom Bennett. "The program is just so consistent," he continued. "Basically, it teaches you to fo- cus, concentrate, practice, and relax. If you do all those things, it's really a life skill. In this world of 'instant grati\037 cation'of cell phones and iPodsI think the kids have been missing this basic premise. They're \037 nding that if they do what we teach, they will be successful. I think that's why adultswhy students and teachers alike are so attracted to it." What does it take to make your business prosper from an infusion of youth and youth involvement? Certainly, it's much more than just \036 icking on the "Open" sign. You'll need motivation. A good dose of ambition. And a careful blend of business savvy and engaging people skills. In short, nothing successful shop owners don't al-ready know. "I think any archery shop owner who is a modest-to-good businessman will make a lot of progress by partnering with the NASPand they will make customers for themselves for the long term," Bennett said. "It does take a person with some good skills and business sense, but if you \037 nd someone with those skills, and the ability to tap into that local fever, they will be very successful. We're very con\037 dent the NASP has positive- ly affected the sale of archery equipment; with 1.5 million kids and almost 7,400 schools, that's not even a question." Bottom Line MARK MELOTIK EditorThe Little Archery Program That Could markm@grandviewmedia.com www.archerybusiness.comThis amazing shotof an incredible 1,100 feet of youths simultaneously competing in the recent NASP national shootspeaks volumes for the future of archery and bowhunting. Are you doing all you can to work with local youths involved in this and similar youth programs? For more info about NASP go to: www.archeryintheschools.org 006_AB10JUL_bottomline.indd 6 6/8/10 10:05:56 AM
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