Inside Archery January 2023

www.insidearchery.com

®

JANUARY 2023









INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 1

People
36 Power of Participation
■ Adam White | Northern Broadheads 
■ Rex Holmes Jr. | Vapor Trail Scents
■ Patrick Meitin | Inside Archery
■ Keith Jabben |
Precision Design Products
■ Jake Macl | HHA Sports
■ Josh Fields | Rocky Mountain
Hunting Calls & Supplies

38 38 Victory Archery
Passion Meets Expertise
By Michaelean Pike

54 Learning From Success
A review and celebration of
Inside Archery’s 2022 cover stories
By Michaelean Pike

Market Trends
48 Bow Report
50 Bear Archery Execute 32

66 Gear Report
Primal Outdoors The Descender

67 Featured Products
82 Bow Report

APA Archery Black Mamba 29

67 66 48 116 Gear Report
Code of Silence

118 Bow Report
Athens Archery Elevate

124 Bow Report
PSE Archery Mach 34 S2

64 126 New & Top-Selling
28 Arrows & Bolts for 2023

By Josh Honeycutt

INSIDE ARCHERY (Volume 26, #1) ISSN #1940-3879, USPS #024-412 is published 10 times per year (Jan / Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep / Oct, Nov, Dec) by Apollo Creative Inc. PO Box 15827, Colorado Springs,
CO 80935. Periodical postage paid at Colorado Springs, CO 80935 and at additional offices. Postmaster please send address changes to INSIDE ARCHERY, P.O. Box 986, Levittown, PA 19055-9998.

6 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 1

IInndsiudsetrtyhe

14 Inside Track
Our Archery Family

18 Kinsey’s Business
Blueprint

How To Take Full Advantage

of 2023 Trade Show Season

36 20 Your ATA Insights
Optimism With A Dose Of Realism
By Kurt Smith / ATA

22 Industry News
The latest on news, events and
people in the archery industry

67 28 ATA Action
Here’s What You Need to Know
About the 2023 ATA Trade Show
By Cassie Gasaway / ATA

32 Inside Retailing
G4 Archery • North Plains, OR

50 Leading Archery
Manufacturer

Redline Bowhunting

120 82 84 Archery Manufacturers
& Industry Services

A comprehensive listing of

manufacturers, organizations, and

service providers in the industry.

99 ATA 2023 Show Floor Map

120 Leading Archery
Manufacturer

Ani-Logics Outdoors   

126 132 Industry 5Q
8 116 Five Questions with David and

Crystal Merrill from Bow Spider

INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 1

insidearchery.com Online Exclusives

Bows

How Buying a New Bow Provides
Shooters Real Advantages

Inside Archery’s Executive Editor discusses the real-
world advantages of today’s newest bow models,
including more forgiving shooting characteristics,
increased silence, and easier tuning. What do these
factors mean to your shooting and bowhunting?

Arrows

Today’s Newest Arrows are
Truly Worth the Investment

Executive Editor Patrick Meitin discusses design
features of some of today’s newest arrows and how
they can make you a better bowhunter. Trends
include thinner diameters to better buck wind and
special construction that equals improved accuracy.

Rests

Should You Be Shooting a Drop-Away Rest?

The reliability issues found in past drop-away arrow
rests are a thing of the past. Inside Archery tells you
why it is time to adopt a drop-away arrow rest to
realize greater shooting forgiveness and superior
broadhead accuracy.

Stabilizers

What are You Missing Without a Stabilizer?

Many bowhunters believe stabilizers are something
they can forgo. Patrick Meitin explains what you are
missing regarding reduced shot noise and equipment
longevity, extending your maximum effective range,
and steadier shooting under pressure.

:WebXtras “Gear Report” tries out The Descender from Primal Outdoors

and Code of Silence. “Bow Report” tests Bear Archery’s Execute 32, APA
Archery’s Black Mamba 29, Athens Archery’s Elevate, and PSE Archery’s
Mach 34 S2. “5Q” chats with David and Crystal Merrill from Bow Spider.

Inside Archery Digital Edition

Now Inside Archery can be delivered to your door, viewed on your computer,
AND on your smartphone or tablet. VISIT INSIDEARCHERY.COM/DIGITAL

Fresh content daily
on social media!

INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023







INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE TRACK

Our Archery Family

I unequivocally dread traveling to the annual ATA Trade Show. This has abso-
lutely nothing to do with the show itself and everything to do with the tra-
vails of contemporary air travel. Getting to the big show typically involves
a 2:30 a.m. wakeup, a couple hours of white-knuckle driving atop snow and ice,
at least two connections, and a midnight arrival. Living in paradise with turkeys,
whitetails, and elk in the backyard does present certain trade-offs.
As a long-time freelance hermit and work-at-home editor, it also takes me a
day to acclimate to all that swirling humanity. Yet I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
I feel immensely fortunate to be deeply embedded in the
archery community and cherish the close friends I’ve made
through my decades-long immersion in everything the sport
has to offer. It’s funny how this works. I don’t see most of these
people face to face the entire year (though we may talk via
phone or email regularly). Despite this, these are some of my
dearest friends, some approaching family.
This isn’t too difficult to explain, as most folks in the archery/bowhunting
sphere share similar outlooks. Common themes include a durable moral ground-
ing, lives revolving around family, a healthy fear of God, and a generally conserva-
tive mindset. And by conservative, I mean a desire to allow the free market system
to work its magic, a rock-solid work ethic, a deep respect for law and order, and a
desire for our children to live better lives than we did. On social issues, it is safe to
say most of us apply a live and let live approach. Ultimately, everyone is welcome
in the archery world.
These basic foundations make a huge majority of the folks toiling in the outdoor
sector—particularly archers and bowhunters—a joy to work with. In fact, I am
constantly amazed to watch direct competitors so comfortably and generously of-
fering a helping hand or sharing their hard-earned knowledge. Many times I have
watched members of our community help direct business competitors who were
in need. It is something that makes me proud, and something that is diametrical-
ly opposed to the cutthroat Corporate America I have brushed against on occasion.
The annual ATA Trade Show reveals this overall atmosphere most of all, a huge
venue filled with likeminded people it’s easy to see are thankful for what they
have and love what they do. These are the interactions I look so forward to after
braving bad mountain roads, the indignities of TSA, and holding my breathe while
hurtling through space in an aluminum tube while contemplating connections
and baggage transfers.
I truly look forward to seeing so many of you at the upcoming show—exchang-
ing handshakes or hugs, swapping hunting tales, and catching up on life’s im-
portant milestones. And, of course, chatting about new products and making still
more contacts that lead to a successful business year.

See you there!

Patrick Meitin, Executive Editor

INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



Publisher

Apollo Creative Inc

Executive Editor

Patrick Meitin • [email protected]

Associate Editor

Michaelean Pike • [email protected]

Copy Editor

Kat Ainsworth Stevens

Contributors

Kurt Smith | Cassie Gasaway
Josh Honeycutt | Reid Vander Veen

Sales & Marketing Director

Stephen Mack • [email protected]
(814) 341-9313

Design & Production

ER Graphics / Ed Rother • [email protected]

Graphic Designer

Tara Bondar

Social Media Manager

Jason Ashe

Video Editor

Marc Balistreri

Account Manager

Pam Ludlam • [email protected]

Subscription Services & Change of Address:

Inside Archery® Circulation Department
Inside Archery, PO Box 986, Levittown, PA 19055-9998
Phone: (844) 862-9286 • Fax: (888) 965-9961
[email protected]

Publication Office

Inside Archery® / Apollo Creative Inc
P.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935
Phone: (719) 495-9999 • www.InsideArchery.com

Inside Archery founded in 1998 by Bill and Sherry Krenz

Inside Archery® Copyright © 2023 Apollo Crreative Inc. All rights re-
served. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permis-
sion from the publisher is prohibited. Inside Archery® is a registered
U.S. trademark of Apollo Creative Inc. Opinions expressed in by-lined
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Archery, hunting and bowhunting are inherently dangerous activi-
ties. Improper use of hunting or archery equipment may cause se-
rious injury or death. Always follow state and local hunting safety
rules, and get required permits or licenses before hunting. Apollo
Creative Inc uses reasonable efforts to include accurate and up-to-
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Inside Archery®
is a publication of
Apollo Creative Inc
Printed in the USA.

INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY BUSINESS BLUEPRINT Presented by

How to Take Full Advantage
of 2023 Trade Show Season
I f you are in the archery industry,
then you know that trade show about new trends and developments Kinsey’s is the leading distributor to the archery and out-
season is upon us. This is the time within the industry. Trade shows often doors industry. Carrying items from your favorite brands,
of year when retailers and manufactur- bring together manufacturers, distribu- in-stock and ready-to-ship, the well-established company
ers descend upon the industry’s biggest tors, retailers, and other industry pro- offers domestic and international retailers a wide array
events, such as Archery Trade Associa- fessionals, providing an ideal platform of products and services. Kinsey’s also owns innovative
tion Show (ATA) and Kinsey’s Dealer Show for networking and idea sharing. By at- consumer brands including Alpine Archery, BlackHeart,
(KDS). It is a chance to see all the latest tending ATA or KDS, you get an opportu- Fin-Finder, Elevation, and October Mountain Products.
products, meet with vendors, and net- nity to connect with manufacturers and  
work with fellow archery retailers. It is distribution partners to learn about the For more information, please visit KinseysInc.com
also a great opportunity to learn about latest products, technologies, and trends
trends and marketing practices from in the industry. This can help you stay tunity to place orders for the coming
some of the top minds in the business. ahead of the latest developments to bet- year. By scheduling orders, you will be
Whether you are new to the archery in- ter serve your customers. Additionally, working ahead on securing popular, in-
dustry or a seasoned pro, we can help you networking at trade shows can help you demand products at industry-leading
learn more about how you can take full establish new relationships and part- terms, while also taking advantage of
advantage of archery trade show season. nerships that can be extremely benefi- timely shipping windows. According to
One of the main benefits of attending cial to your business. KDS coordinators, last year’s show at-
archery trade shows is the opportunity tendees saved up to 42 percent off ev-
to see and try out the latest products In addition to ATA and KDS provid- eryday prices. Those savings get passed
on the market. This can be particularly ing an opportunity to see new products along to your archery business’s bottom
useful for retailers who are looking to and network with other professionals, line, allowing you to make more money.
expand their product offerings or who archery trade shows often offer edu- When trade shows like KDS provide you
want to make sure they are stocking the cational seminars and workshops that the opportunity to secure great deals and
most popular and effective products. can help retailers improve their knowl- huge savings, you need to make sure you
For example, more than 250 industry- edge and skills. These seminars and take full advantage for your business.
leading brands will be attending Kin- workshops can cover a wide range of
sey’s Dealer Show, KDS23, this February topics, such as how to properly fit and As an archery business owner, it is
in Hershey, Pennsylvania. By attending maintain archery equipment, how to important to attend trade shows. At-
ATA or KDS23, you can get a feel for the select the right products for different tending these shows allows you to
latest product offerings in person, which customers, and how to effectively mar- learn about the latest products hitting
can help you make more informed deci- ket and sell archery products. By attend- the market, network with other in-
sions about what to stock in your stores. ing these seminars and workshops, you dustry professionals, gain knowledge
This can ultimately help you increase can gain valuable insights and knowl- from attending various seminars and
sales and customer satisfaction. edge that can help provide better service workshops, and place orders. In doing
Another benefit of attending archery to your customers. This can ultimately so, you can take full advantage of this
trade shows is the opportunity to net- lead to increased customer satisfaction year’s trade show season and set your
work with other professionals and learn and sales for your business. business up for success in 2023. IA

Finally, some trade shows, like Kin-
sey’s Dealer Show, allow you the oppor-

18 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY YOUR ATA INSIGHTS

Optimism With a Dose of Realism

BY KURT SMITH, COURTESY OF THE ATA

I s your team looking forward to fol- hang out with them on the weekend, crease in sales. At the same time, you
lowing your lead in the year ahead? it means you need to treat them with should be realistic and make sure your

It might seem like a silly question. respect and take an interest in them as staff understands that growth could be

a person. Your commitment to speak- slow or the new bow line may cannibal-

After all, they’re your employees, so they ing respectfully and genuinely listen- ize sales from other brands.

must do what you want, right? While ing to employees will be replicated in When employees are looking for

that may be true, it isn’t the most effec- interactions between staff growth opportunity, you

tive outlook. To be effective, your team members and customers. should encourage them to

needs to maintain confidence in your The result is a culture of work hard and take on new

role as a leader and have a commitment cooperation and decency. responsibilities, but also en-

to working together to achieve goals. In sure they understand the

a time when finding and keeping quality Be optimistic ■ No one reality that their opportuni-

employees isn’t easy, it’s more important wants to follow a pessi- ties may be reliant on tim-

than ever to think about how you lead mist. I have encountered ing and other outside fac-

and maintain synergy among staff. it many times. An owner or manager tors. Keeping your organization and your

How do you build confidence in the di- begins a conversation with me and staff grounded in this way helps your

rection of the business under your leader- goes right to how business partners team stay even-keeled and avoids drastic

ship? You could dedicate the rest of your are only looking out for themselves or highs and lows that could affect profit-

life to exploring the techniques used by how customers want something for ability and customer experience.

the world’s best leaders, and you would nothing. Focusing on problems, chal- I encourage you to look at the year

come away with a ton of useful informa- lenges, and negative effects of outside ahead with optimism, but don’t forget

tion. But does it have to be that compli- forces on your business does little to that dose of realism. Being honest with

cated? I recently watched an interview grow or sustain your business. What is yourself as a business owner and leader

with Bob Iger, the recently reinstated CEO worse is your staff members will begin can be the difference between setting

at Walt Disney Company, who touched to look at these negatives as reasons achievable goals—or not. More impor-

on a few points that were extremely basic to do their job poorly or not at all. Be tantly, don’t forget the way you treat

but also quite powerful. Here are a few of an optimistic leader who emphasizes your team is contagious and has a direct

those ideas. the positives and looks for opportunity, impact on the culture within your staff

and you will have a team of employees and even your customer base. A place

Be decent to people ■ This shouldn’t need who rally behind you. where customers notice respect and pos-

to be mentioned, but here it is. You set the itivity and experience interactions that

tone for how staff members interact with Be realistic ■ Being optimistic is es- are grounded and realistic will be a place

one another, customers, and business sential, but to effectively lead a team, they want to be part of.

partners. That doesn’t mean you need there must be a dose of realism mixed If you’re looking for more insights into

to be buddies with every employee and in. This gives your organization hope leadership techniques, there are books,

for growth and advancement podcasts, and classes out there that could

while remaining aware of poten- help. Decide how you best consume in-

tial challenges and obstacles that formation and start digging in. While

might get in the way. This idea it is great to look at other industries for

rings true for your organization inspiration, we also have excellent infor-

and the people within it. For ex- mation specific to the archery and bow-

ample, you should be optimistic hunting industry in our MyATA Learning

about adding a new bow line to Center. Check out your MyATA Member
your store and the potential in- Dashboard to log in and learn more. IA

20 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS

USA Archery Announces Rebrand to USA Archery has seen significant growth logo will be rolled out across USA Ar-
Support Strategic Vision and Growth during the past several years in member- chery’s website, social media accounts,
ship, event attendance, and grassroots merchandise, communications, the
USA Archery, the national governing body participation. Additionally, USA Archery member portal, and at events. Visit the
for the sport of archery, has completed is preparing for continued competitive ex- USA Archery Rebrand Microsite to explore
a major rebranding of the organiza- cellence at the 2024 Olympic & Paralympic the new brand and get answers to impor-
tional logo. The release of the new Games in Paris, France, and here at home tant questions.
brand logo aligns with significant
growth, organizational evolution, for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. USA Archery is responsible for selecting
and continued competitive ex- This growth and future out- and training men’s and women’s teams
cellence that is taking place look necessitates an equally to represent the U.S. in the Olympic, Para-
at USA Archery. This rebrand meaningful progression lympic, and Pan American Games. They
comes at an important time of how USA Archery is pre- are committed to providing equal sports
as USA Archery aims to sig- sented to the membership, and recreation opportunities to all. Ar-
nificantly grow the sport the archery community, and chery is a sport that is open to everyone,
leading up to and throughout the 2028 new audiences. inclusive of all ages, genders, and abili-
Olympic & Paralympic Games in ties. The mission of USA Archery is to en-
Los Angeles, California. “With the unveiling of the new able United States athletes to achieve
logo, USA Archery reaffirms the organi- sustained competitive excellence in
The new brand logo is rooted zation’s commitment to honoring tradi- Olympic, Paralympic, World Champion-
in archery’s history of innovation, inclu- tion and the rich history of the sport, all ships, and international competitions
sivity, and community. This clean, mod- while moving towards an even brighter and to promote and grow the sport of
ern logo represents those ideals and the future,” said Rod Menzer, USA Archery Archery in the United States. | FOR MORE
USA Archery community will continue Chief Executive Officer. “At the heart of our
to work together and strive to make it efforts is the USA Archery community.” INFORMATION ON USA ARCHERY VISIT USARCHERY.ORG.
meaningful. In the coming weeks the new brand
Continued on Page 24

INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS

Continued from Page 22

Kinsey’s Announces the Return ciation Night Concert. This year’s concert
of Dealer Show in 2023 will feature rising country star and Her-
shey native Warren Zeiders.
Kinsey’s Inc. announced their annual
Dealer Show, KDS23, will return for 2023. Justin Gorman, Vice President of Sales
The event will run for three days from and Marketing, expressed his excitement
February 17 through 19, 2023 and be held about this year’s show. “KDS2023 is set up
at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Penn- to be a massive success,” said Gorman.
sylvania. “Supply chains are finally catching up,
which will allow dealers to accurately take
The industry renowned trade show advantage of our industry-leading terms
will continue to offer dealers exclusive and ship windows. This year’s vendor
participation sets a record, which means
deals, great savings, and amazing give- more brands and deals for participating
aways throughout the show. Last year’s dealers. We look forward to seeing every-
show attendees saved up to 42 percent off one at another tremendous show!”
everyday prices!
The Kinsey’s Dealer Show 2023 is a mar-
KDS23 offers dealers the opportunity gin maximizing event dealers can’t afford to
to save on products from more than 250 miss. Dealer registration for the show is open
leading brands that help maximize their from now until Friday, February 10, 2023.
margins and contribute to their busi-
ness’s bottom line. Dealers can also pro- Registration is restricted to dealers who
gram their show orders with industry- have a registered Kinsey’s account. New
leading ship dates starting with ASAP dealers can attend the show but must first
shipments through Au- apply by downloading the application at
gust 1, depending on the kinseysinc.com. | FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
item category.
KDS23 OR TO REGISTER FOR THE SHOW, VISIT THEIR WEB-
Attendees of KDS23
will experience all the SITE AT KINSEYSINC.COM/DEALER-SHOW/.
show staples which in-
cludes the Hot Shows, Whitetails Unlimited Announces
Vendor and Dealer inter- New Communications Director
actions, giveaways, and and Magazine Editor
much more.
Whitetails Unlimited announces Me-
Perhaps the most ex- gan Richard as the organization’s new
citing and memorable Communications Director and editor of
part of each year’s dealer Whitetails Unlimited Magazine. Richard
show is the Dealer Appre- will be replacing Jeff Davis as he retires.

Continued on Page 26

INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS

Continued from Page 24

“We’re thrilled to have Megan as a part nounce the first of their all-star lineup of
of our team,” said WTU President Jeff guests and speakers for the 33rd Biennial
Schinkten. “She has hit the ground run- Convention taking place in Reno, Nevada,
ning and has plenty of new and interest- April 12 through 15, 2023. The Pope & Young
ing ideas to help us grow.” Convention has always been a place to
meet some of the best bowhunters on the
Richard, a resident of Door County, planet, and this year is no exception.
Wisconsin, is an avid outdoors person
who enjoys hiking, fishing, boating, With a large selection of seminars
hunting, and experiencing outdoor ac- coming from some of the most accom-
tivities in new places. She comes from a plished people in the field, there is some-
hunting family and is well-versed in the thing for bowhunters of all levels. This
traditions that deer hunting provides. year’s lineup includes the team from
Raised Hunting, Allen Bolen, European
She is a graduate of St. Norbert College Bowhunting Federation President Anders
in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and has a de- Gejer, CJ Winand, Dennis Dunn, Frank
gree in English. With prior experience in Noska, Bob Ameen, Brendan Burns, John
the book publishing industry and a liter- Barklow, and many more. In addition,
ary nonprofit, she is skilled in editing, many of the long-standing Pope & Young
writing, and various aspects of commu- corporate partners such as Sitka, Kuiu,
nications and marketing. She is excited
to combine her interests in the outdoors FeraDyne, and Bakcou E-Bikes, will be
with her passions for reading and writ- in attendance to help educate and outfit
ing in this position. new and experienced hunters alike.

Since their beginning in 1982, White- Plan to join Pope & Young April 12
tails Unlimited has remained true to its through 15 in Reno and share hunting
mission and has made great strides in stories with fellow hunters, including
the field of conservation. Thanks to more John Dudley, Chuck Adams, Tom Nelson,
than 475 chapters, 114,000-plus members, Tom Miranda, and many more.
chapter volunteers, and corporate spon-
sors, Whitetails Unlimited has earned The Pope & Young Club is North Ameri-
the reputation of being the nation’s pre- ca’s leading bowhunting conservation or-
mier organization dedicating its resourc- ganization. If you are a fair chase, ethical
es to the betterment of the white-tailed bowhunter and you care about preserving
deer and its environment. Their mission the culture and future of bowhunting,
is to raise funds in support of educational then you belong in the Pope & Young Club.
programs, wildlife habitat enhancement | FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER, PLEASE VISIT
and acquisition, and preservation of the POPE-YOUNG.ORG/33RD-BIENNIAL-CONVENTION. IA
shooting sports and hunting tradition for
future generations. To date, Whitetails
Unlimited has expended more than $116
million on program services and activi-
ties that continue to enhance, and ulti-
mately foster, our mission. | TO CONTACT

MEGAN RICHARD, EMAIL HER AT MRICHARD@WHITE-

TAILSUNLIMITED.COM OR CALL (920) 743-6777, EXT. 122.

CPoonpvee&ntYioounnSgpAeankneorusnces

Pope & Young’s 2023 Reno Convention is set
to feature a long list of industry and bow-
hunting experts. They are excited to an-

INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION

Here’s What You Need to Know About the 2023 ATA Trade Show

BY CASSIE GASAWAY

H ere’s the details on everything Trade an on-site registra-
Show and a reminder to register to tion fee. To register,

reserve your spot if you haven’t already! members can log in

to their MYATA Mem-

As you read this, the industry’s biggest ber Dashboard on Ar-

event of the year is upon us. The ex- cheryTrade.org with

clusive, members-only 2023 ATA Trade their username and

Show is January 11-13 at the Indiana password. Then, click

Convention Center in Indianapolis. “Register and Book

The show brings together more buyers Hotels” and follow the

and sellers than any other. Plus, you prompts. You will re-

can network, preview new products, ceive a confirmation Register for the Trade Show now and secure a hotel room in the
take advantage of educational oppor- email with a QR code, ATA Trade Show hotel block. PHOTO © ATA.
tunities, and do all or almost all your which allows you to

business for the year! print your badge at an

Here is what you need to know express pass kiosk at the show. the Main Registration desk to be re-

about the upcoming ATA Show! New members interested in attend- viewed on-site.

ing the Trade Show should bring their

Registration membership application and required ATA hotel block

Retailers should preregister for verification documents, which are The deadline to book hotel rooms in

#ATA2023 badges by January 6 to avoid outlined on the ATA’s Join webpage, to the ATA Hotel Block closed on Decem-

ber 23. However, ATA members can

still view hotel options outlined in the

block and book outside the block to be

near other attendees. Visit the ATA’s

Hotel Information webpage at ar-

cherytrade.org/trade-show/hotel for

more information.

PHOTO © ATA. Pre-show highlights

Registration numbers are steadily
climbing! In December, ATA staff con-
firmed they received 30 to 35 new re-
tail accounts per week. December is
typically the busiest month for regis-
tration, but registration remains open
throughout the show. As of the fifth of

Continued on Page 30

UNITING THE INDUSTRY ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATION
archerytrade.org

28 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION

Continued from Page 28

December, 411 retail companies had reg- award, voted on by a panel of industry fied buyers and exhibitors, kicks off the
istered, along with 454 exhibiting com- experts and announced at the open- show on Wednesday, January 11. The
panies. Attendees will have more than ing-night Connections Celebration on buyers have the floor to themselves,
152,000 square feet of booth space (and January 11. which allows plenty of opportunities
counting) to walk and explore! to conduct business and network with
Trade show happenings the exhibitors. All other badge types,
The show floor will be buzzing with including press, media, supporting and
people, products, and excitement. Check Between educational events like semi- nonprofit members, state agency rep-
out the floor plan at archerytrade.org/ nars, coffee talks, archery instructor resentatives, and nonexhibiting manu-
trade-show/floor-plan to orient yourself certifications, and the Archery Industry facturers, can access the show floor on
before arriving in Indianapolis. You can Masterclass, and evening events such as Days 2 and 3, Thursday and Friday.
also use it to determine where specific Outtech Innovations, the Connections
exhibitors are to plan an efficient travel Celebration presented by Mossy Oak, DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE APP:
route. The floor plan can be viewed on the and the Badlands Film Festival present- Use the ATA’s free mobile app to start
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available at archerytrade.org/get-app. the schedule of events at archerytrade. features tools to help you stay organized
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New products to see what’s happening and when. You
can also attend booth events hosted by BRING YOUR EXPRESS PASS CODE:
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Optics, Vantage Point Archery, Mystery olis, create a tentative show schedule in napolis to print your badge.
Ranch, Xtreme Outdoor Products, Last advance. Read ATA’s article “Make Your
Chance Archery, Big Tine, and more! 2023 ATA Trade Show Game Plan” on Ar- If you need registration assistance or have
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30 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE RETAILING

Oregon Archery Shop Goes from Startup to Powerhouse in Just Seven Years

G4 Archery & Outdoors

Store Profile and highly motivated, the Harrises went G4 Archery & Outdoors owners Jason and Jessica
all in when launching G4 Archery. Harris are passionate about the outdoors and
■ Headquarters: North Plains, OR driven to succeed.
On the business side, the Harrises
■ Owners: Jason and Jessica Harris started from scratch. G4’s first location Jason Harris: Our motivation came
was rented, an old 5,000 square foot from our own passion for the outdoors,
■ Years in Business: 7 years building with just eight parking spots. hunting, and archery. There was also
They spent weeks remodeling, a lot of an incredible need in our market for a
■ Square footage: 11,000 (total), 4,000 the work and clean up conducted by modern, trustworthy, service-oriented
(store floor), 4,200 (shooting lanes). themselves to get things exactly as they pro shop.
wanted. Then they created a logo, at a
■ Staffing: Full-time: Six. Part-time: Two. time when they didn’t know what a .png Inside Archery: What were some of the
was, designed a floor space with retail major hurdles you encountered as a
■ Bow Lines: Bowtech, Diamond Archery, fixtures, and spent hours calling ven- start-up company, and what tactics did
PSE Archery, Hoyt, and Bear Archery dors, getting accounts set up and product you use to overcome them and create a
ordered. The Harrises also set up a retail- successful archery business?
■ Arrow Lines: Victory, Black Eagle, and based operating system despite know-
Easton ing nothing about retail operations. In Jason Harris: One of the greatest hur-
addition, they launched social media dles getting started was we literally
■ Crossbow Lines: Ravin accounts with zero followers and folded built it from the ground up. It wasn’t
nightmarish numbers of G4 logo shirts something we took over or that had
■ Inside Numbers: Estimated annual rev- and hoodies. existed before. That made it difficult to
enues: $3 million. Percentage (estimate) convince some of the big-name brands
of store’s revenue generated by bow- G4 Archery & Outdoors opened their that we deserved their attention. But we
hunting: 40%; by target and recreational doors in October 2015 and then set out to were persistent, and hungry to succeed.
archery: 10%; by other categories: 50% learn how to run it. We capitalized on a few key brands that
we started with and put all our efforts
■ Store History: G4’s owners, Jason and Retailing Q & A into creating the full package modern-
Jessica Harris, were born and raised as day archery pro shop.
hunters and outdoorsmen. Most of what Inside Archery: Where did the motiva-
they had in common when they met re- tion to get into archery retail originate?
volved around hunting or fishing. The
need for a local archery shop was some-
thing they recognized, and it was echoed
by local archers. Being business-minded

G4 Archery & Outdoors quickly outgrew their original
building, moving to a custom 11,000 square foot shop
with plenty of space and an indoor archery range.

32 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023

G4 Archery & Outdoors owners Jason and Jessica believe being well stocked No archery pro shop thrives without top-notch customer service, and Jason and Jessica Harris
with top-end merchandise is the key to a successful business. pride themselves on assembling a quality team of sales associates and bow techs.

Our shelves were always stocked, we gevity of our business. G4 Archery & Outdoors includes a 4,200 square foot
provided stellar customer service, engaged In addition to the obvious need in our indoor archery range. This range drives traffic and
with our social media communities, and allows customers to try out new equipment.
made sure everyone who entered our shop market for a reputable archery pro-shop,
had a pleasant experience. We made a it also needed a high-end hunting retailer G4 Archery & Outdoors is a full-service archery pro shop,
good reputation for ourselves, and people where you could go in and try things on. employing the best bow technicians the area has to offer.
started to talk. The big names we were This naturally led us to carrying high-end
chasing started answering our calls, and hunting gear from some of the most well-
our inventory began expanding. known brands—Crispi, Garmin, Mystery
Ranch, Benchmade, First Lite, Leupold,
Inside Archery: What resources proved and Vortex.
most helpful in getting your store stocked
and operating when you began? What After the first four years at our success-
manufacturers proved most helpful in the ful startup location, we were bursting at
beginning on working with you and get- the seams with inventory and customers.
ting you the product needed to start opera- We needed to expand if we were going to
tions? What other product categories does continue to provide the same level of ser-
your store now handle? vice and maintain our growth.

Jason Harris: We had some great reps In 2018 we bought commercial land and
who became like family, who gave us built a state-of-the-art 11,000 square foot
great advice about the industry and how commercial building that would be the
important buying groups are. We became future home of G4. The new location had
members of the ATA first and attended the parking, retail space, offices, a big-
their show, where we made important ger range, and storage that we needed to
connections with key brands in the in- continue growing. With this move we ac-
dustry. Once we qualified for the NABA, quired our FFL license and added firearms,
we secured our membership with them as suppressors, and high-end optics to our
well. Buying groups are a key component inventory list, like Swarovski, Zeiss, Chris-
for optimizing your margins and staying tensen Arms, Fierce Firearms, Seekins
connected with the industry. Precision, and more. This opened the door
to becoming members of Sports Inc., an
We were fortunate to have made the exclusive buyer group that currently has
connection with Bowtech and Spot- only two members in Oregon. That has
Hogg, both Oregon-based companies, increased our buying power and margins
right out of the gate. The relationships substantially.
with the staff and reps of these compa-
nies were crucial to the growth and lon- Inside Archery: Did you hire shop employ-
ees from the start, or did you put in the

JANUARY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 33

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE RETAILING

time yourself to save money? How has and eliminates unpredictable strains of In just seven years G4 Archery & Outdoors has turned
your workforce changed as the business supply and demand issues. into the region’s hub for all things archery. This has
has grown and become more successful? included hosting many archery tournaments.
Jason Harris: We started with a very lean Our approach hasn’t changed as we’ve
crew, but an important crew! We put in a become more successful, we’ve just cre- Customers in need of custom arrows or services
lot of hard work, long nights and missed ated better systems within our business to will find it at G4 Archery & Outdoors.
special occasions to get our startup loca- become a well-oiled machine.
tion ready to open, accounts set up, inven- • You will need funding to stock your
tory ordered, and shelves stocked. Inside Archery: How important is the re- shelves, and you need to stock your
gion where your shop is located to your shelves if you want your customers to take
A key player in hitting the ground run- business’ success? Did you choose North you seriously.
ning was hiring an experienced and Plains because you believed it had archery • We’ve said that inventory is everything,
well-known archery technician from our shop potential, or would your business but equally important is customer service.
market, Eddie Evans. He was crucial in model have worked somewhere else? • Marketing, marketing, marketing! Learn
building our reputation. to use your social media, on multiple plat-
Jason Harris: We are blessed to be in a forms, and use it often. This will help you
Our continued success is a direct re- technology-driven region, with the Nike engage with your customers, help people
flection of the quality of our employees. and Intel world headquarters located find out about you and sell products.
We could never have achieved this level within 10 miles. Our market loves technol- • Don’t get complacent, be creative, and
of success without the high-caliber em- ogy, which is what the last 10 years of ar- never stop improving!
ployees that have helped us run our busi- chery has been based on. We chose North • You must be willing to take risks and see
ness, past and present. It is very important Plains because it was easily accessible them through.
for the success of a business to surround from a main highway and it’s convenient Hopefully you, too, will experience the suc-
yourself with successful people. for people 50-plus miles in either direction cess we have. IA
Inside Archery: What basic business ap- to get to us. It would have worked in other
proaches most helped you achieve ar- locations, just not as well as here. WebXtra ■ For additional infor-
chery-shop success so quickly and con-
vincingly? Has your approach to business Inside Archery: Did the pandemic hurt or mation about G4 Archery & Outdoors
changed since the shop has become more help your business? please go to insidearchery.com.
successful?
Jason Harris: Our goal was to build a Jason Harris: Although completely blind-
modern archery pro-shop that provided sided by the pandemic, we seized the op-
the best service and had well-known spe- portunity of consumers having more free
cialty gear in stock, and a lot of it. Having time and needing something to do. We
inventory is everything, and allows us to took a gamble and ordered an exorbitant
remain competitive with other shops and amount of inventory, anticipating an in-
online outlets. We buy early and buy for crease in traffic. This turned out to be a
the entire year, which saves us money, good decision, as the industry experienced
record-breaking sales.
After moving into a larger space G4 Archery & Outdoors
secured an FFL license and expanded services into Inside Archery: What advice might you of-
the firearms arena. fer folks who have dreamed of launching
an archery pro shop but feel they lack the
business acumen or funding to do so?

Jason Harris: If we could give advice to
someone who is considering opening an
archery pro-shop, it would be this:
• Put together a business plan that is based
on market potential, not just passion—
this isn’t a hobby or for the faint of heart.
• Being a small business owner in any in-
dustry is brutal. The archery industry is
tough, but not impossible. Surround your-
self with good people in the industry—
they will help you.

34 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023

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PEOPLE

PowerTheofParticipation
Archery Industry Members Participating in the Sport

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO: Visit insidearchery.com/pop or mail a color image with your name,
address, where the animal was taken, and archery gear used—both manufacturer and model—
to Inside Archery Power of Participation, P.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935.

Adam White • New Zealand Red Stag Keith Jabben • Kansas Whitetail

President, Northern Broadheads 

Bow ■ Mathews Monster Chill R Sight ■ IQ Single Pin President, Precision Designed Products

Arrow ■ Northern Barefoot Stabilizer ■ LimbSaver Bow ■ 62# Longbow Arrow ■ Arrow Dynamics

Broadhead ■ Northern Rest ■ QAD UltraRest Broadhead ■ PDP prototype Rest ■ Rug Rest

EVO 125-grain Quiver ■ Thunderhorn Archery Release ■ Leather Tab Glove

36 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023

Patrick Meitin • Idaho Whitetail

Executive Editor, Inside Archery

Crossbow ■ Ravin R29 Bolt ■ Ravin 400

Josh Fields • Montana Rocky Mountain Elk Broadhead ■ SWAT A4 Sight ■ Huskemaw Crossfield
Quiver ■ Rancho Safari 4x40 Crossbow Scope

Catquiver Mini Crossbow

Director of Marketing & Sales,
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Bow ■ Mathews V3X 29 Arrow ■ Victory Archery VAP TKO Crossbow ■ CenterPoint Wrath 430 Bolt ■ Victory Archery
Broadhead ■ G5 Outdoor Rest ■ HHA Sports (discontinued)
Sight ■ HHA Tetra Max RYZ Stabilizer ■ HHA Sports (discontinued) Broadhead ■ Aftermath Scent ■ Vapor Maker/
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JANUARY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 37

When the carbon arrow INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023
experts are also diehard
bowhunters, the whole
archery industry benefits.

38

JANUARY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM Within the first few minutes of my interview
with Victory General Manager Steve Green-
wood and National Sales Manager Jayson
Bentcik, two things became abundantly clear:
First, these guys really know their stuff. And second,
they love what they do.

That makes sense, given that both men have been
interested in the outdoors since childhood. Green-
wood grew up in India and had the opportunity to
hunt a variety of game, including axis deer, sambar,
jungle sheep, mouse deer, ibex, Indian bison and nil-
gai. He got his start in the archery industry in 1980
when he joined an aluminum arrow manufacturer
called Custom Archery Equipment and Advanced
Archery Equipment. Later, he took a position with
American Arrow Company, which was eventually
acquired by Easton. He then started a carbon arrow
company with William Gartland. That company,
Blackhawk, was purchased by Gold Tip. In 2014, with
decades of arrow manufacturing experience under
his belt, he joined Victory Archery.

I told you he knew his stuff…
Meanwhile, Bentcik comes from a long line
of trappers and grew up in a family of hunters in
northern Idaho—his grandfather ran an outfitting
business. “My professional background doesn’t date
back as far as Steve’s,” he joked, but his resume is no
less impressive. After graduating from Gonzaga Uni-
versity, he took a job with Sportsman’s Warehouse
as the hunting manager. He spent the next few years
helping run several stores and gaining valuable in-
sight into the needs of both consumers and retailers
before joining Victory in 2010.
Together, the two—along with a small, hard-
working team of archery enthusiasts—have grown
Victory substantially. They are excited about where
the company is today. And they’re even more excited
about where it’s going in the future.

An innovative beginning

From the beginning, Victory has been a leader in
arrow technology. Founded in 2007, the company

By Michaelean Pike

39

quickly made a name for itself thanks to a
groundbreaking new product.

“The micro-diameter arrow—the VAP—is what
put Victory on the map,” Greenwood said. “Vic-
tory has not gotten credit for that. We were the
original inventors of the micro-diameter arrow
using mandrel sheet wrapping. There are two
approaches—there’s pultrusion and there’s sheet
wrapping. Nobody in the past was able to make
an arrow straight enough in a micro diameter of
.166. At the time, almost 90 percent of the arrows
were .245, which is a standard-diameter arrow.
Since then they’ve moved down to a .204 diam-
eter arrow, which is considered a small diameter.
Victory is the one that brought the micro-diame-
ter arrow to the market.

“I think at the time everyone thought we were
crazy because we introduced the outsert on the
front of arrow, the high F.O.C., but today every
one of our competitors has pretty much followed
in our footsteps.”

Since then, Victory has continued to develop
new products and now offers a full range of ar-
rows.

“We cover the entire gamut of arrows, from
micro-diameter to small-diameter to standard-
diameter—.166, .204, and .245,” Greenwood said.
“In the past, we focused all our efforts on the
hunting end of the market. Due to the industry
changing and more people getting into the recre-
ational side, Victory has now focused more on its
attention on the target end. We’ve built some of

40 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023

the larger-diameter indoor arrows. With type of fiber we use—a majority of our
the V-Tac series, we build arrows all the high-end material either has intermedi-
way up to an outer diameter of .416. It’s a ate-modulus fiber or high-modulus fiber.
very big diameter shaft.” If you compare our .166 diameter arrow
to other micro-diameter arrows, gener-
The company’s flagship arrow is the ally speaking they’ll have the same outer
TKO, which is available in micro-, small- diameters but the wall thicknesses are
and standard-diameter versions. The TKO significantly heavier. The gpi (grains per
features an advanced carbon weave that inch) is heavier. We use a much higher-
results in less torque, faster recovery out modulus carbon than our competitors.
of the bow and tighter uniform spine con- They may look the same, but they don’t
sistency. Victory also goes through the perform the same.”
process of spine aligning each arrow.
Another Victory innovation is ICE, a
“With a mandrel wrap, you have a very nanoceramic coating that makes arrows
distinctive area where the carbon fiber significantly easier to pull from a target.
comes together,” Greenwood explained.
“Generally, that tends to be the stiffer side “Nanoceramics are used when people
of the carbon arrow. So we identify where wax their cars,” Greenwood explained.
the spine alignment is. We didn’t invent “The old days of putting wax on them are
this. The old archers like Ben Pearson and gone. Now they use nanoceramic coat-
Fred Bear used to take arrows and float ings that basically attach themselves to
them in water, and the arrow would ro- the body of your car. They’re super slick
tate to the heaviest side. All we did was so dust and debris and oxidation can’t ad-
take some old technology and modernize here to the surface. We took ideas from
it. It’s an additional offering for the end outside of the archery industry—ICE coat-
user to be able to get arrows that were ing—and applied them to our arrows.”
perfectly spine aligned.
In addition, Victory has found innova-
“It’s little details like that that make the tive ways to improve the manufacturing
difference with Victory. We’re not just an- and quality control processes.
other tube manufacturer. We try to really
understand the technology of arrows and “Everything we use in our product is
take it to the next level.” high end,” Greenwood said. “Our manu-
facturing process and our stringent QC
Doing that means paying attention to inspections are second to none. Under
every component of the arrow and to ev- the ASTM standard for arrows, check-
ery part of the manufacturing process. ing straightness involves an arrow being
suspended 28 inches on center and then
“The mix of the products that we make, a dial indicator is used to measure the
the type of resin systems we make, the straightness in the middle of the arrow.
type of fiber we use—a majority of our When that standard was set, aluminum
high-end material either has interme- arrows dominated the market. Due to the
diate-modulus fiber or high-modulus manufacturing process, aluminum ar-
fiber.” Greenwood said. “The majority of rows tend to be bent in the middle. Car-
our competitors still use standard and
maybe a little bit of intermediate modu- Top-notch team members have helped take
lus. A standard modulus is considered a
24 ton, intermediate goes up to about 30 Victory Archery to new heights. Top to bot-
ton, and then you start getting into the
very higher end, 40-ton to 50-ton modu- tom: National Sales Manager Jayson Bentcik;
lus carbon.
Brandon Stoker, sales; Pro Staff Coordinator
“Not all arrows are created equal,”
Greenwood said. “We build some pretty Myke Santiago; Matt Kim, marketing;
high-end, very sophisticated products.
The mix of the products that we make, General Manager Steve Greenwood.
the type of resin systems we make, the

JANUARY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 41

bon arrows, on the other hand, are mostly bent at
the end of the shafts where you extract them off the
mandrel.

“A lot of people are still using the ASTM standard
and taking a measurement of straightness only on
the center of the arrow. We use a Keyence no-touch
digital laser to check our straightness. We take three
measurements on both ends of the shaft and the
middle. Every arrow that comes out of our facility is
sorted by straightness. It’s either a V1, a V3 or a V6,
which means a .001 straightness TIR (total indicator
reading), a .003 or a .006.

“We have proprietary processes that maintain the
mandrel straightness all the way through the manu-
facturing process. By doing that, we can control our
straightness to exacting tolerances. So, when we say
+/- .001, that’s TIR—total indicator reading—from one
end of the shaft to the other, and it’s measured by
Japanese equipment, which is some of the best in the
world. The arrows are grouped by straightness—and
that’s why we offer an Elite arrow, a Gamer arrow,
and a Sport. An Elite is a plus or minus .001, the Gam-
er’s plus or minus .003 and the Sport is plus or minus
.006. Anything beyond that gets thrown in the trash.
The shafts are also weight sorted to plus or minus
half a grain per dozen.”

In order to maintain a high level of performance,
Victory manufactures all of its own outserts and in-
serts for its arrows.

“That means we can make sure the concentricity
of the outserts is uniform,” Greenwood said. “When
you put an outsert on a .166- or a .204-diameter arrow
and you screw a broadhead in there, a lot of the time,
people presume the arrow is bent if the broadhead
moves up and down. We found that a lot of the hard-

42 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023

ware manufactured by others is just not is controlled by our own factories. It’s
up to par compared to what we do. So like making a pie. You could buy all the
not only did we improve on the carbon ingredients at the store, but we make
fiber and the manufacturing techniques them all in-house. And it shows—in the
to make our arrows, but even the hard- performance of the arrow, the recovery
ware—everything from our nocks to of the arrow, the accuracy of the arrow.
inserts—is very highly precision ma- It makes a big difference.”
chined and we have very exacting specs.
Focus on the dealers
“Attention to detail is one of the
things that we pride ourselves on. You Everyone at Victory understands how
won’t believe this, but we hand fletch vital dealers are to the archery industry.
100 percent of our arrows. We do about Because of that, the company strives to
15,000 arrows a day on average. When support its dealers in a number of ways.
we get busy, we do more. People want
a quality product that has been built “We live and breathe archery,” Bentcik
like they would build them at home. It’s said. “So with Victory, the dealers know
not a mass production item. It’s hand we make a good quality product. We—
fletched with the best components and the key players here at Victory making
the best technology that is offered in the decisions—have all worked in shops,
industry.” so we have an eclectic background in
knowing what the consumer wants,
Vertical integration how to manufacture a good product
and, on top of that, how to take care of
Victory Archery is the only vertically the dealers as well. We also learn a lot
integrated carbon manufacturer. As a from actually sitting down and having
part of Mitsubishi, Victory has access frank conversations with them about
to products and components that other what’s going to keep them thriving.
companies do not, a fact that ensures We’ve tailored all of our programs and
the company has total control over the all of our pricing to that.
quality of every part involved in the
process. “We offer the best margins in the in-
dustry for our dealers, arrow-wise. So
“We make the fiber, we make the they can make the best margins pos-
prepreg, we roll the shafts, we do ev- sible, keep the lights on, keep their staff
erything from scratch,” Greenwood well paid and employed.”
said. “I don’t know any other arrow
companies that make their own carbon Another important part of ensuring
fiber. They have to either buy it from us dealers remain profitable is Victory’s in-
or one of our competitors. And a lot of sistence on protecting their Minimum
our competitors buy their carbon from Advertised Price (MAP).
us. Even though they’re competitors,
they’re friendly competitors. They use “We police MAP 24/7,” Greenwood
Mitsubishi fiber.” added. “We’re one of the few compa-
nies that is adamant that is followed
What does that mean for the end because we don’t want to destroy the
user? brand and we want to protect our deal-

“Quality, quality, quality,” Greenwood “We live and breathe archery,” Jayson
said. “There is no middle man. There
are no people substituting lower-qual- Bentcik said. That passion for archery and
ity product. From start to finish—the
manufacturing of the fiber, the epoxy bowhunting drives the entire Victory team
resins, the equipment we use—it’s state
of the art. All the way from when we to continue to pursue innovative new
start making the fiber to when we roll it
onto a mandrel, everything that’s done products and processes.

JANUARY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 43

Every Victory arrow undergoes rigorous Bentcik said. “In the past, a lot of shops that for 2023, the company is introducing
quality control testing, supervised by Quality didn’t want to even discuss it, but now the RIP SS small-diameter arrow.
Manager Nate Watts, to ensure the end user those same shops are all selling online
receives a superior product. because they have to. We understand “We did not come out with a new arrow
that they have to, and by policing it like last year because we were 100 percent fo-
ers. We do not sell direct to consumers we do 24/7 with our programs, at least we cused on getting production up, and on
like many of our competitors. We are 100 can make sure they’re still making their getting inventory and product into the
percent behind the dealers and making margins and not being undercut by eBay, shops just because, as many manufac-
sure they are healthy so everyone can Amazon and other basement bandits.” turers know, demand has been greater
make money.” than supply over the last couple years,”
New for 2023 Bentcik said. “So last year we did our in-
“In this day and age, if you’re not sell- novation at the production level rather
ing online you’re missing the boat,” One of the innovations Victory introduced than design. And then this year is when
was embedding stainless-steel mesh into we’re coming out with the RIP SS. That’s
a carbon arrow. The response to the VAP our .204, our small-diameter line, with
SS micro-diameter arrow was so positive that metal mesh in it. That will be our
new shaft in the hunting series for 2023.”

“What we’ve done is combine other
technologies outside of carbon fiber,”
Greenwood said. “We took a 3/16-inch
stainless-steel mesh and embedded it
into the construction of the arrow. We’ve
got stainless steel that’s woven into a
very, very fine mesh—they’re .001 thick-
ness per strand—and there are hundreds
of these strands. We were able to fuse that
into the middle of our carbon shafts even
on a micro-diameter arrow. And this year
I think the .204 is going to be a really hot
seller for us.

“People would never have imagined
that you could put stainless-steel mesh
on the inside of a micro-diameter arrow.
For durability and performance and re-
covery, there’s no comparison.”

The future

“We’re now a brand that people recognize,
more so than ever before, and they know
that quality and innovation is what we’re
all about,” Greenwood said.

That is in large part due to the elite
Victory Archery team. There’s Quality
Manager Nate Watts, who also lives and
breathes archery. There’s Roy Cross, one
of the company’s composite engineers
who helps run the manufacturing facility
in Mexico and has been instrumental in
bringing new products to market. Loren-
zo Hernandez runs the plant in Mexico
and has been with the company for more
than 20 years. There’s Myke Santiago,
who takes care of Victory’s pro staff, and

Continued on Page 46

44 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023



Continued from Page 44 “Rubline Marketing has also been a “It really comes down to our key thing:
major asset in building Victory,” he said. innovation,” Greenwood said. “Looking
Brandon Stoker, the newest addition to “And we’ve got top-notch shows like at the next best. With bows changing the
the team. Matt Kim has taken the com- Drury Outdoors and Heartland Bowhunt- way they do, becoming more efficient,
pany’s packaging, graphics, and website ers shooting our arrows. We have sales faster, lighter, arrows still have room for
to a new level. reps—William Gartland & Associates improvement. We’re already working on
and JES Marketing—that cover the entire a project that will take us into 2024. High-
Greenwood also attributed the compa- United States. Seventeen individuals pas- speed photography is great, but getting an
ny’s success to its dealers. sionate about hunting and the promotion actual measurement of what an arrow
of the sport. There are manufacturer’s does when it comes out of a bow or cross-
reps that have done a great job in getting bow is really key. We have equipment at
the product into the hands of the deal- our disposal that can, with the use of 50
ers. And the buying groups—ARRO, NABA, special cameras, track what an arrow
Sports Inc. and NDS. They are an integral does from the time it leaves a bow all
part of our growing the business.” the way down range up to 50 yards. We
can measure the oscillation of the arrow,
But there’s still room for growth. the rotation of the arrow, the amount of
“We keep a pretty low profile on a lot of porpoising it’s doing and what’s happen-
what we do at Victory, but we do manu- ing from the front all the way back to the
facture a lot of OEM products,” Green- rear of the arrow. Understanding what is
wood said. “We manufacture a lot of actually happening to an arrow is mak-
crossbows, we do arrows for larger OEMs ing us look at new opportunities for the
under private label. We’re also getting future. That will entail changing the en-
very, very aggressive on the international tire structure of an arrow as we know it
side of things. We’re in at least 40 differ- today. I can’t go into too much detail, but
ent countries.” it’s going to be pretty exciting.” IA
And, of course, the company has big
plans for new arrows.

46 INSIDE ARCHERY JANUARY 2023