Force One goes it alone
Recreational retailer hosts annual boat show this weekend

Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 22/98) - Force One is moving everything. But it's only for this weekend.

The recreational business on Old Airport Road will pack up boats, motors, snowmachines, all-terrain vehicles, and head to the Yellowknife Community Arena.

This will be the fourth year Force One owner Doug Witty has held his own boat show.

"We used to have 13 booths at the trade show but we ran out of room and decided to move on," he said.

Force One has had other retailers on board over the past few years but the 1998 edition, from a business perspective, is exclusively Force One.

Witty said he does not know exactly how much he makes in sales from the show. He said it's more about kicking off the boating season, raising awareness, and generating excitement about boating.

"I don't know what would happen if I didn't hold the show," he said.

Witty also preferred not to divulge how much it costs to host the show but he did say it is in the thousands.

So far, boat sales are 10 per cent ahead of last year, Witty said. Excellent weather has been a major factor in the increase, he added.

Everything will be on the move Friday, but staff have been through the move before.

The show is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

"It's unique to the NWT. It could be unique to Canada," he said.

At the event, there will be go-cart rides. Attendees can even go for a sail on Frame Lake. Or, try out a windsurfer, but bring a wetsuit.