Cabela's Celebrates Pheasant Season with an Inflatable Wildlife Replica

Cabela's Inflatable Wildlife Replica Tops Santa for Bringing in Sales

It happens every October. Hunters converge on Mitchell, South Dakota for an event one local retailer says is bigger than Black Friday: the opening of pheasant season.

For Cabela's, one of the world's most well-known outdoor recreation brands, the Pheasant Classic equates to a tan and blaze Christmas.

Positioned just outside their store on Interstate 90, the giant inflatable replica overlooks passersby as they zip to and fro. This 40-foot-tall, lifelike bird shows all its vibrant colors and captures attention, due to its size and visual interest.

This tradition brings friends and family members back to the area year after year. Cabela's hopes to grab its share of the revenue pumped into the local economy during the event.

"We used this inflatable [wildlife replica] to raise awareness of the pheasant opener Pheasant Classic event," explains Retail Marketing Events Manager, Matthew Kettler. "It was a big success! Customers were stopping to take their pictures with the inflatable pheasant and it helped draw in interstate traffic."

We knew it would be a hit. Giant inflatable replicas are a natural fit with retail promotions (and mobile marketing, and stage productions, and …).

Featured in Landmarketing Issue 40

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What Others Say About Landmark Creations

"We usually have to keep the arch up for at least 30 minutes after our races since so many people want to get their photos taken with it!"

- Art Boulet, Muddy Monk

"The inflatable arch allows for safe and easy setup and takedown. People have raved about the arch and have made requests to have it at their events."

- Karen Klevesahl, SMET Construction

"Our tunnel was also a great addition to our pre-game tradition: the Wildcat walk. Our city shuts down three blocks of downtown, and we have hundreds of fans lining the streets with a police escort, while we walk to the stadium."

- Sam Baker, Head Football Coach at Waconia High School

“This has created tremendous buzz around town and we have received a great deal of compliments on the Big Tire. Exposure is my goal, and the inflatable does that better than anyone, including me, can do at these events. The Big Tire never takes a break, gets tired or has to take a call. It just keeps shining bright and the kids love it.”

- Ed Chaney, Ed Chaney Tire Center Inc.

"[There was] fun, excitement, and encouragement for everyone to actually walk under/through [the arch] and it worked. We have cheerleaders and small children at the finish line by the arch handing out stickers, saying ‘I did it.’ Before we had the arch, [people] would straggle in anywhere."

- Jackie Allen, March of Dimes

"We received our inflatable and gave it a test run Saturday afternoon. To be short; Excellent Work. Thanks again for all your efforts."

- Curtis Gadula, Brock University