I know of a few firms who will NEVER return, as they are not in business anymore, but anyone have an idea as to why fewer vendors are listed?
Just ideas, however having been associated with the business, the AMA, and the sport for some 55+ years, I do have some "ideas". This list is NOT in any significant order, just random as they come to mind.
As you stated, ".... they are not in business anymore, ..." That is a good reason. Far too many hobbyists get into the business and find it to be a lot of hard work or actually a 'BUSINESS' and they either lack the profit to sustain their business and/or make a comfortable living from it, or simply find the business takes far too much time of their normal sport-hobby time so they say "outa' here" and the hobbyist then goes back to having fun. BTDT
Different market today: Many magazines and the web sites make shopping easier. There is no need for the consumer to go to a show to find the products. Besides, everyone basically sells the same products regardless of the name on them, and those that work the hardest will survive over those that are in it for part-time.
Due to the ARF and Toy products of today, why would an ARF / Toy distributor want to support a show where many scratch-built models are on display? That just may make the consumer alerted to a better way to have something really nice. No support for the show means less consumers at the show which means those consumers will only see advertised ARF/Toy products and mostly the same at flying fields. Therefore more ad and web site sales. The show is simply a waste of time and possibly a sales-diversion for the importers.
There was a time when a Trade Show was just that. No over-the-counter sales were made until maybe at the end of the show when large display items, like kits, were sold to avoid shipping them back. Now a trade-show is just another flea-market. That cuts into LHS sales, so some LHS try to avoid that distributor's products. If a distributor is not there, then he will sometimes receive preferential treatment from the LHS buyers.
It costs a considerable amount for the larger distributor / importer to attend a show. He may find it more profitable to pay for those "team" members to attend events around the country and display the wares plus get the free advertising in a model magazine article. The model magazines then have no problem with prostitution of their magazine for a fat advertisement.
There is lots more where this came from.