Since the show, we've received feedback in all forms, including social media, the live chat we held last month and surveys we've sent to all of the show's exhibitors and attendees.
Over the next few weeks, we'll be addressing the questions we've received and posting the answers right here on the blog.
Here is the first batch:
Q: Can there be more staff on the floor? I had a lot of trouble finding vendors I wanted to see.
A: We will have more information staff on the floor and in the lobbies for 2011.
Q: Will the Sands Convention Center have the roof fixed in case of rain next year? Will dry storage be considered for crates?
A: We have asked the Sands to address this for 2011. The rain we experienced was highly unusual as Las Vegas received nearly a year's worth of rain in a couple of days.
Q: Why must the SHOT Show take place in early January?
A: Because that's when the vast majority of our customers tell us they want the show. In fact, 85 percent say it should be in early January in Las Vegas.
Q: Can the SHOT Show get on a regular schedule every year? The last week of January, first week of February, etc?
A: We are currently scheduled for the third week in January but would certainly move to the second week if it became available.
Q: Any thought given to reducing the number of exhibitors or at least limiting booth size to accommodate the Sands venue?
A: Yes on both counts. We have already ceased selling booth space for 2011 even though we were 6,000 net square feet below 2010.
Q: A ton of people were sitting on the floor eating near the food vendors. It is very difficult to have business discussions in this fashion. Can there be more chairs added?
A: Yes. That's one of the reasons we capped exhibit space 6,000 net square feet less than 2010.
Q: Instead of being concerned about how many people attend the show can the NSSF change its focus to attracting qualified buyers?
A: We put in many more restrictions for attendees this year and are seeking greater cooperation from both attendees and exhibitors to limit friends and family that they obtain credentials for.
Q: Why do you allow exhibitors to expand on the main floor before everyone has a chance to pick?
A: Because they have the most priority points and quite frankly are the biggest draw for the attendees. We are looking at capping our largest exhibitors for future events, however it appears that some of the larger exhibitors are reducing their exhibit space voluntarily.
If you missed the chat we held last month, you can view the transcript at nssf.org/shotshowchat.
So, you’re going to totally ignore the complaints about the venue and the days of the week, right?
We had more “suitcase” sellers stop by our booth than any other show we ever attended/exhibited in the past 25 years.
There were also many bogas ID badge holder attendees, that when questioned, readily admitted that they had no real affiliation with at the show; they gained access because of an industry acquaintance.
The exhibitor layout was confusing, restrooms were dirty (if you could find one)and parking was a joke. I’m not looking forward to further shows at the Sands facility.
Regards,
Steve Gibbons
US Night Vision Corporation
The Sands is well known in the exhibit world as one of the worst show facilities in the country. I’m a retailer who has been attending since 1996. I’m wondering why SHOT Show was held at the Convention Center for so many years and suddenly it is unable to do so. I also cannot remember when there has been so much uproar and dissatisfaction from EVERYONE, exhibitors and retailers alike. I could not find several booths that were listed. The show staff couldn’t find them either. Please improve your show planning and program execution in the future.
I hope you’ve received lots of comments about the Law Enforcement section being spread all over the place. It was confusing and aggravating. Please consider consolidating this important section into ONE AREA for next year. I agree, chairs were nonexistent and business women in heels were forced to sit on the floor. I just grabbed a corner and slumped down but the lack of adequate seating is inexcusable for such a prestigious professional trade show.
Bill Campion
Too many tire kickers. Need to really clamp down on dealers who give their best customers, who don’t belong at SHOT, a free pass. Too many media, and next of kin, from marginal markets: i.e. “shoppers” and obscure publications, independent film makers, the list is long.
I felt like a rat looking for the cheese on the lower level. Booths impossible to find, no visible numbers. Terrible venue. What happened to the LV Convention Center connection?
I’ve been going to the shot show every year. This year was terrible. I will not be attending the shot show until it goes back the the Convention Center. This year it was so unorganized. We were there for the full 4 days and we couldnt see it all. It was all spread out on different floors. All the vendors we deal with were very upset with the set up on the show. I can’t image that the Shot Show feels this was the best show ever. They had people there that shouldnt be allowed in. It should be for dealers ONLY. Why are you making it easy for people to attend? Thats another reason why I will not attend anymore. I can get to see all the new stuff at my distributors show without having to deal with people who are not organized.The bathrooms were a mess!! Its hard having lunch sitting and standing at a table eating lunch!! How clean is that???? You need to make may changes. You should lose the contract with Sands after this disaster and go back to the Convention Center!!!! Open your eyes or next year will be very disappointing for the Shot Show organization!!!
I did not attend the show this year, since Las Vegas is a very long way from West Virginia, we usually go to the shows on the east coast, but in lite of your “grand plan” to keep it in the west for a few years we had planned to attend 2011. But in all I have read here and other places I am now wondering if it will be worth the cost to us to attend. We are a small gun shop and the Shot Show let’s us look at many items and handle many items before purchasing them. Also let’s us talk to manufactures about problems we have encountered. The show is a very important tool for us and we would hate to travel all the way across the country and not enjoy ourselves or not accomplish our goals.
Amy Tenney
We would like to know why the LVCC was lost and why it was decided to move it to the old and tired Sands. I am sure more cities that just Orlando, New Orleans could hanlde the SS: Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, San Francisco…if the majority wants in LV then do it but at the LVCC even if its is in March!!
Linda C. – Who said we were ignoring complaints? We are addressing the issues with the Sands as quickly as we can. As for weekend dates, that would mean moving the show to Orlando. Clearly our customers would prefer to be in Vegas, even if it means being at the Sands.
Steve – We’re already addressing the layout, and signage. Also, the Sands is refurbishing the restrooms and common areas, however there’s not much we can do about the parking situation. As for suitcasers, we have a suitcasing policy and enforce it vigorously. If you see anyone suitcasing the show, please contact show management immediately.
Chris – As we’ve covered numerous times already, the LVCC is not “suddenly” unavailable. Our management at the time declined to enter into a long term agreement in the 1990s and other shows contracted for those dates. Rest assured Chris, we’re working on making the experience better for 2011.
Bill – We couldn’t agree with you more. Look for more seating in 2011. As for the LE section, the 2011 floor plan is already sold out and under contract with exhibitors. Look for consolidation for the 2012 SHOT Show.
John T. – Tire kickers, friends of friends and casual observers are the bane of any trade show (along with suitcasers and outboarders). We’ve taken steps to reduce the number of unqualified attendees including asking retailers and exhibitors not to bring them. As far as the availability of LVCC, we’ve covered that abundantly already.
Lisa – We’re sorry to hear you won’t be back. We know there are significant challenges, which we are addressing, but I can assure you that no one here at NSSF or at Reed Exhibitions thinks the 2010 SHOT Show was the “best show ever.”
Amy – Even though we admittedly had a few hiccups with the venue, the SHOT Show is still the one place you can see everything and everyone you need to give you an edge. We’re working very hard to make the 2011 SHOT Show a much better experience.
John C. – Other shows inked long term agreements with LVCC back in the 1990s at a time when the SHOT Show was smaller and the conventional wisdom at the time was to move it around to allow as many retailers as possible to attend. None of the other cities you cite can accommodate the SHOT Show.
Regards the tables around the food courts, there were lots of people using them as meeting places, ie not eating, just sitting there talking. Also a number had there gear spread across multiple chairs.
in the end we sat on the floor and ate one day because we couldn’t get a seat, another day all we could get was table to stand at and i must admit i felt as tired as those that were sitting ‘resting”.
I did notice a lot of people that didn’t seem to be in the trade, maybe they are connected to the trade in some way.
again, i suggest you look at organised trips for spouses etc as this might help (although in our case my wife is an intergral part of our business).