Author: Dave Jeannette

Outdoor Channel Marks Five Years of SHOT Show Sponsorship

Corporate sponsorship is an important part of making each SHOT Show more successful than the last. Exhibitor demands, attendee needs, technology, events, seminars and more change and grow each year. Those changes, of course, take funding to be a success.

We have been honored to have tremendous industry support at many levels over the years, but there is one company that stands above the others and has stood the test of time: Outdoor Channel.

The 2015 SHOT Show marked Outdoor Channel’s fifth consecutive year supporting the SHOT Show at a notably high level. Outdoor Channel is, literally, everywhere you turn when it comes to SHOT Show, providing tremendous support through its pre- and post-show publicity and their televised and web broadcasts that bring celebrities, products and show news to those who can’t make the trip to Las Vegas. A laundry list of behind-the-scenes projects also come together thanks to Outdoor Channel’s sponsorship.

Simply put, Outdoor Channel’s commitment to helping NSSF put together a show that has such immense value for every manufacturer, buyer, distributor and media member who takes the time and money to attend the show sets a benchmark for all others. Thank you Outdoor Channel, let others look to them as an example.

Dave Jeannette is Senior Director, Sales for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveJeannette.

December Deadlines—Part III

As we told you earlier this month, December has a long list of deadlines important to SHOT Show exhibitors. The biggest date ahead for all our exhibitors is Dec. 26. Deadlines for more than two-dozen booth setup items fall on this date, and with the hubbub of the holiday week and the actual Christmas day just the day before, this is a date that could easily slip by you. Note that many of these entries are for the last date exhibitors can access certain items at the reduced advanced rate. Starting Dec. 27, those advanced rates end, so be sure to get your orders in now.

The full list of exhibitor deadlines is as follows:

  1. Audio/Visual (Advance Rate) – Freeman AV
  2. Booth Security Guard Service (Advance Rate) – Century
  3. Carpet (Advance Rate) – Freeman
  4. Catering Request – Sands/Venetian
  5. Cleaning – Booth Order– SES
  6. Column Drape – Freeman
  7. Computer Equipment (Advance Rate) – NMR
  8. Credit Card Authorization – SES
  9. Credit Card Authorization – Freeman
  10. Electrical Order – SES
  11. Exhibit Accessories (Advance Rate) – Freeman
  12. Exhibit Furnishings (Advance Rate) – Freeman
  13. Firearms Onsite Inventory & Security Program
  14. Hanging & Rigging Order – SES
  15. Hanging Truss, Chain Hoist, Lighting and Stagehand Labor (Advance Rate)
  16. Freeman Internet & Telecommunications Order – SES
  17. Labor – Installation, Dismantle, Forklift – Freeman
  18. Labor – Rigging 200lbs and over – SES
  19. Material Handling – Freeman
  20. Payment Authorization – Freeman
  21. Payment Authorization – SES
  22. Rental Exhibit Order (Advance Rate) – Freeman
  23. Special Signs and Graphics (Advance Rate) – Freeman
  24. Target Date Changes – Freeman
  25. Utilities – Air, Drain, Sprinklers, Water – SES
  26. Vehicle/Motorized Units Spotting Fee – Freeman

Questions about an item in the list above? Important contacts at ConvExx and Freeman can be found here and here, respectively. You’ll also find our Frequently Asked Questions page helpful.

 

Dave Jeannette is Senior Director, Sales for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveJeannette.

December Exhibitor Deadlines, Part II

We are now down to just a little more than five weeks before the opening of the 2015 SHOT Show. With that comes multiple exhibitor deadlines in the month of December.

In this post, I’ll focus on the deadlines for December 19. I’ll follow that with another post reviewing the numerous December 26 deadlines.

December 19 Exhibitor Deadlines:

  1. Exhibitors utilizing third-party labor for duties outside those that must be handled by official show contractors (e.g., SES—Specialized Event Services—or Freeman) must submit their Exhibitor–Appointed Contractor (EAC) applications to ConvExx by this date. EAC’s include exhibit installers/dismantlers, decorators, booth hostesses, videographers and photographers, florists and others. Click here for the online applications. Information and a sample of exhibitor insurance can be found here, while rules and regulations for EACs, including show activity dates and times
  2. are located here.
  3. All U.S. exhibitors wishing to receive their badges by U.S. mail must have completed their credential submission by this date. Complete information regarding required credentials and booth badge allotments can be found here. Note: Online registration closes Thursday January 16. After January 23, everyone must register onsite.
  4. December 19 is the final date that exhibitors renting the automated, computerized Lead Retrieval systems from CompuSystems may receive the discounted advanced rates. CompuSystems offers 2015 SHOT Show exhibitors a variety of handheld, smart device and desktop products that collect full contact information from every scanned badge, thereby eliminating the problems associated with handwritten notes and lost business cards while providing additional functionality such as lead qualifiers and note taking. CompuSystems also provides in-booth setup and training for its devices. Click here for CompuSystem’s rental application, including a full listing of the advanced rate discount.
  5. This is the last date that exhibitors can receive the advanced rate from CSS (Convention Staffing Solutions) for temporary booth personnel such as greeters, business card collectors and product presenters. Click here for the application.
  6. The last deadline for December 19 is for exhibitors to finalize food and beverage sampling for booth catering. The online order form for samples can be found here. For more information, contact Tricia Hanisko at thanisko@convexx.com or call 702-216-5865.

For the full list of show deadlines, click here. Remember, the Exhibitor Resource Center at shotshow.org/erc can provide the answers to many questions exhibitors have regarding deadlines, contractors, booth services, media and more. Need to contact someone with a specific questions? See the list of all 2015 SHOT Show contacts here.

 

Dave Jeannette is Senior Director, Sales for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveJeannette.

December SHOT Show Deadlines

December is a hectic month for nearly everyone in the firearms industry. Retailers are dealing with fast-paced seasonal sales, distributors are working to fill last-minute orders and meet yearly quotas, and all of us are making plans for the month-end holiday visits with family and friends.

On top of all of this, SHOT Show preparations are in full swing. There are just seven weeks left until the 2015 SHOT Show. That means December has dozens of deadlines important to exhibitors, advertisers and attendees. In fact, we have so many, that this month we’re going to break them into a couple blog posts here, to better help all going to SHOT better organize their pre-show planning.  You can always keep abreast of the deadlines by printing out the Deadline Checklist located in the online Exhibitor Resource Center and reading the weekly Exhibitor Update that is emailed to the main show contact and posted online in the Exhibitor Resource Center.

Before I get started with the most important upcoming deadlines, I need to emphasize two things. First, the names and unique email addresses for every staff member of each exhibitor attending the 2015 SHOT Show must be submitted, for qualification, through their Registration Dashboard immediately. Rules and qualifications for exhibiting staff have changed from past years, so it is important that appropriate submissions are made in advance to avoid confusion or waiting onsite. As we’ve said before, it will be very important to book your hotel rooms early.  While some have sold out, there are still many hotel options available through our official block.

Now, on to the first half of December’s deadlines.

December 12—Six Deadlines

  1. New Product Guide Advertising Deadline: This is the deadline for anyone wishing to advertise in the printed version of the New Product Guide. With the expansion of the New Product Center at the 2015 SHOT Show, its high show traffic volume and the dedicated post-show usury of the printed New Product Guide by media members and buyers, this is an excellent opportunity for all exhibitors to boost their visibility, whether they have a product in the Center or not. Contact me at djeannnette@nssf.org or Chis Tatulli, NSSF Director, Exhibitions and Sales, at ctatulli@nssf.org.
  2. “No Soliciting” Sign Request Deadline: For exhibitor use, to help control traffic and meeting availability, as well as to help identify potential “suitcasing,” soliciting by vendors who are not SHOT Show exhibitors. Contact Jennifer Carr at jcarr@convexx.com; 702-216-5852
  3. Press Conference Application Deadline: For exhibitors and public relations and marketing firms expecting to host press conferences either on the show floor at exhibitor booth locations or in reserved meeting rooms. Contact Tricia Hanisko at thanisko@convexx.com; 702-216-5865.
  4. Sponsorship Artwork Deadline: For those advertisers and exhibitors sponsoring various aspects of SHOT Show and its publications (SHOT Show University, Law Enforcement Education Program Workshops, digital media, Exhibitor Spotlight, Showcase Theater and others), this is the deadline for which artwork must be received by Freeman. A detailed list of 2015 SHOT Show sponsorship opportunities can be found here. For information on artwork formats and delivery avenues, contact Convexx’s SHOT Show Manager Susan L. Schwartz, CEM, at sschwartz@convexx.com; 702-216-5858.
  5. Visa Letter Request Submission Deadline: This deadline is intended for those international exhibitors and those who will require booth staff arriving from foreign countries. Non U.S.-based exhibitors requesting booth badges for themselves and booth staff have the option to check “yes” on their Exhibitor Dashboard during registration and receive a Letter of Invitation to the 2015 SHOT Show. That letter is then printed out by the exhibitor for presentation at the Visa appointment in their country in application for their tourist or business Visa. As the Visa application can take some time to complete, once again, we urge everyone to register for SHOT Show immediately, especially our international guests. For additional documents that may be needed for Visa application completion, email visa@shot.convexx.com.
  6. Fabric Order Early Bird Discount Deadline: This is the deadline to order booth drapery and other fabric needs from Freeman at the discounted advanced rate. Contact Freeman Exhibitor Services Department, exhibitorhelp@convexx.com; 855-355-7468.

December 15—One Deadline

December 15 marks the halfway point of this month, but it’s an important date for exhibitors shipping materials ahead of time. This is the first date that Freeman will accept exhibitor freight in advance of the show for storage at Freeman’s warehouse until setup in the days before the show (these pre-show freight shipments stored ta Freemans warehouse will be in your booth for your scheduled setup time). For those taking advantage of advanced freight shipping, it will be important to convey this information to your freight carrier and provide them contact points with Freeman so that your shipment does not arrive before this date and incur possible holdover fees. For more information in coordinating freight shipping to Freeman’s warehouse in advance of the 2015 SHOT Show, contact Jennifer Carr at jcarr@convexx.com; 702-216-5852.

I’ll cover a second set of December deadlines in another blog post shortly. For the full list of 2015 SHOT Show deadlines, click here.

Dave Jeannette is Senior Director, Sales for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveJeannette.

Exhibitors, Advertisers—SHOT Show Directory Deadline is Friday!

There are dozens of ways for exhibitors to get noticed at SHOT Show, but the one every attendee—media, buyers, range owners, retailers, and more—will see is the SHOT Show Directory. This is the book every show attendee uses to find you on the show floor and make contact with you throughout the year after the show is over.

It is crucial that all exhibitors must have their company update information submitted for listing in the Directory by the close of business this Friday, November 7. This is also the deadline for exhibitors and companies who wish to reserve advertising space in the directory.

“If there’s only one place you can afford to be seen this year, make sure it’s the 2015 SHOT Show Directory,” said Chris Tatulli, NSSF Director, Exhibit & Sponsorship Sales. “With more than 1,600 exhibitors, this is the single resource every one of the more than 62,000 attendees at the show will have in their hands, and the one resource each of those people will use every day, every week and every month throughout the year to contact you. Additionally, all exhibitors and advertisers displaying in the Directory will automatically find their listing on shotshow.org (a PDF of the full and final exhibitor listing will be uploaded there in the weeks before the show opens), and the Directory ties directly to the SHOT Show Mobile App so that attendees can instantly locate your booth and set appointments. Do not let the deadline pass to have your company information accurately updated or reserve the additional advertising space you need in the Directory.”

For more information on having your company exhibitor information displayed in the 2015 SHOT Show Directory, contact exhibitorhelp@shot.convexx.com. Those needing to reserve advertising space should contact Chris Tatulli, ctatulli@nssf.org. You can also click here to access your Exhibitor Dashboard and update your company information for the printed directory, online Show planner, and mobile app. You will need your exhibitor ID to log in. If you do not have your exhibitor ID, contact Show Management at 855-355-7468 or email regmgr@shot.convexx.com.

Dave Jeannette is Senior Director, Sales for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveJeannette.

2015 SHOT Show Exhibitor Upcoming November Deadlines

November is a busy time for everyone with the upcoming holidays, but there’s no rest for the weary when it comes to organizing the 2015 SHOT Show. With the Show less than three months away, there are several deadlines crucial to exhibitors and advertisers.

The first two deadlines fall on Nov. 7. On that date, SHOT Show Directory advertising space reservations need to be completed and all Directory listings need to have any updates finalized. Contact Chris Tatulli, ctatulli@nssf.org with advertising questions and exhibitorhelp@shot.convexx.com for directory listing information.

Nov. 21 has four deadlines. On this Friday before the holiday week of Thanksgiving, advertising space reservations and listing descriptions are due for the much-anticipated New Product Guide. With the expanded floor space granted the New Product Center this year and the additional exposure exhibitors in this special center will receive through the online product photo gallery to be launched this year, ensuring your company and product information are accurately listed in the New Product Guide is paramount. Again, contact ctatulli@nssf.org for advertising questions and exhibitorhelp@shot.convexx.com for listing information.

The third deadline for Nov. 21 is for SHOT Show Directory & Buyer Guide artwork submissions (following the space reservation deadline of Nov. 7), while the fourth deadline for this date is for permitting exhibitor mobile units and motorized vehicles.

This final Nov. 21 deadline refers to ATVs, watercraft, trucks, cars and other motorized equipment to be included in booth displays. Exhibitors planning to display such equipment at the 2015 SHOT Show must obtain a Liquid or Gas-Fueled Vehicles or Equipment in Assembly Area Permit from Nevada’s Clark County Fire Department. Full information regarding this permit and restrictions on displaying motorized vehicles or equipment can be found here. This permit is required before exhibitors pay the spotting fee (deadline Dec. 26) and provide notice to Show organizer Freeman regarding the type of equipment to be displayed in your booth—weight, length, height, width and type—as well a requests for forklifts and cranes if necessary to properly position such equipment in the allotted booth spaces. Click here for the Freeman motorized vehicles booth reservation form. For questions about mobile units and motorized vehicles to be displayed in SHOT Show booths, contact Brian Nilson, Freeman Material Handling Supervisor, at 702-579-1784 or by email at brian.nilson@freemanco.com.

The final deadline for this month occurs on Nov. 24, and it’s one exhibitors interested in saving money will want to pay attention to. This is the deadline to receive the early-bird discounts on selected CompuLEAD applications and services from show provider CompuSystems. CompuLEAD provides a suite of lead management products that ensure each exhibitor capitalizes on every visitor to their booth. Products include the handheld CompuLEAD Mobile and Mobile Elite devices, the smartphone downloadable app CompuLEAD Smart, and the CompuLEAD Desktop unit. All offer a variety of lead generating tools, such as attendee badge scanning and contact editing, note taking and survey generating functionalities, custom lead qualifier creation, electronic literature sending capabilities and more. Early bird ordering offers substantial savings, so exhibitors are urged to reserve their devices and download applications now. Click here to access the CompuLEAD order form.

Dave Jeannette is Senior Director, Sales for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveJeannette.

SHOT Show Exhibitor October Deadlines

There are two crucial deadlines SHOT Show exhibitors need to meet in October. Both revolve around the important publication SHOT Show Tracker.

For those unfamiliar with this exhibitor tool, SHOT Show Tracker is a once-a-year publication detailing education sessions and special events being held during the show, show floor plans, travel and logistic information and, most importantly for exhibitors, a full listing of all registered exhibitors and their booth numbers. This publication is mailed, during early winter, to tens of thousands of pre-registered SHOT Show attendees.

SHOT Show Tracker provides several important benefits to our exhibitors. First, it lets potential customers know you’ll be at the show and exactly where they can find you, allowing them to schedule meetings with you in advance of the show. This kind of information is, essentially, complimentary advertising for each and every exhibitor, but its availability as a part of pre-show marketing is invaluable.

In addition to the pre-show boost all exhibitors receive from this publication, Tracker also provides a platform for your booth and company to stand out from the crowd through creative advertising opportunities. Exhibitors may purchase a variety of ad space for inclusion in SHOT Show Tracker. These include full- and half-page options, as well as four-color inside and outside front and back covers. So while you’re amping up all your other pre-show marketing plans—mailings and e-newsletters to your own mailing lists, company website updates telling show attendees where you’ll be at SHOT and invitations to special events you’re hosting at SHOT—make sure your show visibility is maximized through SHOT Show Tracker.

Ad space is limited, so it’s important that exhibitors interested in maximizing their presence and visibility at SHOT Show act now to reserve their space. SHOT Show Tracker ad space reservation deadline of Oct. 17 is fast approaching, and all artwork is due by Oct. 31. Materials received after this date will be placed in Tracker at the discretion of NSSF staff and as space allows.

For more information on advertising in SHOT Show Tracker, click here and choose the dropdown box on the SHOT Show Tracker line item. There you’ll find a listing of available spaces, plus a downloadable rate card and a link that details all ad specifications, including acceptable submission formats and sizing. Questions? Email me at djeannette@nssf.org, or my colleague Chris Tatulli, NSSF Director, Exhibitor and Sponsor Sales, at ctatulli@nssf.org.

Dave Jeannette is Senior Director, Sales for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveJeannette.

Boost Your Show Traffic with a SHOT Show Directory Sponsorship

It’s the one item you see in literally every SHOT Show attendee’s hand: the SHOT Show Directory and Buyers Guide. Not only is it the No. 1 show resource for getting everyone walking the floor to where they want to go, with a shelf-life of 12 months, it’s also the leading after-show resource for manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, range operators, and industry media professionals.

By securing booth space, exhibitors are automatically assigned a listing in the alphabetized section of the category listing to which your business best belongs. But did you know there are directory sponsorship options available that can greatly increase your booth traffic and after-show visibility?

SHOT Show Directory & Buyers Guide sponsorship is an invaluable way to put your company front and center in the eyes of every person who attends SHOT Show. While every exhibitor gets an alphabetical listing in the directory, as well as listing on the SHOT Show website, it’s the larger sponsorship ads in the print Directory that really grab the reader’s attention and reminds people that it’s those booths and businesses they need to put at the top of their must-see list. It also maintains that high visibility post-show, particularly for the shooting range club house operators and retailers who keep the directories on their counters for consumer perusal, as well as those media professionals who utilize the directory as a contact resource all year long.

There are more than two-dozen directory sponsorship display options available to exhibitors and other industry advertisers, and this wide variety means an array of price points that lend themselves to marketing budgets of all sizes. Options include full- and half-page listings in four-color and two-color, directory covers, floor plan sponsorship, bookmarks, and inserts, among others.

A complete listing of available sponsorship options is available on shotshow.org under the Exhibitors tab and the drop-down option “2015 Exhibitor Resource Center.” It also shows which exclusive options (such as covers, inside covers, and directory bookmark, floor plan, spine, and post-it note) have been sold, so that you can adjust your marketing plan accordingly. These premium sponsorship opportunities can sell out quickly, so exhibitors looking to maximize their advertising and show dollars are encouraged to research the available options and make their decisions now.

Every year we have exhibitors who tell us they wish they’d put in a half- or full-page ad in the directory. That tells us these sponsorships have produced a solid return on investment for those who did claim their space. The SHOT Show is the place to be seen, to make your product, your company, and your services known to everyone—the directory is the one way to make sure your message is heard, both at the show, and especially after everyone has gone home and has the next 12 months to use that year’s directory.

The deadline for Directory materials submission is Nov. 20, so we urge every exhibitor to begin their submissions as soon as possible. For more information or to purchase your sponsorship space in the 2015 SHOT Show Directory and Buyers Guide, e-mail Dave Jeannette, NSSF Senior Director, Sales at djeannette@nssf.org, or Chris Tatulli, NSSF Director, Exhibit & Sponsorship Sales at ctatulli@nssf.org.

Dave Jeannette is Senior Director, Sales for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveJeannette.

The Place to Be Seen—New Products Directory

One of the most important things SHOT Show provides for exhibitors, buyers, and media alike is a stage for the unveiling of new products. But, with thousands of exhibitors vying for the attention of thousands more show goers, by the end of the first day, everything seems to wear a little placard that says “New Product.” Talk about getting lost in the shuffle.

There are numerous ways to have your new product stand out in the crowd, but perhaps the best ways to do that in a trade show with the kind of square footage and attendance as SHOT Show, is to focus your efforts on the New Product Center and New Product Directory.

As the name implies, the New Product Center is a pivotal location for displaying fresh merchandise your company has introduced within the last year. Positioned prominently on the main SHOT Show floor (level 1) that all attendees will see as they enter—more than 80 percent of show attendees visit the Center. The Center also serves as a gathering place for buyers and media whose days at the show are a spent in back to back meetings and have little time to walk the floor. It also acts as a way to “cut to the chase” for show attendees who only have one or two days to spend at the show. Visitors to the center get to first appraise your product in a focused atmosphere, while your company name and booth number will easily direct them where to go for more detailed information. Finally, by highlighting your product away from the hustle and bustle of the show floor, it automatically stands out—and that’s what every exhibitor wants.

Attendees also have the ability to scan each individual product they are interested in, and have information about those products emailed directly to them when they are done.  This not only helps them better aggregate the products they find, but also map out their route for navigating the show floor.  An added benefit to exhibitors…those participating will receive an email after the show that includes all the attendees that scanned your products.  Valuable leads of buyers indicating they like your product…right to your email inbox!

New for the 2015 SHOT Show, all New Product Center entries will automatically receive a listing in the softcover-bound New Product Directory, complete with a photo of your product. Your product and company information will also be listed in NSSF’s new online New Product Gallery, to be featured on shotshow.org for maximum visibility.

Two display showcases plus a custom option are available for merchants wishing to have their products highlighted in the 2015 New Product Center. Directory-only sponsorships are also available. For more information, click here and click the drop-down menu for New Product Center Application/Directory.

Dave Jeannette is Senior Director, Sales for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveJeannette.

Exhibitors: Are You an NSSF Member Yet? If Not, You’re Missing Out on SHOT Show Savings and Discounts

Membership in the National Shooting Sports Foundation, your industry’s trade association and the owner of the SHOT Show, has a long list of benefits.

For SHOT Show exhibitors, one of those benefits can mean huge savings on booth space at the show.

Non-members are paying $35 per square foot (or $3,500 for a 10×10). NSSF Supporting Members pay $30 per square foot (or $3,000 for a 10×10, a savings of $500). That $500 savings per 10×10 climbs to more than $2,000 for the average size booth at the SHOT Show.

The June 2 deadline for savings is right around the corner. You must be an NSSF member in good standing by this date to receive this booth-space discount.

NSSF-member exhibitors also increase their chances for a booth change at the show.

Priority points continue to be a key factor, but NSSF membership level increases your chances for a booth change considerably. For example, an NSSF Supporting Member with 55 priority points will have a better opportunity than a non-member with 110 priority points. We’ve received more than 500 booth change requests, so we encourage all exhibitors to improve their chances for a change by becoming an NSSF Supporting Member.

If you aren’t an NSSF member yet, please consider joining today — not only to save your company some cash, but to join the more than 10,000 other members that support our industry’s trade association and its mission to promote, protect and preserve our industry and our sports.

To join NSSF or renew your membership, visit nssf.org/join. Contact NSSF Member Services Coordinator Samantha Hughes at shughes@nssf.org with any questions.

Dave Jeannette is Senior Director, Sales for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveJeannette.