Diedra Cauley – SHOT Show Blog

Seminars and Press Conferences and Meetings, Oh My!

We’ve made dozens of posts over the last few months about the many educational seminars and press conferences available to the thousands of people who will attend SHOT Show this year. All offer numerous opportunities to learn about the latest industry research, current compliance issues, marketing tools, new products and much more. To maximize your time at the show, seeing what you need to see and meeting with who you need to meet while still getting to the classes and seminars you want to attend, turn to the Digital 2015 SHOT Show Tracker.

The Tracker is your one-stop tool for mapping out the sessions you want to attend. Whether it’s the various sessions of SHOT Show University, the many and varied Retail Seminars, or the nearly dozen Law Enforcement sessions, the Digital 2015 SHOT Show Tracker contains the dates and times for every session during the show. The Tracker also features floor plans of the Sands Expo and Convention Center and a shuttle bus schedule to and from the many nearby hotels, along with a breakdown of exhibitor categories and booth locations.

To access the Digital 2015 SHOT Show Tracker click here. And don’t forget to download the SHOT Show Mobile App, available for iPhones and iPads through the Apple store, for Android devices through Google Play, and for Windows and Blackberry devices through a web-based application. Go to shotmobile.com and download the app for your mobile device now.

Diedra Cauley is the senior director of exhibitions and conferences for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow her on Twitter at @dcauley.

Trade Show Checklist for Professionals

A polished professional image is helpful and important when developing new client relationships and representing yourself among colleagues. Here are some of the top items on my checklist for maintaining professionalism at the SHOT Show.

Business Cards – First impressions mean a lot when you are meeting potential clients and colleagues. A great way to initialize your professional image is by presenting a business card for them to see what you do. Business cards also assist in remembering names.
Sanitizer – Like an interview, a good handshake is another important asset to a good introduction. The SHOT Show brings a lot of business opportunities, but it can also bring unwanted illness.
Pen/Pad – Taking notes shows that you really care and are paying attention.
Mouthwash – Bad breath can be a big negative. Not only is it unpleasant, but it is distracting. It also helps you clear your teeth of unwanted debris (i.e., spinach, chocolate, etc.).
Phone – Your phone can be your lifeline at the show. Access the SHOT Show Blog, SHOT Mobile App, social media and clients’ websites.
Business Formal/Casual Dress – It is important to dress appropriately both in and out of the show. You never know if you will meet a potential client in a casual setting outside of the show.
Comfortable Shoes – Sore feet are uncomfortable and distracting. The SHOT Show has approximately 12.5 miles of aisles, so it is important to wear comfortable shoes.
Deodorant – The SHOT Show should smell like guns and roses…
Water – Stay hydrated. Being dehydrated can lead to head aches and loss of focus.
Food – A convenient snack like a granola bar, candy bar or apple can help you stay focused on the show, rather than on your grumbling stomach. Meetings can build up quickly along with your appetite if you forget to pack a snack.

I never go to a professional conference or trade event without these items. Being prepared is a huge aspect of professionalism, and this list can give you a head start. These items can enhance your professional appearance, but remember, a professional image relies heavily on professional behavior, as well.

Diedra Cauley is the director of exhibitions and conferences for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow her on Twitter at @dcauley.

Less Than 30 Days Until the 2015 SHOT Show! Are You Prepared?

The real countdown has begun—there are less than 30 days remaining until the doors open on the 2015 SHOT Show. Are you prepared? Take a look at the tips we have for exhibitors, buyers and retailers and media, as well as some important items that will help everyone attending SHOT Show (be sure to read through to the end!).

Exhibitors

Check the list of December 26 deadlines for catering, sign hanging, electrical, Internet and much, much more.
Do you have all your exhibitor badges (based on your allocation) finalized for your booth personnel?
Did you schedule a press conference? Now’s the time to get your press materials in order, send out invites to the media members and buyers you want to attend, and get working on your PowerPoint presentations.
There are still a handful of slots available for the all-new SHOT Showcase Theater. This is a unique opportunity to have your newest products and lines in front of media members and buyers in a high-intensity, multi-media forum. Contact Chris Tatulli, NSSF Director, Exhibit and Sponsorship Sales, ctatulli@nssf.org.
Get your press kits in order—jump drives, CDs, catalogs and press contact business cards. There will be more than 2,500 members of the media in attendance, and they need these materials. Also, remember to take advantage of the press bins in the Pressroom that are made available to members of the media; exhibitors may reserve up to two bins here. Media members tell us this is one of the first places they turn to for press kits, especially when the floor is busy and finding someone to talk to in a booth gets more difficult.
Are you holding a press conference in your booth? Let us know so that we can add your conference to our calendar of events. The press conference application provides an option for you to tell us that your booth will be the conference location, so please utilize that function.

Buyers/Retailers

Make the SHOT Show Planner your new home page and use the floor plan tab to set meetings and see all you need to see without zig-zagging the entire show floor and wasting time.
While you’re planning appointments, make sure to utilize the Show Special tab under the SHOT Show Planner. There are nearly 100 brands offering show-only specials, with more added every week.
SHOT Show University—This year’s lineup of topics and speakers is better than ever. Literally something for everyone from new store owner to veteran entrepreneur, this year’s University will also be open to exhibitors to encourage better communication and understanding of the manufacturer-to-consumer production chain. See the full course and speaker listing here and apply today—seating is limited!
The 2015 New Product Center should be on every buyer’s must-see list. Greatly expanded in size this year, you’ll find booth and company contact information for each product so that you may go directly to the floor for additional information.
This year NSSF will host more than a dozen Retail Seminars throughout the week with topics ranging from understanding key profit centers to compliance, as well as a special session on straw purchase prevention. Sessions are just $20 each, but worth their weight in gold. See the full schedule here.

Media

Press Room—As always, this is the place to be. Remember that the press room has a number of amenities press members need, such as free Wi-fi, electronic device charging stations, multiple PC and Mac work stations with printers, coat check and more. You can also find hot coffee and bottled water there throughout the day.
Press conferences will be held in Room 3401, Level 3, San Polo Ballroom of the Venetian, near the press room. A finalized list of available conferences will be posted here before the show begins.
NSSF Media Members have access to the Member’s Lounge during the show. The Member’s Lounge provides a quiet place to have a meeting, catch up on emails or just take a breather in between booth visits. A free lunch is also provided each day of the show.
Keep up with NSSF’s Twitter board during the show. Follow @NSSFSHOTShow now for announcements and of course search for and use #SHOTshow to follow the excitement of the show.
A full list of room numbers, phone numbers and websites important to our media members is available here.

EVERYONE!

The SHOT Show Mobile App is available now for Apple, Android and Blackberry smartphones and tablets. Simply go to shotmobile.com to link directly to the appropriate stores from your mobile device, or click here if opening from a web browser for more information or visit the app store for your mobile device and search for “2015 SHOT Show.”
Business cards—double what you think you need. It’s not worth running out mid-show.
Need to know where to go after show hours? Visit SHOT on a Dime to find dozens of restaurants on and near the strip that offer dining below $50, plus a list of local attractions.
Did you know SHOT Show has a concierge service? Traveler can help you with show tickets, tours, restaurant reservations and more.

This will be the last SHOT Blog post before the Christmas celebration. On behalf of everyone at NSSF, may all of you and yours have a safe and wonderful holiday. We look forward to seeing everyone in Las Vegas.

Diedra Cauley is the Director of Exhibitions and Conferences for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow her on Twitter at @dcauley.

Exhibitor Badges—Frequently Asked Questions

With the December 19 deadline for exhibitors to complete submission of booth badge credentials just days away, we’ve been fielding some common questions about booth personnel and badge requests. To help our exhibitors and their staff with this process, we’ve compiled this list of frequently asked questions.

Q: I’ve already registered myself, but I didn’t get a password and I need to register the members of my staff who will be working the booth. What should I do?

A: Email your request to the 2015 SHOT Show management at regmgr@shot.convexx.com and the password will be emailed to the company’s contact person.

Q: I do not know how many registrations my company has already used. Where can I go to find out?

A: When you sign into shotshow.org/apply and enter the Exhibitor’s Dashboard, it will tell you how many registrations your company has used and paid for.

Q: Is there a limit to how many badges my company can purchase?

A: No, but we believe your booth allotment should cover all your booth personnel. If you need additional badges, the cost is $50. Booth badge allotments are as follows:

Booth size 100-150 sq. ft. = four badges
Booth size 200-250 sq. ft. = six badges
Booth size 300-350 sq. ft. = eight badges
Booth size 400-550 sq. ft. = 15 badges
Booth size 600-850 sq. ft. = 20 badges
Booth size 900-1,150 sq. ft. = 25 badges
Booth size 1,200 sq. ft. = 30 badges
Booth size > 1,200 sq. ft. = 30 badges plus one badge for each 100 square feet of booth space beyond 1,200.

Q: A couple of my employees have relatives who have offered to volunteer to help in the booth greeting people and stocking. Can I get booth badges for them?

A: No. Booth personnel badges are reserved only for verified company employees and authorized personnel. If you need to hire additional booth help for the show, you must complete the Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor (EAC) form. Those approved EACs must apply for their own wristbands each day of the show in the Level 1 Lobby of the Sands Expo Center near the entrance to Hall G. Schedules and regulations for EACs can be found here. Temporary staffing can also be hired through our partner vendor Convention Staffing Solutions (CSS) by clicking here.

Q: I’ve had some staff changes since I submitted the credentials for my staff booth badges? How do I change the badges?

A: Changes to personnel can be made online at shotshow.org/apply until the badges are mailed (in late December—remember, the deadline for submitting credentials for exhibitor employee booth badges is December 19). Once mailed, changes must be made on-site.

Diedra Cauley is the Director of Exhibitions and Conferences for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow her on Twitter at @dcauley.

Are You an NSSF Member? If so, Save Big on SHOT Show Registration Fees

NSSF is urging all members of the firearms industry to complete their registration to attend the 2015 SHOT Show now and to take advantage of the significant savings offered to NSSF members during registration.

Due to multiple trade shows taking place at the same time, hotel rooms across Las Vegas are in exceptional demand during this year’s SHOT Show and we want to make sure everyone who wants to attend can and has a place to stay. It is critical that everyone who plans to attend the show complete the registration process as soon as possible.

As an incentive, remember that this year qualified NSSF buyer members receive a complimentary ticket to attend the show, and we’ve reduced the price of NSSF retailer and range member registration for SHOT Show by 50 percent over the non-member pricing. Join NSSF now as a retailer or range member (some other buyer categories also apply) and the fee to attend SHOT Show is just $35, half that of the $70 non-member fee.

NSSF also discounts the non-buyer member rate. NSSF members who are not buyers can register to attend the show for just $175 versus $350 for non-NSSF members. Media, as always, may attend the show for free, but still must register if they did not receive the emailed invitation to register.

If there’s only one trade show you can attend, this is the one you don’t want to miss. Register now. Join NSSF here.

Diedra Cauley is the Director, Exhibitions and Conferences, for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow her on Twitter at @dcauley.

Exhibitor’s SHOT Show Webinar Streaming Live Thursday, Nov. 20

A brief reminder that NSSF’s first 2015 SHOT Show Exhibitor’s Webinar will broadcast Thursday, Nov. 20.

“On Target Marketing for the 2015 SHOT Show,” NSSF’s first webinar of the year provided specifically to enhance exhibitor’s experience at the 2015 SHOT Show, will provide insight and tips for attracting the buyers you want to see at your booth. The webinar will examine ways to market your company and products both before the show and on-site, and will provide answers to many questions exhibitors have such as how to attract buyers to your booth, how long will a buyer stay at the show and other valuable information about buyers and their show habits. The webinar will also help exhibitors identify their objectives for the show and work to map out a path to achievement.

The webinar begins at 2 p.m. EST. All exhibitors, both NSSF members and non-members, may stream the webinar for free.

Register for NSSF’s first 2015 SHOT Show Exhibitor Webinar here.

Diedra Cauley is the director of exhibitions and conferences for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow her on Twitter at @dcauley.

SHOT Show Welcomes, Encourages Law Enforcement to Attend

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SHOT Show is, without a doubt, all about new products and helping our exhibitors tell the world about them. There are many audiences for those displaying their wares at SHOT address—competition shooters, weekend hobbyists, hunters, self-defense experts and more—but perhaps the fastest growing segment of the show is the community of law enforcement, SWAT, private and executive security and armed forces personnel.

Currently covering more than 186,000 square feet of dedicated exhibition space on the main floor of the Sands Expo Center, our tactical and safety equipment exhibitors display a vast array of equipment and tools those in law enforcement and other public safety positions need to keep themselves and the public safe in the line of duty.

Not only is SHOT Show the place for law enforcement personnel to get a look at today’s innovative firearms, ammunition and gear, it’s also a center for educational exchange. Completely free to attend to members of law enforcement, the Law Enforcement Educational Program—LEEP—is the result of a partnership between Law Officer Magazine and NSSF. LEEP is a series of topical sessions taking place at SHOT Show from Tuesday to Thursday, these sessions covering a wide range of subject matter germane to law enforcement and private security job performance. In addition to these special seminars, law enforcement also have two networking opportunities available to them. The first is a meet-and-greet with armed forces members, while the second is a networking luncheon designed for interaction between various law enforcement agencies, LE personnel and the editors of Law Officer Magazine.

The full LEEP course listing, as well as links to register for the networking luncheon and armed forces meet-and-greet functions are available by clicking here. As NSSF encourages all members of law enforcement to attend and doing so will often require permission from commanding officers or other supervisors, we’ve also provided a tactical planning page for you, as well as a helpful video, so that others in your organization can realize the value in attending this once-a-year event.

Law enforcement members may register to attend in two categories. Buyers for law enforcement and security agencies can register for just $35 before January 13, 2015; registration after this date or on-site during the show is available for $70. All law enforcement members wishing to attend SHOT who are not buyers for their agency can take advantage of their early bird registration fee of $175 before January 13, 2015. These attendees may also register after this date or on-site during the show for $350. We strongly encourage all members of the law enforcement community to register early for SHOT show and sign up for LEEP sessions ahead of the January 13 date, as these sessions will sell out. For more information on how to register for any of these SHOT Show programs as a member of the law enforcement community, call 855-355-7468 or email regmgr@shot.convexx.com.

Diedra Cauley is the director of exhibitions and conferences for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow her on Twitter at @dcauley.

International Trade Center Open to All 2015 SHOT Show International Buyers and U.S. Exhibitors

For the second consecutive year, SHOT Show is participating in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Buyer Program (IBP). The IBP is a joint effort between the U.S. government and industry to bring thousands of international buyers to the United States for business-to-business matchmaking with U.S. firms exhibiting at major industry trade shows.

There are three components to the IBP taking place at the 2015 SHOT Show. These include the Showtime Program, where U.S.-based show exhibitors can meet one-on-one with USDOC industry specialists from our overseas embassies, and the B2B Matchmaking Program that works to promote U.S. firearms businesses and products to foreign delegates throughout the show.

The third component to the IBP is the International Trade Center. Here, breakfast, lunch and an afternoon reception are held each official show day. Private conference rooms are available for meetings; hostesses are available to assist with scheduling. Complimentary WiFi Internet access and computer access with printer capabilities and multi-language translators are available in the center.

This center offers something to “both sides of the coin.” For international buyers, experts in U.S.-based firearms manufacturers and distributors are on hand to help identify the exhibitors and products that best match those buyers’ needs and arrange introductions. For the exhibitor, trade specialists from the U.S. Department of Commerce help our U.S.-based businesses identify potential new markets and arrange in-person meetings with the buyers attending those markets.

“The International Trade Center provides a place away from the crowd and distractions of the show floor so that exhibitors working to expand their businesses can meet face-to-face with those who can provide access to new markets,” explained Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “We urge all our exhibitors searching for fresh selling avenues and business growth opportunities to utilize this meeting space to discover the potential that can be had in international sales and distribution.”

The International Trade Center Location is located in The Venetian Hotel, Level 2, Bassano Ballroom, attached to the Sands Hotel and Convention Center. For more information on the center during show hours, call 702-691-8705.

Diedra Cauley is the director of exhibitions and conferences for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow her on Twitter at @dcauley.

SHOT Show Exhibitor Concierge App—You Need This

concierge phone Yes, there really is an app for everything and everyone, including today’s SHOT Show exhibitor. Witness the Concierge Elite app, available now from the Apple App Store, Android Google Play or Windows App Store. Offered by Freeman Co., NSSF’s Las Vegas exhibition partner, this app allows exhibitors instant access to:

Service request submissions
Current and previous order listings
Freight tracking and delivery notifications to you and other staff members via e-mail, text message, or both
Ordering additional furniture or other booth accessories, resolution of missing order items and scheduling of booth cleaning services
Shipping labels
Express checkout from the show; set up your outbound freight care—your material handling agreements—before the show’s even over.

As most exhibitors know, coordinating getting your booth materials to the Sands Expo Center and set up, then tearing it down and moving it off the show floor once SHOT is over, is often more work than actually being at the show. That can be exacerbated when show setup logistics require you to spend your time on the phone or running to the show’s customer service desk—time you’re losing that could be better spent on things like networking with customers and closing sales. The Concierge Elite app simplifies and streamlines those necessary behind the scenes facets of putting on and having a successful show experience and, best of all, this app is free for our exhibitors.

For more information on the SHOT Show Concierge Elite app from Freeman, click here. A demo of how the Concierge Elite app works is also available on that page. To download the free app, visit your smart phone, tablet or PC application store and search for “Concierge Elite.”

Diedra Cauley is the Director, Exhibitions and Conferences, for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow her on Twitter at @dcauley.

First-Time SHOT Exhibitor? We Have the Resources to Help

Trade show exhibition is nearly an art unto itself, especially when it comes to a show as enormous as SHOT Show. Simply put, this isn’t a bigger version of your local gun show with its folding high school cafeteria tables and chairs. Indeed, if you’ve never set up a booth at SHOT before, and even if you’ve attended smaller local or regional outdoor consumer shows, the list of items you need for a successful booth setup may not be obvious nor readily available to you before the show.

We can help. One of the many resources available and just a mouse click away is the Frequently Rented Items checklist. You’ll find this by going to shotshow.org, then clicking on the drop-down Exhibitors tab and clicking on the first item, the Exhibitor Resource Center (ERC). Under this heading you’ll click on the menu for General Information, Deadlines and Contract and find what we’ve affectionately dubbed the First-Timer Cheat Sheet, is an invaluable resource for any exhibitor, but especially those setting up shop for the first time at SHOT Show.

In this sheet you’ll find rates for the most common booth setup help, like electrical labor, freight and materials handling, end of show dismantling services, and post-show hours cleaning services. Then there are the smaller things, the trash cans, chairs, tables, table skirting and carpet, that one might assume are automatically provided at a show and would be woefully surprised to find they’re not (i.e., finding out you have nothing to sit on for four days would ruin almost anyone’s show experience).

One of the most important booth items you’ll find on this sheet are the listings for CompuLEAD services. CompuLEAD is a computerized sales/client lead retrieval system designed specifically for use at trade shows. You simply scan the show badge of each attendee you contact at the show, and CompuLEAD automatically collates that person’s full contact information, along with all the demographic information provided in the registration process, including job title, primary business interests and buying power, far more information than most business cards will contain.

This system not only eliminates the hassle of combing through stacks of business cards when you get home, trying to decipher all those illegible notes and numbers written on the back, you can append any prospect’s contact information and edit on the spot with notes, action codes and surveys, even run analysis reports. The setup is available for desktop and mobile use, as well as in a smartphone app.

Advanced rates on these exhibitor items and more are available until Dec. 26 (deadline for CompuLEAD products is Dec. 19), so plan now, get your orders in, and avoid a last-minute scramble to organize your booth during the winter holidays and in the last days before the show. For more information about CompuLead, click here, or call CompuSystem’s Heidi Marecek at 708-786-5565, ext. 312; Heidi.Marecek@csireg.com. If contacting CompuSystem, be sure to tell them you’re an NSSF member and SHOT Show exhibitor.

Quick Tip—Click on “Show All” at the top of the ERC page so you can easily view all forms and information within the ERC without having to go through each one individually.

Diedra Cauley is the director of exhibitions and conferences for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Follow her on Twitter at @dcauley.