We are clearly disappointed by Jay Leno’s decision not to perform at the 2015 SHOT Show State of the Industry Dinner. He unilaterally cancelled his promised appearance due to pressure from the anti-gun lobby, which included false statements about our industry and its commitment to genuine firearms safety, which we attempted to personally correct with him, but to no avail.
We are not deterred by their publicity seeking nor are we unfamiliar with the bullying political tactics of the gun control groups that seem to have as little respect for the First Amendment as they continually demonstrate with regard to the Second Amendment.
We are proud of the many programs that we run that meaningfully contribute to public safety including our long standing Project ChildSafe and Don’t Lie for the Other Guy initiatives in addition to our members everyday work in compliance with comprehensive federal and state laws. We will not allow the lawful commerce in firearms nor our industry to be demonized and we will continue to speak out for the Second Amendment rights of the millions of law-abiding citizens who are our customers.
Despite Mr. Leno’s cancellation, we look forward to having our biggest and best State of the Industry Dinner to date with a performer that respects the contributions of our industry and the customers it supports.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is pleased to announce that renowned former U.S. Marine fighter pilot instructor Patrick “Lips” Houlahan will be the featured speaker for the closing session of this year’s SHOT Show University (SSU). Now working as a senior consultant with strategic business training organization Afterburner, Inc., Houlahan brings a wealth of leadership and management expertise to the table, and his dynamic presentations keep audiences captivated.
“Plan, brief, execute, debrief. That’s the recipe for success for high-performing teams around the world. It works in the business of combat and it works in the shooting, hunting and outdoor business,” explained Houlahan. “The Afterburner team of consultants will teach you how to harness the power of Flawless Execution℠, starting with planning. You’ll learn the Six Steps to Mission Planning and apply them to all facets of your business. You’ll also learn about the power of STEALTH Debriefing℠. How many times have you heard a person admit they made a mistake? Let’s face facts: It takes a strong ego to succeed in business, and strong egos don’t like to admit mistakes. When that happens, your team never has a chance to learn from experience. Performance stays flat, and you never have a chance to address the root causes of lost business. In this keynote, my team and I will teach you how to use the STEALTH Debrief module to glean lessons learned and accelerate the experience of your entire team, while learning how to boost performance.
“Keeping jets in the air takes a staff of hundreds, coordinating, communicating and executing flawlessly. It takes a mindset to make this happen that many businesses don’t have,” Houlahan explained. “We help your team understand and begin to develop that mindset. Walking away from an Afterburner program, your team will be completely aligned behind your goals, ready to take action and improve business performance and management.”
“We are very grateful to have a speaker like Patrick ‘Lips’ Houlahan bringing his extensive management expertise to our retailers at SSU,” said Patrick Shay, NSSF Director, Retail Development. “This is a rare opportunity for our front-line industry retail leaders to learn what highly successful business planning looks like and how the principles Afterburner developed—and as they’re used by companies like PepsiCo, NFL teams, J.W. Marriott and more—will work for every firearms seller, from the small-town mom-and-pop shop to the big-box giant. This is must-see, must-hear material for every retailer in our industry.”
SHOT Show University is open to all retailers, but seating is limited, and this event is always an early sell-out. Tickets to the 2015 event are $250 for NSSF members and $500 for non-members. To show our appreciation to all our Premium Retailer Members, those members are eligible to receive one complimentary ticket. For more information on SHOT Show University, go to shotshow.org/education/. To upgrade your membership to a Premium Retailer level or to join the NSSF at whatever level that best suits your business needs, go to membership section of nssf.org.
Attendee registration for the 2015 SHOT Show is now open. Believe it or not, the show — Jan. 20-23 in Las Vegas — is just four months away. While registering, attendees can easily add State of the Industry Dinner tickets, enroll in SHOT Show University and sign up for other educational offerings.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation and Sands Expo and Convention Center have followed up the 2014 record-setting Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) by adding another two years to their agreement.
Under the new terms, the SHOT Show will be presented at the Sands Expo through 2020.
The 2014 SHOT Show, which ran Jan. 14-17, attracted more than 67,000 in total attendance, an all-time high, and was the fifth consecutive SHOT Show held at Sands Expo. NSSF had previously announced, in February, that it was extending its stay at the venue through 2017.
“We’re pleased with the multi-million dollar investment that the Sands Expo has made in order to meet SHOT Show’s needs,” said Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “The 2014 SHOT Show was the highest rated by both attendees and exhibitors alike, and we want to continue to build on our success here in Las Vegas.”
SHOT Show is the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas and the largest trade show of its kind in the world.
“As one of the largest events we host at Sands Expo, it has been exciting to watch SHOT Show grow every year,” said Ashlyn LaPorte, Sands Expo Executive Director of Event Management. “We are proud of the partnership that has developed between our venue and show management, and look forward to continuing this relationship through the rest of the decade.”
The Sands Expo and Convention Center houses more than 2 million square feet of meeting and event space.
The SHOT Show generates more than $73 million for the Las Vegas economy.
The Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) and Conference is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for all professionals involved with the shooting sports, hunting and law enforcement industries. Follow SHOT Show on Twitter at @nssfshotshow.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation followed up its recently concluded, record-setting SHOT Show by adding another year to its agreement with Sands Expo in Las Vegas.
Under the new terms, NSSF will put on the SHOT Show at Sands Expo through 2018.
The 2014 SHOT Show, which ran Jan. 14-17, attracted more than 67,000 in total attendance, an all-time high, and was the fifth consecutive SHOT Show held at Sands Expo. NSSF had previously extended its stay at the venue for three years through 2017.
SHOT Show is the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas and the largest trade show of its kind in the world.
“Sands Expo has spent millions of dollars evolving the venue in order to meet SHOT Show’s needs and to make our attendees feel welcome,” said Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “We’ve been pleased with the improvements, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to build on our success here in Las Vegas.”
“Everyone at Sands Expo enjoys having SHOT Show in the building. The team is wonderful to work with, and it’s exciting to know that we’ve played a role in helping them grow,” said Ashlyn LaPorte, Sands Expo Executive Director of Event Management. “We look forward to continuing this relationship, and can’t wait to see what records will be broken in subsequent years.”
Sands Expo recently completed a $37 million renovation that significantly upgraded its facilities, including redesigning and remodeling the lobby and adding escalators, new carpeting, Wi-Fi hotspots, food outlets, digital signage and other amenities that have enhanced trade-show experiences for exhibitors and attendees.
The SHOT Show generates more than $73 million for the Las Vegas economy.
One-of-a-kind tribute to Henry rifle designer B. Tyler Henry, first-ever Doug Turnbull Restoration 1911 pistol and a “1 of 1” Buck Knives 50th Anniversary 110 Folding Hunter generated $90,376 in support of America’s hunting and shooting sports heritage.
Powered by nearly 150,000 views and hundreds of bids on GunBroker.com, the 2014 SHOT Show Auction of two historical firearms and a one-of-a-kind engraved knife generated $90,376 in support of America’s hunting and shooting sports heritage.
The 2014 auction on GunBroker.com featured a one-of-a-kind Tribute to Henry rifle designer B. Tyler Henry, the first-ever Doug Turnbull Restoration 1911 pistol and a “1 of 1” Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter in commemoration of that knife’s 50th anniversary.
When the GunBroker.com gavel sounded on the final afternoon of the SHOT Show, the high bid on the Henry Tribute Rifle was $50,825; the Turnbull 1911 high bid was $36,025 and Buck 110 Folding Hunter attracted a high bid of $3,526.
The Henry rifle was a presentation grade Original Henry, marking the first production of the Original Henry rifle design in 150 years. The gun was engraved as a tribute to B. Tyler Henry, who designed the iconic rifle in 1860. The engraving featured a likeness of Mr. Henry of the right side of the receiver and a representation of the original factory on the left. The rifle was engraved by the artisans at Baron Engraving. Baron has engraved more SHOT Show firearms than any other engraver or manufacturer.
“We were honored to have this tribute to B. Tyler Henry selected as the 2014 SHOT Show auction rifle and were proud when the bidding reached $50,825 on the final day of the show,” announced Henry Repeating Arms CEO, Anthony Imperato. “We are grateful to NSSF for this opportunity, to GunBroker.com for providing extraordinary bidding activity and, of course, to the high bidder who will be adding this special rifle to his collection,” Imperato said.
Turnbull Manufacturing Company, the iconic restorer of vintage rifles and shotguns, has recently aimed their manufacturing and design skills on the production of high-quality handguns. The SHOT Show Auction handgun was the first Deluxe Model of the new Turnbull 1911 Classic and featured Serial Number 1911001.
The Buck Knives 50th Anniversary Model 110 Folding Hunter created by legendary knife maker David Yellowhorse was the fifth Buck knife that has been featured as a SHOT Show auction knife.
The 2014 Buck SHOT Show knife celebrated the 110’s prominence in the hearts and hands of America’s outdoorsmen.
The SHOT Show auction is administered by the Hunting Heritage Trust on behalf of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The 2014 auction marked the 11th consecutive year that the auction was featured exclusively on GunBroker.com, the world’s largest internet auction site for firearms and related outdoor equipment. Auction proceeds will benefit programs in support of America’s hunting and shooting sports heritage.
Attracting industry professionals from the United States and more than 100 other countries, the SHOT Show shattered attendance records this week, giving industry professionals good reason to believe that 2014 will be another strong year for sales of firearms, ammunition, outdoor gear and law enforcement equipment.
The 36th SHOT Show ran Jan. 14 to 17 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. Attendance figures eclipsed last year’s total by the second day of the show and finished at more than 67,000, an increase of 5,000. “I think that really speaks to the quality of the event and the enthusiasm and passion of our industry to provide quality products for hunting, target shooting and personal and home defense,” said Chris Dolnack, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
NSSF, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, owns and manages the SHOT Show.
The $6 billion industry has enjoyed robust sales the last several years, fueled in part by newcomers to the shooting sports who, according to an NSSF First-time Gun Buyers Report, are younger, more female and more urban based. Newcomers have identified target shooting and personal and home protection as the top reasons for purchasing their first firearm.
During the show, NSSF issued a first-of-its-kind report that confirmed the importance of the shooting sports to the U.S. economy. “Target Shooting in America: Millions of Shooters, Billions of Dollars” revealed that the money target shooters spent in 2011 resulted in $23 billion being added to the nation’s economy and supported more than 185,000 jobs nationally.
Combined data from Target Shooting in America and Hunting in America, a report released last year, shows that spending by target shooters and hunters had a total impact of more than $110 billion on the nation’s economy in 2011, supporting more than 866,000 jobs.
“Communities and businesses of all sizes benefit from these activities,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “Our industry is proud to be an economic driver that has helped workers keep their jobs and support their families even during the most difficult economic times.”
Displays by more than 1,600 exhibiting companies filled the convention center and also rooms in the adjoining Venetian. Total show exhibition space was 635,000 net square feet, or 13 acres of product display.
Manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, optics, cutlery, apparel, accessories and law enforcement equipment introduced new products and services that retailers will offer consumers during the course of the year.
The past year was a challenging one for industry, which battled state and federal legislative efforts to restrict ownership of certain types of firearms. In addressing 2,000 industry leaders at the State of the Industry Dinner, Sanetti declared, “The State of our industry is renewed. More persons are entering the recreational shooting sports than ever before. More hunters, more target shooters, more women, more diverse groups, more licensed gun owners and, as you all know, more firearms sales.
“Perhaps the best news of all is that, despite tremendous increases in these numbers, violent crime with firearms has decreased dramatically during the last five years, to early 1960s levels.”
Sanetti also pointed out that firearms accidents account for less than one percent of all fatal accidents in the country, according to the National Safety Council.
Safety was on display at the SHOT Show, with many companies showcasing the latest gun safes, cases and lockboxes. Also, NSSF’s national firearm safety education program, Project ChildSafe and its “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” campaign, was highly visible at the show.
Outdoor Channel was once again the show’s Pinnacle-level sponsor.
Some of the country’s most well-known radio personalities, including Mike Gallagher and Lars Larson, broadcasted live from the show’s new “Radio Row.”
Among the many awards bestowed during the show was the NSSF Ken Sedlecky Achievement Award presented to Bob Morrison, longtime industry executive and former president and CEO of Taurus. SHOT Business magazine presented NSSF’s Sanetti with the Bonnier Outdoor Group Special Achievement Award in recognition of his industry leadership during the past year.
For the third time, NSSF hosted a charity golf event at the SHOT Show in partnership with the PGA Tour for Birdies for the Brave. The event at TPC Summerlin raised more than $100,000 for military homefront groups.
The SHOT Show is not just about selling and buying products. The show provides educational opportunities for firearms retailers at SHOT Show University and other seminars, and for law enforcement professionals at the Law Enforcement Education Program.
This was the first SHOT Show under its new management company, ConvExx.
The SHOT Show, which pumps more than $73 million into the Las Vegas economy, is committed to the Sands Expo & Convention Center through 2017. Next year’s SHOT Show is scheduled for Jan. 20-23, 2015.
The digital edition of the Day 4 issue of SHOT Daily is now available online. SHOT Daily is brought to you by The Bonnier Corp. and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. (Also available in PDF format here.)
The National Shooting Sports Foundation and Sands Expo and Convention Center have followed up the 2014 record-setting Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) by adding another two years to their agreement.
