Category: Exhibitors

‘Suitcasing’ and ‘Outboarding’ Not Welcome at SHOT Show

In order to protect our valued exhibitors and their investment in attending the SHOT Show and in supporting NSSF’s mission as the industry’s trade association, our rules strictly prohibit solicitation, “suitcasing” or “outboarding” by attendees who transact business at the show or in SHOT Show hotels and do NOT have exhibit booths.

What are suitcasing and outboarding?

Suitcasing and outboarding are unethical parasitic business practices in which non-exhibitors attempt to gain access to trade show attendees and/or exhibitors. These practices skirt the support of the organizer and the industry.

Suitcasing refers to those non-exhibiting companies or persons who go to shows as an attendee but “work the aisles” from their suitcase (briefcase) and solicit business in the aisles or lobby area.

An example of this occurred last year when a well-known cutlery maker sent out alerts to potential customers that while they will not be exhibiting this year they will have personnel walking the show floor and will be offering a SHOT Show Special. To protect our exhibitors and their investment, we revoked that company’s SHOT Show credentials and escorted them from the show floor.

Outboarding refers to non-exhibiting companies that set up exhibits at off-site locations — hotel hospitality suites or restaurants — and encourage show attendees to leave the show floor and spend time with them.

An example of this occurred last year when rather than exhibit at the 2010 SHOT Show, a well-known firearms maker set up a hospitality room in a hotel off the show floor and invited retailers to leave the show floor and visit their suite. To protect our exhibitors, the hotel agreed to shut down the suite, as provided for in its contract with the SHOT Show. The manufacturer attempted to relocate to yet another hotel, which refused to allow the manufacturer to outboard the show.

By suitcasing or outboarding the show, an attendee gains an unfair competitive advantage over SHOT Show exhibitors that have invested money and other resources to exhibit and deprives NSSF (as the show’s owner) of income we use to support our many programs and initiatives. Please keep in mind, this is not just a SHOT Show policy; it is an industry standard recognized by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).

Any SHOT Show attendee, who is observed to be soliciting business in the aisles or other public spaces, or uninvited attendees in another company’s booth, will be asked to leave immediately. Likewise, known commercial activity conducted from a hotel guest room or hospitality suite, a restaurant or any other public place in proximity to the SHOT Show by non-exhibiting companies, will be shut down. Those found to be involved with suitcasing or outboarding will no longer be welcome at the SHOT Show.

For more information on suitcasing and outboarding, please visit the IAEE website.

New Registration Requirements Will Make It Easier for Exhibitors to Identify True ‘Buyers’

Exhibitors at the 2011 show will have a much easier time identifying true “buyers” thanks to changes to the attendee-registration process.

Attendee badges will be more specific, enabling exhibitors to better identify various buyer categories.

This change is based on feedback from our exhibitors, who stated that the traditional red attendee badges used at the show do not clearly identify who from an organization is the decision-maker in buying.

Web-based registration will start out by asking if attendees are buyers or non-buyers. From there, the attendee will filter through the demographic questions that will assist us in determining the categories of people attending the show.

Past show attendees should be able to find their information in the system and should move through the process quickly. The identification and verification policy that was started at the 2010 show will continue for the 2011 show.

In addition, attendees will be able to purchase tickets to SHOT Show University, State of the Industry Dinner, register for free education sessions online within the registration process and have the ability to pay for registration and special-event fees.

SHOT Show has initiated a modest price increase for attendee registration. As many of you are aware, the show has not increased its registration prices since 2007.

Wrap-up from the latest SHOT Show Chat

Thanks to everyone who participated in our second live chat.

Many of the questions focused on booth selection, floor-plan layout and our plans for enhancing the customer experience.

NSSF, Reed Exhibitions and the Sands Expo & Convention Center have been working on improving that experience.

Our SHOT Show committee will conduct a site inspection in Las Vegas in early October, so we can see the renovations first-hand. When we return, we’ll host another live chat to report on our findings, and I hope to post a few pictures as well.

If you missed the chat, you can view it at nssf.org/shotshowchat.

Next SHOT Show live chat set for Aug. 11

If you have SHOT Show related questions or suggestions then mark your calendar for Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. EDT, when I’ll host our next live chat.  

Our earlier online chat drew a lot of participation, evoking more questions and comments regarding the SHOT Show than we could squeeze into the allotted half-hour. I think we answered most of the questions and let people blow off some steam about their 2010 experience by the time we signed off an hour later.    

We’re moving forward and working hard to improve your experience at the 2011 SHOT Show, so let’s not plow old ground or rehash what has already been made abundantly clear in the previous live chat. 

To help make sure that we don’t short change anyone, you can submit your questions or suggestions in advance, so that responses can be considered and created before the next chat. That will expedite the process and maximize the dialogue that can occur in the scheduled session.

The live chat is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. EDT, and the July edition of SHOT Show Blast will offer the details on how to participate.

In the meantime, send your questions and/or other comments in advance of the live chat so they can be considered for inclusion in the session.

Update from the Sands: New roof installation complete

To ensure the best possible SHOT Show experience for this coming year, we've asked the Sands Expo & Convention Center to provide our exhibitors and attendees with regular updates on improvements the facility is making for next year's show. The following is an update from Ashlyn LaPorte, executive director of event management for the Sands:

SHOT Show 2011 is now one month closer and we wanted to once again tell you how excited we are to have you coming back to the Sands Expo & Convention Center.

While we all know it never rains in Vegas, we wanted to share some exciting news with you. The Sands is one week away from completion of our new roof installation. That's right! While the storm of January 2010 is behind us, and we know it will never rain again, we are prepared, with a new roof to cover your head.

As we continue to improve in preparation for your return, I will update you on the many exciting changes here at the Sands. See you in January!

Las Vegas in January: A Popular Choice for the SHOT Show

The following is an article from the April/May issue of SHOT Business magazine:

Las Vegas in January
The 2010 SHOT Show returned to Las Vegas in January by popular demand

By Chris Dolnack
NSSF Senior Vice President

Eighty-five percent of SHOT Show exhibitors have stressed that holding the industry's largest trade show in January is a must. A January show gives manufacturers plenty of lead time to introduce new products, get a head start on sales and ensure their products are in stores with plenty of time to spare before hunting season.

In 2008, the SHOT Show was held in February, and it turned out to be one of the lowest-rated shows in its history. This was primarily because many companies lost a whole month of sales because they weren't able to introduce new products a month earlier.

To combat this problem, the 2009 show was held in January in Orlando. That show was one of the highest-rated shows ever in our customer feedback surveys.

A majority of exhibitors, however, have continually stressed the importance of holding the show in Las Vegas. According to post-show surveys, 85 percent say the show should be held there "no matter what."

When it comes to trade shows, Las Vegas is a popular place in January. It's the most sought-after month in the trade-show business, with giants like the International Consumer Electronics Show taking first priority with local tourism officials.

We've been fortunate in the past to be able to hold the show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the most attractive venue by far to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (owner and sponsor of the SHOT Show), as well as to a majority of exhibitors and attendees.

More than anyone, we would like to hold the show there every year. Unfortunately, we were not able to be there in 2010 and will not be able to be there for the foreseeable future due to high demand for dates in January and February.

Other than the Las Vegas Convention Center, the only venue in Las Vegas that can support the SHOT Show is the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

The NSSF held the 2010 show at the Sands because of its availability in January. The Sands had planned to have a brand-new convention center built by 2010, but that plan, like many others around the country, fell victim to the economic downturn.

Though the 2010 SHOT Show successfully set records for attendees and media, we recognize that the venue posed some challenges for everyone. We've already begun addressing those challenges and are striving to improve the SHOT Show experience next year, when we head back to the Sands.

To start, there will be more adequate signage in the exhibit halls and common areas, more seating available for dining and more information staff throughout the venue to answer questions and offer directions.

We are also working with the Sands to address other facility-related issues.

A couple of rumors making their way around the 2010 show were that the Sands is NSSF's first-choice venue and that the show was held there because the venue is less expensive.

Both could not be further from the truth. On the contrary, it would cost us a lot less to hold the show at the Las Vegas Convention Center because it is a public facility.

Another rumor was that the NSSF has contracted with the Sands for the next 10 years or more. The truth is that we are under contract for 2011 and are finalizing a contract for 2012.

We have reserved dates at the Sands for years beyond that, but we are also carefully weighing our options for future SHOT Show venues that can provide the required 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space in firearms-friendly, warm-weather cities.

We are also continuing to work with the Las Vegas Convention Center in seeking future long-term dates there.

The fact that so many in our industry want the show to be held in Las Vegas in January is understandable. Las Vegas is a first-rate entertainment destination.

Many feel the SHOT Show is at its best when it's in Las Vegas, and, judging by booth traffic and sales at the 2010 show, we'd certainly agree.

We continue to receive and monitor feedback from exhibitors, attendees and media about the 2010 show, and we are listening.

It's our goal to ensure not only that the show remains second to none, but also that all of our customers continue to be provided with a can't-miss experience each and every year.

SHOT Show Thrives in Las Vegas

With firearms and ammunition sales having surged last year in a struggling economy, there were many positive signs this week at the industry’s annual trade show — the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show — that indicated sales will remain robust in 2010.

The show’s return to Las Vegas sparked a rise in attendance over the previous year, with buyers packing exhibit booths to review products and then placing orders on the latest shooting, hunting and outdoor gear.

Overall attendance was 58,444, only several hundred shy of the show’s all-time record set at the 2008 Las Vegas Show and more than 11,000 above last year’s show in Orlando. The show attracted an all-time high of 31,280 buyers, and the 1,804 media professionals attending established a new record.

The SHOT Show filled the Sands Expo & Convention Center for four days, January 19-22, reaffirming its stature as the world's premier exposition of firearms, ammunition, outdoor and tactical apparel, optics, cutlery, camping and related products and services. The show is owned and sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry’s trade association.

From the opening to closing bells, the mood was upbeat. Retailers like Glenn Duncan, owner of Duncan’s Outdoor Shop in Bay City, Mich., said he values the SHOT Show for the opportunity it affords to learn about exciting new products. “It’s good to see the industry offering so many new products — guns, ammunition, targets and more — and I really appreciated that the exhibitors were willing to take the time to give me the attention I needed.” Among the products Duncan found interesting were new models of firearms introduced by Taurus International and Smith & Wesson, and Winchester’s 410 ammo.

Manufacturers like Dwight Van Brunt of Kimber were equally pleased. "This is an amazing show,” said Van Brunt. “We came in with some trepidation, wondering if it was going to be busy the whole time. We were slammed 45 minutes into the show. You couldn't see the color of my carpet, and it stayed that way for the first two days. This show is great."

Scott Hanes of Remington Arms said, "There's a lot of excitement, and people are very positive. I was a little surprised that there would be this big of a positive attitude at this time of year because last year was so big. You figure you're going to have a little bit of a downfall later on. I'm not seeing it." 

Mike Slack of optics company Leupold & Stevens said, "This booth has been absolutely flooded with people. I can't remember a busier SHOT Show ever." He added, "How could you not come to the SHOT Show? If you're a dealer, this is the place to be. You just can't miss it.”

Professional shooter Doug Koenig, who was representing Smith & Wesson, said, "It's been packed, every day, non-stop, all day. And the buzz has been really good. I think it's going to be another great year for Smith & Wesson."

Greg Sesselmann of Scent-Lok said, “This is where we get to communicate with each other. People are generating business, coming up with new ideas. There's that synergy of working together on these things that you just can't do over the phone."

Exhibiting companies numbered 1,633 — about 125 of them international — covering 700,000 net square feet in the convention center’s halls and the Venetian Hotel’s meeting rooms.

The show got off to a grand start at NSSF’s opening-night State of the Industry Dinner, where NSSF President Steve Sanetti welcomed more than 1,500 industry professionals, saying, “With sales and revenues in much of our industry at a decade-long high despite the worst recession in a generation, we have thrived. I have to say that the state of the industry in 2010 is about as strong as I've seen it. We have millions of new firearms owners that have joined our ranks since we last met in Orlando — a testament to the popularity of firearms ownership in America and proof that hunting and target shooting remain popular activities among all ages."

Comedian Dennis Miller provided the evening’s entertainment. Many celebrities were on hand at the show, including actor Seven Seagal, who is launching a new line of tactical gear. "My impression of the SHOT Show is it's amazing,” said Seagal. “It's probably the greatest gathering of special technology for police and military I've ever seen in one place. It's extremely impressive."

In addition to the sale of hunting and shooting gear, the SHOT Show is known for its many educational seminars for firearms retailers. The pre-show SHOT Show University seminars were completely full and featured presentations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and marketing experts. For the first time, the show provided seminars for law enforcement professionals, sponsored by NSSF and Law Officer Magazine, which complemented the show’s law enforcement product section.

The record turnout of members of the outdoor media was notable since the press publicizes the show’s many products to their hunting and shooting readers and viewers.

J. Wayne Fears, outdoor writer, said, “I've been coming to every SHOT Show since the first one in 1979. It's extremely valuable in that I get an opportunity in one place to meet all of the people who produce the products that I write about.”

At the State of the Industry Dinner, veteran journalist Dave Petzal of Field & Stream received the Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator Award presented by the Professional Outdoor Media Association.

NSSF took the opportunity at a press conference to correct confusion about one of the industry’s most misunderstood products, the AR-style modern sporting rifle. NSSF reinforced that modern sporting rifles are semi-automatic, firing one round with each pull of the trigger, that they are widely used for target shooting and hunting, and that they should not be confused with similar looking military rifles.

Prior to the show, NSSF presented Clark County officials with an award of appreciation for realizing a 25-year effort to open the world-class Clark County Shooting Park. NSSF also recognized the important role Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and the rest of the state’s congressional delegation played in securing the federal assistance necessary to make the park a reality.

Next year’s SHOT Show is slated for January 18-21, 2011, at the Sands Expo & Conference Center in Las Vegas.