Category: Press

33rd Edition of SHOT Show Opens in Las Vegas

The masses make their way through the lobby at the 2011 SHOT Show.

The 33rd edition of the SHOT Show opened its doors this morning. This year, buyers from all 50 states and 100 countries have come to Las Vegas for the largest and most comprehensive trade show for shooting sports professionals. With more than 700,000 square feet of exhibition space, the SHOT Show remains the premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, archery, optics and related products.

“We come to NSSF’s 2011 SHOT Show at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that our fundamental right to keep and bear arms as American citizens must be protected by all levels of government, and when public support for firearms ownership, hunting, recreational shooting and self-defense is the highest it has been in many years,” says Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “Congress is more progun than at any time in recent memory. The mood is upbeat, even though the general economy is not. The upcoming year will be a good one, even though it would be quite difficult to top the banner years many companies in our industry have experienced since late 2008. Attendees will see an extraordinary array of innovative new products, exhibitors will meet many of their most influential and receptive customers and the outdoor and shooting media will have more to report about than ever.”

“Last year’s SHOT Show experienced attendance growth like we hadn’t seen before,” says Dennis J. McDonald, senior vice president of Reed exhibitions, which runs the show for the NSSF. “In anticipation of another great show, validated by our early registration figure’s, more creature comforts have been added, including a new escalator system for easy assess between the two floors. Exhibitor participation is strong again this year; all the major players are present, and we’ll see plenty of new products.”

The day will conclude with the State of the Industry dinner. The evening includes a cocktail reception, dinner, a State of the Industry multi-media presentation and industry awards, followed by a performance by best-selling comedian Jeff Foxworthy. Nonrefundable tickets ($100) are sold on a first-come, first-served basis at the SHOT Show booth. Booth #L221.

2011 SHOT Show Facts and Figures

  • SHOT stands for Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade.

  • The SHOT Show is owned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting industry.

  • NSSF will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the 2011 SHOT Show with announcements at the State of the Industry Dinner, a press conference and a birthday cake in the press room.

  • The 2011 SHOT Show runs Tuesday, January 18, through Friday, January 21, at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.

  • A number of enhancements have been made to the Sands Expo & Convention Center following the last SHOT Show, which was one of the largest events ever held at the facility. Included is a new escalator for easier access between floors, widened aisles, more seating and better signage.

  • The SHOT Show is opens at 8:30 am each day and closes at 5:30 p.m. except for the last day when the show closes at 4 p.m. SHOT Show hours | Press Room hours

  • This is the 33rd annual SHOT Show. The first SHOT Show was in 1979 in St. Louis, Missouri.

  • The 2011 SHOT Show will have 1,600 exhibitors.

  • More than 50,000 professionals in the shooting, hunting and outdoors industry are expected to attend. The show is for trade only and is not open to the general public.

  • Attendees come from all 50 states and 100 countries.

  • The Law Enforcement section remains the fastest growing segment of the SHOT Show. To illustrate this growth, law enforcement was started nine years ago, covering 7,000 square feet; today is covers more than 150,000 square feet of the show.

  • Total exhibit space for the 2011 show is 650,000 square feet.

  • The SHOT Show is the once-a-year gathering place for the shooting, hunting and outdoors industry — manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, publishers and wildlife conservation organizations. It’s where a passion for firearms, ammunition and outdoors equipment, plus the industry’s unified support for the Second Amendment, are on display.

  • The SHOT Show generates millions of the dollars in revenue that funds NSSF programs and services that help “promote, protect and preserve” hunting and the shooting sports — all the shooting sports. A top priority of NSSF is to develop new hunters and shooters and to reactivate former hunters and shooters. Over the next five years, NSSF has an ambitious goal of increasing the number of hunters and shooters by 20 percent.

  • Some 2,000 members of the outdoor and mainstream media, including international media, cover the show and promote the products they see at SHOT in their print, Internet, radio and television stories.

Pre-SHOT Show Press Release

33rd SHOT Show Will Showcase Best in
Shooting, Hunting and Law Enforcement Products

LAS VEGAS — Having weathered the recession better than many, firearms industry professionals are looking forward to the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, where they’ll get a first look at the new products and services they hope will excite their customers in 2011.

While the U.S. economy was mired in recession, sales of firearms and ammunition climbed to record-high levels from late 2008 through early 2010. Since then, sales have remained generally robust. What lies ahead for this $4 billion industry? “We certainly hope to continue bucking the sluggish economy,” said President and CEO Steve Sanetti of NSSF, the industry’s trade association and owner of the SHOT Show. “People have shown their enthusiasm for shooting and hunting and are still buying at near-record level purchases. Our sports are as popular as ever; USA Today even called hunting ‘recession proof.’ The buying activity at the SHOT Show will give us a first look as to how the industry will fare in the coming year.”

More than 50,000 industry professionals will attend the SHOT Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas January 18 to 21. On display will be the latest in firearms, ammunition, outdoor clothing, cutlery, optics, law enforcement equipment and related products and services. The largest trade show of its kind in the world, the SHOT Show attracts buyers from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

The Sands was stretched to capacity by the 2010 SHOT Show, one of the largest events the venue ever accommodated. In response, NSSF encouraged the facility’s management to make improvements. “A number of creature-comfort enhancements such as a new escalator system, widened aisles, added seating and better signage have been added,” said Chris Dolnack, NSSF’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “We listened to the feedback of our attendees after the last show and made as many improvements as possible. As a result, we anticipate a great event.”

NSSF will present its State of the Industry Dinner on the first evening of the show, where the Foundation will kick off its 50th anniversary celebration and present its achievement award to a most-deserving recipient.

At the SHOT Show, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, publishers and wildlife conservation groups gather to conduct business, exchange ideas, renew contacts and reaffirm the unity that has been the hallmark of the shooting sports industry in these challenging times.

For retailers, the SHOT Show provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to gain a hands-on education about the products they’ll be discussing with their sportsmen customers. New products seen at the SHOT Show will arrive later in the year at retail stores.

Manufacturers and distributors display a broad range of products in categories including firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, tactical, reloading, custom manufacturing, scopes and sights, gun locks, gun cases and cabinets, binoculars and rangefinders, shooting range equipment, targets, training and safety equipment, archery, hunting accessories, hearing and eye protection, tree stands, scents and lures, cutlery and sharpeners, GPS systems, holsters, apparel, leather goods, game calls, decoys and more.

Outdoor media turn out in force at the SHOT Show–more than 1,700 are expected–to cover the introduction of products and to report on stories associated with the firearms and outdoor industry. This year’s show features a larger, redesigned press room to accommodate the growing number of outdoor and mainstream media who attend the show.

With practically all segments of industry in attendance, the SHOT Show provides a perfect setting for organizational and educational meetings. On the day before the show opens, retailers take advantage of SHOT Show University to learn from experts about new marketing strategies, e-commerce, store financials and compliance with federal regulations. Additional seminars for retailers run during the show and feature presenters from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Additional seminars are tailored for law enforcement attendees.

Industry professionals who cannot attend the show but want to keep track of all that is happening at SHOT can do so at www.shotshow.org.

Media contact: Bill Brassard, National Shooting Sports Foundation

Budweiser to Sponsor SHOT Show Press Room

Budweiser and the National Shooting Sports Foundation have announced a new two-year agreement that will make Budweiser the official sponsor of the SHOT Show press room.

The agreement provides Budweiser with space in the press room to demonstrate its support for hunting and shooting and its Conservationist of the Year Award. The press room serves as the communications hub for the SHOT Show, which attracts more than 1,700 members of the media — the largest gathering of outdoor press in the world.

“The Budweiser brand and Anheuser-Busch have a long history of supporting and giving to organizations that are actively making a difference to conserve and protect the environment and the shooting sports,” said Bob Fishbeck, senior Budweiser manager. “For more than a decade, we’ve been proud to partner with the NSSF to develop shooting safety programs while promoting ethics in and around the field.”

Budweiser will be a familiar presence at the show, where it has sponsored many NSSF and SHOT Show-related events over the years.

“Budweiser has long been a good friend to our industry and hunters and shooters across America and a champion of wildlife conservation,” said Chris Dolnack, NSSF’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “Budweiser belongs at the SHOT Show. We’re thrilled they will again be sponsoring the press room.”

For more information about Budweiser’s support of conservation and the environment, visit www.budweiser.com.

A Pro’s Advice to the Media on Getting the Job Done

A view from a veteran who has worn both press and exhibitor badges

Mark Thomas, managing director, marketing communications, NSSF

I remember my first SHOT Show. Daunting. Exciting. A lot of work that needed to be done in a short amount of time. Even though that was in 1985, not much has changed.

I attended my first show as a reporter with assigned stories, so I had to gather information and do interviews for three vastly different publications. I didn’t think it would be difficult, but the marked difference in the stories and the sheer size of the show became daunting. I am sure I didn’t make many friends at that show due to my impatience and lack of understanding of the true purpose of the show.

Since then, I have worked the show as a public relations and marketing practitioner for large manufacturers and now as a part of the NSSF team that owns and sponsors the show. Ask any politician, and he or she will tell you that walking both sides of the aisle is enlightening and challenging.

The relationship between manufacturers and the media has always had a hint of insecurity. Exhibitors want what reporters can deliver but are torn by why they are at the show. That purpose is to make a return on their investment, and getting that immediately may most readily be construed as spending time with buyers. Reporters, on the other hand, want to get their job done as best as they can, being objective without alienating companies that can be useful to them in the future. I can’t tell you how many informal gatherings I have been in with reporters where the conversation was how bad a company spokesman was or how the materials they were given were not helpful. Fast forward to my days as a public relations representative where my brethren were joking about reporters who just didn’t get it or didn’t get it right. As in most cases, these criticisms are not fully justified.

The SHOT Show, with more than 1,400 press-credentialed representatives, hosts the largest gathering of outdoor media in the world. This is one of the reasons the show is so great. This is the ideal place for people to exchange ideas, stories and best practices. In an earlier editions of SHOT Show ® Blast, Mike Walker and Sherry Kerr gave great advice to exhibitors on how to work more efficiently with the media. I think a couple of suggestions to the media will also help everyone get what he or she needs from the 2010 SHOT Show.

1.  Do your homework – Approach the show exactly as you would for any other story. Make sure you know to whom to talk and something about their products before you approach them at the show. Most exhibitors have press information in the SHOT Show ® press room, and hopefully those materials will answer some of your questions and help facilitate your research process. Doing your homework beforehand will also give you instant credibility and respect, which will result in more time and better answers.

2.  Plan ahead – This sounds elementary but is sometimes hard to do and certainly critical. If you know with whom you need to speak and when you can talk to them, make contact before the show and arrange a specific time to do an interview. I assure you, company executives are already filling up their SHOT Show ® calendars.

3.  Remember, this is a selling show – Though all exhibitors clearly understand the value and impact a positive story can have, their primary focus is to speak with current and prospective customers to sell goods and services. For some, this may be the only time they can reach buyers. In these times, this show may be the difference in growing and surviving. Remember this as you attempt to plan a meeting or approach a booth for which you have no prearranged appointment.

4.  Patience – Those that know me are laughing right now because being patient is a big challenge for me. After you have done the research, made the appointment and are at the exhibitor’s booth, you discover that your source is talking to a customer and can’t see you right away. Take this time to explore the exhibitor’s products and services; you may learn things to enhance your current assignment or even spur an idea for a new story.

Frankly, most of the media that attend the SHOT Show ® are true professionals, and this is nothing more than a refresher sheet or a gentle reminder. That’s okay. I am at that age where I have to tell myself daily that old dogs need to learn new tricks and be reminded of old ones.

Mark Thomas is managing director of marketing communications for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. He is also an active freelance writer and a former president of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association. He has spent most of his career as an award-winning communications’ professional with Remington, OMC, Volvo-Penta, Continental Airlines and Invisible Fence Brand.

Press gets first glimpse at new products at Media Day, Jan. 17

Each year, manufacturers give the press a chance to test out their new products on the day before the SHOT Show.

Only a few weeks remain for media members to register for the sixth annual Media Day at the Range, the pre-show product and services showcase sponsored by Bass Pro Shops.

The event is slated for Monday, Jan. 17, at the Boulder City Pistol & Rifle Range in Boulder City, Nev., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The day will include lunch, raffles and lots of giveaways. Transportation will be provided to and from the range. Organizers of the event note that exhibitor slots are sold out.

Media can register to attend and see a complete list of exhibitors at media-day.com.

5 new things to look for in the SHOT Show Press Room

Media at the 2011 SHOT Show will notice several improvements to the show’s Press Room. Not only will the room be five times the size of last year’s room, but there will also be some new features that are sure to please our growing contingent of working press.

Here are five new things to look for in this year’s Press Room:

  • Super-Sized Location: The Press Room at the 2011 show will quite possibly be the largest in show history with its new location in the Venetian Hotel, Level 3, Murano Ballroom. Members of the media will have plenty of room to stretch out and shouldn’t have any trouble finding a nice spot to rest after trekking the show floor.

  • Working Press Area: Similar to what you’d find at a sporting event, there will be an area of the Press Room designed to help media write and file stories with minimal distractions. In this working press area, you’ll find a place to sit and use your laptops or use one of the computer workstations provided.

  • Alphabetically Listed Press Kits and Materials: Exhibitors will display their press materials this year in alphabetically listed bins. These bins will replace the tables that have been used in years past. Members of the press should find it much easier to find what they’re looking for.

  • Coat Check and Storage: A coat check and storage area will be available this year in the Press Room. Rather than lug heavy bags around the show, members of the media will have a place to store their belongings.

  • Free Wi-Fi: Great news for laptop, iPad, iPhone and other mobile-device users, free wi-fi will be available throughout the Press Room.

Click here to see a list of more resources available for members of the media at the show.

Improvements Being Made to SHOT Show Press Room

Media at the 2011 SHOT Show will notice several improvements to the show’s press room. Not only will the room be five times the size of last year’s press room, but there will also be some new features that are sure to please our growing contingent of working press.

The following update comes from Mark Thomas, NSSF’s managing director, marketing communications:

    As the wind gets cooler and the leaves start to change, we have already begun planning what should be the best SHOT Show ever. The world’s largest firearms and ammunition trade show will take place in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo and Convention Center January 18-21. We had a record number of media attend last year’s event and more media than attend the NHL’s Stanley Cup and the NBA Finals. That being said, there are many significant improvements planned for this year’s SHOT Show press room. For starters, the press room will be in the Murano Ballroom on the third floor, which is a space that is over five times larger than last year’s press room. Secondly, the press room will have a “working” press area designed to help media write and file stories with minimal distractions. Thirdly, we will provide coat check and storage areas for press badge holders. Fourth, we will organize media and press kits in an orderly and professional manner by providing wall shelves similar to large mail slots for press materials. These will make gathering materials easier and keep the room looking professional.

    In the next week or so, you will be receiving information on how to register. We strongly recommend using our convenient online registration system to cut down on your wait time to gain credentials and make your show as productive and efficient as possible. We look forward to seeing you in January at the 2011 SHOT Show, and please don’t hesitate to contact us for story ideas.

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.