Category: SHOT Show Front Page

NSSF membership has its perks at the SHOT Show

Membership in the National Shooting Sports Foundation — the owner and sponsor of the SHOT Show — has its benefits. Not only does your membership help promote, protect and preserve our industry and our sports, but you also get a whole lot of perks — year-round and at the SHOT Show. Here are a few SHOT Show benefits that NSSF members will receive at the 2011 show:

  • Use of the NSSF Member Lounge: As anyone who’s ever walked the show floor knows, a good place to rest your feet is invaluable. By picking up a membership ribbon at the NSSF booth, you’ll be granted access to the Member Lounge throughout the show. There, you are guaranteed a comfortable place to sit and rest, and a great place to grab lunch.

  • Access to the NSSF Business Center: Adjoining the Member Lounge will be the NSSF Business Center, where members can utilize computers, fax machines and copiers. A reliable spot to make copies, use the Internet, check your e-mail, print your boarding pass, etc.

  • Free stuff: Everybody likes freebies. Members who have renewed their membership before or do so during the show can also receive free items from NSSF staff members at the NSSF booth.

  • Best seats in the house at the State of the Industry Dinner: NSSF members are given the opportunity to purchase tickets to the State of the Industry Dinner before they go on sale. Members who take advantage of this offer are given prime seating for the show.

  • Quick registration: As an NSSF member, SHOT Show registration is extremely easy. Simply enter your NSSF member ID number and password and you’re on your way to being registered in seconds.

Learn more about all the benefits of NSSF membership at NSSFmembership.com.

Mobile App in the Works for Upcoming Show

A “SHOT Show Mobile” application will be available this year for all attendees and exhibitors. The app essentially places all of the show’s information at your fingertips.

App users will be able to find exhibitors, view the floor plan, find sessions and events, show news and alerts, new products and show specials.

Depending on what mobile device you are using, more advanced options will also be available. If you are an iPhone user, for example, you will be able to get suggestions based on your interests, access point-to-point routing to exhibitors at the show, create short lists, plan your agenda, request appointments and callbacks from participating exhibitors, take notes, verify the status of your registration and hotel booking and more.

Stay tuned.

Outdoor Channel and NSSF Announce Innovative Marketing Partnership for 2011 SHOT Show

NSSF and Outdoor Channel have announced an unprecedented marketing partnership for the 2011 SHOT Show. As part of the deal, Outdoor Channel will be the major sponsor of the SHOT Show’s State of the Industry gala event.

“We are very excited about this agreement with Outdoor Channel that enhances the overall impact the SHOT Show has in our industry and also reinforces Outdoor Channel’s position as America’s Leader in Outdoor TV,” said Chris Dolnack, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of NSSF, owner of the SHOT Show. “We have always had a great working relationship with Outdoor Channel, and their forward thinking has taken them to a new level in our industry.”

Though all details were not released, NSSF says the agreement makes Outdoor Channel the sole sponsor of the industry’s premiere event, the SHOT Show State of the Industry dinner and awards ceremony. The agreement also includes elements that will provide Outdoor Channel with major exposure at the show, including a hospitality suite, branded informational kiosks, signage throughout the Sands Expo and Convention Center and guerilla marketing teams walking the show floor. Outdoor Channel’s category-leading talent, such as Ted Nugent and Michael Waddell, also will make appearances in two prominent locations. Additionally, the network will continue to produce and expand SHOT Show TV, the official daily television production of SHOT Show.

Read NSSF’s full press release.

HOW TO: Increase Your Visibility at the Show Using Social Media

The following article comes to us from Ashley Burgess, senior MARCOM manager for Laura Burgess Marketing:

    INCREASE YOUR VISIBILITY USING SOCIAL MEDIA
    By Ashley Burgess
    Senior MARCOM Manager for Laura Burgess Marketing
    SHOT Show is now the thirteenth largest trade show in the U.S. For our industry, it is the busiest time of year with new sales programs, new products, new people and new marketing campaigns. The show itself has become increasingly busy and for buyers and media people, almost impossible to cover in the four days allotted. As a marketer or business owner, you know about the media opportunities presented to all exhibitors by the NSSF; the press room, marketing opportunities, press conferences and more, but how can you expand your messaging to make sure everyone receives it and hears it above all the rest of the show chatter? Consider using social media tools to enhance your current public relations program. Besides building traditional press kits and releases, why not build a Facebook Fan page?

    A Facebook Fan Page gives your company a direct connection to your end users. With the middle man cut out, you can receive instant feedback from your customers and provide them with immediate content. Consumers trust people and brands that they “know” and by reaching out to them in a space they use daily to interact with family, friends, even to get the news, will only benefit your company.

    Yeah, yeah, you’ve heard it all before, but really, Facebook? Are my end users really there? You bet they are. Facebook recently hit 500 million users and continues to grow daily. The world is becoming increasingly more and more internet savvy and customers expect you to be where they interact – and these days that is on social networks. If you aren’t where your customer base is, you could be ignoring a crucial segment of your market.

    Many people have the misconception that social networks are for high school and college kids who want to share what they did this weekend and find out where the next party is at. However, recent research shows that the fastest growing age bracket on Facebook is the 35-44 year old demographic, experiencing a 276.4% growth rate in over approximately 6 months. The 55+ demographic is right behind that, while the 25-34 demographic doubles every 6 months. You can’t afford to ignore numbers like that.

    So how do you tap into Fan Pages, Twitter and YouTube to create a solid social media plan to make your company stick out at SHOT? Simple. It’s called buzz and social media sites are great at generating it. Prior to the show, create sneak peek videos and host them on YouTube. These don’t have to be Grade A movie quality videos. Honest, short clips from 2-5 minutes in length done with a hand held work just fine if you don’t have a big budget. Promote those videos through Facebook and Twitter and invite people to see and learn more about these products at your booth. Create a special promotion that is only promoted through those sites, perhaps something along the lines of come by our booth with code FACEBOOK and you’ll get a free XYZ. People love free stuff.

    While at the show, use your social media platforms to keep attendees and those who aren’t able to come informed about what is going on at your booth. Have a special demonstration going on? Tweet out the location and time to increase potential foot traffic at your booth and post pictures and videos from the actual demonstration on your Fan Page and YouTube account so people know what they missed. Want to host an impromptu cocktail hour with writers? Send out a “Tweet Up” through Twitter with a time and location and see how many people show up to meet you and talk about your product. Keep the content coming while you’re at the show and you’ll be keeping people informed and interested. Consider even doing a Daily Wrap Up email blast which provides information on the activities that went on at your booth for the day.

    When the show wraps up, it doesn’t mean your social media efforts are over as well. Post wrap up information on Facebook. Direct your followers where to find more information through Twitter. Create a wrap up video and host it on YouTube. Perhaps you’d like to find out what people enjoyed most and least about your booth and product. If so, create a poll or survey through your Fan Page and get the answers you need to improve your booth for next year.

    Social media is not going anywhere. It is here to stay and savvy businesses are using these tools to continue to build communities by which they can build brand loyalty, shorten sales cycles, improve customer service and communicate to their customers in an honest, immediate fashion. But beware, social media PR is unlike traditional PR in that it requires constant monitoring and participation. There are programs out there to help you monitor your sites and the end result is worth it; you’ll see that result in your bottom line. Contact a public relations company in our industry that can guide you down the new media path and see how talking with your customers before, during and after the show will increase your brand share and sales.

    Ashley Burgess is the Senior MARCOM Manager for Laura Burgess Marketing and a Cum Laude graduate of Babson College, specializing in social media optimization for the outdoor markets.

    Laura Burgess Marketing (www.lauraburgess.com) is a public relations and marketing firm specializing in law enforcement, military, shooting sports and the outdoor markets with traditional and new social media tactics and techniques.

SHOT Show University: The only event of its kind for firearms retailers

Firearms retailers that attend the SHOT Show each year know that one event you absolutely can’t miss is SHOT Show University.

It’s the only event of its kind, where firearms retailers can get up to speed on everything they need to know to ensure their businesses remain successful.

A Look Back at Last Year's SHOT Show University

NSSF will again be bringing the firearms retailing community a very impressive lineup of speakers and topics for the 2011 SHOT Show University, planned for Monday, Jan. 17.

Delivering this year’s keynote address will be former ATF senior executive Wally Nelson, who will speak on the basics of ATF compliance, A&D books and the top 10 violations during the inspection process.

Nelson’s career spanned 33 years with ATF. He was a member of the Senior Executive Service beginning in 1998, and, in 2004, the rank of Meritorious Executive was conferred on him by President George W. Bush for sustained superior management accomplishments.

Check out the complete lineup for the 2011 SHOT Show University and get registered today.

Exhibitors: Reserve the Press Conference Room at the Show

A great way for exhibitors to reach media attending the SHOT Show is to schedule a press conference in the Press Conference Room located within the press room in the Venetian Murano Ballroom on Level 3.

Reservations can be made online on a first-come, first-served basis.

Don’t delay. View the schedule and reserve a day and time for your company’s press event.

The Press Conference Room seats about 100 and can accommodate audio-visual presentations.

View Schedule | Reserve the Press Conference Room

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Take Advantage of SHOT Show Rates at Venetian, Palazzo Hotels

The Venetian and Palazzo hotels offer SHOT Show attendees a prime location, one that provides them with an easy walk to and from the show each day.

SHOT Show management has negotiated the lowest rates for your stay at the 2011 SHOT Show’s headquarter hotels.

Rates begin at $229 plus tax, on a first-come, first-served basis.

You now can make your reservation requests for those hotels online or by calling 866-587-4708.

Search Available Rooms | Hotel & Travel Information

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Order Your Tickets to the State of the Industry Dinner Today!

Jeff Foxworthy, the largest-selling comedian of all time with 13 million albums, will give an exclusive live performance at the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s State of the Industry Dinner on Tuesday evening, Jan. 18, in the Palazzo Ballroom, Level 5 of the Venetian Hotel and Casino.

Join us as we celebrate and recap the industry’s accomplishments for 2010.

Tickets are $100; tables of 10 can be purchased for $950. Tickets are first come first serve, nonrefundable, and there is limited seating.

You can acquire tickets by logging onto the SHOT Show registration page. You must be preregistered for the SHOT Show in order to purchase tickets for the State of the Industry event. If you have already registered for the show, you must log in using your established e-mail and password under “Already Registered” on the right side of the page.

Tickets are available to attendees, exhibitors and media. Because of the anticipated demand, ticket sales will be limited to two tables.

If you have any problems with your registration or ticket orders, please contact SHOT Show Client Services at 888-334-8720, 203-840-5600 or inquiry@shot.reedexpo.com.

Jeff Foxworthy to Headline NSSF’s State of the Industry Dinner

Jeff Foxworthy is one of the most respected and successful comedians in the country.

He is the largest selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee and best selling author of more than 26 books. Widely known for his redneck jokes, his act goes well beyond that to explore the humor in everyday family interactions and human nature, a style that has been compared to Mark Twain’s.

He will give an exclusive live performance January 18 at the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s State of the Industry Dinner and Concert at the SHOT Show.

Foxworthy is currently hosting the hit show Are Your Smarter Than A 5th Grader, which airs in syndication. Prior to that he executive produced and starred in, Foxworthy’s Big Night Out. Foxworthy had also starred in and executive produced the television series, Blue Collar TV, which he created for the WB network. Blue Collar TV came about due to the success of Blue Collar Comedy Tour, The Movie and the concert tour of the same name. The movie premiered on Comedy Central and was the highest rated movie in the channel’s history. To date the movie has sold more than 4 million units. The soundtrack for this movie has been RIAA certified gold (more than 500,000 units).

In addition to guaranteed laughs provided by Foxworthy, a ticket to the NSSF State of the Industry Dinner and Concert provides a seat for the special NSSF 50th Anniversary celebration video and other presentations.

NSSF’s State of the Industry Dinner and Concert will take place following the close of opening day of the SHOT Show in the Palazzo Ballroom, Level 5 of the Venetian Hotel and Casino. Tickets are priced at $100 each. Tables of ten can be purchased for $950. When general sales open on October 1, tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are non-refundable.

Tickets can be purchased online. To purchase tickets for the State of the Industry event, individuals must be pre-registered for the SHOT Show. Registered show-goers can log in using their established e-mail address and password under “Already Registered” on the right side of the registration web page.

Anyone who encounters a problem with registration or a ticket orders should contact SHOT Show Client Services at 888-334-8720 or 203-840-5600 or inquiry@shot.reedexpo.com.