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 demandBy Chris Dolnack
NSSF Senior Vice PresidentEighty-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.
I think customers want new places every January for product launch or release so it’s better if Shot is still having exhibits to different places.
-april
The reason there was poor attendance at the Feb show is because it was held on Valentines day, didn’t any one think that could be a problem? Perhaps the weekend before or after could work. I have also found that it does not seem to matter when you order, either at the shot show or any other time no one seems to be able to ship or manufacture anything when they say they can.
If the SHOT SHow is going to be held at the same venue year after year, some consideration has to be given to the way booths are selected. We should be able to select and keep the same booth (both location and size) over the multiple years (if we want to) rather than having to fight the points/lottery system (that already favors multitiple exhibitors who are allowed to selct locations well in advance and edge out other exhibitors from better locations) to get an approproiately sized booth, in the right section, and then have our customers and vendors struggle to find us year after year.
That said, NSSF owes the 2010 exhibitors far more than platitudes and vague assurances that the Sands is somehow goign to improve itself just for us. The Sands, if it is the great venue that NSSF keeps trying to convince us it is, shoul dbe undertaking these steps on its own to make it inviting as a first choice facility rather than the fallback position when LVCC is booked. They don’t have to, however, when they know that organizations like NSSF will book there regardless of whether or not it is an appropriate facility becasue they are open in January. Guess what? There’s a reason they have vacancies during the most inviting time of the year to have a trade show in Vegas. Nobody wants to have their show there…and we’re apparently doing so by default rather than design. Let the Sands pound sand in 2012 and try someplace else, in January, in a warm climate…if 2011 is anything like 2010, you won’t need as much space for exhibitors or attendees.
Unfortunate with the issue of the inclement weather during the show, which aggravated the traffic flow and availability to get transportation out of the convention center and the Venetian.
Bigger issue was the availability for buyers to navigate from the main floor to the bowels of the lower level, and make appointments. Also, on that lower level, to show up at your booth space and see a supporting column directly in the middle, without notice when we booked the space, was bothersome.