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 or other places and do NOT have exhibit booths.
Plain and simple, this type of act is stealing from the show, and frankly, it’s stealing from SHOT Show exhibitors who have invested a lot of money and other resources to exhibit at the show. Acts like these deprive NSSF (as the show’s owner) of income we use to support our many programs and initiatives to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports.
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). In fact, Clark County law prohibits the commercial use of a hotel sleeping room because this parasitic practice undermines trade shows and the trade-show business, which is so important to the state’s economy.
What are suitcasing and outboarding?
Suitcasing and outboarding are unethical and dishonest 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.
Examples of this include a well-known cutlery maker sending out alerts to potential customers that while they will not be exhibiting they will have personnel walking the show floor and will be offering a SHOT Show Special, and a sight maker that sets up shop at one of our high-top tables in a food concession area. To protect our exhibitors and their investment, we revoked both 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.
Examples of this include 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.
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. Violators may even be reported to local law enforcement for investigation. Punishments include $1,000 fines and up to six months in jail.
We will have a special hotline number to call during the show should you become aware of instances of suitcasing or outboarding. Those found to be involved will no longer be welcome at the SHOT Show.