State of the Industry: ‘Strong as I’ve seen it,’ says NSSF president

At the SHOT Show's annual State of the Industry Dinner, NSSF President Steve Sanetti noted that the firearms industry had a very good year despite a national economy that was clearly stuck in neutral.

"With sales and revenues in much of our industry at a decade-long high despite the worst recession in a generation, we have thrived," Sanetti said in the annual speech to members of the industry.

At the start of 2010, he said, the industry remains strong — and that by working together as an industry in meeting the challenges that lay ahead, it will continue to thrive.

"I have to say that the state of the industry in 2010, at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century, is about as strong as I've seen it," Sanetti said. "Working together, staving off the challenges as we take advantage of the many opportunities we have with millions of new firearms owners that have joined our ranks since we last met in Orlando, we will all, individually and collectively, make a difference."

Sanetti attributed some of the industry's success to the contributions of those in the business.

"All of you have contributed so much — not just because of your successful business efforts, but by your presence here, you've shown that you care deeply about our enterprise and our precious way of life. Your membership in the NSSF and your participation in this greatest annual industry gathering help us help you, by funding those programs that help us fulfill our mission — to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports," Sanetti said.

Sanetti concluded by thanking the audience for their "support of the SHOT Show, the shooting sports, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and most importantly, for helping us nurture those values we all care so much about, that constitute the very best of our American way of life."

See all of NSSF President Steve Sanetti's remarks from the State of the Industry:

Officials honored at show for developing Clark County Shooting Park

The Clark County Shooting Park opened last month in the Las Vegas area, capping a 25-year effort to open a world-class shooting facility for the public. 

At the SHOT Show, NSSF honored members of the Clark County Commission for their leadership in developing the 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.

The shooting park is located in the county's District B, which is represented by Commissioner Tom Collins, a life member of the National Rifle Association.

“We are honored to be recognized by the National Shooting Sports Foundation for developing the Clark County Shooting Park,” said Collins. “We built the park because Nevadans enjoy participating in and respect America’s hunting and shooting sports heritage and our firearms freedoms. In view of that heritage, and of the economic impact of the SHOT Show, we are pleased to welcome the show back to Las Vegas and look forward to having it here in the years to come.”

NSSF Board of Governors Chairman Bob Scott noted how pleased members of the industry were that the SHOT Show has returned to Las Vegas and the importance of the city to the success of the SHOT Show.  

“Las Vegas has long been considered the home of SHOT Show -– now the 22nd largest trade show in North America -– and the destination of choice for our more than 55,000 exhibitors and attendees,” said Scott.

Watch a video from the reception: 

S.D. governor attends SHOT Show to promote state to industry

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds is attending the SHOT Show today to meet with industry executives and learn more about companies he would like to see relocate to the firearms-friendly Mount Rushmore State.

“South Dakota is the most business-friendly state in the nation, and the strong work ethic of our citizens makes them excellent employees,” Rounds said. “We are proud to say there is no state income tax in South Dakota, and we also try to make it as easy as possible to start and grow businesses in the state. South Dakota has a growing firearms industry, and we’ll do our best to make others feel welcome.”

Gov. Rounds’ attendance at the SHOT Show underscores the continued importance of the firearms and ammunition industry to the U.S. economy. During a time of great economic unrest, demand for industry products reached unprecedented levels. This sustained growth has fostered strong employment numbers and tax revenue — benefiting states and communities throughout the country.

“We are excited to have Gov. Rounds with us at SHOT Show,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. “Time and again, he has proven himself to be a friend of America’s firearms industry, understanding that through our products the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans are realized.”

Political leaders are no strangers to the SHOT Show, as the firearms industry plays a key role in national and state elections. During the show, Gov. Rounds stopped by the booths of several major firearms and ammunition manufacturers. As he walked the show floor, the governor also spoke with many show attendees and exhibitors about how they contribute to the success of one of America’s oldest and most storied industries.

“With upward of 55,000 attendees and exhibitors, SHOT Show is a great opportunity for any political leader to visit with the country’s most engaged and pro-active businessmen and women,” said NSSF Senior Vice President Chris Dolnack.

SHOT Show 2010: Back in Las Vegas and open for business!

The 2010 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show is under way!

By popular demand, the SHOT Show has returned to Las Vegas this year, and the atmosphere at the 32nd edition of the show is electric.

“Our post-SHOT Show surveys told us that, by a more than 80 percent majority, this is where you want our annual must-see event to be,” said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

This year, buyers from 50 states and 75 countries have flocked to Las Vegas to take advantage of industry’s largest and most comprehensive trade show. The 2010 show encompasses 700,000 square feet of exhibit space with 1,800 exhibitors.

“We’re excited to be at the Sands Convention Center this year,” said Dennis MacDonald, senior vice president of Reed Exhibitions, which runs the show for NSSF. “Our pre-registration and exhibit sales numbers confirm that Las Vegas is a city our attendees and exhibitors enjoy as a venue in which to conduct business.”

Sanetti notes that the woeful economy was a constant challenge throughout 2009, “but in a time of severe economic setbacks, our industry has weathered the storm pretty well, and here — and only here — you will see all the important companies, key players, major distributors and retailers as well as the largest concentration of outdoor media anywhere in the world.”

Just as important, NSSF remains committed to improving the SHOT Show experience for all attendees. “Please feel free to stop by the SHOT Show booth (L221) in the Level 2 lobby and let us know your comments, both what we did right and what could use some more work,” Sanetti said. “We are committed to constantly improving the SHOT Show experience, and we are genuinely interested in your feedback and suggestions to make it even better.”

Opening day will conclude tonight with the annual State of the Industry Dinner, where attendees will get a chance to look back at the successes of 2009 and look ahead at the coming year. Attendees will also be entertained by the comedy of Dennis Miller.

SHOT Show facts and figures

  • The "SHOT" in SHOT Show stands for Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade.

  • The 2010 SHOT Show runs Tuesday, January 19, through Friday, January 22, at the Sands Exposition and Conference Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.

  • SHOT Show hours

  • The 2010 SHOT Show is the 32nd; the first was in 1979 in St. Louis.

  • The 2010 SHOT Show will have 1,800 exhibitors.

  • More than 60,000 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 75 countries.

  • The Law Enforcement section remains the fastest growing segment of the SHOT Show. To illustrate this growth, when the law enforcement section was started booth space covered 7,000 square feet; today, Law Enforcement covers more than 195,000 square feet of the show.

  • Total exhibit space for the 2010 show is expected to be approximately 700,000 net 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 of 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. NSSF also promotes firearm safety through programs such as Project ChildSafe and works to prevent illegal firearms purchases through Don't Lie for the Other Guy.

  • Approximately 1,400 members of the outdoor media, including a significant contingent of international media, promote the products they see at SHOT in their articles in magazines, newspapers and electronic media, and on TV and radio. Media attending the SHOT Show constitute the largest gathering of outdoor media in the world.

    • Pre-show press release on the SHOT Show

    Latest Hunting, Shooting and Outdoor Gear 
    To Be Unveiled at the SHOT Show

    LAS VEGAS — The latest gear for hunters, shooters and outdoor enthusiasts begins its journey from manufacturer to marketplace at the SHOT Show®, which will draw nearly 60,000 industry professionals to do business over four days.

    The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show opens on Tuesday, January 19, at the Sands Exposition and Conference Center and runs through Friday, January 22. Approximately 1,800 exhibitors will show their products in booths covering 700,000 net square feet — the largest showcase in the world of firearms and ammunition, law enforcement equipment, outdoor apparel, cutlery, optics, shooting and hunting accessories and related outdoor products and services.

    SHOT ranks annually among the fastest growing trade shows and is the 22nd largest trade show in North America.

    The SHOT Show is the one place every year where manufacturers, distributors and retailers of firearms and sporting accessories 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.

    Why do industry professionals attend the SHOT Show?

    • Retailers attend because they can see and handle the latest products and talk to sales representatives face to face. “The Show is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for retailers to gain a hands-on education about the products they will be discussing with their sportsmen customers across the nation over the coming year,” said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which owns the show.

    • Manufacturers and distributors attend to showcase a broad range of their 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, treestands, scents and lures, cutlery and sharpeners, holsters, apparel, leather goods, game calls, decoys, and much more.

    • Outdoor media turns out in force — approximately 1,400 are expected — to cover the introduction of products and to report on stories associated with the firearms and outdoor industry. “Traditional and new media provide positive, widespread exposure to this $4 billion industry and its remarkable products,” said Bill Brassard Jr., NSSF’s director of communications.

    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.

    New this year are seminars for law enforcement personnel attending the show.

    The 2010 SHOT Show returns to Las Vegas after a successful show in Orlando in 2009. SHOT also will be located in Las Vegas in 2011 and 2012.

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

    Handy list of locations at the SHOT Show

    Here's a handy list of locations you may wish to visit at the SHOT Show.

    Annual State of the Industry

    Palazzo Ballroom 5th Floor

    Coat Check

    Sands Level 1, inside taxi lane

    Exhibitor Service Centers

    Sands level 1 Room 401 & Sands Level 2 front of 13,000 aisle

    Exhibits

    Sands Expo Levels 1 & 2, all Venetian Ballrooms on Levels 1 & 2

    First Aid

    Sands Level 1 near Room 401

    Law Enforcement Seminars

    Venetian Level 4 Marcello

    Members' Lounge

    Venetian Level 3 Murano Ballroom

    New Product Center

    Venetian Level 1 Lobby

    NSSF Booth

    Sands Level 2 Lobby Booth #L221

    NSSF Office

    Sands Level 1 Room 305

    NSSF Friends Meeting Room

    Venetian Level 2 Bassano 2803

    NSSF Member Business Office

    Venetian Level 3 Murano Ballroom

    NSSF Program Staff Meeting Room

    Venetian Level 2 Bassano 2806

    NSSF Seminars

    Venetian Level 4

    Overnight Storage

    Level 1 Sands Rooms 301-302, end of 300 Aisle; Level 2 Hall A end of 10,000 Aisle, Hall D front of 16,000 Aisle and Bassano 2801-2802

    Press Conference Room

    Venetian Level 2 Bassano 2601

    Press Room

    Venetian Level 2 Bassano 2701

    Press Registration

    Outside Press Room on Venetian Level 2

    Product Locators

    Conveniently located at all 12 Information Counters throughout the show

    Safety Advisors

    Sands Level 1 Room 404

    Sales Office

    Venetian Level 1 Lobby in New Product Center

    Security Command Post

    Sands Level 1 Room 301-302

    Ship-A-Box Program

    SES Service Desk Window

    SHOT Show University

    Venetian Level 4 Lando Jan. 18 only

    SHOW Daily

    Venetian Level 3 San Polo 3401a&b

    Show Office

    Sands Level 1 Room 304

    Shuttle Bus Pick-up & Drop-off

    Venetian Level 1

    Space Draw

    Venetian Level 3 Lido – General Shooting & Hunting

    Space Draw

    Venetian Level 3 Lido – Firearms, Outdoor Wear & Outfitters

    Space Draw

    Venetian Level 3 Lido – Law Enforcement & Tactical

    Getting Around Town: Transportation Options at the SHOT Show

    With the SHOT Show's new location this year at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, many attendees will be staying within a 10-minute walk of the show.

    If you're not staying within walking distance, Las Vegas offers a variety of transportation options. We'll also be providing free shuttle services to and from our official SHOT Show hotels. Parking at the show is limited, so driving is not recommended.

    Here are a few options:

    SHOT SHOW SHUTTLE BUSES: As usual, there will be free shuttle buses running to and from our official SHOT Show hotels. The buses will run every 15 to 20 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

    There will also be shuttle buses to McCarran International Airport from the Sands Expo on Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the airport shuttles are $10 and can be purchased at the transportation desk in the bus-loading area of the Sands Expo.

    TAXI CABS: The taxi cab area is located in front of the Sands Expo. Taxis are also available at the Venetian and Palazzo Hotels. On show days, there will also be Speed Buses that will expedite groups going from the Sands Expo to our larger official SHOT Show hotels.

    THE MONORAIL: The closest stop to the show is Harrah's, which is about a mile walk to the show. Taking the monorail, you can travel from one end of the Strip to the other in 15 minutes or less. Hours of operation are Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Friday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Learn more.

    THE DEUCE: A double-decker luxury bus that runs along the Strip. View rates, stops and hours.

    THE LAS VEGAS TROLLEY: The trolley travels to all areas of the Strip and downtown from 8:30 a.m. until midnight daily. One-time rate is $2.50. Day passes and night passes are available at $4.25 each. Learn more at www.lasvegasstriptrolley.com.

    View more detailed information on all of these options, including SHOT Show shuttle bus schedules.