In advance of the SHOT Show, we’d again like to remind any potential rule breakers of the show’s suitcasing and outboarding policy.
We’ve already heard of one non-exhibiting company that was planning to “outboard” the show by setting up a suite in a nearby hotel and luring exhibitors off the show floor to look at its products.
Plain and simple, this type of act is stealing from the show. SHOT Show exhibitors have invested a lot of money and other resources to exhibit at the show, and acts like this deprive NSSF (as the show’s owner) of income we use to support our many programs and initiatives. Please 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).
As a reminder, please see the examples below of suitcasing and outboarding. We also encourage everyone to review the show’s official suitcasing and outboarding policy, which is available on the SHOT Show website. We will have a response team at this year’s show looking for this type of activity, and we encourage anyone who sees a violation of our policy to contact the show office.
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.
An example of this occurred last year when a well-known cutlery maker sent out alerts to potential customers that while they will not be exhibiting this year they will have personnel walking the show floor and will be offering a SHOT Show Special. To protect our exhibitors and their investment, we revoked that 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.
An example of this occurred last year when rather than exhibit at the 2010 SHOT Show, 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.
I plan to outboard my products. Being as I am not part of the Shot Show, I could care less what the Shot Show policies are. I encourage anyone else who wold like to outboard there products to do so as well.
Your kidding. After reading the above you still plan to? Maybe you should get serious about your product and set up a booth.
America is built on free enterprise. The shot show sounds like the fedral goverment. Trying to control everything and in this case small business.
I’ve heard that one of the big cable networks plans to not have a booth but set up a suite off the show site. They are listed in the exhibitor list, however. Are there special exceptions when a company doesn’t want to have a booth but wants a show presence?
Sounds like violations of anti trust laws when you prevent a company from competing with you.
An “industrial standard,” because we are all well to be judging ourselves by the ethics of big corporations. RIGHT.
I say go for it and the best valued produce price vs quality (not price jacking like most of the firearms industry) win. If you are afraid of a competing show then it sounds like your product isnt good enough or you didnt prepair enough. This is why there are anti-trust laws.
America is built on free enterprise. The shot show sounds like free enterprise trying to combat federal government style theft. It’s their party, leeches need not attend. They should press trespassing charges when ever possible.
The prohibition on suitcasing makes sense, the organizers paid for a private show and can exercise their rights within their venue. Those posters here extolling free enterprise should have no issue with this.
Outboarding seems a bit more sticky. Industry participants should have a choice to either be part of the venue or not. Requesting adherence to vague (exhibitions and events) industry guidelines is not convincing. If the show has value, it will grow. If not, others will take its place – it is the capitalist way.
Oh I thought they were referring to those huge catalog cases people roll and lug around. I still have the scars from the 2008 Show where some guy snapped my Achilles tendon with one of them. He was completely indifferent to my going down and just wheeled it past me after hitting me.
For those of you who think that this annual Shot show is making an unusual request of asking individuals from peddling their goods via “suitcase” or “outboarding” should have two choices. One is to follow the rules and enjoy this great show or to not attend the show. Rules for shows in all industries follow these guidelines in respectable organizations. Another idea for those individuals who want to ride on others investment is to come to Vegas next week and you are free to suitcase and outboard the rest of the year.
Thanks,
Keith DG