Back in July 2011, we first announced that NSSF would begin to repurpose the SHOT Show exhibit floor. This means that going forward only companies that are involved in our core business — shooting, hunting, outdoor and tactical — will be able to exhibit at the show.
Though this change clears the way for many companies in our industry that have been on the waitlist for far too long to begin exhibiting at the SHOT Show, it also means that we must “disinvite” a number of long-time exhibitors whose product line no longer fit with the profile of our buyer attendees. This process is painful for both parties and sparks anger from those exhibitors who have not had their exhibit contracts renewed.
We do our best to research buyer attendee preferences and to include all exhibitors within a category that no longer fits the core profile. We also give exhibitors who appeal the non-renewal a fair hearing.
The result of this repurposing effort is that 100 new companies have exhibited at the SHOT Show for the very first time in 2012 and 2013. We expect to invite a similar number of waitlisted companies to exhibit for the first time in 2014.
We’re glad to be able to make so much progress so quickly, although we realize it wasn’t quick enough for some and extremely disappointing for others. It’s not fun to tell an exhibitor that they can no longer exhibit at the SHOT Show, but it is necessary to ensure a healthy future for the SHOT Show, and the industry.