Will You Feature Celebrities at the 2013 Show? Let Us Know About Planned Appearances

Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent made an appearance at Outdoor Channel’s booth in 2012.
Image courtesy of Outdoor Channel.

Professional athletes, actors, rock stars, authors, pro shooters. Each year, the SHOT Show has its fair share of celebrity appearances. Let us know if your company is planning to have a celebrity make a personal appearance at the show. In return, we’ll help you promote it. We’d like to start letting all attendees know what famous faces they can expect to see at the 2013 show. Log in to the Exhibitor Listing Dashboard and let us know about celebrity appearances or other special events you are planning at your booth.

 

Five Reasons for Including Social Media in Your Show Marketing Mix

The Social Trade Show

Social Media Spotlight: First of a Four-part Series

Social media has transformed the way companies market through trade shows. No one knows this better than renowned trade-show industry consultant and thought leader Traci Browne.

The author of “The Social Trade Show” has graciously provided us with a series of blog posts that we’ll be posting right here — and in the Exhibitor Resource Center at shotshow.org — each week for the next four weeks in advance of the 2013 SHOT Show.

I’ll also be giving away free copies of Traci’s book each week. The first six exhibitors (and you need to be a SHOT Show exhibitor to qualify) to send me an email (be sure to include your mailing address) requesting a copy will receive one. Ready. Set. Go!

 

Five Reasons for Including Social Media in Your Show Marketing Mix

With all the work you already have on your plate to get ready for the show, why add another task? Social media is a growing communication tool and if you’re not taking advantage of it, you’ll soon be left in everyone else’s dust. But if you need more convincing here are just five reasons to get you moving.

1. Reach a wider audience.

As sad as this may seem, there are some very qualified buyers who cannot attend this year’s SHOT Show. They might not have the budget to travel or the time to spare. They might have family obligations that prevent them from attending. They want to be there to see all the new products and services available but they just can’t swing it. But they can and will be following along with what is happening at SHOT Show via social media.

Savvy exhibitors can stand out from their competition by paying attention to these online buyers. Make them feel a part of the event by:

  • Live blogging from sessions they are missing.
  • Live stream or video demonstrations taking place in your booth.
  • Tweet about new products and services you are seeing on the show floor you think they might be interested in by using the #SHOTShow hashtag.

2. Attendees will pay more attention to you.

It’s likely this is not your first SHOT Show rodeo. Even if you are a first time exhibitor at SHOT Show you probably have some great advice you can impart on the attendees.  Share helpful information that attendees will value before and during the show and your company will stay on their radar. People tend to pay attention more to exhibitors who don’t just market at them but those who are helpful as well. What kind of helpful information could you share?

  • Tips on great restaurants attendees should check out while in Vegas
  • Tell them where to find the best coffee with the shortest lines closest to the trade show floor.
  • Point out sessions taking place with speakers they don’t want to miss
  • Offer to introduce them to industry celebrities you know and who will be at the show.

3. Listen to what your customers are saying.

The SHOT Show is always a great place to do market research. By listening to conversations taking place around the show you can uncover valuable information about what your customers are looking for and what they wish existed in the marketplace.

We’ve always been able to do this in line for coffee, in the hallways between sessions, at the bar or restaurant in the evenings. Now, social media provides you an opportunity to amplify your listening and expose you to conversations taking place even if you’re not in the same room.

Pay particular attention to social media conversations that start with, “I wish…” Where can I find…” and even “I hate…” Chances are you just might have the solution to their problem or know someone who does.

When you are not just pushing your message out on social media but paying attention to what your potential customers are saying, you may over hear things like, “I wish there was a way to connect all my stores’ security systems.” If you are in that business jump on it and invite them to your booth to discuss solutions to their problem. If you are not in that business but know someone that can help them, invite them into your booth to meet that person.

4. Become part of a community.

Social media isn’t a campaign or a tool to be rolled out a week or two before the show. It is a commitment of time and resources undertaken so your company can connect not just with customers and potential customers at an event, but also with your industry’s larger community; a community of other suppliers, associations, media representatives, thought leaders, potential employees, mentors, and mentees.

Being an active member of a community builds your company’s reputation as a trusted solution provider and its employees as thought leaders in your industry. People in your community will get to know your company as more than just a brand. Buyers will start seeking you out and listening to what you have to say. Your company will be put on people’s “must see vendor” list.

5. Expand the length of the show.

Let’s face it, a lot of buyers are coming to SHOT Show and there will be a lot for them to see and do. Chances are there are a few people who might miss you. By incorporating social media into your marketing and communications mix you won’t have to wait until next year to see them. You can easily continue the conversation and continue reaching out to potential buyers long after the show by doing the things mentioned above.

Just remember, keep your audience needs in mind when communicating on social media. It shouldn’t just be all about you.

*****

Traci Browne
Author of “The Social Trade Show – Leveraging Social Media and Virtual Events to Connect With Your Customers
www.TheSocialTradeShow.com

Retailers have questions. SHOT Show University has answers.

Offered each year on the day before the SHOT Show opens, SHOT Show University is a day of seminars specifically tailored to the needs of those in the firearm retail business. This year’s lineup of classes will bring a new level to attendees for education and interaction. Keynote addresses coupled with strategic sessions will leave each firearms store owner/manager with unparalleled training and education to operate their businesses more effectively.

The 2013 SHOT Show University, with a theme of “The Retailer’s Playbook,” is set for Monday, Jan. 14. If you haven’t already done so, get registered today.

Here is one retailer’s take on the value of SHOT Show University and NSSF membership, as published in SHOT Business magazine:

*****

By Joe Keffer, owner, The Sportsman’s Shop, New Holland, Pa.

SHOT Show U. Is a Must

A gold mine of guidance is delivered in one day

Today’s retailer faces a multitude of factors that constantly affect his or her business. Retail has always been a fast-paced, everchanging endeavor — the retail environment can turn on a dime and leave nine cents change. Stores that are on the cutting edge are the survivors; stores that don’t keep up with the rapid pace of change are soon left behind and forgotten.

Firearms retailers are not immune to these challenges. Granted, the industry has enjoyed tremendous growth over the past few years, but the landscape for the firearms retailer continues to evolve at a blinding speed. Customers are more educated than ever before about their purchasing decisions. Thanks to the Internet, the information that’s available to consumers has reached unheard-of levels. Retailers are constantly trying to stay in the lead on this information highway. And the availability of this information has changed the shopping habits of consumers, as well.

Customers obviously drive sales, and are the top priority in any retail business, but other complexities face firearms dealers. Competition is fierce from many different sources. Other firearms retailers, be they small independent stores, gigantic mega-stores, or even online sellers operating without a physical storefront, all are trying to get a larger piece of the pie.

Retail businesses constantly face new challenges in day-to-day operations. Obviously, financial performance is critical to the health of a business. Being able to control and understand the complex issues of profit-and-loss statements, cash flow statements, and the like is crucial to a firearms store owner’s continued success. To remain competitive and on the customers’ radar, a retailer’s understanding of how to market his or her business is a top priority. Meanwhile, other areas of operations can never be neglected. Compliance with the requirements of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the resulting paperwork, for example, must be adhered to and strictly monitored and controlled.

Firearms retailers often ask themselves, “How can we learn to stay on top of the changes and challenges that we face today? Where can we get the education to meet our specific needs?”

The answer is SHOT Show University.

SHOT Show University is a daylong event held the day before the SHOT Show officially opens; for 2013, it takes place on Monday, January 14. I’ve attended SHOT Show University for the past several years, and it has been extremely rewarding, helping me run my business more efficiently and effectively. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) works very hard to bring such a quality experience to firearms retailers, and I know that for past several years, SHOT Show University has been sold out.

SHOT Show University hosts 300 retailers from all walks of life for this event. NSSF brings in presenters at the top of their fields, covering a variety of subjects, including marketing, advertising, financials, media training, merchandising, compliance training, and social media, to name a few. (The list often reflects what retailers requested via the surveys administered at the previous SHOT Show U.) The subjects are always timely, well thought out, and presented in layman’s terms so retailers can grasp the concepts and immediately implement the ideas and techniques in their stores.

To further complete this experience, NSSF provides a lunch and a reception for all attendees. The lunch break and the reception provide opportunities to network with other retailers. In addition, all of the presenters are available to have one-on-one time with anyone who may have further questions.

I’ve always come away from SHOT Show University energized and ready to implement new ideas and changes to my business. I can’t wait for SHOT 2013 to see what new, valuable information NSSF and the Shot Show University presenters will deliver. You can register for SHOT Show University when you register for the SHOT Show, at shotshow.org.

Book Travel Through SHOT Show’s Official Housing Partner onPeak

Official Housing Partner onPeakBook in the official SHOT Show block — don’t be scammed by third party housing companies.

Through our official housing partner, onPeak, the SHOT Show provides reduced hotel rates and travel discounts for your trip to Las Vegas.

Attendees and exhibitors can make their travel arrangements with onPeak through the SHOT Show website’s Travel page — or directly through onPeak’s booking agents by calling 800-388-8104 or 312-527-7300 (International).

We have already received several calls and emails from exhibitors who were solicited by a high-pressure salesperson who urged the exhibitors to get their rooms for the SHOT Show while they could. I can assure you that no one affiliated with the SHOT Show will ever solicit you. And if they do, I want to hear from you.

The SHOT Show, in partnership with onPeak, is committed to providing you with the best travel deals around. onPeak is the official travel provider for the SHOT Show.

Don’t be fooled by offers from other parties using the SHOT Show name — they are NOT affiliated with Reed Exhibitions or the SHOT Show. Remember, if the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Reserve your spot today to see Terry Fator at the 2013 State of the Industry Event

Terry FatorMore than 1,200 tickets have already been reserved for the Jan. 15 State of the Industry event — sponsored by Outdoor Channel. Don’t miss out on an unforgettable performance by Terry Fator, Las Vegas star and past winner of “America’s Got Talent.” As the headliner at The Mirage, Fator nightly captures the hearts and funny bones of America with “Terry Fator: Ventriloquism in Concert.” Without moving his lips, Fator leaves audiences stunned with comedy, celebrity singing impressions and unparalleled ventriloquism. Tickets to the State of the Industry event can be purchased when registering for the show.

Order Tickets Now | Learn More About Terry Fator

GunBroker.com Returns as Exclusive Sponsor of NSSF Member Lounge and Business Center at SHOT Show

GunBroker.comGunBroker.com, the world’s largest online auction site for firearms and related accessories will return as exclusive sponsor of the NSSF Member Lounge and Business Center for the 2013 SHOT Show

GunBroker.com continues to be an extraordinary partner of NSSF and SHOT Show. GunBroker.com is a great example of an NSSF member that makes the extra effort to help grow the hunting and the shooting sports, from supporting SHOT Show, the Shooting Sports Summit and distributing NSSF’s “Pull the Trigger” newsletter to its list of nearly 1 million opt-in email subscribers. GunBroker.com’s SHOT Show sponsorship demonstrates the company’s commitment to all that the industry’s premier trade show stands for.

NSSF members will find free wireless service among many other amenities in the NSSF Member Lounge and Business Center, which serves as a central point for NSSF members to take a break from the show floor or to network and conduct business.

“Throughout our history, GunBroker.com has strived to be an effective partner of those organizations that are working in support of our hunting and shooting sports industry,” commented Steve Urvan, GunBroker.com founder and CEO. “Clearly, the National Shooting Sports Foundation is a leader in those efforts and we are proud to return as the exclusive sponsor of the NSSF Member’s Lounge and Business Center and to seeing our fellow NSSF members at the show. Indeed, I would like to take this opportunity to urge any SHOT Show exhibitor that is not a member of NSSF to make a point of coming on board before the 2013 SHOT Show,” Urvan said.

GunBroker.com provides marketers of hunting and shooting sports equipment with extraordinary exposure to an active audience averaging 3 million unique visitors each month. GunBroker.com is a member and active supporter of NSSF and is the official host site for each year’s SHOT Show Auction.

The NSSF Member Lounge and Business Center sponsored by GunBroker.com will be located in the Venetian Hotel, Level 3, Lido Ballroom. The Venetian Hotel adjoins the Sands Expo Convention Center.

ArmaLite Returns as Title Sponsor of SHOT Mobile App

ArmaLiteArmaLite Inc., the internationally known manufacturer of AR-10, M-15, AR-30 and AR-50 rifles, has again signed on as the title sponsor of SHOT Mobile for the 2013 SHOT Show®.

SHOT Show attendees will find the SHOT Mobile app an invaluable tool for searching exhibitors, navigating the show floor via interactive maps, finding new products, learning about show specials, viewing the show’s education schedule such as for SHOT Show® UniversitySM, setting up appointments with exhibitors, requesting callbacks and finding show services.

We’re excited to have ArmaLite return as our partner for SHOT Mobile. It’s fitting that a company that prides itself in product technology innovation is sponsoring the navigation technology that will enhance the SHOT Show experience for our buyers and attendees. With its renewed sponsorship, ArmaLite joins pinnacle sponsor Outdoor Channel as major industry supporters of the SHOT Show.

“The 2012 SHOT Mobile app was successful beyond all our expectations. The traffic it drove to ArmaLite’s booth, and the resulting sales, proved the app’s efficacy. From what we’ve already seen, the 2013 SHOT Mobile app will be even better,” said ArmaLite president Mark Westrom.

Learn more about the mobile app by going to the SHOT Mobile website and while you are there, sign up to be notified when the 2013 SHOT Mobile app is ready to download to your smartphone.

Outdoor Channel Returns as SHOT Show Pinnacle Sponsor

For the third year in a row, Outdoor Channel, America’s leader in outdoor TV, has committed to a Pinnacle-level sponsorship for NSSF’s SHOT Show.

Pinnacle is the highest sponsorship level associated with the event. This unprecedented support reflects the network’s commitment to the hunting and shooting industry and all that the industry’s premier trade show stands for.

Outdoor Channel’s sponsorship includes being the official title sponsor of NSSF’s State of the Industry Event; offering show attendees meet-and-greet access to the network’s top talent; providing on-site information and navigation stations for attendees on the show floor; in addition to network marketing and advertising opportunities surrounding the show.

Outdoor Channel’s primary headquarters at SHOT Show will be in Bassano meeting rooms 2601-2505 in the Venetian Hotel adjoining the Sands Expo Convention Center. Outdoor Channel’s booth will in the Level 2 Sands Lobby.

Read more about Outdoor Channel’s SHOT Show sponsorship.

North American Arms Supports SHOT Show ‘Birdies for the Brave’ Golf Event Benefiting Military Charities

I’m pleased to report that North American Arms has stepped up to be a supporting sponsor of the 2013 SHOT Show Birdies for the Brave charity golf event next January. Last year’s event raised $70,000 for several military homefront groups, and the goal is to top that this year.

“North American Arms’ support for Birdies for the Brave is based on our respect and appreciation for the men and women of our armed forces who risk their lives in defense of the liberties and freedoms that Americans enjoy today, not the least of which are those granted by the Second Amendment,” said company president, Sandy Chisholm.

We are extremely pleased to see North American Arms be a leader in supporting this worthy charity golf event.

NSSF is the title sponsor and host of the event, which will be presented in partnership with PGA TOUR for Birdies for the Brave on Jan. 12-13, 2013, at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. The charity golf event precedes the 2013 SHOT Show.

NSSF encourages other companies to follow the lead of North American Arms and become a sponsor of SHOT Show Birdies for the Brave. High-value merchandise donations for the silent auction and raffle are also being sought.

Proceeds from last year’s inaugural event benefited nine charities supported by Birdies for the Brave. The goal for 2013 is to net $100,000. It’s a great opportunity for our industry to provide even more support for those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

Learn more about the event and how to get involved.