Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show Sets Attendance Records

The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show®) concluded four successful days at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, setting new attendance records and marking the 35th anniversary of the event.

The largest trade show of its kind in the world and the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas, the SHOT Show attracted a record overall attendance of 62,371, including a new high for buyers and more than 2,000 media representatives. More than 1,600 exhibitors filled booth space covering 630,000 net square feet. The show, which is a trade-only event, attracted industry professionals from all 50 states and 100 countries.

Exhibitors and attendees alike said the SHOT Show is critical to the success of their businesses.

“The SHOT Show is the springboard for every new product that we introduce each year,” said Frank Devlin of Otis Technology. “It gives industry the opportunity to see our new products and allows us to get feedback from them to know that we are heading in the right direction.”

John Anthon, president of GATCO Sharpeners/Timberline Knives, said, “For the 24 years we’ve been going, the SHOT Show is the most important show we do each year. It is the largest venue globally and the most important. Every important customer comes to the show for that reason.”

Industry veteran Ron Coburn of Savage Arms said, “It’s the industry’s trade show. Everybody who’s in the trade needs to be here to see what’s going on. It’s the place to see friends and showcase our own products.”

Dwight Van Brunt of Kimber said, “It’s a powerhouse show—the place where you can talk to writers, dealers and industry VIPs.”

“We get to talk to our biggest customers and show them what we have,” said Ernie Callandrelli of Quaker Boy Inc.  “We’ve been here all 35 years of the show, so two important benefits are seeing old friends and building key relationships.”

The SHOT Show is owned and sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry. Revenues from the show support NSSF’s many programs that carry out its mission of promoting, protecting and preserving hunting and the shooting sports, along with promoting responsible firearms ownership and safe storage practices.

Showgoers recognize that the SHOT Show’s importance to industry extends beyond selling and buying on the show floor. “What this show generates for our cause is absolutely critical,” said Tom Taylor of Mossberg. Added Steve Lamboy of Micheli-Lamboy Marketing, “We need to communicate more to our members that the funds from this show are going to build the entire future of our industry.”

The $4.1 billion firearms and ammunition industry supports many small businesses and helps preserve the more than 200,000 jobs associated with the shooting sports.

NSSF added significantly to its membership ranks at the show, pushing its overall total of supporters to more than 8,300.

With the show taking place amid heightened national attention about firearms ownership and potential legislation, NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti addressed more than 1,800 industry leaders at the State of the Industry Dinner. “I don’t think many of those who disagree with what we do appreciate the many things we’ve done to advocate personal responsibility with firearms,” Sanetti said.

“Ours is a responsible industry,” said Sanetti, “that makes and sells lawful products to law-abiding citizens. They in turn exercise their constitutional right to own, use and enjoy firearms safely and responsibly for all lawful purposes.”

NSSF supporters filled the sold-out hall for the State of the Industry event, which was sponsored by Outdoor Channel and included a review of NSSF’s accomplishment from the past year and entertainment from popular ventriloquist and impersonator Terry Fator.

Many awards are presented at the show. NSSF presented FMG Publications with its Ken Sedlecky Achievement Award for its longstanding support of NSSF’s First Shots program through funds raised at its Shooting Industry Master events.

Retired NSSF President Doug Painter was honored with the Professional Outdoor Media Association-NSSF Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator Award for extraordinary achievements in communications in support of hunting’s heritage and firearms freedoms.

Approximately half of the media on hand to cover the show attended SHOT Show Media Day at the Range, where they had the opportunity to review and test products offered by 100 exhibitors.

In conjunction with the SHOT Show, NSSF sponsored the PGA Charities’ Birdies for the Brave golf tournament that raised $100,000 for groups that provide support for injured armed service veterans.

The SHOT Show will return to the Sands Expo & Convention Center January 14-17, 2014.

“Hats off and thank you to the NSSF for putting on a great SHOT Show,” summed up Dave Baron of Baron Technologies.

 

SHOT Show Thanks Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for its ‘Silver’ Support

We at NSSF are extremely thankful for the support of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) , which is a Silver Endorsement Sponsor for the 2013 SHOT Show.

We are thrilled to have the LVCVA as one of our core sponsors at this year’s show. Each year, Las Vegas provides a warm welcome and outstanding hospitality for our industry and the SHOT Show. We are very pleased to have their support.

With its sponsorship, LVCVA joins Outdoor Channel (a Pinnacle-level sponsor), GunBroker.com, ArmaLite and the Ram Truck brand as major supporters of the SHOT Show.

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.

Video: First Timers to 34th Timers Flock to SHOT Show

Most people don’t like traffic, but exhibitors at the 2012 SHOT Show love it. Business has been brisk at the show so far, and there’s still two days to go.

NSSF’s roving reporter Ann Baldwin has been roaming the show floor. Here’s her look back at the show’s opening day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poiobUXV3zw

SHOT Show to Stay at Las Vegas Sands Through 2014

NSSF and Reed Exhibitions are pleased to announce that we’ve reached an agreement with Las Vegas Sands Corp. to present the SHOT Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center through 2014. The move was approved by the NSSF Board of Governors at its annual meeting in late February.

Attendees have made it loud and clear that Las Vegas is where they want the show to be. The Sands has made some great improvements since our first show there, and improvements will continue over the next three years — including enhanced cellular service, newly renovated lobby areas and rest rooms and other enhancements to ensure the SHOT Show remains second to none.

The fact that so many in our industry want the show to be held in Las Vegas is understandable. Las Vegas is a first-rate entertainment destination. And the Sands is centrally located on the Las Vegas Strip with more than 40,000 hotel rooms within walking distance.

Many feel the SHOT Show is at its best when it’s in Las Vegas, and, judging by booth traffic and sales at last year’s show, we certainly agree.

The dates for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 shows are:

January 17-20, 2012
January 15-18, 2013
January 14-17, 2014

Read NSSF’s press release on the agreement.

Warm Welcome for Industry from Las Vegas, Congressional Delegation

Las Vegas officials and the area’s congressional delegation have offered a warm welcome to all attending this week’s SHOT Show.

Both U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), whose district includes Las Vegas, and Steve Sisolak, vice-chairman of the Clark County Board of Commissioners, sent letters to NSSF that we’d like to share with all of our SHOT Show attendees and exhibitors.

Letter from U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley

Letter from Steve Sisolak, Clark County Board of Commissioners

Las Vegas in January: A Popular Choice for the SHOT Show

The following is an article from the April/May issue of SHOT Business magazine:

Las Vegas in January
The 2010 SHOT Show returned to Las Vegas in January by popular demand

By Chris Dolnack
NSSF Senior Vice President

Eighty-five percent of SHOT Show exhibitors have stressed that holding the industry's largest trade show in January is a must. A January show gives manufacturers plenty of lead time to introduce new products, get a head start on sales and ensure their products are in stores with plenty of time to spare before hunting season.

In 2008, the SHOT Show was held in February, and it turned out to be one of the lowest-rated shows in its history. This was primarily because many companies lost a whole month of sales because they weren't able to introduce new products a month earlier.

To combat this problem, the 2009 show was held in January in Orlando. That show was one of the highest-rated shows ever in our customer feedback surveys.

A majority of exhibitors, however, have continually stressed the importance of holding the show in Las Vegas. According to post-show surveys, 85 percent say the show should be held there "no matter what."

When it comes to trade shows, Las Vegas is a popular place in January. It's the most sought-after month in the trade-show business, with giants like the International Consumer Electronics Show taking first priority with local tourism officials.

We've been fortunate in the past to be able to hold the show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the most attractive venue by far to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (owner and sponsor of the SHOT Show), as well as to a majority of exhibitors and attendees.

More than anyone, we would like to hold the show there every year. Unfortunately, we were not able to be there in 2010 and will not be able to be there for the foreseeable future due to high demand for dates in January and February.

Other than the Las Vegas Convention Center, the only venue in Las Vegas that can support the SHOT Show is the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

The NSSF held the 2010 show at the Sands because of its availability in January. The Sands had planned to have a brand-new convention center built by 2010, but that plan, like many others around the country, fell victim to the economic downturn.

Though the 2010 SHOT Show successfully set records for attendees and media, we recognize that the venue posed some challenges for everyone. We've already begun addressing those challenges and are striving to improve the SHOT Show experience next year, when we head back to the Sands.

To start, there will be more adequate signage in the exhibit halls and common areas, more seating available for dining and more information staff throughout the venue to answer questions and offer directions.

We are also working with the Sands to address other facility-related issues.

A couple of rumors making their way around the 2010 show were that the Sands is NSSF's first-choice venue and that the show was held there because the venue is less expensive.

Both could not be further from the truth. On the contrary, it would cost us a lot less to hold the show at the Las Vegas Convention Center because it is a public facility.

Another rumor was that the NSSF has contracted with the Sands for the next 10 years or more. The truth is that we are under contract for 2011 and are finalizing a contract for 2012.

We have reserved dates at the Sands for years beyond that, but we are also carefully weighing our options for future SHOT Show venues that can provide the required 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space in firearms-friendly, warm-weather cities.

We are also continuing to work with the Las Vegas Convention Center in seeking future long-term dates there.

The fact that so many in our industry want the show to be held in Las Vegas in January is understandable. Las Vegas is a first-rate entertainment destination.

Many feel the SHOT Show is at its best when it's in Las Vegas, and, judging by booth traffic and sales at the 2010 show, we'd certainly agree.

We continue to receive and monitor feedback from exhibitors, attendees and media about the 2010 show, and we are listening.

It's our goal to ensure not only that the show remains second to none, but also that all of our customers continue to be provided with a can't-miss experience each and every year.

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.

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.