NSSF retailer education and law enforcement seminars aim to inform
(Original full story by Robert F. Staeger appears in SHOT Daily – Day 1)
SHOT Show isn’t just a place for learning about the latest product innovations and industry news– it’s also an excellent place for professionals to learn vital new information and techniques. The National Shooting Sports Foundation provides a variety of educational opportunities throughout the show as a bonus feature for both retailers and law enforcement personnel.
Retail Education
SHOT Show University is a full day of retailer seminars that takes place the day before the show. Before and after a catered lunch, the day is packed with seminars on the hottest topics and most requested subject matter, ending in a networking reception.
But even beyond SHOT Show U, the show itself features Retailer Education Seminars each day, packed with information that will make it worth your time to leave the show floor for a little while. Topics include attracting and retaining new customers, increasing sales per square foot, and loss-prevention strategies.
Classes are announced in advance to help retailers manage their schedules. Classes generally run in one-hour increments, because with the show as big as it is, time on the floor is precious. Exceptions are classes presented by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), which each year may run as long as two hours. However, in 2014 the ATF classes won’t be offered, but they are expected back in 2015.
Law Enforcement
Retailer Education isn’t the full extent of the educational opportunities at SHOT Show. There’s also the Law Enforcement Education Program, begun in 2009 and managed in partnership between NSSF and Law Officer magazine. The law enforcement area of the show has been growing incredibly, attracting more law enforcement exhibitors. And in order to attract more LE personnel to the show, we added the classes so there would be a great educational component for them. It’s also justification for their agencies to send them to the event.
When law enforcement personnel–which can include people in corrections and military police as well as police officers–register for SHOT Show, they have the option of registering for any seminars in the Law Enforcement Education Program at no extra charge. Instruction in 2014 was provided by the National Tactical Officer’s Association, as well as trainers from such companies as Trijicon, Streamlight, and SIG Sauer.