Thoughts on the 2012 SHOT Show

January 30, 2012 By Chris Dolnack 17 Comments

All I can say is, “What a show.”

Record sales orders being written on site, record buyer attendance and what may be the highest level of enthusiasm our industry has shown to start a new year. That’s pretty much how you can sum up the 2012 SHOT Show.

We’d like to thank all involved in making this year’s show one to remember — most importantly, our 1,600 exhibiting companies, the 36,383 buyers (a new show record) and all the members of the press that made the trek to Las Vegas this year.

Also, hats off to Reed Exhibitions, Freeman and the Sands Expo and Convention Center for their hard work and dedication in making steady improvements over the past few years. We’ve all listened long and hard to everyone’s feedback, and we will continue to do so.

Everyone should keep an eye on their inboxes in the next couple of weeks for our post-show surveys. Please take the time to provide us with your feedback. What did we do right? What could be improved upon? Please let us know. All of your input will be heard.

Another success at this year’s show was Media Day at the Range, where more than 1,200 members of the press were able to test-drive hundreds of new products. This was the first year that NSSF served as the title sponsor of Media Day, and we extend our thanks to CMG Marketing & Events and Triple Curl PR & Advertising for putting on a great event.

I’d also like to thank NSSF’s Emerging Media Director Bill Dunn for filling in for me and Diedra here on the blog during the show. He did a great job providing updates throughout the week. We had more visits to our blog than ever before during the week of show, and we also picked up a ton of new followers on Twitter and Facebook in the process as well.

Thanks again to everyone for making this year’s SHOT Show a success. Time to start preparing for 2013.

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  • Pinest

    The shot show was terrible move it back to the conevntion center

    • Alan

      The LV convention center is booked years in advanced.  Also by only holding it in one place each time reduces the ability to get competitive bids. 

      • AJ

        Chris,  I suggest you limit the exhibitors to a certain amount of badges based on booth size.  Allow a 10×10 three badges, a 10×20 six badges, a 20×20 12 badges, etc.  Also, restrict retailers to a certain number of badges, perhaps five each.  This will decrease attendance by 40% but make for a better show.

    • http://twitter.com/chrisdolnack Chris Dolnack

      Alan is correct in that the Las Vegas Convention Center has no openings for us through 2025.  I’ve typed that so many times over the last two years I should have a shortcut key.

      But seriously,if the overwhelming majority of our customers continue to prefer Las Vegas, then that is where we will be.  Right now we plan to be at the Sands through 2015.

  • Tlmicak

    This year’s show was outstanding.  I truly enjoyed it and will be coming next year.

  • James T Davenport

    I won’t attend another SHOT Show at the Sands

    • http://twitter.com/chrisdolnack Chris Dolnack

      Sorry to hear that James.  We’ll miss you.

  • Anonymous

    I have been to 15 Shot Shows and this one at the Sands just keeps getting better and better every year. Finding your way around is the best with plenty of food around and places to eat it. Very organized and well marked signs to find your way.

  • Hagearty

    I have attended most of the SHOT Shows since they started . . . . even way back to NSGA days here in Chicago.  I was so impressed with the very evident effort put forth by the Sands Convention Center and Diedra Cauley, I called her on Monday morning.  Booths were easy to locate, personnel knew the layout of the show and were very helpful.  I voted this show as the “BEST of All to date!”  It shows when the right person, Diedra, is in charge, and she is working with a responsive vendor who wants our business . . . . the end product is and was outstanding.

    And to Chris Dolnack:  Thank you for dumping the “bobble head doll” vendors who should not have been there in the past . . . nice to see them gone.  A much more professional show when you have first class vendors for us to meet.  I am really looking forward to 2013 . . . . rock on, Diedra!

    Sgt. Jim Hagearty
    Master Firearms Instructor
    Marksmanship Training Unit
    State of Illinois

  • Gunsgalore1

    Maybe if SHOT show was open to the public (perhaps NRA members only) for the first three days, serious dealers wouldn’t have to elbow our way through the crowds of lookers and press to make our orders.  It seems it’s more about selling tickets and breaking attendence records, than it is about catering to the legit dealers trying make orders for new products. Making it open to the public would generate presale interest and also make it easier to get an idea of what the consumer wants and needs are.

    • Hagearty

      Never! Never! Never!  This is a “Trade only show.”  The public, including NRA members, gun club officers, etc. need to go to their local dealers &/or surf the net.  We could do with a lot less press folks there . . . way too many on the floor “looking for personal stuff.”

      • Gunsgalore1

        “trade show only” I think NOT. I’ve had plenty of customers come in saying they attended the show, when I say “I didn’t know you were a dealer” they just reply they got a ticket from a basement dealer who has NEVER attended. Friends of dealers are NOT dealers.

        • http://twitter.com/chrisdolnack Chris Dolnack

          You are absolutely correct.  Friends of dealers are NOT dealers. Just like friends, frat bros., ex-neighbors of exhibitors are NOT dealers. Yet retailers and exhibitors are the biggest offenders when it comes to letting unqualified attendees into the show. Who howls the loudest about unqualified attendees?  You guessed it, retailers and exhibitors. If anyone knows of unqualified attendees who are attending SHOT Show please come forward with names so we can put a stop to it.

          • Gunsgalore1

            You are right, those dealers should be ashamed, I’ve had customers ask me to “get them in” and it has always been resounding NO. That was my point of letting these customers and friends of dealers in early, It might help with that problem. Plus you could make a nice profit on ticket sales.

          • Chris Dolnack

            We’re all ears if anyone in the trade has a suggestion. We will always work toward making SHOT Show the best it can be and add value to our customer’s experience. For NSSF it’s a journey, not a destination. We’ll never say it’s perfect. We’ll always work with Reed Exhibitions, Freeman, onPeak, The Sands and Century Security to make our customers happy.

  • http://www.facebook.com/adriana.blandford Adriana Ferlaak Blandford

    We had a great show this year. Thanks NSSF for all your hard work!

  • Jfrederick

    When did the SHOT show become the Tactical and Black OPS show. How many retailers sell mini guns, LE only body armor and Full auto weapons. Lets get back to the Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trades show. This seams to be more about selling booth space than supporting the many firearms retailers. I have attended most shows since 1986 and the last 3 years it has gotten worse.No one I have talked to likes the Sands. NSSF has said we are one of the top shows in Vegas we should have our pick of places and times.

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