Fast-Growing Show
Shatters Records, Celebrates Industry!

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is less than 30 days from opening the industry’s largest trade show — SHOT Show 2008 — and the arrangements continue at high speed and in high fashion. The annual event, which will celebrate the 30th SHOT Show, will be held Feb. 2-5, 2008, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Show officials report the event will shatter all records.

“Without question, this will be the largest SHOT Show in our history. We will break 700,000-net square feet and have the largest number of exhibitors, as well,” said Doug Painter, NSSF president.

“At this point, we have about 1,950 exhibitors and are expecting to be at about 715,000 square feet of floor space,” said Jeanette Mannuzza, NSSFs director of SHOT Show operations. “But exhibitors are still registering. So we won’t really know exactly how many exhibitors we have until the show opens.”

The reason show officials have been able to increase the exhibitor space in Las Vegas is the addition of huge sprung structures adjacent to the convention center. This will provide space for about 650 exhibitors.

“We’ve had to add these sprung structures just to accommodate the tremendous demand for exhibit space,” Painter said. “In hunting parlance, we’ve gone from the pup tent we had in 2006 in Las Vegas to an outfitter’s tent.”

The total size of the sprung structure — which officials have dubbed the “Gold Hall” — is 250,000 square feet. Actual exhibit space within the Gold Hall will be around 125,000 square feet.

“The Gold Hall will be set up across Paradise Road in the Gold Parking Lot,” Mannuzza said. “There’s a sky bridge across to it at the end of North Hall. We’ll also have shuttle buses going back and forth all day and shuttles will pick up at the beginning and the end of each day. The Gold Hall will be a stop on the hotel shuttle bus route. There will be a lot of outside exhibits, a big food court and a dining tent. It’s almost self-contained.”

Win Prizes For Being There

NSSF is holding a number of daily raffles during the show, with prizes ranging from commemorative decks of cards to firearms and a “Hunt of a Lifetime.”

The “Go for the Gold” raffle, which is open to anyone attending the show — exhibitors, buyers and media — is sponsored by the Outdoor Channel and will be held in the Gold Hall.

“The purpose of doing it there is to draw traffic into the Gold Hall,” Mannuzza said. “You get a chance every day to play a free game of Blackjack. If you beat the dealer, you win a commemorative 30th anniversary deck of playing cards.”

If you beat the dealer with Blackjack, you receive the deck of playing cards and a 30th anniversary camouflage backpack.

“That will be going on throughout the show,” Mannuzza said. “At the end of the show, we’re raffling off a 50-inch high-definition TV, donated by the Outdoor Channel.”

“The Last Blast” is for attendees — buyers only — who attend the show on the last day, Tuesday, Feb. 5. To enter, buyers must have their badges scanned on the last day between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Central Lobby.
“Once your badge is scanned, you’re entered. You don’t have to be present to win. Then, at 2 p.m. at the ‘Go for the Gold’ booth in the Gold Hall, we’ll do the drawing,” Mannuzza said.

“The Last Blast” prizes include a “high-end firearm,” other firearms, a $1,500 Leupold scope, a sterling silver Leatherman tool in honor of Leatherman’s 25th anniversary and a Hunt of a Lifetime.

“There’s also a complete 2009 SHOT Show package, which includes hotel, airfare and the State of the Industry Gala,” Mannuzza said. “The Grand Prize is a Yamaha Rhino 4x4 that’s worth in excess of $13,000.”

Ruger Rifle Highlights Auction

Five-millionth Ruger 1022.

Pennsylvania Flintlock

The 2008 SHOT Show auction features a highly embellished Ruger rifle, an elegant Pennsylvania long rifle and a finely crafted folding knife.

The Ruger rifle is the five millionth Ruger 10-22. It was presented to the 4-H Shooting Sports Program to help raise support and awareness of the program. It was then turned over to the Ruger Custom Shop for further enhancements. The auction of the rifle has been facilitated by the newly formed Youth Shooting Sports Alliance, and proceeds will benefit the 4-H Shooting Sports Program.

The rifle features rich, hand-engraved scroll designs and selective 24kt gold highlights. Full-cover engraving enhances the nickel-finished receiver, featuring scroll designs and a banner that reads “Five Millionth” highlighted with 24kt gold. The buttplate features full-coverage engraving and the monogram of William Batterman Ruger. The rifle was hand-engraved by Rob Bunting of the Ruger Studio and Baron Engraving coordinated production of this one-of-a-kind firearm and donated their custom-finishing services. The rifle has been stocked with select American black walnut.

A spectacular custom Pennsylvania flintlock rifle is part of the auction, with proceeds going to the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association. It was crafted by master gunsmith James Klein of Fulton, Mich., in the traditional 18th-century style of Peter Berry, a very successful gunmaker in his time.

Klein has created a faithful, artful rendition of this historic muzzleloader. The .50 caliber has a striking tiger maple stock and features the highest quality components available, including a Colerain barrel, Siler lock and double-set triggers.

The 2008 auction also includes a one-of-a-kind knife by the award-winning William Henry Studio. The button lock’s blade is honed from 45-layer “wave” Damascus steel, hammer-forged from ZDP 189 and hardened to Rockwell 67C, considered the finest cutlery steel in existence. The knife’s graceful lines are complemented by hand-cut scroll designs by the world-renowned Italian engraver, Lorenzo Gamba, and 10,000-year-old wooly mammoth tooth scales. The one-hand opening knife is further adorned with diamond inlays on the thumb stud and lock button, and 18kt rose-gold fittings provide the final elegant touches. Proceeds from the knife auction will be donated to the 4-H Shooting Sports Program.

Bidding on these auction items will be conducted online at www.gunbroker.com and will begin on Jan. 5, 2008. Bidding will conclude at noon on Feb. 5, 2008.

Rapid Check-In Reduces Traffic Jams

Last year, officials established a rapid check-in procedure to reduce the time retailers had to stand in line to enter the show. Badge-holder pickup was eliminated in favor of large bins of badge holders, where attendees picked up a badge holder and turned in the badge stub to verify they had attended the show. Turning in the stub allows officials to get an accurate count of who actually attended, and to place attendees on a priority list to receive information about the next year’s show.

“We found this is definitely the way to go,” Mannuzza said. “People don’t have to wait in line to pick up their directory or their badge holder. They receive their badge in the mail and there will be bins at all the entrances.”

The new procedure for handling badges reflects NSSF’s objective to enhance customer service, Mannuzza said.

“It’s all about how we can make the attendee’s experience at SHOT as easy as possible,” she said. “These are business people and we need to get them in and on the show floor quickly.”

Attendees also can use an “Express Badge” system at the show.

“Express Badge is like going to the airport with your e-ticket and bar code,” Mannuzza said. “You put the bar code in the computer and out comes your badge. So if you don’t want your badge mailed to you, you can go to the show with your receipt, which has a bar code on it, and your badge will be printed out there.”

NSSF has offered this service to international attendees for a number of years, due to the difficulty in mailing badges overseas. Last year, officials began offering it to U.S.-based attendees, as well.

Part of the reason for both changes to the registration process is technology.

“More than 90 percent of our attendees register online, and it goes up every year,” Mannuzza said. “We do very little registering at the show; we maybe register 2,000 people at the show itself. Very few people fill out a paper registration form anymore.”
To register for the show, visit www.shotshow.org.

A Night To Celebrate

Seek Out New Products And Outfitters

At the New Product Center, like last year, handheld scanners will be available for dealers to quickly gather information.

“The dealers really enjoyed having that capability last year,” Mannuzza said. “There are usually about 500 items in the New Product Center and we’re expecting about that many this year.”

With handheld scanners, dealers can walk through the New Product Center and scan the cards beside items that catch their attention. When they return the scanner, the information is downloaded and printed. This gives retailers a list of the products they scanned and the company’s booth numbers at the show.

“This year, the New Product Center is not on the show floor,” Mannuzza said. “It will be in the Central Lobby, just as you enter the convention center.”

The Outfitters Post, which will be located on the main SHOT Show floor in North Hall, will have information on game ranches, guides, outfitters and other providers of hunting experiences for customers.

“There are about 30 outfitters who are planning to be there,” Mannuzza said. “There is special signage and we have them all together so attendees can find them.”
There will also be a few taxidermists in the Outfitters Post.

Opportunities For Education

SHOT Show University, sponsored by NSSF’s National Association of Firearms Retailers (NAFR), will be held on Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, in the Las Vegas Convention Center. This is the seventh year NAFR has held the university. (See page 52 for a list of seminars.)

The cost to attend the daylong university is $50 for NAFR members and $75 for non-members. To register, call (203) 426-1320 or visit the NAFR Web site at www.nafr.org. Dealers may also register via www.shotshow.org.

A number of free seminars will be held on Feb. 2, 3 and 4 from noon to 1 p.m. The exceptions are the annual “AFT/FBI-NICS Issues and Answers” and the “Firearms & Ammunition Excise Tax Seminar.” (See page 52 for a list of seminars.)

Five of the free seminars focus on law enforcement, reflecting the increase in interest in L.E. at the show.

One difference in this year’s seminars is their timing. Instead of holding the seminars throughout the day, they will be conducted during the lunch hour.

“It’s difficult for a buyer to take four days out of his workweek to come to the show, and then leave the show floor to attend a seminar. By holding the seminars concurrently from noon to 1 p.m., dealers can grab a sandwich, have a working seminar, and be back on the floor in an hour. Plus, each day they can choose a different seminar,” Mannuzza said.

Free SHOT Show Seminars

Feb. 2, 3, 4, 2008

All seminars will run for three days, Feb. 2, 3, 4, from noon to 1 p.m., except the AFT/FBI-NICS panel discussion and the Firearms & Ammunition Excise Tax Seminar.

Saturday, Feb. 2

ATF/FBI-NICS Issues and Answers • Room N210 • 2-4 p.m.
A panel of experts from the ATF and FBI-NICS will present the latest changes in laws and regulations. Bring your questions.

Sunday, Feb. 3

Firearms & Ammunition Excise Tax Seminar (FAET) • Room N211 • 8 a.m.-noon
Presented by Glock, Tax & Trade Bureau and NSSF
The seminar is an opportunity for firearms and ammunition manufacturers, producers and importers to ask questions and receive information on FAET issues. Changes in FAET 2007 law and regulations will be a hot topic. An extensive information packet will be provided for each participant.

Daily Seminars • Noon to 1 p.m.

Firearms Dealer Lawsuits and Liabilities • Room N217
Attorneys Chuck Michel and John Renzulli will discuss recent lawsuits against firearms dealers, along with “How to protect yourself if Mayor Bloomberg sues you!”

Web Sites: Don’t Get Stuck In The Web • Room N218
Kevin Hanley, Web designer and programmer, will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of putting your business on the web, outsourcing vs. in-house design or redesign of your site, along with costs involved.

Confessions of a Media Rep!!
Presented by Shot Business magazine • Room N219
Industry veteran Bill Kendy will discuss what to look for when buying media, radio, TV, print, directory, direct mail and billboard. Also the five common media buying mistakes and the Law of 3s.

ATF/FBI-NICS • Room N220
ATF’s John Badowski will show a short video, discuss and answer your questions on Straw Purchases. FBI-NICS Marc Chamberlain will present a NICS overview along with discussions on E-Check and the Voluntary Appeals File.


Firearms License Revocations and Non-Renewal • Room N221
(Must have an FFL to attend)
Experts Richard Gardner and retired ATF Deputy Assistant Director Wally Nelson will discuss how to protect yourself and your business from an FFL license revocation or non-renewal.

Less Lethal Aerosol Advancements • Room N222
David Nance, Security Equipment Corp., will discuss various aspects of law enforcement aerosol advancements including: Target Acquisition Conformation, UV Marking Dye, Proper Deployment Techniques, New Decontamination Advancements, New Products for Crowd Control and much more.

The Hindi Duty Belt S.A.F.E.T.Y. System •  Room N223
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Robert Hindi, with over 20 years on the force, will talk about duty belt equipment placement and positioning. He will challenge the traditional mindset of putting equipment wherever it fits.

Alternative Small Arms Aiming Devices • Room N224
Wes Doss, an internationally recognized weapons and tactics instructor, will discuss a detailed exploration of alternate and laser-sighting devices, their application in training, dynamic real-world situations and their viability to law enforcement customers.

Surviving Combat Inside the Kill Zone • Room N225
Ernest R. Emerson, well-known tactical trainer and lecturer, will be presenting a seminar on survival combat inside the “Kill Zone” and developing training protocols to enhance survival against deadly attack.

Ammunition Selection for Patrol and Tactical Operations • Room N226
Cpl. Ed Sanow, of both Law and Order Magazine and Tactical Response Magazine, will discuss how to select the most effective handgun ammo for patrol use, the most effective loads by caliber, the background behind “tactical” rifle and handgun ammo, and how to select the most glass- and metal-tolerant ammo for tactical operations.

SHOT Show 2008 Hours
Saturday, Feb. 2 • 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 3 • 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 4 • 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 5 • 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

SHOT Show Owner and Sponsor
National Shooting Sports Foundation
11 Mile Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470
(203) 426-1320
Fax: (203) 426-1087
www.nssf.org

SHOT Show Producer and Manager
Reed Exhibitions
383 Main Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06851
1-888-334-8720
Fax: (203) 840-9600
E-mail: inquiry@shot.reedexpo.com
www.shotshow.org

SHOT Show Exhibitor Service Center
1-888-334-8720
(203) 840-5600
Fax: (203) 840-9600
E-mail: inquiry@shot.reedexpo.com

SHOT Show Booth Space Contacts
Dave Jeanette
Sales Manager
1-800-910-4671
(603) 626-4671
Fax: (603) 626-4672
E-mail: djeanette@reedexpo.com

Judy Maguire
Sales Executive
(203) 840-5492
Fax: (203) 840-9492
E-mail: jmaguire@reedexpo.com

SHOT Show Hotel Registration
www.shotshow.org

SHOT Show Location
Las Vegas Convention Center
3150 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89109-9096
(702) 892-0711
www.lvcva.com

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors’ Authority
3150 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 892-0711
Toll-Free: 1-877-847-4858
www.lvcva.com

Cab Companies
A-North Las Vegas Cab, (702) 643-1041
ABC Cab, (702) 736-8444
Checker Cab, (702) 873-2000
Nellis Cab, (702) 248-1111
Star Cab, (702) 873-2000
Yellow Cab (702) 873-2000

Future SHOT Shows
January 15 - 18, 2009
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL 32819