Welcome to the latest SHOT Show Insider, written by the SHOT Show team at NSSF and our show partners to keep you informed on all things SHOT Show. Let us know what topics you’d like to see addressed here in upcoming issues by emailing us at shotshowinsider@nssf.org.
Hotel Deadlines Are Here
Secure rooms for yourself or your team at your preferred property before the special SHOT Show room rates go away. Rates at the Venetian/Palazzo will increase after December 18, and other partner hotels through onPeak will increase after December 20. Availability and special SHOT Show discounted rates after the cut-off dates are not guaranteed. Book now before your preferred hotel is no longer available. Go to shotshow.org/hotel-and-travel and choose either the link to the Venetian|Palazzo or all other official hotels through our housing partner at onPeak. The only official housing providers are onPeak and the Venetian/Palazzo. — Mindi Cherry, ConvExx
Economical Restaurants Abound in LINQ Promenade
With the addition of Caesars Forum, more and more exhibitors and attendees are finding more value (aka casual) opportunities for dinners throughout SHOT Week within close walking distance to the show. In just the LINQ Promenade alone, there are 22 different food outlets that range from celebrity dining restaurants from Guy Fieri and the Cake Boss, Buddy V, to established casual fare with Yardhouse and Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery. You’ll even find quick service stops like In-N-Out, Dunkin’, and Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips. Find them all here. — Jeff Pressman, ConvExx
Invite Your Customers to SHOT Show
Don’t forget the power of sending an invitation to your customers to join you at this year’s SHOT Show. In the Exhibitor Marketing Toolkit and the Supplier Showcase Marketing Toolkit, exhibitors can upload their company name, booth number, logo, and a short message about their products and services. Once you submit the form, an official, complimentary SHOT Show invitation will generate including your company’s personal information. You can email the invite, mail it, use it packaging, and more. — Wendy McCool Lewis, CSG Creative
Freeman’s Advance Warehouse Opening Soon
The Freeman Warehouse will soon be accepting freight for the SHOT Show. December 18 is when receiving begins, yet keep in mind that advance freight must be received by January 9. There are numerous benefits to having your freight sent in advance, one of which is that you know the freight will be arriving at your booth at your target time and will not need to have your driver wait in line at the marshalling yard on the day it arrives. — Jennifer Carr, ConvExx
Take Advantage of a Free Material Handling Opportunity
If you are bringing your own freight in to the show, in your own personally owned vehicle, there is a FREE program for you in which Freeman will assist you with your freight needs at the show. There are specific procedures to follow, so please review this page on the Exhibitor Resource Center before you finalize your plans. — Jennifer Carr, ConvExx
Shipping Firearms to the Show
While we are talking about shipping to the show, please pay attention to the policies and procedures for shipping firearms to the SHOT Show. We have them all listed in the Exhibitor Resource Center, which you can find here, as well as the specific shipping labels that need to be used to be ensure the safekeeping of the firearms when they arrive in Las Vegas. — Jennifer Carr, ConvExx
Help Protect Your Investment in the SHOT Show
The SHOT Show considers “suitcasing” and/or “outboarding” to be unethical business conduct and strictly prohibits both practices at the show. Suitcasing refers to the practice of companies or persons who come to the show as attendees but “work the aisles” from their suitcase (briefcase), soliciting business from other attendees and exhibitors. Outboarding refers to non-exhibiting companies who set up exhibits or events at off-site locations during the show. The only legitimate place to conduct business during the show is on the show floor or after hours at events hosted by exhibitors or the show. Only registered exhibitors and sponsors of the show are allowed to conduct hospitality events during the show. Exhibiting companies are encouraged to protect their investment by reporting actual or suspected violations of the SHOT Show’s suitcasing/outboarding rules immediately to management. If at any time before the show you learn of a non-exhibiting company not complying with the show rules, immediately report this by emailing salesmgr@convexx.com. If you are asked by non-exhibitors to register them for a badge, please refrain from doing so as that only hurts the investment made by all exhibitors in supporting the show. We thank you for your support. — Chris Dolnack, NSSF
Take Advantage of the New Product Center
It is not too late to participate in the New Product Center this year. While the deadline has passed for the printed directory, there is still room in the showcases or for floor spaces in the No. 1 destination for buyers each and every year. You can find all the information here, including how to purchase, pricing, and what to expect onsite. If you are a new exhibitor, you receive a free New Product Center entry as part of your package. Be sure to take advantage of that invaluable opportunity! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at cbraire@shotshow.org. — Chris Briare, ConvExx
Be Extremely Cautious of Non-Industry Publications Purporting to Be From the Industry
For several years, different companies selling listings in their “Exhibitors Directory” or “Show Guides” have been actively soliciting exhibitors that participate at numerous trade shows throughout the country, including the SHOT Show. The companies typically make it appear they received your information from the SHOT Show and that there is a connection between their “Guide” and the SHOT Show. In their information, they may imply that they distribute their magazines or guides throughout the convention center and at partner hotels, but that is not true. Please know that only the official SHOT Daily magazine, published by Grand View Outdoors, or industry magazines published and distributed by established industry exhibitors at the SHOT Show, are permitted to be distributed at the convention center or in our partner hotels. No other company or periodical is permitted on property at The Venetian Expo, Caesars Forum, or our partner hotel properties. Source Group is not affiliated with or endorsed by SHOT Show or NSSF and their publication, Outdoor Industry News, is NOT an official SHOT Show publication. Have questions? Please contact salesmgr@convexx.com or your account executive. — Jeff Pressman, ConvExx
Quick Reminder About Retail Sales at the Show
While we encourage and expect orders between attendees and exhibitors at the show, the show rules explicitly maintain that all sales are for future delivery and not for product being taken from the booth. These types of transactions encourage more non-qualified individuals to attend the show and diminish the business-to-business value of the SHOT Show in general. Please help us maintain the high-level of attendees we all aspire to have at the SHOT Show by complying with these rules.
