Jan 21–24, 2025
Venetian Expo + Caesars Forum
Las Vegas

Insider: Networking Events, Reminders, and Last-Chance Opportunities

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.

We hope you all had a wonderful New Year’s and holiday season. Now that January is upon us, we know everyone is deep into finalizing everything the SHOT Show. If you were skipping emails last week during the holidays, please be sure to reference the Insider sent out on December 27 as there were many items in there that are still important to your planning. Below are more items we want to be sure you are paying attention to as we are leading up to show time.

Plan Ahead for a Key Deliverable of the SHOT Show—NETWORKING

One of the most important aspects of the SHOT Show is the networking opportunities amongst exhibitors and customers. We have added more networking events than ever before this year, and it’s not too late to take advantage of them. We have free happy hours each evening, Tuesday through Thursday, immediately after the show closes at 5:30. Free beer and networking. We even have a concert on Tuesday evening you won’t want to miss. After those free happy hours, and in some of the hottest nightclubs in town, you can also participate in networking events exclusive to SHOT Show badge holders, for as little as $49 per person. Upgrades are available that include open bar packages, which you can purchase individually, for your team, or for your customers. You can purchase through your Exhibitor Dashboard or at the link below. If you’re interested in purchasing for a group of 15 or more, or interested in sponsoring one of these networking events, simply email Jampack, our official partner, at malcolm@jampack.com and a member of their team will be in contact with you. Learn more and purchase packages here. — Melissa Schilling, NSSF

Don’t Miss Out on Scheduling Appointments with Attendees

Attendees are ramping up their participation on the SHOT Show Planner. They are already making their game plan for their SHOT Show experience. A part of that game plan is to schedule appointments with exhibitors in advance of the show. If you have not already, opt in for appointments and adjust your schedule to fit your availability.

To activate and utilize this feature:

  • Log into your Exhibitor Dashboard
  • Select Edit Profile
  • Scroll to the right and select Appointments
  • Click the “Opt-In to Accept Appointments” link

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect with and schedule meetings with buyers’ pre-show. — Mike Clark, ConvExx

Last Chance to Secure Discounted Hotel Rates and Save Hundreds of Dollars

Last week’s Insider shared some of the current hotel rates if you book directly with the hotel vs. our discounted group rates through shotshow.org/travel. Many of you responded with a big surge in bookings this past week. Unfortunately, the last of these discounted rates expire TOMORROW, JANUARY 4 for any of the remaining hotels still available (while supplies last). Below are the remaining discounted hotel room blocks available as of January 1. — Melissa Schilling, NSSF

HOTELDISCOUNTED RATE CURRENT HOTEL RATE
Circus Circus $48/night$80/night
Flamingo Hotel  $159/night    $599/night
Harrah’s$191/night$779/night
Horseshoe (Bally’s)$169/night$354/night
Paris Las Vegas$195/nightSOLD OUT (TUES NT)

Transporting Firearms from the Airport

Make sure you plan ahead for transporting firearms to and from the SHOT Show. If you have firearms coming through airport baggage, SHOT Security will transport them to either the Venetian or Caesars Forum for you. This service is available, at no cost, during move-in from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday through Monday. Upon arrival, check your firearms across from Baggage Claim #5 (Terminal 1) or Baggage Claim #17 (Terminal 3). Badge pick-up also conveniently located in the same area so you can pick up your badge at the same time. You can also check your firearms after the show and security will transport them to the airport for your departing flight on Saturday. Locations for departure are located at ticket counters #34 and #35 (adjacent to American Airlines) (Terminal 1) and next to United (Terminal 3). — Mike Clark, ConvExx

Update Your Digital Press Kit for the Media

It’s not too late to update your press kit for the 2024 SHOT Show. SHOT Show media are currently logging into the site and looking for content. And the site is used year-round, so be sure your Digital Press Kit is up to date. To log in, simply click the Digital Press Kit Access link under Dashboard Links on your SHOT Show Exhibitor Dashboard. This instructional video and how-to instructions will help walk you through the whole process. — Mike Clark, ConvExx

Over 100 New Suppliers this Year at Supplier Showcase. Don’t Miss Out!

The value proposition for the SHOT Show continues to grow for our manufacturing community as the Supplier Showcase continues to highlight hundreds of companies that can benefit your supply chain and operations. This year, there are over 560 companies participating on the 5th floor, Monday and Tuesday only. If you feel like you’ve seen them all, you haven’t. We have 117 new suppliers this year, and if you didn’t make it up there last year, we have 239 new suppliers since you last visited Supplier Showcase. It is free for anyone with a SHOT Show badge. Be sure to bring your engineers, procurement team, or any other team member that can benefit from seeing new opportunities. See the complete list of suppliers participating here. — Jeff Pressman, ConvExx

Keep an Eye Out for Booth Renewal Notification

Emails with a link to renew your booth for the 2025 SHOT Show will be sent out next week. All exhibitors have the opportunity to renew their 2024 SHOT Show booth for the 2025 SHOT Show if they submit their rental agreement and pay the 25% deposit by the end of the 2024 Show (January 26). You can only renew your current booth at this time. If you would like a booth change, you can make a request on the rental agreement. Change requests will be addressed during the spring, and space will be offered by membership status and priority points. All NSSF members get to choose before non-members, so if you are not a member consider joining NSSF today. — Chris Tatulli, NSSF

Not Too Late for Submitting a Product in the New Product Center

Submissions for the New Product Center continue to remain open and it’s not too late to sign up. You can click here for all the information and links to purchasing, which you can also do through your Exhibitor Dashboard. — Chris Tatulli, NSSF

Promote Your Booth—Send a Dedicated Email Blast to Show Attendees

Want to send a pre-show email to YOUR target audience? While the SHOT Show doesn’t sell its lists to anyone (don’t believe any scammers out there trying to sell you one), we do offer exhibitors an opportunity to reach attendees via email through our registration and lead management provider Maritz Global Events. You can select what audience you’d like to reach with your message, and you provide the content. We’ll do the rest. Price varies by the size of the audience you select. All exhibitors received an email about this service last week from Maritz, so check that email to learn more there or by logging into your Exhibitor Dashboard. — Melissa Schilling, NSSF

Categories

Authors

NSSF
Chris Dolnack
Chris Dolnack
SVP & Chief Customer Officer, NSSF
Bill Dunn
Bill Dunn
Vice President, Marketing, NSSF
Quinn Cassidy
Quinn Cassidy
Manager, Exhibition & Sponsorship, NSSF
Colleen Leonard
Colleen Leonard
Manager, Conferences & Events, NSSF
Zachary Maddox
Zachary Maddox
Manager, Exhibit & Sponsorship Sales, NSSF
Melissa Shilling
Melissa Schilling
Managing Director, Exhibitions & Conferences, NSSF
Tammy McIntyre
Tammy McIntyre
Manager, Member Services, NSSF
Chris Tatulli
Chris Tatulli
Director, Exhibit & Sponsorship Sales, NSSF
ConvExx
Jeff Pressman
Jeff Pressman
President & CEO, ConvExx
Jennifer Carr
Jennifer Carr
Vice President, Trade Show & Event Operations, ConvExx
Mike Clark
Mike Clark
Vice President, Sales, ConvExx
Casie Stock
Casie Stock
Vice President, Attendee Services & Registration, ConvExx
Regina Clark
Regina Clark
Director, Exhibitor Services, ConvExx
Kathryn Rae
Kathryn Rae
Projects Administrator, ConvExx