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 everyone had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed time with family and friends this holiday season. With the SHOT Show only weeks away, we know a lot of last-minute logistics are being handled this week between Christmas and New Year’s, so we wanted to remind you of a few items that need to be considered when finalizing some of your plans. Happy New Year, and we will see you in Las Vegas in just a few short weeks.
Reasons to Send Your Freight to the Advance Warehouse, with Deadline Coming Up on January 9
Sending your freight in advance to be stored by Freeman has tremendous benefits. Not only are you sure of your freight being in Vegas when it needs to be, and not tied up due to potential weather, traffic or delivery issues, but you are also assured of your freight arriving at your designated target time so you can plan for and schedule your labor. We often hear of trucks delayed due to snow, or late arriving at the marshalling yard and having to wait for hours (adding additional costs for the carrier). This can be avoided if you ship to the advance warehouse. There is more information contained in the Exhibitor Resource Center, and specific labels if you are sending to the “Warehouse,” and keep in mind that the deadline to receive freight at the Warehouse is January 9. — Jennifer Carr, ConvExx
Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You About Higher Hotel Rates—Book Now!
We have said for months now that discounted rates at nearby hotels are limited and do expire. That time is here. The Venetian went from $329 and is now selling for $699 a night. Flamingo, however, is still selling through the SHOT Show's official housing site at only $159 a night, plus a discounted $30 resort fee. This discounted rate expires next week so if you haven’t booked yet, do it now. If you book directly through Flamingo’s own website, the Tuesday and Wednesday night of the show is selling for $479 a night with the other nights going for $259 with a $40 resort fee per night. Don’t wait any longer and leave yourselves with only these high rates available. — Melissa Schilling, NSSF
Don’t Forget to Register Your Staff and Attend Supplier Showcase
Make things easier over the next couple of weeks and be sure all your staff is registered for the SHOT Show. If you register them now, not only will everyone get their own confirmations, but they can also sign up for the after-hours networking events if they like or even have a monorail ticket for the week be embedded into their badge. If you have buyers, exhibitor buyers, manufacturer representatives, or guests that need registered, click here for more information. Also, a reminder that your badge also includes access to the Supplier Showcase, which will be run on Monday and Tuesday of SHOT Week and includes over 560 companies this year exhibiting their products and services that benefit manufacturers in our industry. — Mike Clark, ConvExx
Sending Any Materials to the Show? Regardless of Carrier, Use the Shipping Labels
Regardless of how you are shipping your materials to the show, it is vital that you use the shipping labels in the Exhibitor Resource Center as these are used to ensure the crates or skids are delivered to the appropriate booth and makes it easier to find them should they be misplaced somewhere at the facility. We also recommend that you number the shipping containers in an order that will assist you with installation of your booth. We do not recommend labeling the outside of the shipping container with specifying its contents, as it may just lead to potential theft or loss should those contents be attractive to others. Unfortunately, that is something we all need to keep in mind when labeling and marking our freight. — Jennifer Carr, ConvExx
Keeping the Show Safe. Use the Security Shipping Labels
Please be sure to use the specific label for “Advanced Security” or “Direct Security” for crates or shipping containers containing firearms. This indicates to Freeman that they will need to be stored separately with security until they can be claimed by you, the exhibitor, upon your arrival. This doesn’t mean to ship a firearm in every crate you have; we have limited space for these crates and the program only works if it is limited to firearms. We do not want these crates left on the show floor unattended, so it is extremely important that this process is followed whether it is being sent in advance to the Advance Warehouse, or your carrier will be bringing it for arrival on your designated target time day. — Jeff Pressman, ConvExx
Are You Hanging a Sign? Be Sure It’s Shipped in Its Own Shipping Container
You may notice that there is a separate shipping label for hanging signs. This is because hanging signs often need to be hung in advance of the rest of your booth; sometimes before you even arrive in Las Vegas. The necessary movement of special equipment to hang the signs, around all the freight in and around the booths on the show floor, requires these to be constructed and hung in advance and therefore sending them separately saves you time and extra expense if they are sent together. This helps you save money by sending it separately, so please pay attention to these specific labels. — Jennifer Carr, ConvExx
Last Minute Hospitality Needs?
We all come to the realization at some point that we need to make a reservation for a large group and can’t find a place or the deposits and contracts are more than expected. If that’s you this holiday season or in the next couple of weeks, we do have a partner that can help you out in these types of situations. Feel free to contact Jampack, a local company in Las Vegas with connections at all the major hospitality outlets in and around the Strip. You can find more information here. — Jeff Pressman, ConvExx
