2024 SHOT Show Was Biggest Ever

The 46th Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show), owned and operated by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), concluded last Friday, Jan. 26, and by all measures was deemed a resounding success. This year’s show set new benchmarks for industry engagement with an expanded show floor, a record-high number of exhibitors and an array … Read more

NRA Wrapup: What I DIDN’T See in Pittsburgh.

I guess you could call me a trade show veteran. Been there. Done that. Got the shin splints to prove it. I’ve been attending or working major trade shows since I was just a strapping lad of 15. NAMM show (music), COMDEX show (computers) SIGGRAPH (ditto), and NRA show (guns), they all have had a common leitmotif that runs through every last one of ’em. Women. Attractive women. Provocatively-dressed, attractive women, who usually know next-to-nothing about the products in their booths. They exist for the same reason that flowers exist – to attract bees so they’ll stumble in and grab some pollen (literature) and be on their merry way. But this year, there was a decided dearth of women commonly referred to within the industry as either “Booth Bunnies” or “Booth Bimbos,” depending on your perspective. Now why would that be?

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2010 NRA ConFab: Final Observations

As I get ready for my trip back to the real world, I thought I’d share a couple of observations about the NRA show. Keep in mind, this is my first NRA National Convention, but it’s not my first trade show. Not by a long shot. Also not my first gun show.

  • This show is big. REALLY big. As in, Charlotte’s convention center could just barely contain it. They move it around from city to city, to give as many members a better shot at attending. But if it gets any bigger, I can see where they might have to stick it in Vegas – as they’re the only place that could handle a really huge show.
  • Aside from a few showbiz quibbles, the NRA did a near-flawless job on the show. And I say that as somebody who’s now been on both sides of the desk – as an exhibitor and as a member of the press.
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NRA(nd) Away We Go…

As RF mentioned earlier, I’m about to fly out to Charlotte, NC for the anual National Rifle Association confab. (And boy will my arms be tired.) The keynote speakers will be Gov. Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, so I’m expecting this to be a pretty interesting get-together. Of course, what NRA convention would be complete … Read more