SHOW Show 2010, Las Vegas, NV – A look from the Trail Master’s side

If there was ever a heaven on this Earth for the Outdoorsman/women, Military, Tactical or Law Enforcement crowd, you just missed it as the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show or known in the industry as the SHOT Show, for 2010 wrapped up last week with near record attendance. As I look back over the last year as both a media professional and as an on-line retailer, even the struggling economy has not damped firearms and ammunition sales. SHOT Show this year ran from January 19-22 and I saw signs of both optimism and yet still in a ever seemingly struggling market, trying to rekindle and reshape itself to adapt to the new buying market places the online community and retail stores both have had the challenges of facing to meet customers’ needs and demands.

A total of 58,444 people made the trek to Las Vegas with 31,280 buyers, and the 1,804 media professionals attending establishing a new record. Every company a person that loves this type of crowd could ever imagine is there representing new products, services, toys and gear to hit the market this year or to renew old friendships, contracts, place yearly orders and to make new relationships. From some of the most rich and famous to the little guys with great ideas trying to bring them to market, you never knew who you might run into at the next turn, and let me tell you, with the Event covering much of the entire Sand Convention Centers 700,000 net square feet in the convention center’s halls and the Venetian Hotel’s meeting rooms. Exhibiting companies numbered 1,633, with about 125 of them being international companies. The show is owned and sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry’s trade association and is not open to the general public, but is the breeding ground, behind the scenes, of the hunting, fishing and outdoors World.

Having the opportunity of going down with a unique perspective of both sides of the industry, as a media professional, I was in awe! Getting to the point in your career to be able to go rub elbows with friends you’ve made along the way and finally meet with many of the people you have interviewed and worked with for years, but in many cases, never actually gotten to meet is one not to be forgotten but rather cherished. Having the opportunity to be invited to go to The 2010 Sportsman Channel’s, Sportsman Choice Award Ceremony at Lagasse's Stadium in the Venetian Hotel and see a man I have watched his career blossom over the last few years from selling his first DVD’s on-line to him starting his very popular TV Show and now to being Awarded the Best Hunt Show, Les Johnson with Predator Quest, you are the man! And being there after having the show I am involved with, Huntin’ with “The Judge” with Judge Julie Mogenis and Posse’, being in the initial running for these awards, was an honor all in itself. The equivalent of the Academy Awards of the Outdoor Industry, who would have ever thought I would be sitting there. Someone pinch me OK?

And yet as a retailer, hearing both success stories and then seeing struggling smaller companies trying to break into the market, it brought back to reality how the industry as a whole has quickly changed in the market place we find ourselves in as 2010 starts off. We are adapting and companies are finding ways to improve technology and in most cases keep costs affordable for the everyday outdoorsman, and yet many higher end companies that are producing products (for the right price) can and will do about anything to make the next time you head outdoors a new experience. But not only for the outdoors-man, no way, if you like tactical, high tech, muscle and protection, hundreds of dealers from the consumer level to the Military only products are there by the droves. Not having been to the 2009 SHOT Show, I saw change from the 2008 show which was the last I had attended, changes in a tough market that has been undermined with legal lawsuits and public misunderstanding of many of the issues hunters, fisherman and outdoors man face, I saw optimism! Strong folks in a tough spot often are the best form when they are banded together and SHOT Show does bring bonding and proactive change within our industry as a whole. I am hopeful for a robust and growing 2010 market and I think the industry as a whole is too!

Next year’s SHOT Show is slated for January 18-21, 2011, at the Sands Expo & Conference Center in Las Vegas.