SHOT Show® 2005: the shooting, hunting, outdoor trade show and conference

Shooting Industry, Dec, 2004 by Carolee Anita Boyles

The spartan showcase, which was in last year's retailer services pavilion, also returns. This year, the retailer services pavilion has been moved from the show floor to the main lobby of the convention center. It will be open during regular show hours.

Last year's new Outfitters Post was well received, Dolnack says. The section is designed to help retailers become more of an information source for their customers, and to help retailers establish relationships with outfitters.

Last year, NSSF also debuted the members' business center, which will be located just off the show floor in January.

"We're going to expand the business center at the 2005 show, because it got quite a bit of use," Dolnack said.

At the center, NSSF members can check e-mail, send a fax, make a photocopy, have a meeting and conduct other business.

SHOT Show Goes Web

SHOT Show 2005 will be on the World Wide Web. SHOT-SHOW.tv is a venture between NSSF and the Convention and Trade Show Network (CTS-TV). The Web program will debut Dec. 1 with a preview of the 2005 SHOT Show.

"This will be a first time launch for a new company," Sapir said. "They're going to make the SHOT Show available to anyone on broadband: consumers and anyone in the industry."

After the show, the Web-based program will continue to be available throughout the year.

Dealer Education Continues With SHOT Show University

Once again, retailers will have the opportunity to participate in SHOT Show University. Sponsored by the National Association of Firearms Retailers (NAFR), SHOT Show University is designed to give retailers information and tools to improve their businesses.

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Over the past several years, according to John Badowski, NSSF director of retail partnerships, it has become very clear that retailing is changing. As a result, the theme of this year's SHOT Show University is "the changing and evolving landscape of retailing."

"We're going to do media training in the morning, and then a seminar with retailers from other industries," Badowski said. "These are industries that were once dominant, but now, when you look on the local street corner, you find a Home Depot or a Lowe's. The same thing that's affecting other industries is affecting ours."

An afternoon seminar will feature four successful firearm retailers.

"They'll show dealers what they have done to retain market share, and in many cases, grow in the face of enormous competition."

SHOT Show University will be held on Jan. 27, the day before the show opens. The seminars are: "Manage Your Image and Deliver Your Message! Creating Positive Media Relations," "Change, Challenge and Opportunity--Retailing in the 21st Century," "The ATF Retailer Inspection Process," "Growing Your Business in Today's Competitive Environment," "Firearms Thefts From FFLs," "Marketing Your Business in the 21st Century," "Detecting and Avoiding Straw Purchases" and "Thriving With Inventory Automation."

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Dealers may register online for the seminars at the NAFR Web site, www.nafr.org. The cost for the event is $15 for NAFR members and $25 for non-members who register before the show. On-site registration will cost $25 for NAFR members and $40 for non-members.