SHOT Show Signals Positive Start for 2009

As this issue heads to the printer, technical editor Chick Blood and I have just returned from another amazing SHOT Show’t his one in the sprawling 715,000-square-foot Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Anyone with any doubt about the health of our industry would only have had to spend a few hours walking the aisles of this mammoth trade show, although by my estimate it would take something like two full days just to take a cursory glance at all 2,000 exhibits.

The SHOT Show, owned and sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), is the world’s largest showcase of firearms, accessories, and hunting and outdoor products. It provides a forum like no other for the industry to show off the newest products that will line the shelves of gun shops and sporting-goods stores in the coming year. Revenue raised by the SHOT Show funds NSSF’s many programs and services that promote, protect, and preserve hunting and the shooting sports.

Though many trade shows have seen a decline in attendance, attendance at the SHOT Show remained strong this year, rising 3 percent compared to the show’s last visit to Orlando in 2007.

According to NSSF’s figures, this year’s show attracted 25,384 attendees, 22,098 exhibiting personnel, and 1,425 members of the media for a total attendance of 48,907. "This has been a tremendously successful show from a number of standpoints," said NSSF President Steve Sanetti. "Exhibitors and buyers were very upbeat, the products sold well, and I’d say the industry begins 2009 with a sense of cautious optimism in this challenging economy.

Business was brisk on the floor throughout the show, according to exhibiting companies and retailers. "It’s been a good show, and, in fact, it’s been above my expectations," said Phil Murray of Houstonbased clay-target maker White Flyer "It’s really exciting to see so many people being so positive about the industry. It is very encouraging for the rest of the year.

New products highlight the show’s offerings each year, which is one reason attendees say the show is always a can’t-miss event. "The most important reason for anyone to come to the SHOT Show is to see the latest and greatest," said Ken Jorgensen of Sturm, Ruger & Co. "They’re going to see the new products that they may not hear or read about for weeks or months." Personally, I spent most of my time at the show hanging out with friends at the Passport Sports, Inc., booth.

Their sales in the first two days of the show equaled what they did in all four days the last time the show was in Orlando. I have to thank all the American Gunsmith subscribers who stopped by to say "hello." I just wish we had had more opportunities like this to meet in person. Editor Keith Lawrence Technical