Random Thoughts On The 2012 SHOT Show

It’s been a week now since returning home from the 34th annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show and I’ve been ruminating on the experience ever since leaving.   No doubt about it…the energy experienced at SHOT this year was very palpable and positive.

To begin, we are three years into the Sands Convention Center experience and I would have to say it’s getting better each year.   While I still yearn for the days back when the show was hosted largely in one main room with aisles long and predictable, I have to say SHOT has done nearly everything possible to make navigating this show floor an easier experience.   Still not perfect, but now with a little past experience and tools such as the smartphone SHOT Show app, navigation has dramatically improved to check out all 1,600 exhibits.

Now, if you’re looking for me to talk about what’s new in this blog post…I’m sorry to disappoint.   Instead, I want to point you to a few other sites that do a wonderful job fleshing out many of the new products on display.   The first site is put together by a friend and fellow blogging colleague, Richard Johnson, over at Guns Holsters and Gear.   His pro staff does such a good job of reporting on many the new product details you deserve to check it out.

Another good source of SHOT Show information is available in video format from the Professional Outdoor Media Association’s new Media Center.   Currently they have about 100 short two minute or less videos showcasing news both from the recent Archery Trade Association show as well as SHOT.   Click on the graphic to check it out.

One final source for good 2012 SHOT Show information is Field and Stream magazine’s online coverage that can be found HERE.

Some might ask why I don’t provide a rundown of new products on this blog.   It’s a good question.   During previous SHOT Shows I have certainly dedicated blog space within these pages to talking about the products—the new, the interesting and the strange.   Truth is I don’t go to SHOT these days with the primary objective of seeing (and reporting) on what is new in the industry.

There was a time earlier in my career when writing about such aspects of the show was important.   As I’ve matured, I suppose it could be said it takes more innovation to impress me.   After all, how many ways can you tweak a flashlight and still be excited about it after watching product development for two decades.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, new products still excite me.   But over the years I’ve learned the SHOT Show for me is much more about making connections and networking than it is observing everything new on display.   Quite honestly, I don’t know how anyone within this industry can fail to find great benefit by attending the trade show.   It is the keynote event within the outdoors and shooting industry.

Today, I’d like to wrap up this post by showing some iPhone pictures snapped at this year’s SHOT.   Here’s hoping they’ll give you a better sense of what it must be like to walk the busy show floor and to take in the unique experience:

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One of the cool products I did see at SHOT. Plastic tree stump ground blind marketed by NatureBlinds.com

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Many of us walk by this exhibit drooling and dreaming of winning the lottery.

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Many exhibits feature celebrity autograph sessions. Here, Lynn Swann, HOF NFL football player greets show attendees for Colt.

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Even the SHOT Press Room was a busy place this year with 2,400+ media in attendance covering the show.

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

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Sentry Safe Is Giving Away 40 Pistol Safes During SHOT

SentrySafepicAre you feeling a bit bummed you’re going to be missing out on attending the SHOT Show next week in Las Vegas and need something to brighten your spirits just a bit?   Sentry Safe is having a pistol safe give-away…and not just one safe, but they’re giving away 40 of their new Model X041E safes with a fun contest exclusively on Twitter and Facebook.

Yeah, that means you don’t have to travel all the way to Vegas to bring home a little SHOT Show SWAG.   Here’s how you enter:

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Keep in mind this contest is valid starting on Tuesday, January 18th (the first day of SHOT).  Click on the picture above for additional details and rules…and Good Luck!

If I learn of any other deals leading up to the SHOT Show I will pass them along either on this blog or on Twitter.   Stay tuned…lots will be happening over the next week.

©2011 Jim Braaten.  All Rights Reserved.  No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

The SHOT Show By The Numbers; A Personal Reflection

Hard to believe it’s been 23 years ago since I wandered into my first SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show).   In fact, during that time I have only missed attending two years—once in Atlanta and once while it was held in Orlando two years ago.   No matter how many times I attend this annual extravaganza it never ceases to amaze me for the sheer size of the venue and the enormity of the products offered within the shooting and outdoors industry.

PIC_00955In recent years the show has claimed that if you walk every isle and see each and every booth a person would likely hike approximately 15 miles just to see everything the show has to offer.   In fact, I believe I once also heard the statistic that if you were to visit every booth during the normal show hours you would spend a whopping 22 seconds or so at each display just to see the entire floor plan.   That’s not much time considering a person takes bathroom breaks, lunch breaks and inevitably you’ll spend time just talking with people you meet along the way catching up on old times.

This got me thinking…if over the years I have attended 20 past shows and let’s just assume, for convenience sake, I’ve conservatively walked 10 miles per show (I know it’s been much more).   Heck, that’s over 200 miles I’ve hiked craning my neck from side to side looking at hunting and outdoor related products displayed in the booths during the past two decades.   That’s like walking from New York City to Washington, D.C. at a very slow pace as you peruse all the eye-catching product offerings.

Let’s put this into perspective.   If you drove from New York City heading to Washington, D.C. it would take you about 4 1/2 hours of driving time, depending on traffic.   Now, I figure on average each year I spend about 20 hours walking the show (actual show hours during the 4–day run is over 30 hours of exhibit time).   That means 20 years spent walking 20 hours, on average, per year equates out to personally having spent 400+ hours walking the SHOT Show floor over the years.IMG00037-20100121-1254

Easy math tells me if my distance traveled over the years has been 200 miles (give or take) and it’s taken me 400+ hours to get there…heck, I’m tearing up the carpeted floors with a steady 0.5 mph pace.   Indeed, more than one exhibitor has probably felt my breeze as I whisked past their booth at this frenzied speed.

Truth is I’ve learned to be a savvy SHOT Show hiker.   And yes, over the years I’ve discovered one must be very careful with their eyes.   Make contact with the wrong person and you might get sucked into a booth listening to a sales pitch you have absolutely no interest in being part of…and worse yet, breaking away can be nearly impossible.

Showing interest in a particular product with a mere glance or eyes locking on that booth person standing practically in the isle, ready to trip you, is akin to a coyote stepping into a #3 coil spring trap.   Getting away isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

Thus, I’ve learned so as not to have my SHOT Show perusing progress impeded, you work your eyes almost as carefully as your feet.   You may be at one booth but you glance forward for a sneak preview of what’s coming next.   If you know you absolutely have no interest in those booths…you put the afterburners on and proceed at warp speed until something again catches your eye.

You think I’m kidding about this?   I can assure you I most certainly am not.   The SHOT Show is like no other hunting or fishing-related show on the planet.   In fact, the SHOT Show boasts a ranking of being the 13th largest trade show in the country (for 2010) with some industry insiders speculating how the 2011 show might actually break it into the top 10.   Walk into the show without a game plan and it soon becomes a dizzying experience.

IMG00045-20100121-1310Okay, let’s get back to some numbers.   In 2010 the show had over 1,600 exhibitors promoting various products, services, you name it.   Alright, here’s where I finally make up a number because I don’t know if it has ever has been surveyed.   I have to guess that each booth is displaying on average 40 to 50 different products.   Some might show considerably less…others I can assure you have many more SKU’s being offered.   Now, take the average 45 products showcased at a particular booth with 1,600 exhibitors and this comes out to a cool 72,000 products on display.   Again, my guess is this number is being quite conservative…but let’s go with it.

Sticking with the numbers I mentioned earlier, if I am at the show for 20 hours this year that breaks down to 1,200 minutes total productive floor time.   If I have 72,000+ products to see and I divide that by the 1,200 minutes of time in which to do it…that equates down to 60 products I must observe/minute.   Or more simply put, if my intentions are to see everything at the show I have approximately 1 second to view each product on display during my 2011 SHOT Show adventure.

So, with all this being said, please forgive me if I happen to overlook something new this year being offered at the 2011 SHOT Show.   I try my best, but the large scale of the event challenges even the best of show attendees.IMG00046-20100121-1311

The best advice I can give someone new who attends the SHOT Show?   Here’s what I was told by my colleague way back in year number one.

Each day after the show, go back to your hotel room and have the makings for a cocktail waiting for you.   This is time you need to relax the mind and allow the day’s experience to begin to soak in.   Sort of a debriefing period where the endorphins cursing throughout your bloodstream can finally settle down in your system.

Next, when your dogs (read feet) begin to bark from all the miles you’ve put on your soles…take this little advice.   Stick your feet in the toilet and let the cool water swirl some life back into them.   After several flushes, you’ll be re-invigorated to spend a night out on the Las Vegas Strip socializing and networking with other SHOT Show attendees who visit annually for this unique outdoor trade show experience.

Ahhh yes, in less than two weeks let the show begin once again so I can further build on my personal SHOT Show stats.

©2011 Jim Braaten.  All Rights Reserved.  No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

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