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HOT Show, the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry's largest trade show, smashed all-time records in its 30th year, posting new highs in attendance, exhibition space, exhibiting companies and media turnout.
"What better way to celebrate the SHOT Show's 30th anniversary than with a turnout that not only broke, but shattered, all previous records for attendance and exhibit space," said Doug Painter, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, owner and sponsor of the SHOT Show. "The buying activity reported is a strong indicator of a good year to come and reflects the strength of the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry."
The show, held Feb. 2-5 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, comprised 715,000 square feet of exhibit space, a gain of nearly 60,000 over last year, with 1,950 exhibiting companies, up from last year's 1,870.
With a total registered attendance of 58,769, the show eclipsed last year's attendance record of 42,216. The show attracted 30,686 buyers, 1,725 members of the press, 25,854 exhibiting personnel and 504 guests.
Before the closing bell had rung, exhibitors had already booked 700,000 square feet of exhibit space for next year's show in Orlando, Florida.
Retailers, exhibitors and media from outside the United States continue to flock to the show each year. Attendees came from 75 countries.
Exhibitors whose roots are in the army/navy industry continue to look to the SHOT Show as an entrée into the growing law enforcement, tactical and hunting markets.
This year, over 40 companies with army/navy heritages exhibited at the show, mostly in the rapidly expanding law enforcement segment of the show floor. In fact, it can no longer be contained within a stand-alone pavilion; the law enforcement section now comprises almost 1/3 of one of the show halls.
Unlike the ASD/AMD/MTO trade show and the Army Navy Military Expo, the SHOT Show is not considered an order-writing show, but rather a meet-and-greet and "potential" show. However, the upside can be tremendous for exhibiting firms that strike the right chord with some of the more influential buyers that attend the SHOT Show.
More pictures from the 2008 SHOT Show are posted at www.ansomonline.com.
author: BY PAUL BUBNY