The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (called “SHOT”) for 2008 was held in Las Vegas during the past several days and I, along with about 42,216 show attendees, are now glad it’s over. Oh, don’t get me wrong…it was a great show for almost everyone, but the size of the 30th anniversary show took it’s toll on both exhibitors and attendees, alike.
First, some specifics about SHOT. This is a trade only show so unless you’re a manufacturer, a retail dealer, a manufacturer’s rep or a credentialed member of the press…you won’t gain admission to the show no matter how bad you might want to attend. The wintertime industry show is intended for outdoor equipment manufacturers to showcase their goods and begin taking orders so store shelves can be filled with the latest, greatest new hunting and shooting products once the fall seasons arrive.
During the days to come I’m going to list the top items of interest I found at this year’s show…and perhaps also laugh at a few other dud gadgets that always seem to make an appearance. In the meantime, jet lag from traveling is still taking a heavy toll on this middle-aged body. In the meantime, enjoy a few sights and info. from SHOT Show 2008.
The show floor is a busy place as attendees scurry from booth to booth. Imagine this…if you arrived at the show when the doors opened each day (something pretty hard to do in Las Vegas with the night life, I might add) and continued walking the floor taking no bathroom breaks, no lunch breaks, no resting breaks…and kept up this grueling pace each day until the show kicked you out the doors…you would have approximately 56 seconds to spend at each exhibiting booth. Truth is…few of us visit every booth and even fewer of us are on the show floor for each of the hours the exhibits are open.
The SHOT Show is massive. First-time attendees often enter the convention center with wide, disbelieving eyes as they marvel at the enormity of display after display.
In fact, the SHOT Show has outgrown most convention venues. Currently it bounces back and forth between Las Vegas and Orlando in alternating years. Even so, in Vegas, the show this year had over 600 exhibits housed inside portable facilities a short walking distance from the main convention center.
On display is virtually every hunting, shooting and outdoor product available to the consumer market. Companies from all over the world display at SHOT making the trade show one of the most vital single events in the outdoors—particularly for the hunting and firearms industries.
On display are 100s of new outdoor products showcased before a very discriminating audience of buyers and media. Some of the gadgets might be “the next better mouse trap,” so to speak. Others…well, let’s just say more gadgets come and go than prove they are worthy of being produced and sold for decades to come.
Once I’ve had a bit more time to digest the 18th SHOT Show I’ve attended during the past 20 years, I’ll be sharing my thoughts not only on the new products soon to be available, but also the state of the industry we all cherish. But right now…it’s time to head off to bed. Las Vegas—especially over Super Bowl Weekend—is not a place one travels to for complete rest and relaxation. I’m living proof of that. Yet, it was sure fun trying. 
2008 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.
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