What is SHOT show?

T

TheBushWookie

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Oct 28, 2014
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I've heard so much about SHOT show but never actually knew what it was till now, I originally thought it was a sort of convention for outdoors, guns, ect where different brands around the country gather to sell and show off their products but now I learned it's simply there for companies to trade with the press? Personally I don't understand that logic (this is if there is even any sort of trading that goes on there still not clear as to what it is) considering that if they close off the thing to the public then where does any large amount of income even come from, not too mention if it really is there for nothing more than showing off products I think it would take alot less time and money to simply directly contact different members of the press to show off your product instead of creating an entire convention for it.
 
The shooting industry premier trade show which is ultra large as to size of exhibits and duration.

Imagine besides a lot of new and improved product introductions, some serious wining and dining by manufacturers of their primary or hoped for distributors and renewing of old personal business relationships.

As to closed off to public doubtful to me if much would be accomplished with a lot of looky Lous or tire kickers.

I suspect more about creating NEW wants and testing wants in their worldwide customer bases in one(1) place.

Could Blade be comparable?

Best.
 
Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade show. It's an industry trade show, not usually open to the public, IIRC. Blade is a knife-specific show that is intended for the general public. Many industries have "internal" trade shows that show off new products, services, or techniques. It's the interface between the manufacturer or inventor and the distributor/retailer that actually markets to the public.
 
It is generally closed to the public but it's not designed for immediate generation of income to the vendor. It is for marketing new products to the press, showing new (and existing) products to buyers/business owners/store owners etc. There is some amount of selling of smaller items there (me having been twice) but this isn't widespread.

I would say that the system "works" though...SHOT is one of the biggest conventions in the country so as far as bringing revenue to the local economy it does. In fact, a few years back they tried to alternate which city it was held in and I was told there was only about 5 cities in the US that had big enough convention centers to even host this.

Also the industry seems to revolve around January and "SHOT".

There is an allowance for members of law enforcement to get in, but they are looking for large orders from departments (i.e... 100 guns...not that one officer that walks up and declares "I need me a good off duty gun..." and then needs an hour of attention and is likely to post on 3 forums about his "sorry" customer service if he don't get it...) or a store owner that will will buy 150 pair of eye pro every year from them, as opposed to that one guy that says "I need me a good pair of shootin' glasses!" :D

The idea I guess being that they ARE making MONEY by getting their product out farther and wider by huge orders that selling one or two pieces.

I think it's well thought out and don't see it changing. I know it looks as if all they were after was money immediately they COULD open it to the public but that has been brought up and rejected many times. Other conventions (NRA, et al) ARE for the end user/buyer.

It IS a "Shwag Fest" though... I carry a BACKPACK when I go... :D:D
 
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It's for unveiling new models and both establishing new accounts as well as maintaining old ones. Large discounts are typically offered for at-show orders while they have your attention so they can secure orders for new product. Generally the new models that are unveiled are either not in production yet or have only been made in limited first production runs because reception of the models at the show determines their production schedule and quantities.
 
Look at it this way. I almost never buy knives direct from the manufacturer and most of them aren't interested in selling knives directly to me. They're interested in selling knives to the businesses I buy the knives from. If you see me once a year and I say, "I'll buy two!" it just doesn't carry much weight, but if supersharpninjabladesunlimited.com says, "I'll buy 10,000!" it might help you bring that knife to market.
 
If SHOT needs to do anything, it would be tighten up on entry and eliminate even more of the non-wholesaler-distributors . The amount of theft that takes place among the " I gots me a gas station with a bucket of Chinese knives on the counter" types is astounding most years.
 
Can't help it....Every time these questions pop up. :)
Just a friendly FYI - General Knife Discussion is not the catch-all bin for any and every question. Please try searching around for the appropriate section to start threads. Moved to Community.
 
It's a Trade show. Which means that everyone there is working. The exhibitors are showing their customers (distributors and vendors) what's going to be available for the next year. They are also looking to get their advertising contracts done for the next year. The marketing guys are lining up print articles done with the writers and publishers, videos, radio and tv commecials. The OEM manufacturers are trying to gain contracts for products, pushing their new products or capabilities, and selling their products to other manufacturers (think Real-Tree camo to Beretta).

I've done a couple dozen for several companies back when I was in the trade. Everyone has a goal. Sales people have to sell a certain amount of product, companies need to get their orders (received or placed). There will be products shown that never get made because there's no interest. There will new products from unknown companies that will make it big.

If you've never been to a trade show, here's what it's like from the inside:
 
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