Are You Ready For Las Vegas? Get Set For A Record-Breaking Show!

The final touches are underway in Las Vegas as the industry prepares for SHOT Show 2005, Jan. 28-31. Show organizers promise a record-breaking show, with new features, and special incentives and awards for gun dealers.

"We're very pleased with the progress of the pre-show preparation," said Doug Painter, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) president. "Special efforts to get the word out on the show have attendance registration at more than double last year's pace, and space sold has eclipsed last year's record. In addition, the ever-growing SHOT Show University, the day before the show, and a barrelful of very valuable giveaways on the last day are some of the reasons we believe we will have an incredible 2005 SHOT Show from start to finish."

More than $40,000 in shopping sprees and awards will go to dealers who remain at the show through the last day. In addition, dealers will have a chance to win an African hunt, television advertising packages and other prizes.

"We are doing a lot of different things to make this show special," Painter said. "It's not enough to just have a trade show. We want to make it so valuable that manufacturers, distributors, dealers, media--everyone in the industry--will see it as an event they must attend."

Celebrating The Industry

As part of the event's grand opening, NSSF is holding a banquet and concert the first evening of the show, continuing a tradition begun with the silver anniversary SHOT Show in 2003.

"Super talent, LeAnn Rimes has signed on to give an exclusive concert at our State of the Industry Gala," Painter said. "It's part of our big-event evening. There will be a reception and dinner, and then our State of the Industry presentation, followed by the concert."

LeAnn Rimes was named best country singer at age 13 when she also was country music's youngest person ever to win the Country Music Association's Horizon Award. The multi-talented 21-year-old star has released eight albums that have sold 27 million copies. She is the spokesperson of Children's Miracle Network, a fund-raising charity for children's hospitals, and she has written two children's books.

For information about tickets for the reception, dinner and concert, sign onto www.shotshow.org or call NSSF at (203) 426-1320.

Make The Most Of The Last Day

SHOT Show 2005 marks the first time in 18 years that the show will close on a Monday. To ensure SHOT Show attendees and exhibitors have a great last day, NSSF and show managers are giving away $40,000-plus in shopping sprees and other awards.

"We know some dealers may be tempted to leave Las Vegas on Sunday, the normal last day of the show," Painter said. "We're saying that there are a lot of reasons to stick around and see more of the show. For those who do, we're going to reward them."

Dealers who stay through Monday will have a chance to win shopping sprees on the show floor. One dealer will win a $10,000 shopping spree and another will win a $5,000 shopping spree. Twenty other retailers will have $1,000 each for shopping.

In addition, one retailer will win NSSF's "Original Outdoor Challenge" customized television advertising package for their store--a $5,000 value. Two retailers will win a 2006 SHOT Show travel award, including a four-night stay at a luxury hotel and free show registration. Ten more retailers will win $100 gift certificates for the finest restaurants in Las Vegas.

To enter the drawings, dealers must register at the designated booth in the main lobby during show hours. Registration closes at 1 p.m. on Monday. Winners must be present when their names are drawn.

"This is our way of saying 'thank you' to dealers for staying and continuing to do business to the end of the show," said Jeanette Mannuzza, NSSF's SHOT Show director of operations. "We have a responsibility to our exhibitors to keep buyers on the floor for the entire four days. For that reason, NSSF and Reed Exhibitions are making the financial commitment through these prizes."

Paintball Excitement, Internet Show And Special Events

The announcement that paintball will be part of SHOT Show 2005, a first for the event, has drawn a lot of attention. Originally designated to occupy a 5,000-square-foot section of the show, an increased number of paintball companies has expanded the section to 8,000 square feet.

"We are excited about the response we've had to our decision to open the show to paintball," Painter said. "It's a rapidly growing sport and will benefit retailers who decide to included it into their businesses."

To help dealers understand the paintball phenomenon, NSSF is conducting a free seminar, "Paintball--Cashing In On The Number One Extreme Sport," on Saturday, Jan. 29, to be held in Room N217 from 12 p.m. at the convention center. The seminar will cover product mix, liability issues and technical aspects of the sport.