We are almost a month after SHOT 2024, and many of us are still fighting to get back above water. The sheer number of follow-ups this year’s event brought demonstrated what the show felt like. It was nonstop from the second we touched down in Vegas to the moment we dropped the rental van off and got on the plane.
This year, we exhibited in Caesar’s Forum vs. the main floor. That location brought its own set of challenges and surprises. One of the biggest surprises was a positive one, and that was how busy that part of the show was. I am not just talking for periods either; from the moment the show opened to the hour it closed, we had people coming by the booth.
I spent a lot of my time out on the show floor, and I was amazed at how many new faces were at this show. One of the latest brands to have a significant presence there this year was Under Armour. Their display looked like they plucked it right out of Outdoor Retailer and stuck it into the Venetian Show floor. That was a massive nod to the outdoor industry’s exodus from that show to this one.
There were also abundant furry critters at the show this year. My favorite was seeing all the dogs walk around, sporting our SHOT 2024 patch. It was like they were part of the club. The enormous furry creature sporting that patch was none other than our Sasquatch! He made a huge splash with his debut at the show and even made a friend with the neighboring booth’s mascot.
Our partnership with Tactical Girth went very well. Everyone loved their shirts and were so happy to return for their swag when their name was drawn. I am pretty sure the team made some lifelong friends from that collaborative partnership.
Throughout the show, I marveled at the crowds that gathered across every hall. According to an article that the NSSF put out, more than 55,400 attendees graced the show floor over that event. It is no wonder that the show floor felt so packed, even though the floorplan made up almost 14 miles of aisles! (whew, say that three times fast!)
It will be a challenging event to beat, but I am sure that NSSF will bring it strong in 2025; of course, Normine Lombard will be there!
