Smashing Success

There’s no other way to look at it: With more than 50,000 attendees and 2,500 booths, the 2023 SHOT Show was a smashing success. In my role as Editor of SHOT Daily, I felt as if I walked off the soles of my shoes gathering the information and images for the live coverage of the show. In the process, I was able to meet with industry folks that I have not be able to see in three years, due to the disruption caused by the covid pandemic. In some ways, it was like attending a huge family reunion. And it reaffirmed a truth of our industry: personal relationships are a key component of what we do. Zoom meetings are a poor substitute for face to face meetings. In no particular order, here are a few of my takeaways from the 2023 SHOT Show.

The lower level of the Venetian Convention Center (which often is jokingly referred to as “steerage,” by show veterans) was crammed to the gills with small booths. Walking the aisles, I couldn’t help but think that I was in the middle a massive Turkish bazaar with merchants competing for your attention. But that closeness and the mid-stride pauses caused by crowded aisles allowed me to spot companies with interesting products that had been completely off my radar. That kind of serendipity is a big part of SHOT Show.

The Supplier Showcase, which NSSF instituted a few years ago, is growing in importance. This year, the two-day event attracted more than 500 exhibitors. These are companies you may never have heard of, but they serve an important function, suppling parts and services to the industry. One booth that I stopped by had a display of minute, beautifully sculpted metal firearm parts. I mentioned that they looked like jewelry. “In a way they are,” said the beaming owner.

The second annual NSSF Governors’ Forum featured seven governors from firearm-friendly states who made their respective cases for company relocation. If your business resides in a state that increasingly seeks to choke off your livelihood, you might want to consider what they offer. I’ll say this: it was refreshing to hear candor (and laughter) from politicians who understand and cherish the Second Amendment.

By the end of four incredibly intense days, I was ready to head home. I was exhausted, but at the same time exhilarated. This industry is vibrant and alive with innovation, whether it’s a new first focal plane riflescope, a lightweight backcountry rifle, or tactical gear designed to help first responders better perform their tasks in challenging circumstances.

I realize that not every reader of SHOT Business is able to attend SHOT Show. So, this issue is devoted to articles that ran in SHOT Daily to give you a sense of the scope of this show.

Before the show, NSSF touted that the 2023 edition would be “a big deal.” By all means, it was.