To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. 2008 2008 there was a sprung structure with 34,000 square feet of exhibit space and a total of 85,000 square feet in the Silver Lot outside the convention center. “This is going to be three times that size,” Mannuzza said. “We had to do this because the show has grown so quickly that without it, there would be at least 600 exhibitors who would not be able to exhibit at the 2008 show.” These aren’t just new companies to the industry or the SHOT Show, Mannuzza said. “These are exhibitors who have been our partners for several years, but we’ve now outgrown the North and Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center,” Mannuzza said. “All this growth is a testament to our exhibitors and their long-standing allegiance to the show. As you know, this is our 30th anniversary and we have 82 original exhibitors still with us. When you think that the very first show in 1979 in St. Louis only had 290 companies who exhibited in 52,000 square feet, and there were only 2,450 buyers, we’ve really grown.” The theme for this year’s show is “30 Years of Making the Great Outdoors Great For Business.” “Three decades ago, leaders in our industry knew the time had come to step forward and stand tall,” Painter said. “On this, our 30th anniversary, thank you for standing proudly with us.” To show its appreciation of the original 82 exhibitors who have stayed with the SHOT Show for 30 years, NSSF is going to recognize them with a specially commissioned piece of art. “We have an artist who is designing a 30th anniversary poster, which will be matted and framed and presented to those 82,” Mannuzza said. Big Shot Dealers A Big Deal N SSF officials, as they have in recent SHOT Shows, will be honoring the “Big Shots” — those dealers who have attended five of the last eight SHOT Shows. “We’ve again created the Big Shot lounge, which gives those attendees an opportunity to sit down and relax and network with their fellow Big Shots,” Mannuzza said. “This year, the Big Shots will each have a unique button. We’re finding out from our post-show survey exactly what we thought would happen, that it would take a few years for exhibitors to realize what that Big Shot button means.” Mannuzza said the commitment these “Big Shots” have shown to their businesses and to the SHOT Show should be recognized. “We encourage exhibitors to do some- thing special for these committed Big Shots,” Mannuzza said. New Products, Improved Business T CIRCLE NO. 207 ON INQUIRY CARD he 2008 SHOT Show’s New Products Showcase will be located in the lobby of Central Hall. “We’ve never had it there before,” Mannuzza said. “But we needed to take it off the show floor, because we needed the exhibit space. So it will be front and center in the Central Lobby.” Also in the lobby areas will be all the non-profits and a lot of state agencies. “It’s a great opportunity for these groups to see their constituencies and a good opportunity for people attending the show to get more information on all these hunting and shooting groups,” Mannuzza said. This year, the Retail Services Pavilion will once again be located on the show floor. Exhibitors will include insurance companies, store security companies, shipping services, point-of-sale companies and other exhibitors who can help retailers grow and maintain their businesses. www.shootingindustry.com • SHOT SHOW SUPER ISSUE 2008 48