Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. lengthy wait between product announcement and product availability, Ruger used a new strategy with the SR9. “We went to the distributors and asked for the names of their best dealers and drop-shipped four samples of the new product to be there on the day we announced the launch to the world. This coincided with e-mail blasts sent to thousands of potential customers, along with the release of articles, all coordinated to appear simultaneously. I think everyone is better served with this method, and we’re proud to have led the way,” Sanetti said. Ammunition Manufacturer of the Year honors went to Federal Premium. “We’ve been part of the NASGW since its inception and feel that the association is closely tied with the heartbeat of the industry,” said Rick Stoeckel, brand manager of ATK’s Civil Ammunition. “This is a true honor!” In addition to introducing new products, Stoeckel said, “Federal works very hard to design true industryleading products that aren’t necessarily price-point engineered. We have a strong Premium Partners Dealer program where we meet annually with our partners and have in-depth discussions asking them what we can do to help them enhance sales. Their feed- back is extremely valuable to the success of our company.” For the second year in a row, the Accessory Manufacturer of the Year award went to Leupold & Stevens. Accepting the award was Andrew York, Leupold vice president of sales and marketing. “The NASGW tries to acknowledge the many manufacturers that support the industry — and there has been an amazing amount of innovation introduced this year. It all starts with the product — which is why we have an extensive research and development budget invested in our future and the future of the industry. We’re seeing the fruits of our labors and the distributors are seeing it, too,” York said. York said that when he joined the 100year-old company in 2002, its most popular products had not been fundamentally changed in decades. “We have since updated the manufacturing infrastructure and have introduced new creativity into existing categories, as well as launching new ones. We have, subsequently, seen a significant amount of growth — nearly doubling in the last five years. Looking forward, we expect to see more expansion, set an even faster pace and increase our competencies, while continuing to bring value to our customers,” York said.9 2008 Meeting & Expo • Nov. 5-7, 2008 • Westin Peachtree Plaza • Atlanta, Ga. NASGW National Headquarters Wayne Smith, President P.O. Box 881525 Port St. Lucie, FL 34988-1525 (772) 621-7162 (772) 264-3233 (fax) E-mail: wsmith@nasgw.org NASGW Operations & Administration Tracy Kolojeski (407) 362-6391 (321) 415-0314 (fax) E-mail: tkolojeski@nasgw.org www.nasgw.org www.itemhq.com The Author Ray Oeltjen is the owner and president of High Sierra Consulting LLC, and a senior contributing editor for Shooting Industry magazine. Oeltjen has more than 30 years experience in shooting sports retail, wholesale and manufacturing. Contact him at (503) 648-9364, email: rayhighsierra@comcast.net. 40 FEBRUARY 2008 CIRCLE NO. 217 ON INQUIRY CARD WWW.SHOOTINGINDUSTRY.COM