In mid-February 2023, NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation) announced the creation of the Archery Business Pavilion, a new exhibit area for the archery industry at NSSF’s annual SHOT Show. The Pavilion is an exciting collaboration between NSSF and Grand View Outdoors, a leading provider of outdoor content. (Archery Business and Bowhunting World magazines are part of the Grand View Outdoors family of brands.)
Fast-forward to January 2024 — and specifically the 46th SHOT Show, which set new benchmarks for industry innovation, collaboration and engagement. With an expanded show floor, a record-high number of exhibitors, and an array of new features and networking opportunities, the 2024 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, was the largest to date. More than 55,400 industry professionals packed the 13.9 miles of aisles over four days at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum — including the Archery Business Pavilion — eager to view new, innovative products used for hunting, shooting and outdoor recreation.
“The energy on the SHOT Show floor in 2024 was off the charts,” said Chris Dolnack, SVP & Chief Customer Officer for the NSSF. “The feedback we’ve received from our exhibitors and attendees has been amazing, and we can’t thank them all enough for helping us make the show what it is: the greatest trade show in the world.”
2024 Archery Business Pavilion Takeaways
The 2024 Archery Business Pavilion (located in Caesars Forum) featured exhibits from leading manufacturers and suppliers in the archery industry. The new area of the show provided a focused environment for archery retailers and industry professionals to explore the latest trends, products, and business opportunities in the archery sector. So, what was the feedback from 2024?
“I spent a good amount of my time each day in the Archery Business Pavilion,” said Archery Business Editor Dave Maas. “Of course, because I have ‘skin the game,’ I wanted the new space to be a success. I must say I was impressed. The NSSF team did an outstanding job of making it easy for Show goers to find the new Pavilion. The space was clearly marked on the SHOT Show overview map, and special lime-green carpet runways (think shortcut) across the floors of Levels 1 and 2 in the Venetian Expo (the two main exhibit spaces) helped direct traffic to the SHOT Bridge, the path to Caesars Forum and the Pavilion. NSSF even had Show workers standing with signs directing people to the SHOT Bridge and the Pavilion; nice!
“The Pavilion space itself was big and bright, in a word — outstanding. In my opinion, traffic in the Pavilion was good. Yes, it would take a bit to get busy in the mornings, but I attribute that to the fact the Pavilion and all other booths in Caesars Forum are a bit of a hike from the SHOT Show entrances.”
Looking Ahead to 2025
The 2025 Archery Business Pavilion will feature exhibits from leading manufacturers and suppliers in the archery industry, offering attendees the opportunity to see and experience the latest in archery technology and products. Looking ahead to the next SHOT Show, here are thoughts from some industry veterans regarding the Pavilion:
Derrick Nawrocki — President/Publisher, Grand View Outdoors
"Momentum continues to build in year two of the Archery Business Pavilion at SHOT Show, and we’ve seen the addition of significant exhibitors, including Tomorrow Resources Inc., the parent company of power brands like T.R.U. Ball and AXCEL Archery; FL Outdoors, whose brands include Swhacker, C'Mere Deer, TAC Vanes, and Steel Force Broadheads; and an outdoor-focused cooler brand, Canyon Coolers. This in addition to FeraDyne and Summit Outdoors, which are coming back, along with Moultrie Mobile, which is doubling the size of its Pavilion booth footprint.
“When you run the numbers provided by the NSSF, there are 18,000 buyers moving around the SHOT Show, which is phenomenal, but for the Archery Business Pavilion, we know that 4,375 of those are actively buying and interested in the archery and hunting category. So, the SHOT Show is not only delivering an impressive number of overall buyers — not seen at any other industry B2B show — but also a significant number of the right buyers for the exhibitors in the Archery Business Pavilion.
“It is worth mentioning that many of the traditional and more modern firearms shop retailers, who are looking to expand their existing inventory with categories in the hunting, archery and general outdoor markets, are now able to see that segment in one area, which is one of the goals of this space — helping to make the SHOT Show as efficient and convenient as possible for buyers. I am very confident that by the time SHOT Show opens its doors for the 2025 show, the Archery Business Pavilion will have added quite a few solid exhibitors to the room.”
Chris Dolnack — SVP & Chief Customer Officer, NSSF
“Since the 2022 SHOT Show, our post-show surveys revealed that 24% of the retail buyers had an interest in the archery and bowhunting category, and the growth in the Archery Business Pavilion reflects that growing interest. More traditional firearm retailers are looking to expand their offerings, and there is a lot of cross-over between archery hunters and firearm hunters. And in many cases, those retailers are 10-15 years younger than those who are not interested in the archery and bowhunting space. Any way you slice it, nearly 5,000 retail buyers who are attending the 2025 SHOT Show will be looking for information with intent to purchase, and to build long-term relationships with archery exhibitors.”
Benjamin Summers — Vice President, T.R.U. Ball/AXCEL Archery
T.R.U. Ball and AXCEL Archery is excited to be exhibiting in the Archery Pavilion of the SHOT Show for the first time in company history! We are proud to bring another premier brand of archery equipment to SHOT, and look forward to growing together and making archery and bowhunting better! We will have several new hunting and tournament releases, sights, scopes and stabilizers available for what will be many people’s first opportunity to see them in-person!
Jason Costello — CEO/Founder, Canyon Coolers
“SHOT Show has always been an incredible opportunity to connect with the outdoor community, and we’re excited about the continued growth of the Archery Business Pavilion. Archery is quite literally the tip of the spear in the hunting industry, and their passion for all things hunting and using only the best of gear really set the table for Canyon Coolers to build its fanbase amongst a discerning and loyal group of retailers. At Canyon Coolers, the Pavillion is the perfect platform to showcase the latest innovations in outdoor gear, such as our all new 75- and 85-quart coolers, which are designed specifically for hunters who need gear that can withstand the most rugged backcountry conditions. We’re confident this year’s Pavilion will help us build even stronger relationships with the hunting retail community.”
Cindy Teague — National Sales Director, Summit Outdoors (Shadow Hunter, GhostBlind)
There is no one event in the country that brings hunting enthusiasts together like the SHOT Show! Summit Outdoors has had the honor of bringing groundbreaking innovations to the SHOT Show community, starting with the Shadow Hunter hard-sided hunting blind. We look forward to introducing new advancements at the show, reinforcing our strong connection to SHOT.
This year's attendees will get a first look at the unparallelled portable concealment offered by GhostBlind’s full 2025 product line, and the made in the USA Elevators Steel Tower & Platform Stair System. SHOT Show has been instrumental in our continued success. We look forward to forging ahead together at the 2025 show!
Chris James — General Manager of Archery, FeraDyne
“FeraDyne is excited to be at the SHOT Show again in 2025. We always seem to find new business opportunities there.”
Archery Business Pavilion Specifics
- It will be located within the upcoming SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, from Jan. 21 through Jan. 24, 2025. You’ll find the Pavilion in Caesars Forum in the Academy Ballroom.
- Any manufacturer of outdoor, hunting and archery-related products can exhibit in the Pavilion.
- Exhibit space is limited; first come, first served. Those who exhibit in 2025 will have first choice for space for 2026.
- The Archery Business team, including editors and key staff, will be in the Pavilion working on best ways to cover and promote companies that exhibit.
- Additional coverage about the Pavilion will appear in SHOT Daily during the show and within the pages of other B2B brands such as Archery Business, Hunting Retailer and Shooting Sports Retailer as we get closer to SHOT Show.
Booking Your Space
Preparations have already begun for next year’s 47th SHOT Show, January 21-24, 2025, in Las Vegas. To learn more about exhibiting in the Archery Business Pavilion, visit www.SHOTShow.org/archeryexhibit. Note: Booth space will not be final until this application is completed and the initial deposit is made.
