We had the opportunity to exhibit at our very first SHOT Show in Las Vegas, and it’s an experience we won’t soon forget.
From the moment the show opened, the energy on the floor was undeniable. We met passionate professionals, industry leaders, and fellow entrepreneurs from across the country. Every conversation reinforced why SHOT Show is one of the most influential trade shows in the outdoor, hunting, and tactical industries. Here are five key things we learned from exhibiting at SHOT Show:
1. Booth Location Matters, But Flow Matters More
Going into the show, we had some hesitation about being located in the Archery & Hunting Pavilion. Looking at the map beforehand, it seemed like the Venetian side would house the biggest brands and most of the foot traffic, and that turned out to be true.
That said, the Archery Pavilion had excellent flow, and we stayed busy the entire show. For what we do, custom leather patch hats and on-the-spot personalization, being slightly removed from the most overwhelming areas actually worked in our favor. It allowed for better conversations, more hands-on interaction, and less chaos overall.
Takeaway: Bigger isn’t always better. The right audience and manageable traffic can
outperform sheer volume.
2. You Can’t See Everything
SHOT Show is massive. Even with a bit of time carved out to walk the floor, it’s impossible to see it all. A few booths that stood out during a short walkthrough included Benchmade, StopBox, and a small but fascinating booth selling an automated robotic arm that literally never stopped working. Despite that, we barely scratched the surface and that’s part of the SHOT Show experience.
We came prepared to create custom leather patches for gun shops, law enforcement units, shooting ranges, and outdoor brands. While we absolutely did that, some of the most surprising requests came from BBQ restaurants, trucking companies, dog pic, and other unexpected businesses. Many attendees were there for their primary line of work, but what really lit them up were their side projects and passion businesses. Those conversations were some of the most exciting and memorable of the week.
4. Load-In and Load-Out Actually Went Smoothly
If you’ve exhibited at large trade shows before, you know how stressful loading and unloading can be. Long waits, confusion, and delays are often just “part of the deal.”
This time around, Freeman delivered. Load-in and load-out were efficient and surprisingly smooth, which made a big difference in our overall experience and energy level.
5. Was Exhibiting at SHOT Show Worth It?
The honest answer? It’s still to be determined, but the signs are strong.
Over the four days of SHOT Show, we created 300+ custom leather patches on site and took a handful of direct orders. We consider every person who received a patch a warm lead, someone who experienced our quality, process, and brand firsthand.
