Reed Exhibitions may not do SHOT Show anymore...

[bwiese]

Don't have the linky to quote but here's the rundown...

- Reed Exhibitions (a Brit? Euro? company, part of Reed-Elsevier publishers at least
awhile back) was driving/running a very large outdoor sports exhibition, but they
wanted to ban black rifles.

- Many many "vendors of consequence" (major & 'notable' manufacturers) along with
NRA and other groups, pulled out of the show due to Reed still holding on to antigun stance.

- Note that Reed Exhibitions also 'runs' the huge SHOT Show operationally/for low-level
adminstration (i.e., grunt work required of any large conference) while NSSF 'owns' the SHOT
Show (marketing, ideology, politics, etc.).

- Appears NSSF may now end up dropping Reed Exhibitions for this operational work due to their
failure on the East Coast re: black rifle bans etc.


Cool. Speak softly and carry a huge financial hit.

[REH]

That is called the free market, and appears that Reed-Elsevier will pay the price.

[Maestro Pistolero]

F'em. BTW, what other shows do they run so we can make sure NOT to attend?

[Hoooper]

F'em. BTW, what other shows do they run so we can make sure NOT to attend?

check their website, they do all types of conventions, all around the world

[Marthor]

Reed went against the boss...
You're fired!

[Mr.Sandman]

Here is the text from the NSSF e-mail. Pay attention to the bold part at the end:

NSSF Statement on the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show

We have just learned that Reed Exhibitions has decided to postpone the 2013 Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show.

In the days following Reed Exhibitions' announcement that modern sporting rifles would be prohibited from the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, the leadership of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has been in intense, frank discussions with Reed Exhibitions management in an effort to reverse this unacceptable decision. These discussions reached an impasse.

NSSF is in no way affiliated with, nor does it participate in or exhibit at this show in any way. Reed Exhibitions does, however, manage the NSSF-owned SHOT Show (though Reed manages the SHOT Show, all SHOT Show decisions, policies and actions are made at NSSF's direction).

Because of Reed's recent actions, NSSF is considering all options regarding the management of future SHOT Shows.

[Tripper]

Can vendors not sue Reeds for breech of contract or something
Hit them in the pocketbook
HARD

[soopafly]

Ah, so Reeds Exhibitions is just an events organizer?

http://www.reedexpo.com/

F' em...I'm sure NSSF can and will find another events organizer without any problem.

[dfletcher]

I suppose it would have been easy for large vendors to accept the restrictions, to hold their tongue a bit and suffer with "it's not so bad". Only a limited segment of gun vendors would have been hurt. The big boys certainly have enough products to show that aren't restricted, yes? But I'm glad they did not and I think we'll be the better off for it.

This approach seems to have applications in today's political world too, yes?

[dfletcher]

Ah, so Reeds Exhibitions is just an events organizer?

http://www.reedexpo.com/

F' em...I'm sure NSSF can and will find another events organizer without any problem.

I would expect, given the $$$ involved, that before Reeds is/was removed a new organizer was already in pocket.

[Peaceful John]

Reed is one of the biggest world-wide event organizers. The direct economic effect on them will be inconsequential. The larger effect will be to anti-gun votes in the Senate between now and the 2014 mid-term elections (What is it? Seven democratic senators running for re-election in Red states?). Our side has laid a shot across their bow. They are sure to notice.

[ChibiPaw]

yes, reed is just an organizer, or hired infrastructure / temp staff for events.
Since I myself am involved with events and conventions quite a bit, they're no stranger. Reed isnt the only Kelly Girls out there. They've potentially lost a lot of contracts being out of their place with such action.

[MattyB]

Thankfully they dont do the SEMA show in Vegas. Thats my yearly excuse to take a vacation and would pain me to boycott it.

[Mitch]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=10303708&postcount=25

[Mitch]

Some additional interesting ramifications that might fall out of this (from an exhibitor's point of view):

o SHOT Show has been held for the last few years at the Sands Convention Center, and apparently there is something like a ten year contract with that venue. Most exhibitors hate it. It's too small, parking sucks, etc, etc. I wonder whether the contract with the Sands is with NSS or Reed. If the latter, there might be an opportunity to move to the Las Vegas Convention Center if NSSF finds some way of getting out of its agreements with Reed (no doubt there is a multi-year contract between NSSF and Reed). That would make many exhibitors, especially the ones stuck in Pallazo ballrooms, very happy.

o For the last several years there has been little opportunity for exhibitors to upgrade their exhibit space except though an opaque and ineffective (at least for some of us) internal process at Reed. No doubt this is in part because of the space limitations of the Sands, but it might also be because of administrative deficiencies at Reed. Again, if the NSSF can extricate itself from its agreements with Reed, there may be opportunities for exhibitors to expand their space, depending on the venue.


The entire episode reminds one very strongly of the Smith & Wesson debacle from the 1990s, which nearly put Smith & Wesson out of business. Once again, British managers made a decision that seemed reasonable to them, without factoring in the very strong convictions of US gun owners and shooters.

It seems a British corporate executive can no more imagine why an American gun owner would care so strongly about AR-15s than I can imagine how a vile concoction like Marmite can be enjoyed on breakfast toast by those same British executives.