SHOT SHOW

January 11-14, 2007

IMC recently attended the SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade) Show and made the following observations:

The “big guns” were again very prominent and dominant in their presence on the show floor. Smith & Wesson’s acquisition of Thompson/Center Arms gave them an immediate entry into the hunting segment as they look to close ground on industry leading Remington. The SHOT Show is one of the few times that Mossy Oak and Realtree want to be conspicuous in their battle for the camouflage crazy market. Both introduced new products and patterns. The growing participation of women in the sport was evident through many new apparel offerings from companies like Columbia.

Licensing Trends and Thoughts

Firearms manufacturers continue to grow through brand extensions and licensing. Unlike many industries, the brands’ support of their licensees was very evident. Licensees of Remington and Winchester surrounded their benefactors, benefiting greatly from the traffic to and from the main booths. Smith & Wesson and Browning actually shared booth space with many of their licensees.

The thousands of licensing arrangements for technical materials, coatings, water-proofing, scent suppression, and camouflage patterns have made apparel and footwear the fastest growing retail segment of the shooting and hunting retail industry.

The Law Enforcement/Tactical Gear section took up almost one-fifth of the show floor this year, with many of the established names either directly offering or licensing products in this category.