May 2023 Rep Rap

Focus On: DIY Products & Knives

More than 77,000 people attended the NRA Annual Meetings & Events in Indianapolis. Exhibitors I talked to said the show was busy, sales were plentiful and there were several companies looking for new opportunities. These are great signs that consumers are eager to buy and companies are looking to create new products/SKUs.

The event had its fair share of new product launches, too. Please don’t forget to send information about your new products to our team so we can help promote them.

The September/October issue of American Handgunner focuses on home gunsmithing. We’ll not only be exploring accessories and performance parts, but also the tools and procedures for basic gunsmithing. Shooting Industry’s September, October and November issues will feature a three-part series on gunsmithing and DIY profits for dealers. Reach out about promoting your tools, accessories and cleaning solutions in these gunsmithing-themed issues.

“Whether it’s a fixed blade, folder or an automatic, the GUNS team will help readers sort through the crowded field to find the best one for each particular use.”

A majority of our readers carry a knife on a daily basis. The GUNS September issue will focus on knives. Whether it’s a fixed blade, folder or an automatic, the GUNS team will help readers sort through the crowded field to find the best one for each particular use.
We are always looking for knife donations for our monthly giveaways that are promoted in a two-page spread, on the website and in our e-blasts. Contact your sales rep or email me at delano.amaguin@fmghq.com for more information about one of our most popular sections and how to participate.

Midway Through 2023

I speak for all my California family and friends when I say they are more than ready for summer to come. They have been hit hard with rain, flooding and the occasional tornado warning, so I am more than grateful for the transition into the summer sunshine!

Although I didn’t attend the NRA Annual Meetings & Events in Indy, I have heard nothing but positive things about the pre-COVID crowd size, booth attendance, overall vibe of the show and amazing product rollouts, such as the SIG ROMEO-M17 (pictured below) and four new pistols from SAR USA. It seems to be a favorable sign for another busy year ahead for the firearms industry, and FMG is here to help support you through it!

“It seems to be a favorable sign for another busy year ahead for the firearms industry, and FMG is here to help support you through it!”

It’s hard to believe we are already working on the final few 2023 issues of American Handgunner and GUNS Magazine. Our September/October issue of Handgunner has a focus on home gunsmithing, and September GUNS has a knives focus. Don’t miss out on our mid-year edition of Shooting Industry in July, which has a strong focus on the gun-care market, bowhunting and the annual “U.S. Firearms Industry Today” Special Report.

With summer, hurricane and alligator mating season just around the corner (at least, for those of us in the Southeast), don’t wait until the last minute to prioritize your fall ad plans. Space is filling up fast. If you haven’t already secured your placement in these upcoming issues, reach out to me at amy.tanguay@fmghq.com. I’d be happy to help you find the perfect fit!

Lifeblood Of The Industry

Last month I took a drive down to Indianapolis to experience NRA 2023. I normally arrive at the start of the show and leave before the crowd gets too large. This year, I arrived a little later than usual and had to park several blocks away. When I finally got into the convention center, I was pleasantly surprised to see lines at badge check-in as well as lines for people renewing or signing up for NRA memberships.

Entering the hall, I was shocked to see the number of attendees already on the show floor. It felt like the typical late afternoon pinball down the halls and we weren’t even out of the morning hours yet. As the hours grew so did the crowds, and they filled both sides of the L-shaped hall with booths overflowing with happy gun enthusiasts.

I know we all have our thoughts on the crowds that show up for this show as they stop in the middle of the aisles, slow down when they see something they like and don’t move over, etc., but we all have to remember they are the lifeblood of our industry.

I was with Jason Morton of CZ-USA at their booth and we had a discussion about .22 rifles with a senior gentleman on a motorized scooter who was telling us about the gun he helped his grandson pick out (a CZ) and how they tested different ammo to find what worked best and dialed in some optics, etc. Thanks to this gentleman, we now have another young shooter looking to add to his collection who also spent time with his granddad learning more about the finer things of the gun world and things he wants to aspire to own over time.

“I always have to remind myself this isn’t SHOT Show and no one has a list of appointments to get to. … They’re there to take in as much as they can.”

After that great conversation, I had more appreciation for the folks who were taking their time through the aisles and seemingly taking in everything they could over the weekend. I always have to remind myself this isn’t SHOT Show and no one (other than myself and the other media attending) has a list of appointments to get to. They’re there to take in as much as they can and when they do, they take that info back to their friends and family and evangelize this great sport of shooting and hunting.

With the great bounce back of SHOT Show and now seeing the great attendance and interest in Indy for the NRA Annual Meetings, I went home feeling very optimistic about the future. Now if we can only get the economy growing again and prices down maybe we won’t fall off the cliff this summer as predicted.

One thing I can tell you: After the wild weekend in Chicago April 14–15, there will be no shortage of Illinois gun sales this summer. Let’s hope the rest of the country is able to keep the sales going as well.

Contact me for a customer infusion — tom.vorel@fmghq.com.

CLICK HERE for more May 2023 FMG Inside News