As we get deeper into 2025 were are all grappling to understand the market and strategies to improve sales. FMG publications recently released a good article, A Repeat Performance written by Hank Yacek. For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to dig in, it's worth a read. Hank does a great job of comparing 2024 vs. 2016 as well as discussing our post pandemic lull or "Market Hangover" as Hank calls it. One thing that I would add to his optimistic “Next 4 Years” outlook, would be the addition of 26.2 million new gun owners since 2020. Early on, I was privy to some stand-alone reengagement campaigns by manufacturers and a few savvy retailers, but most movements have fizzled or never gained enough support to justify the spend. So, if we are truly headed toward a Trump Slump 2.0 or “TS2” as I call it, let’s not ditch our own R3 campaigns, but in addition, start some collective conversations to change our destiny by reactivating our biggest opportunity. Perhaps, this could be a future topic of discussion at our upcoming summer Wholesaler Summit. We’ll have more on that in the coming months.
Speaking of looking ahead, believe it or not, it’s that time of year again, time to register for the 2025 NASGW Expo, scheduled for October. Our NASGW team is working through the final preparations to launch registration as well as hotel room reservations. This year the NASGW staff has a new system in place for both registration and room reservations. Both systems should make things more efficient moving forward but you things will look a little different compared to previous Expos. This year’s Expo will be held at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas on October 15-17th. They Gaylord property will be similar to the Expo held at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando in 2019. Everything will be held onsite including the Expo show floor, the Tuesday Appreciation Dinner, and the NASGW room blocks. Please be advised that in years past many of our members have been contacted by 3rd party lodging vendors claiming to have rooms for the NASGW Expo. These 3rd party vendors are not affiliated with NASGW or the Expo. The only place to book is through the NASGW Expo website. We don’t recommend using these vendors since they are not affiliated with the event or NASGW.
The Expo will be here before you know it so be on the lookout for communications regarding the Expo and don’t wait to take care of your reservations and registration.
Until next time,
Bill Sumner
NASGW Chairman