It’s hard to believe another NASGW Expo has come and gone. After months of planning, preparation, and anticipation, we gathered once again, in Grapevine, Texas.
The conversations on the show floor were real and productive. Meetings were focused. New relationships were formed, and existing ones were strengthened. We covered a lot of ground: business strategy, product planning, supply chain forecasting, and of course, more than a few conversations about the future of data through SCOPE and VAULT.
What struck me most, though, was the cautious optimism many of you brought to the table. Yes, the market has shifted, inventory levels are different and buying patterns have changed. But across the board, the tone was steady. I sensed a seriousness in how folks are approaching 2026 eyes wide open but not discouraged. Thank you again to everyone who came to Grapevine, and to all of you who continue to support NASGW and what we stand for. It’s your participation that gives this association its strength.
As we shift from the Expo and into the final stretch of the year, I want to turn our attention to something a little different but equally important. Across much of the country, hunting season is in full swing. For many of us, this time of year carries more than just business implications, it’s personal, it’s cultural and its tradition. For me, this year’s hunting season brought something I’ll never forget.
Just prior to this year’s expo, I had the opportunity to take my oldest son on his first western hunt. He had worked hard over the last 4 years staying focused on finishing his college degree, and this hunt was our way of celebrating his accomplishment. Likewise, it was a chance to spend real time together, not rushed, not distracted, away from the chaos of the day to day in the mountains of New Mexico. We were chasing elk and making memories: hiking, glassing, and covering some challenging country. On day 5, we finally had our chance at a bull. It was a tough week contending with rising temperatures and the October harvest moon, but opportunity finally came with some soft calls and a few challenge bugles. The shot was precise, and his first bull elk was laying 180 yards away in the middle of a sage flat.
Now, anyone who’s spent time in the field knows that moment, the moment when all the patience, all the early mornings, all the miles on foot pay off. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve lived it. But it’s not just about the harvest. It’s about the journey to get there. The conversations in the truck, the cold air in the morning and the quiet moments of reflection. That’s what stays with you. Watching my son experience this for the first time is something I’ll never forget.
That trip wasn’t just a great hunting memory; it was a reminder of what this entire industry is rooted in. The shooting sports industry is built on a foundation of heritage, responsibility and tradition. For generations, we have taken friends and children into the woods, passing down heirlooms, memories, and values that go hand-in-hand with this sport: patience, respect, discipline, and gratitude.
Hunting and shooting equipment isn’t just something we sell, it’s something we live, and for many, it’s where a lifelong love of the outdoors begins.
That’s why, as industry professionals, we all have a role to play as ambassadors. Whether you’re on the manufacturing floor, in distribution, managing a sales team, or running a retail counter, you’re part of something bigger. You’re part of a tradition that connects generations.
And right now, that tradition needs all the advocates it can get. We live in a time when fewer kids grow up in hunting/shooting households. Access to land has become more limited, digital distractions pull attention in every direction and in many cases, the next generation simply doesn’t know where to start. That’s where we come in.
My challenge to each of you this season is simple: extend the invitation. Take someone new out to the range, invite a young person on a hunt, or offer to help a coworker, neighbor, or friend who’s expressed interest in the outdoors but hasn’t had an opportunity to get out. You don’t need to be an expert or have all the answers, you just need to show up. That’s how it worked for me, and probably for most of you. Someone showed up, someone invited you, and someone gave you a place to start. We often talk about growing the industry and rightly so, but growth doesn’t always start with strategy or sales plans, sometimes, it starts with a shared sunrise and a thermos of coffee in a blind. Sometimes, it starts with a memory made in the high country of New Mexico.
Let’s never underestimate the impact of those moments. Let’s remember that every new hunter, every new shooter, and every new voice for the Second Amendment starts with a first experience.
As we head toward the end of the year, I encourage you to take a moment to reconnect with what brought you to this industry in the first place. Maybe it was a hunt with a family member, maybe it was time at the range with a mentor or maybe it was a desire to protect and preserve our heritage.
Whatever it was, hold onto it and share it.
We’ve got good reason to be hopeful heading into 2026. The industry is steady, our vendor programs are strong and engagement is growing. And through NASGW, we’ve built an Expo and platform that continues to connect, support, and strengthen businesses just like yours.
But beyond the meeting rooms and dashboards of KPI’s, the true heartbeat of this industry is found when you share these freedoms with others.
Until next time, enjoy the season,
Bill Sumner
NASGW Chairman of the Board