SHOT Show has always been known for being the conference in which a bunch of great products and items are shown, however, no purchases can be made. New to SHOT Show this year is the Plaza Marketplace—a cash and carry type tent in which vendors can place their non FFL items and purchasers can give cash, and carry the items out. These items range from shirts to coffee, to mugs.
“For the first time ever, the SHOT Show will feature a retail sales area—the SHOT Plaza Marketplace—where exhibitors will be able to sell products to attendees – cash and carry. It will be located right outside Caesars Forum on the Caesars Plaza (aka the Great Outdoors Plaza). This area will not include any FFL-required products.” -SHOT Show 2023.
This Years Vendors
Not many vendors were inside the tent, probably due to it being the first year of this type of thing.
- Sling Guru
- AAG
- Hold Fast Apparel
- Tactical Gear Junkie
- Gibbz Arms
- BnB Knives
- Nine Line Apparel
- Black Rifle Coffee Company/Nine Line Apparel
Should you check it out?
In all honesty, I wouldn’t go out of your way, and it literally is, out of the way in location.
While I didn’t know what to expect, I did think that actual product would be in the tent, not just coffee and t-shirts. The prices for a lot of the items were over retail price. For example, BRCC Coffee was selling for just under $20, about $5 over the retail price. They were also only giving out small samples of their cold coffee. Other vendors were selling small products such as key chains—and how many have gotten more than that on the actual shot floor?
A couple of positive things, Nine Line specifically had guest appearances in that tent throughout the week so that is kind of cool. Also, a company called Mini Morale had a lot of little fun patches that they were selling and looked to be popular.
I do think the future can be bright but right now the number of vendors is small, and the tent is 25x25ft in size.
If you are passing by, go ahead and swing in, though. Also, tell your friends if you like it. The only way to grow these new types of things is to be open about what you like and dislike and allow NSSF to hear it.
