No, you haven’t been imagining it, this week’s editions of our wires have been extremely large. If you’re interested in the outdoors, it’s been a week of reading of an amazing variety of new products, most of which will be rolled out to industry insiders during next week’s edition of the Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trades Show, better known as SHOT Show 2019.
From eBikes to a “non-semiautomatic AR-style rifle” there will be something for virtually every segment of the outdoor industry. The challenge, as it always is, will be getting to everything you want to see in only four days. SHOT Show has become a behemoth, and even with the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s work to make the show more navigable, better organized and categorized, it’s a marathon event.
That’s the reason we’re once again taking the “force multiplier” approach to SHOT and combining our Shooting, Outdoor and Tactical Wires all next week. By combining them, we free up editors to work on seeing product and lining up future stories, in addition to working on the daily reporting of the industry’s largest gathering.
Every year it seems I write this note for readers, knowing that no matter whether we put that news at the top or bottom - or top and bottom in this edition (there’s an Editor’s Note above with the same information for skimmers), I’ll get irate emails from readers of one-or all- of the combined wires complaining that they either didn’t get the wire they expected each day, or they received extra wires (if they subscribe to either the Tactical or Shooting Wire).
We can’t win, but you will. Because by the end of the week, you’ll have a good feel for what’s ahead in 2019 as far as new products and hot trends.
That’s the whole point to going to SHOT- to let you know what’s coming down the retail pipeline this year so you can plan accordingly.
I’ve already seen plenty of new things to be excited about- and we’re all excited at the opportunity to tell you about them as well.
So be patient, rest up your scrolling or swiping finger, and get ready for SHOT Show.
And don’t be alarmed when you don’t get a regularly-scheduled wire on Monday, but a completely new thing called “The Hunting Wire” shows up in your email. It’s from us- although you’ll find editor Richard Mann’s focus on “rich media” (meaning lots of video) a different approach from our other services.
Don't panic when you see this logo on a new email in your mailbox Monday morning. It's the first edition of The Hunting Wire- our newest service- and a preview of the type of new features you’ll be seeing across our services in 2019. You heard it here first.
And while we’re talking about new stuff, if you’re a podcast fan, you might want to go to your favorite podcasting site and search for “The Outdoor Wire’s Weekend Edition” on Sunday. We’re on track to launch that new service over the weekend -featuring a preview of SHOT Show 2019. Our editors and I will be talking about what they’re expecting to see in their particular areas of interest and expertise at SHOT 2019. And we may have a couple of special guest check in as well.
A lot of work coming into the busiest week of our year, but all part of our promise:
We’ll keep you posted.
—Jim Shepherd
