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The ASD Military Tactical Outdoor Show is once again upon us, taking place in its entirety at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) on August 8 through August 11. The show will occupy the North, Central and South Halls of the LVCC, and for this show only, the Sands Expo Center will go dark. Our corner of the show will continue right where it is always found, in the South Hall lower level.

A quick glance at the exhibitor list (for our contingent) reveals that there are pretty much the same amount of milsurp and related companies as were in attendence last August. These days, that’s progress. The February-March ASD/MTO Show has taken a bigger attrition hit by comparison.

Although “conventional” wisdom says that the August shows are less successful than the winter shows, the previous two August ASD/MTO shows have proven to be pleasantly surprising in their viability.

I’m going to hazard a guess that exhibitors and buyers at the upcoming show will fare better than their expectations again.

In general, the August ASD/MTO shows may experience some growth going forward, as they are now the only summer trade shows within our industry. The show may become an attractive mid-year point between the January-February/March sweet spot that consists of the Army Navy Military Expo, The SHOT Show and the ASD/MTO Show.

If you’re at the show and looking for your favorite exhibiting firms, most of them are right where they were at previous shows or maybe a few inches to the left or right. In any case. you are welcome to rifle through our exhibitor listing which commences on page 28 of this issue.

It will be interesting to see how the national economy will impact the show experience.

Uncertainty prevails and consumer confidence underwhelms, no doubt due to the unsettling trend where fiscal good news and bad news leapfrog each other on a weekly basis.

Of course, the economy has been this way for at least the last two show cycles, so perhaps the show will be governed by other factors, such as buying season considerations, the astoundingly high cost of air travel right now (don’t get me started), or in contrast the affordable hotel rooms that are both very welcome and very un-Vegas-like.

We look forward to visiting with the lot of you in the hallowed Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center at the ASD/MTO Show.

ANSOM sports a new logo

You’ve seen it on the cover of this issue. You’ve seen it on this page and on a few others strategically placed throughout the book. It’s our new logo.

Highlighted by a more modern yet bolder look, the new ANSOM logo is meant to reflect the strength and the confidence in the future eminating from our primary markets - the army/navy retail market, the retail law enforcement/tactical market and the outdoor recreation market.