| Big Help From Big Rock
SPORTING GOODS DISTRIBUTOR CONTRIBUTES $50,000 FOR NSSF EFFORTS . . . Big Rock Sports took a big step forward in helping to fund responses to key industry challenges last week in Hot Springs, Va., with NSSF benefiting in a big way. Big Rock President Ed Small recognized the work NSSF is doing to increase participation in the shooting sports and protecting firearm freedoms through its many programs. Small presented NSSF President Doug Painter with a generous check for $50,000, following a golf, sporting clays and auction fund-raiser. "I want to thank Ed Small and Big Rock for this generous show of support, which will help in supporting NSSF's Scholastic Clay Target Program, National Hunting and Fishing Day and backing pro-hunting and shooting legislation." A good turnout by industry at the event included Steve Sanetti, president of Sturm, Ruger & Co., Michael Golden, president and CEO of Smith & Wesson, and Brett Flaugher, vice president of marketing and sales at Winchester.
COMPANIES CHALLENGE YOU TO STEP OUTSIDE . . . Shooters representing companies throughout the industry are challenging employees, from CEOs to shipping clerks, to compete in this year's Shooting Industry Masters. Produced by FMG Publications, the three-gun competition raises awareness of NSSF's STEP OUTSIDE program, along with money to expand the program's goal to introduce newcomers to shooting. "When it comes to the future of hunting and the shooting sports, no two words are more important than Step Outside! FMG Publications has hit a home run with the Shooting Industry Masters. I hope you'll do your part by fielding a team at this year's event and look forward to seeing you there," said Doug Painter, NSSF president. Painter joins Ruger President Steve Sanetti and Smith & Wesson President and CEO Mike Golden in a new promotion to challenge companies to field teams for this year's event to be held in Southern California, July 27-28. To view the promotion and for all the details on entering a team and donating products for the raffle, with all the money going to STEP OUTSIDE, visit www.shootingindustry.com.
INDUSTRY STEPS UP FOR WORTHY CAUSE . . . Industry should take note of a very worthwhile event held each spring in Mississippi that makes it possible for terminally ill children to take the hunting or fishing trip of their dreams. The Catch-A-Dream Foundation, headed by Dr. Marty Brunson, held its annual fund-raiser in West Point, and, with the help of NSSF, Mossy Oak, Winchester, White Flyer and many other supporters, raised more than $100,000 for this good cause. For more information on Catch-A-Dream, visit www.catchadream.org.
DAILY NEWS AT NSSF.ORG . . . Frequently updated headlines on a variety of shooting-, hunting- and industry-related issues are now available at NSSF.org under the heading "Scanning the News."
THE XY FACTOR . . . Generations X and Y are critical consumer bases that every business wants to attract -- must attract -- to become or remain successful. In an industry where participants are steadily graying, the future of the shooting sports and range businesses will be defined by how these prospective shooters and hunters are courted and catered to -- predicated on their senses of savvy and views on marketing. An article in this spring's "The Range Report" magazine examines what industry businesses are doing to attract a new generation of shooters. Full Story
REP. TIAHRT REBUKES BLOOMBERG . . . After taking heat from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's TV ads, urging public access to firearms tracing data, U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt fought back in a 30-minute interview last week. The New York Sun reported that Tiahrt, sponsor of legislation to limit access of gun tracing data to law enforcement agencies, accused the mayor and his aides of negotiating in bad faith and says the mayor is putting politics over police safety. "I think it's a self-serving effort to put a political agenda above the safety of our law enforcement officers," Tiahrt said.
NEVADA'S DESERT LAKE EARNS FIVE STAR RATING . . . The National Association of Shooting Ranges (NASR) announced today that Desert Lake Shooting Club of Boulder City, Nev., has earned the association's prestigious Five Star Rating, the association's highest honor. To meet the criteria of a five-star facility, a range must demonstrate excellence in all aspects of management and operations. Ranges are rated on appearance, management, customer service, amenities, customer development and community relations. NASR is the shooting range division of NSSF.
JUST SHOOT IT? NIKE TO SPONSOR SHOOTER KIM RHODE . . . Sports giant Nike is known worldwide for its roster of sponsored pro athletes like Michael Jordon and Tiger Woods. But no shooter has ever broken the Nike barrier -- until now. Nike is expected to soon announce that Kim Rhode will become the first shooter to join the sports world's elite beneath the Nike banner. Said Rhode, "Nike didn't know a lot about shooting, but discovered that it's a real sport worthy of projecting in a positive light, right alongside golf and tennis and basketball. For shooting to have a mogul like Nike behind it, backing it, showcasing it, and highlighting what shooters can achieve, is extremely outside the box. And it's a very big deal for our sports." Rhode has medaled in the last three Olympics, claiming two golds and a bronze in women's double trap. No word yet on whether Nike will introduce a line of shooting apparel or footwear.
OLIN TO ACQUIRE PIONEER . . . Olin Corp. (NYSE:OLN), manufacturer of chlor alkali products, metals and Winchester ammunition, announced Monday it will acquire competitor Pioneer Companies Inc. (NASDAQ:PONR), a leading producer of chlor-alkali products. Olin will pay $35 per share in cash, which translates to about $415.8 million. Olin management said it believes the acquisition will result in cost savings of at least $35 million annually.
RUGER BEGINS ONLINE AUCTIONS . . . Sturm, Ruger & Co. (NYSE:RGR) has launched an online auction site -- www.rugerauction.com -- where collectors, arms historians and those interested in Ruger firearms can bid on and acquire rare, unusual and one-of-a-kind Ruger firearms and accessories. The first auction began on May 15 and will continue until May 29, when the highest bidder will be determined and notified. It is anticipated that such auctions of rare and unusual Ruger firearms and accessories will occur every two weeks.
ELLETT BROTHERS TOPS IN COMMUNITY FUND-RAISER . . . Ellett Brothers once again took first place in the Chapin/Irmo, S.C., Relay for Life, raising $38, 713 to aid in the fight to find a cure for cancer. The company has supported Relay for Life for several years and has been a sponsor since 2000.
JOURNALISTS' TRADE PUBLICATION OFFERS FIREARMS GLOSSARY . . . A welcome article in "Editor & Publisher," the trade publication for the newspaper industry, acknowledged that because a wave of articles on guns would likely follow the Virginia Tech shootings, "it would be a good idea for the press to at least get its technical terminology right in covering the developments." The article's author, Chuck Klein, then pointed out egregious errors that had already appeared and provided his fellow journalists with a handy glossary and other helpful information. NSSF formerly ran a series of ads in "Editor & Publisher," stressing the importance of accurate reporting on firearms-related issues and positioning itself as an authoritative and available resource to journalists.
NEW TO FIRST SHOTS: SHOTGUN SEMINARS . . . The Arizona Game and Fish Department is partnering with NSSF's First Shots program to introduce newcomers to shotgun sports and safety. Free seminars will be held May 30 to June 3 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. Find out more about this new First Shots opportunity.
U.S. SPRING SELECTION MATCH CONCLUDES . . . USA Shooting has posted the results from its 2007 Shotgun Spring Selection Match at www.usashooting.org.
INDUSTRY JOB OPPORTUNITIES . . . View job postings from businesses and organizations in the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry.
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