February 27, 2015

Chairman's Commentary: February 2015

While it's clear we're not totally "out of the woods" yet, the 2015 SHOT Show was incredibly refreshing. This year's show was filled with more excitement and optimism than I've seen in several years. Actually, it reminded me how lucky we are to be a part of such a tremendous and resilient industry. Based on what I saw and heard at the show, 2015 will be a positive year for NASGW members.

President's Message: February 2015

This summer, it will have been 239 years since a small group of brave men put pen to paper and signed the Declaration of Independence.

But what they did was more than the mere signing of a document, more than just ink on parchment. So magnanimous was this seemingly ordinary act, that they officially put their own lives at stake for their country. The 56 signers were committing treason, an act against the Crown so heinous - the punishment was death by hanging - that the British had already formulated a list of those suspected of being involved, well before the official adoption by Congress and actual signing of the Declaration.

NASGW Signs Multi-Industry Letter to Congress Supporting the America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015

NASGW joined the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the National Association of Wholesale-Distributors (NAW), along with 171 other organizations, in signing a letter of support for H.R. 636: America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015. The legislation, which passed the House this month, and now moves on to the Senate for action, would make permanent the ability for small businesses to immediately write off capital expenses of up to $500,000, instead of taking lesser deductions over several years. Click here for a copy of the letter to Congress signed by NASGW.

Congratulations to...

Zanders' Sporting Goods named Distributor of the Year by TriStar
DNZ Products names Ellett Brothers 2014 Distributor of the Year
Trijicon Announces Chattanooga Shooting Supplies as Master Distributor of the Year
Chattanooga Shooting Supplies Wins SHOT Business Distributor of the Year Award
ATK wins SHOT Company of the Year
Todd Shay of Smith & Wesson, SHOT Sales Representative of the Year
Apex Tactical Specialties Names RSR Group 2014 Distributor of the Year
Meprolight's MEPRO MOR Reflex Sight won the NRA's American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Award for Optic of the Year
During 2015 SHOT Show held in Las Vegas, Nevada, Remington Outdoor Company presented the following companies with 2014 Distributor of the Year awards:

2014 Remington Firearms Distributor of the Year - Sports South, LLC
2014 Remington Ammunition Distributor of the Year - Big Rock Sports
2014 Accessories Distributor of the Year - AcuSport Corporation
2014 Marlin Distributor of the Year - Davidson's Incorporated
2014 Bushmaster Distributor of the Year - Sports South, LLC
2014 DPMS Distributor of the Year - RSR Group, Inc.
2014 H&R, LLC Distributor of the Year - Zanders Sporting Goods
2014 PARA Firearms Distributor of the Year - Davidson's Incorporated
2014 Barnes Distributor of the Year - Jerry's Sport Center

Energy Outlook 2015: Electricity Generation

Several influencers, including environmental concerns, come into play when forecasting 2015 energy price trends. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations are impacting today's volatile energy markets.

Articles of Interest:

Industry

Bi-Partisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015 Introduced in Senate
The legislation is designed to conserve wilderness while increasing hunting, fishing and shooting opportunities on public land.
Online Registration for NSSF Annual Industry Fly-In is Open
The 8th Annual NSSF Congressional Fly In is set for April 22-23 in Washington, DC. The NSSF is strongly encouraging and welcoming all NASGW members, regardless of whether they are NSSF members, to participate in the Fly-In.
U.S. court rules residency Requirements for Pistol Buys is Unconstitutional
ATF Seeks Public Comment on 5.56 M855 Ammo Ban
The ATF has announced it is seeking to ban widely held 5.56 M855 ball ammunition as "armor piercing ammunition." ATF is seeking public comment on the proposal, so all industry employees, target shooters and gun owners should contact ATF to oppose this unnecessary ban.

Business Leader

10 ways to avoid leadership burnout
Leadership can be exhausting, and it's important to seek ways to avoid burning out, writes Art Petty.
Tips for coaching employees
Leaders who engage with and develop others have six particular qualities, including self-awareness, curiosity, listening and relationship-building, Dan Rockwell writes.

Sales & Marketing

Leveraging vision, values to produce a stellar sales culture
The primary responsibility of the sales operation team is to build a high-performance sales culture, writes Michael Hanna, co-founder and president of Hanna Strategy Group.
How to measure social marketing success
Determining return on investment for social media marketing begins with a marketing plan that includes measurable objectives, writes Jeniffer Page.

Operations & Technology

Time for Congress to fix ACA flaws
The new Congress provides a much-needed opportunity to improve or remedy several provisions of the federal health care law, including the employer mandate and definition of a work week, writes Dirk Van Dongen, president and CEO of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.
Is your team prepared for a data breach?

Since 2005, over 860 million records have been compromised from 4211 publicly reported data breaches.

NAW Publication of the Month

Here are our picks for some helpful resources from the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW). NASGW members receive a discount off all NAW Publications.

BRAND NEW! Becoming a Digital Distributor: Strategies and Tools That Create Value

Becoming a Digital Distributor: Strategies and Tools That Create Value by Mark Dancer is your roadmap to adopting and using digital tools. This study provides data, analyses, tools, recommendations, and more than 250 direct quotes from wholesaler-distributors who provide expert advice for creating a vision and driving your business forward.

New NASGW Members:

Tactical Walls LLC | Manufacturers/Importers

Tac-Grip, LLC | Manufacturers/Importers

Rockpoint Apparel | Manufacturers/Importers

G & A Investments, Inc. | Manufacturers/Importers

Tactical Tailor, Inc. | Manufacturers/Importers

Women's Outdoor Media Association (WOMA) | Industry Association/Trade/Media

REMINDER: Get your membership renewals in now for 2015!

Visit the NASGW website for more information on membership and benefits.

Upcoming Industry Events:

NRA 144th Annual Convention

April 10-12,2015 | Nashville, TN

NSSF Annual Industry Fly-In
April 22-23, 2015 | Washington D.C.

2015 NSSF Industry Summit

June 1-3, 2015 | Savannah, GA

2015 Shooting Industry Masters

July 24-25, 2015 | Columbus, KS

NASGW Expo & 42nd Annual Meeting

Ernest Morial Convention Center

October 27-30, 2015 | New Orleans, LA

STAY CONNECTED

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