Ace Is Wild

Hits and Misses from the 2023 SHOT Show

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 17:57:01 GMT

This year's SHOT Show was another excellently produced and executed show by both show management and vendors, but there was still some room for improvement.

Having returned and mostly recovered from this year’s, annual shooting, hunting and outdoor trade show in Las Vegas, it’s time to post my annual reflection on “Hits, and Misses” at the show.

Overall, it was a great show.

I asked dozens of vendors what they thought of the show this year, and the reply was 100% positive. The Caesars convention center area was busy for the entire show, and everyone I talked to gained at least some new customers while there.

The efforts by the NSSF to filter the number of "lookee-loos" and clean up the attendance list, overall has definitely brought positive results.

Here is my impression of the show after discussions with vendors, attendees, members of the press, and the team I brought with me.

Hits

The free concert for attendees.

There was a great deal of buzz after the concert that was held that, unfortunately, due to previous commitments, I was unable to attend this year.

Networking events and nightclub entry each night

Again, though I did not attend, the overall feeling was that these events were highly worthwhile and allowed an additional place to interact with customers and new contacts. One thing I did not get a good feel on was if one of them was any better than the others. Perhaps we will dive deeper into that next year.

Attendance

As stated, above, attendance, this year was overwhelmingly high quality customers and high quality media. The NSSF has done an excellent job of purging their lists of people that don’t do much but take up space at the show.

The new product center

This is often one of the highlights of the show, where companies can feature their new products. It is a great resource for media to be able to go in, see new products, and then visit the booths that display those products for deeper interaction and content scheduling. the only thing that could make this area better is if it were larger, as there were many companies with new products that did not have them on display in the new product area.

The new "retail area"

One of the things that often comes off at SHOT Show is that there are a lot of great products on display, but no opportunity to take any home. Those small, there was a retail area set up outside of the Caesars Forum, where people could purchase items from more than a dozen vendors. This area seemed to be a big hit this year, and should be looked at to expand in the future. Additionally, there were no sales allowed on the show floor. This is a HUGE opportunity for both the NSSF and vendors, who can avoid large shipping costs and can even make some money to offset costs if they were allowed to sell their samples.

Push

The SHOT after-parties
While the after party‘s/events seemed to number about the same, there did not seem to be as many events that were what would be considered. “spectacular.“ This may have been due to the new networking events put on by the NSSF after the show. I did not hear anything negative about any aftershow events that were put on and all of the ones my team and I attended seemed both well attended and well planned.

Industry Day at the Range

You can never control the weather, and the weather this year was rather awful. Temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s, wind, and rain made for a brutal outdoor experience. Those that check the weather ahead of time and we’re prepared were treated to an uncrowded event that allowed experience and interaction with more companies and products. That certainly isn’t a bad thing. Additionally, the event was expanded and looks to expand again next year. There were two things that greatly disappointed me and others I talked to at this year's "Range Day"... (and also dropped Range Day from the "Hits" column.)
1. Several main participants shut down and packed up their booths UP TO AN HOUR EARLY.

Bad form.

2. For the first time in many years, there was no lunch provided for media. "Buyers" were treated to lunch from 12:00-2:00 at food trucks. The feedback here was that "media" was less respected for their attendance than "buyers" were. This was mentioned a LOT in my survey of attendees. Personally, I don't know that this is a "deal breaker." I simply bought my team lunch and headed back out on the range.

Misses

The Restrooms

One word describes the condition of the restrooms on the show floor this year- DISGUSTING!

I was certainly not the only one to comment on the dismal condition of the restrooms in the convention center. Overflowing, trash, cans, disgusting toilets, and floors sticky with who-knows-what seemed to be the order of the day.

Some responsibility for this falls upon the attendees. Folks, it takes one second to lift up a toilet seat, flush a toilet, or walk from a urinal to the trashcan to dispose of your chew, snus, gum, and trash. Not performing these tasks is not only lazy – it is extremely disrespectful. Be better.

The press room hours

Once again, the pressroom closed an hour BEFORE the show closed on Friday. This creates quite a conundrum for working media, as there are still things to accomplish when the show ends on Friday. Additionally, this means that all equipment and materials has to be either carried onto the show floor, left behind, or checked at the Palazzo front desk. almost every media person I spoke with would like to see the media room left open for an hour after the event. Additionally, afternoon, and after show refreshments in the press room as in previous shows were sorely lacking.

Swag

This was a HUGE miss on the part of many vendors at the show. (No hats at HORNADY, of all places??)
Promotional items used correctly can have a huge, HUGE impact on your booth visits, as well as impressions made by your brand both at the show and for the entire year in between. I still carry a DDT backpack with RITON Optics’ logo on it that I received 3 or 4 years ago at their booth. I saw several others being carried around at the show and was asked more than a few times if they were giving those backpacks out at the booth. I would say that’s a pretty good impression and branding for both brands, wouldn’t you?

The promotional items that were there were generally low quality. The exception to this was “Retro Rifle,” who again gave away hundreds of shirts in their booth and had people asking all over the show where people got them from. This drove a great deal of traffic both to their booth and the Caesars Forum convention center area. This was a very smart move on their part, and one that is easily imitated.

Booth Pre-Marketing & follow-up

This applies mostly to media, but was also reiterated when I asked some attendees. I, personally, received less pre-SHOT Show messages this year than I have in at least the past three years.

If any pre-marketing was done, it was mainly done in bulk in the week to 10 days prior to the show. There’s a huge opportunity here for companies out there that pay attention and want to make a ton of money. Giving a compelling reason to not only come to your booth, but to make it a priority, can can you a lot of exposure and add $$$’s to your bottom line. This is increased exponentially when you send these out to media. In past articles, I have gone over the benefits of having media specific promotional items or samples marketed before the show and available at your booth as being a great way for a lot of excellent coverage. I can’t help but wonder if some of the large numbers of turnovers in marketing people across the industry and a shift to both rookie “marketing managers” and a heavier emphasis on social media is part of the cause.

This is a huge miss and even bigger opportunity for any brands that learn a lesson from it and implement it in the future.

There were some notable exceptions, such as WOOX, Seirus, Beyond Clothing, Mantis X, Ditale Outdoors, Mossberg, and Midway USA Foundation.

All sent compelling and individually addressed messages, rather than a simple press release or press release-like message like “Company X debuts product Y at SHOT 2023,” and already have had good follow up from the show. This is a key component of an effective content marketing program and one that, again, offers a HUGE opportunity to any company that steps up and takes advantage of it.

Badge Scan

As a registered media person, I was a bit surprised at the low numbers of folks that asked to scan our badges. I’m sure that this is likely due to some fee being involved for the technology, but with a show like SHOT, that cost may be worth it. If you do not have badge- scanning lead gathering technology availability, make sure that you gather cards, have a card scanning app, and follow up promptly with people you interacted with at the show, as well as add all of those names and emails to your marketing database. If you don’t have a marketing database, remember that they are very similar to trees. The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. The next best time is TODAY.

Separate Range Days

This is a tough one, as it is nice to be able to focus on one company and their products for a bit, but the time taken away from other events is definitely on the other side of the balance sheet… Industry day at the range is one of the easiest ways to get your products actually in the hands and utilized by 2000+ active industry media. I don’t know any other place where that is possible in a single, eight hour period.

Industry day will be expanded again next year, so there is an opportunity for those that were missing to come back, and those that have not attended or displayed in the past to put their name in for first crack at a new booth.

If you are interested in Industry Day at the Range, you can find more information at THIS LINK.

Overall, this year’s SHOT Show will go down as one of the best ever, and all of the new ideas and events implemented seemed to be very well received. Hopefully, after a year of reflection, next year's show will offer more and be even better!

Lessons From Sleazy Sales Tactics

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 14:51:14 GMT

Learning what "Not To Do" in your business can also be important.

After 10 years, I, again, had to engage in one of my least favorite activities.

No, I did not go to the dentist.

I did not visit my doctor to have a prostate exam, nor did I have a colonoscopy.

This was much worse than that.

I decided to buy another vehicle and wound up having to visit several car dealerships.

After two recent long trips that involved traversing mountains and pulling trailers, it became apparent that my 10 year old ram with a V6 engine just wasn’t cutting it anymore. I decided to reach out to several dealerships as, miraculously, skyrocketing interest rates, high fuel prices, and screaming inflation have actually been a good thing for the truck market. Prices for both new and used trucks have dropped by thousands.

I settled on several different vehicles, and, because of a hard lesson I learned long ago, used my designated “car shopping email” to reach out to each of the dealerships. Smelling blood in the water, it wasn’t long before they went on the attack- and even took bites out of each other!

The reason I tell this story is to learn valuable lessons in sales, sales techniques, and in creating opportunities for your business.

Car salesman fall on the spectrum well below dentists and lawyers on the respectability scale.

They have a Reputation and the stereotype of taking advantage of their customers and, typically, tend to churn through dealerships and even positions.

It is the car salesman that is almost solely responsible for the stereotyping and bad perception of sales people. Learning what not to do by looking at their example is a great way to help your business.

Because of this, in all the years that I have been purchasing vehicles, I have only had a repeat purchase from ONE. That dealership is Reed Chrysler in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The Google Review I gave them and the photos I posted have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, and have definitely contributed to their business success.

Conversely, another review I posted for the original installer of my truck cap was viewed over 70,000 times, but was one of numerous NEGATIVE reviews. They are no longer in business.

Lesson 1. Treat your potential customers with respect and they will give you the same.

The first dealership that I walked into had a nice truck, a GMC Sierra 1500, with low miles and what seemed to be the right price. We went and talked numbers and I wasn’t sure, but I did like the vehicle so I gave them a small deposit to hold it for me until Sunday. That turned out to be an excellent decision.

I went around the corner to another dealership and was more impressed with the way they handled things- especially the way they dealt with my trade-in. The first dealership was almost rude about it, offering me an insulting amount that was well below the vehicle's value. It was so low that I told them I would not trade it in but was still interested in the vehicle.

I had actually chosen a new vehicle at the second dealership and was in the process of purchasing it, but they were playing the “slow” game. I'll explain more about this in a moment. While waiting, I was contacted by yet another dealer on a tremendous opportunity on a vehicle that was less than one year old and only had 3000 miles on it. It was very close to what I was looking at and was significantly less expensive.

Lesson 2. Your Customer’s Time is Valuable

Respect their time and they will respect you.

Car sales people always try and keep you in the dealership for hours at a time. This technique “wears down“ your resolve and allows them to further take advantage of you in order to get on with your day and your life. A similar tactic is used by timeshare sales people, who tend to be regarded as equally "sleazy."

While I was waiting, I decided to reach out to some of the other dealerships I had previously talked to. Pretty soon I was in a three-way negotiation on three different vehicles from three different dealerships with everybody in a race to the bottom- and several thousand dollars coming off of the asking price, all while waiting at the current dealership to purchase a vehicle.

As it turns out, the dealership I was at was having some customer flow issues and a technical problem, so, after over two hours there, they actually sent me home.

Huge mistake.

The next day, I decided to visit the dealer with the low mileage vehicle before I went back to the other dealer with the new vehicle. I liked it enough that I told him I wanted to pull the trigger on it. I did tell him that I did not want to be there all day, but wanted to give him time to negotiate the best deal he could. Another few thousand dollars off of the asking price, and we signed paperwork.

It was then that the next sleazy trick came out of the bag.

Lesson 3- Never Use a Sleazy Sales Technique to Take Advantage of Your Customer.

I do not know how things operate in other states, and previous states I lived in did not have these issues, but, in Arizona, used cars are often advertised at a low price and then, at the last minute, (usually as you are signing the sales agreement) the sales person and dealership tack on something called “ dealer add-ons .“

This is another sleazy sales tactic that is often referred to as a “bait and switch.“ The car you want to buy isn’t actually that price, but several thousand dollars more due to very low-value things that the dealer had "added" to them. Because I know this, I always ask very pointed and very detailed questions. I let the sales person know that if there’s anything like a “ dealer add-on “ or other sleazy sales tactic that I am gone and they will never see me again.

They need to give me the actual best price they can give and then carry that price all the way through to the paperwork.

They always agree, and almost never, ever hold to it.

My sales person ran the numbers and as he was going through them I looked and noticed that the out the door price was almost $3000 more than we had agreed.
I immediately stopped him and backed up. “What are these charges?” I asked.

“Oh. I was just getting to that,” he said without missing a beat. “This charge for $699 is for window tinting and a lifetime warranty on the tint and any damage that might happen to it. We also have Nitrogen in all of the tires for $299, and a theft security system for $1199. This next part is the enhanced bumper to bumper warranty that we do that will cover anything that the manufacturers warranty does not, and includes your first 2 oil changes and tire rotations.”

Anyone that has ever shopped for those things knows that you can get window tinting for $200 anywhere with a warranty, the air we breathe is almost 80% nitrogen, but you can also get it free at most Costcos, and you can buy a GPS tracking system for your vehicle on Amazon for around $50.

Finally, 2 oil changes with a tire rotation costs about $50. These things all cost the dealership a lot less than that.

I stood up and told him, “I’m sorry for taking your time, but, more importantly, I am very disappointed I let you waste mine.“

He actually chased me to the door and said that he had to offer me those options, but they were just that – “options.“

We went back and looked at the rest of the deal, including the “average financing they were seeing now,” and what my monthly payment would be.

Lesson 4. Always do what is best for the customer.

The following is another sleazy tactic that unscrupulous salespeople will use in order to get paid extra commissions on the amount above the rate that you are charged and qualify for. Fortunately, I always check with all of the banks and credit unions I do business with to see who has the best loan and I’m pre-approved for a good rate long before I walk through the dealership door. In this case, that number was 1.5% below the rate that the dealer was offering me and resulted in my estimated payment dropping over $45 per month.

That’s almost $3000 over the course of the loan.

Eventually, we signed the deal and I had my new truck.

I finally walked out of the dealership worn, tired, and feeling a little bit dirty from just being there.

The overall lesson to learn from my experience is to treat your customers like you would want to be treated as a customer, and you will always do better.

As always, To your success!
-Ace

Who is Ace Luciano?

That depends on whom you ask.

Ask anyone in the outdoor world, and they'll tell you that Ace is a big game hunter and adventurer that has a great deal of sales knowledge that seems to be everywhere and knows everyone.

Ask someone in the “corporate world” and they might tell you that Ace is the guy that smashes and sets sales records that may have stood for decades-regardless of the industry…but there is so much more.

Hunter. Fisherman. Outdoorsman. Youth Mentor. Writer. Best-selling author. Entrepreneur. Sales Executive. Marketing Expert. Seminar speaker. Fundraising Professional. These phrases and more have all been used to describe this dynamic outdoor personality and all around "good-guy." A self-described outdoor "generalist" who is a jack of many trades, and a Master of several, Ace is often described as "that guy..."

As in, "You know... THAT GUY...."

Ace's passion for youth mentoring has led directly to the introduction of THOUSANDS of new hunters and shooters to the sport.

When it comes to business, Ace is all business. He is a recipient of numerous sales and performance awards, has advised and improved on sales processes for numerous Fortune 50 multimillion to multibillion dollar corporations, writes and speaks with an authoritative yet upbeat and entertaining style, and still is able to make time to be a dedicated husband and proud father of four fantastic kids. To learn more about or to reach Ace, visit: www.AceLuciano.com

How to Increase Your Business with Public Relations- A Multi-Step Guide

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 13:30:00 GMT

PR Can be Tricky, but with some discipline it doesn't have to be tedious or expensive.

How to Increase Revenue Through PR- A Multi-Step Guide

People use PR to improve their image and increase their revenue. There are many ways to use PR effectively, but this article will give you a 10-step guide to increase revenue through PR.

1. What is PR?

PR is the process of increasing the awareness of a product or service. PR is a marketing strategy that is used by companies and organizations to gain attention in the media and with the public. For example, a company may want to increase the awareness of their new product, but they cannot afford to spend a lot of money on advertising. In this case, they may pay for a PR campaign to get the word out about their product. PR campaigns can be expensive and require a lot of work, but they can be very effective. A company may also use PR as a way to increase their sales. For example, a company may want to increase sales for their product, and they want to do so by using PR campaigns.

2. How PR is used

PR is a marketing strategy that is used to help spread the word about a company or product. It can be used to create awareness and increase the likelihood of a sale.

This can be done through various methods of public relations, such as press releases, advertising and various types of marketing. PR can also be used to not just gain new customers, but also to increase customer loyalty and increase sales. It is important to realize, though, that PR can be difficult to do yourself.

Follow and implementing the steps outlined below will only help.

- Identify your target audience.

- Create a press release.

- Create a press kit.

- Create a media list.

- Create a media plan.

- Create media schedules.

- Create a media plan for different media.

- Create a press kit for different media.

- Create a media list for different types ofmedia.

- Create media schedules for different types of media.

- Create a press release for different types of media.

3. How to use PR to increase revenue

The main goal of your Public Relations strategy is to have a direct effect on your revenue.

Following the steps below will help you on your way.

The first step is to identify your target audience. Second, you should consider the type of business that you are running and how the PR process will help you. You should also think about the purpose of the PR campaign and how the end goal will benefit your business.

Third, you will want to create a "vision board." This is where you can create a vision of how you want your business to be/look/operate and what revenue goals you have in and for the future. This should give you a clear idea of what you need to do to reach that goal. Fourth, you should create a list of business-related keywords. This will help you to reach more people in your specific audience and help your business and overall reach to grow. Fifth, you will want to create a list of your competitors. This will not only help you to see what you need to do to get ahead of your competitors, but also see what kinds of marketing/PR/ and advertising they do. The sixth step is to create a list of your target customers. Be specific. Little things matter, like their income, their hometown, even the car they drive or the restaurants they frequent. This will help you to see your target audience and how they may be different from your competitors. It will also help you to better determine what they want. Seventh, you will want to create a list of your target media outlets. This will help you to determine what media outlets are the most relevant to your target audience. For example, if you're a gun store, you might not want to advertise on a billboard next to the county jail, or on the local restaurant menus...or you just might, depending on your target audience.

4. Conclusion.

This article provides a detailed guide on how to increase revenue through PR, including a multi-step guide on how to get started. Additionally, you will want to make a list of the press releases you will be sending out, Create an email list that will be used for press releases, Identify your target audience and establish a relationship with them.

All that's left is to set your budget for PR and Start your campaign!

VORTEX® ANNOUNCES SPAGHETTI SHOOTOUT SERIES

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 14:45:00 GMT

Check Out The New Podcast

BARNEVELD, Wis. - What would your one gun for Jurassic Park be? What would be the coolest small game animal to add antlers to? Why is the 6.5 Creedmoor ^® the most polarizing hunting cartridge?

Familiar Vortex Nation™ Podcast personalities and brand ambassadors offer their opinions on a variety of topics in Spaghetti Shootout available now on YouTube. Click here to watch . The show features high-energy discussions over pop-culture, hunting gear, tactics, game cookery, and anything relevant (or irrelevant) to hunting, shooting, and the outdoors.

“We wanted to create a fun series that delivered more opportunity for customers wanting to get to know their favorite folks from the Vortex ^® team,” explains Content Manager, Erik Barber. “The idea behind Spaghetti Shootout is simple—imagine ESPN’s Around the Horn ^® and Pardon the Interruption ^® Vortex-i-fied for the hunting and shooting community.”

In each monthly episode, a panel of personalities shoot from the hip with opinions on a variety of topics. As they speak, viewers watch a points-counter increase or decrease based on the whims of Vortex ^® media personality and host, Jimmy Hamilton. Debate topics are time capped. Whoever can argue and articulate their thoughts the best accumulates the most points until a winner is declared at the end of each episode.

“Creating fun, new ways to engage with our customers is always our top priority,” says Barber. “This fun twist in outdoor talk programing gives us more opportunity to go on good-humored rants about things that excite people who love shooting and the outdoors.”

Click here to watch Vortex Nation™ Podcast’s, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn, square off in the first installment of Spaghetti Shootout. Got a burning question you want answered? Drop your suggestion in the comment section for Episode 1, and you may see your topic go through the ringer in a future debate.

For information on future episodes, check out Vortex ^® on Instagram , YouTube , Facebook , and Twitter .

About Vortex ^® : American owned, veteran-owned, Wisconsin-based Vortex Optics designs, engineers, produces, and distributes a complete line of premium sport optics, accessories, and apparel. Dedicated to providing unrivaled customer service and exceptional quality, Vortex ^® backs its products with the unconditional, transferrable, lifetime VIP Warranty. Built on over 30 years of experience in the optics industry, Vortex ^® has emerged as a leader in the optics market.

Supreme Court Rules Against New York State Arbitrary "Proper Cause" Requirements 6-3

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 16:59:56 GMT

Decision will affect Multiple states' similar rules.

From "The Daily Beast"..

Full article can be seen HERE.

In a majority opinion authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court has cleared the way for even looser gun laws as the nation continues to reel from near-daily mass shootings that have claimed 312 lives in 2022 alone.

Thomas, a President George H. W. Bush nominee, wrote in the 6-3 decision that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to carry a gun outside the home. The court struck down New York’s “proper-cause” requirement to obtain a concealed-carry license, saying it “violates the Fourteenth Amendment by preventing law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms in public for self-defense.”

In concurring, Justice Samuel Alito wrote, “The police cannot disarm every person who acquires a gun for use in criminal activity; nor can they provide bodyguard protection for the State’s nearly 20 million residents or the 8.8 million people who live in New York City. Some of these people live in high-crime neighborhoods. Some must traverse dark and dangerous streets in order to reach their homes after work or other evening activities. Some are members of groups whose members feel especially vulnerable. And some of these people reasonably believe that unless they can brandish or, if necessary, use a handgun in the case of attack, they may be murdered, raped, or suffer some other serious injury.”

Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented. “Consider, too, interactions with police officers,” Breyer wrote. “The presence of a gun in the hands of a civilian poses a risk to both officers and civilians.”

Breyer pointed out that laws regulating “the public carriage of weapons” in England date back to the 13th century, and existed in North America since “before the founding.”

“Similar laws remained on the books through the ratifications of the Second and Fourteenth Amendments through to the present day,” Breyer wrote. “Many of those historical regulations imposed significantly stricter restrictions on public carriage than New York’s licensing requirements do today.”

Speaking to reporters after the ruling was handed down, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to hold the line on gun safety.

“We are not powerless to respond to this,” she said.

Constitutional lawyer Jeff Lewis told The Daily Beast the decision does more than simply strike down state concealed-carry laws.

“The court today establishes a very high bar for all gun restrictions,” he said. “Unless a legislature or court can establish that the regulation existed or was consistent with a regulation that existed at the time the Second Amendment was enacted, a gun restriction will no longer survive a Second Amendment challenge. Very few state gun laws will be able to survive such a high standard.”

Lawrence Gostin, director of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, said he was “appalled” but “not surprised” by the ruling.

“This was expected from the Court’s conservative supermajority who have long sought to define the Second Amendment expansively,” he said in an emailed statement. “Their decision was not constitutional, but purely political. Just as the nation grieves children and others who needlessly die from firearm violence, the nation’s highest court is making it much harder to protect the vulnerable.”

At the same time, the Legal Aid Society said in its own statement that the decision “may be an affirmative step toward ending arbitrary licensing standards that have inhibited lawful Black and Brown gun ownership in New York.”

The ruling, which stems from a Dec. 2020 challenge by the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association (NYSRPA), is set to upend the ability of individual states to require concealed carry applicants show “proper cause” for being allowed to leave home armed. The plaintiffs, Robert Nash and Brandon Koch, from Upstate New York, were denied carry permits in 2016 and 2018 by county authorities because they did not “face any special or unique danger” to their lives. After instead being granted permits for hunting and target shooting, the two sued—under the umbrella of the NYSRPA, the NRA’s New York affiliate—George P. Beach II, the then-superintendent of the New York State Police, and New York State Supreme Court Justice and Rensselaer County Licensing Officer Richard J. McNally, Jr.

“Up until now, the court’s been pretty clear that somebody has the right to have a gun in their own home,” Lewis told The Daily Beast ahead of the ruling. “But what the high court has never weighed in on is…do you have the right outside of your house to have a gun? … The people that challenged this law said, ‘No, the Second Amendment’s absolute—the presumption should be [that] we have the right to a concealed weapon, and should be up to the government to take it away from us on a case-by-case basis, not establishing the right to weaponry on a case- by- case basis.’”

The case, which became known as New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen after Beach was replaced by Kevin P. Bruen, took aim at dismantling New York’s century-old licensing requirement. Nash and Koch argued that having to prove they needed guns for self-protection was unconstitutional, and that they shouldn’t need to demonstrate any special threat.

In his application, Nash pointed to a “string of recent robberies in his neighborhood,” and said he had successfully completed an advanced firearms safety course. Koch, for his part, cited “extensive experience in the safe handling and operation of firearms and the many safety training courses he had completed.” However, McNally rejected both men for full, unrestricted carry permits because they did not prove they were any more at risk than any other members of the general public.

At least eight other states and municipalities have similar measures in place which restrict concealed carry to those with occupations or personal circumstances that very obviously require being armed. In New York City, applicants must submit a “letter of necessity” explaining why they need to have a weapon on them at all times—not just because they want to defend themselves from some undefined “threat.” In past years, some of those approved for carry permits in New York have included Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Fox News host Sean Hannity, radio personality Howard Stern, and Martha Stewart’s daughter, Alexis. Today, someone in nearly half of all American households owns a gun, according to a University of Chicago survey.

Upon their applications being rejected, Nash and Koch challenged the decisions in federal court, where they lost again. When an appeals court upheld the dismissal, Nash and Koch took their case to the Supreme Court.

“New York continues to make it all but impossible for typical, law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to bear arms where the right matters most and confrontations are most likely to occur: outside the home,” their lawyers stated in a July 2021 brief, arguing that the decision is subject to “the satisfaction of a local official vested with broad discretion” which gives licenses only to a select few and excludes “the people” referred to in the U.S. Constitution. “As to everyone outside that small subset, there is no outlet to carry handguns for self-defense at all. That restrictive and discretionary regime is upside down. The Second Amendment makes the right to carry arms for self-defense the rule, not the exception, and fundamental rights cannot be left to the whim of local government officials.”

In oral arguments last November, Chief Justice John Roberts said the “idea you need a license to exercise the right is unusual in the context of the Bill of Rights.”

Trump appointee Justice Brett Kavanaugh said he viewed the situation in relatively stark terms.

“If it’s the discretion of an individual officer, that seems inconsistent with an objective constitutional right,” Kavanaugh told New York Solicitor General Barbara Underwood during one particularly pointed exchange. “I mean, what if you’re a runner and you say I run a lot, and, as you correctly pointed out earlier, there are a lot of serious violent crimes on running paths. It's a real problem. Is that good enough?”

Underwood argued that limits on carrying guns in public have been in place for centuries, echoing U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher’s point that the onus to show cause for concealed carry has long been placed on individuals.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, himself a former NYPD commander, has called the notion of “good guys with guns” among the citizenry being a counterweight to armed criminals as “so dumb.”

“There’s a tendency that people believe if they've got a gun, why have it, if I'm not using it?” Adams said in May. “That's just the mindset of carrying a gun. We have to rid our streets of guns from good guys and bad guys.”

During November’s oral arguments, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, another Trump appointee, asked about restrictions by cities or states on guns in certain high-density areas, such as Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Kagan, an Obama appointee, said she thought it was “completely intuitive that there should be different gun regimes in New York than in Wyoming or that there should be different gun regimes in New York City than in rural counties upstate.” Still, Kagan noted the inherent friction “with our notion of constitutional rights generally.”

Thomas, historically one of the most conservative justices on the court, suggested a “tailored approach for the Second Amendment” based on population density.

“You can’t hunt with a gun in Central Park, but I’m certain there are places in Upstate or Western New York where you can,” he said.

To that, Roberts replied, “If the purpose of the Second Amendment is to allow people to protect themselves, that’s implicated when you’re in a high-crime area. How many muggings take place in the forest?”

Full article can be seen HERE.

NWTF Announces Funding for New Wild Turkey Projects

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 16:41:39 GMT

Learn more by visiting the NWTF website

For more information, contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698 or pmuller@nwtf.net

NWTF Announces Funding for New Wild Turkey Research Projects

More than $360,000 will help fund seven projects in six states.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation announced more than $360,000 in funding for seven new research projects in six states addressing the needs of wild turkey populations. The announcement comes during the 12th National Wild Turkey Symposium, a gathering of state and federal wildlife agencies, wild turkey researchers, land managers and enthusiasts focused on wild turkey habitat and population restoration.

“Supporting research is a key element to the future of the wild turkey and the NWTF,” NWTF Co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “We are excited to support these critical projects made possible through the generous support of Mossy Oak, the NWTF Foundation, various NWTF donors and the NWTF’s Help the Yelp Project.”

Dedicated funding will be leveraged multiple times resulting in more $2.5 million worth of research to benefit the wild turkey. In addition to the most recent allocation of more than $360,000 in funding, the NWTF has dedicated $8.3 million to research during its nearly 50-year history.

Wild turkey researchers submitted project proposals through NWTF’s Wild Turkey Research Request for Proposals, a program that facilitates and makes large investments in support of priority wild turkey research. This year NWTF invited proposals that investigate the dynamics and drivers of the “post-restoration era.” Applicants must address one or more of the following research priorities: disease, habitat, hunter influence/relationship, population estimates and survival. The proposals were scored and ranked by NWTF staff and the NWTF Technical Committee on the applicability of the projects, scientific rigor, partner engagement and secured matching funds.

The projects approved for funding are:

“Estimating Survival and Productivity of Translocated Turkeys in North Dakota” studies survival and reproduction of translocated nuisance turkeys compared to control birds in western North Dakota. Nesting activities, mortality causes and infection and exposure rates will be explored.

“Impacts of Woody Understory Vegetation and Invasive Species on Roosting Habitat Potential for Wild Turkey” will complement a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department priority to examine changing roost site habitat in the Rolling Plains region of Texas. The study will classify vegetation and non-native, invasive species and then conduct a change assessment across the Edwards Plateau to determine impact.

“Vital Rates and Population Growth of Merriam’s Turkeys in South-Central South Dakota” will estimate annual survival and reproductive probabilities for adult and yearling age-classes of wild turkeys. Data will estimate population rates with results being compared to mid-1980s conditions.

“Novel Approaches to Estimating Wild Turkey Population Parameters” will use non-invasive techniques to gather DNA specimens from eight sites throughout Mississippi. Part of the study areas will work in conjunction with wildlife management areas in an ongoing experiment investigating the influence of a delayed and reduced spring season framework on turkey populations and harvest.

“Rio Grande Wild Turkey Habitat and Genetic Connectivity, Disease Prevalence and Survival in the Texas Edwards Plateau Ecoregion” will explore turkey abundance against a decreased number of hunters and turkeys harvested in recent years. Environmental factors such as flooding, unmanaged grazing and damage to vegetation are some study areas. The impact of parasites and disease also will be reviewed.

“Development and Application of Diagnostic Techniques to Better Understand Impacts of Tumor-Causing Viruses (LPDV and RV) in Wild Turkeys” will look at where and to what extent diseases are distributed throughout the body of infected wild turkeys.

“Ecology of an Unhunted Wild Turkey Population” provides research on an unhunted population of wild turkeys across a large study site in South Carolina. Collected data will analyze wild turkey behavior in the absence of hunting activity, hunting pressure and harvest of males. Data will be compared to other populations in the Southeast and beyond.

“The projects that we are supporting demonstrate the partnerships and collaboration that is needed to understand what is impacting wild turkeys across the country,” said Mark Hatfield, NWTF national director of conservations services. “I have confidence that the network of researchers and managers from around the country are going to utilize the same ingenuity that helped restore wild turkeys in North America to understand what is driving the health of the wild turkey population.”

The 12th National Wild Turkey Symposium is co-hosted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and National Wild Turkey Federation, through June 10, in Asheville, North Carolina.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters' rights. Today, the NWTF is focused on the future of hunting and conservation through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative. Since 2012, this 10-year initiative has already eclipsed goals of conserving or enhancing more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruiting or retaining more than 1.5 million hunters and opening access to more than 500,000 acres for hunting and other recreation opportunities. This critical work will continue to impact wildlife habitat and our great outdoors in the final years of the initiative.

National Wild Turkey Federation

PO Box 530

Edgefield South Carolina 29824

United States

Wildlife Research Center Introduces the New Scent Killer Gold Bar Soap

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 16:36:30 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

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premium, odor fighting formula.

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source. This deep cleaning Anti-Odor™ formula is formulated with special moisturizers and Aloe. This high-quality

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For best results, take advantage of the entire Scent Killer® System. Every step you can take to eliminate human

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Trade Shows are DEAD! (Or, are they?...)

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 23:38:13 GMT

You can not only gain new customers, but absolutely KILL your competitors by following this advice...

No, trade shows certainly aren't "dead," but most of the marketing departments for companies in the gun world sure act like they are. If their campaigns aren't on life-support, then they act like ZOMBIES, grunting, "UUhhhhhh...send more emails."

"Uuuhhhhh...we don't need to market"

"Uuuhhhhh...we're sold out of inventory for 18 months..."

"Uuuhhhhh...BOOTH BABES!" (Actually, those still work- if you find ones that are intelligent. I met 3 at this year's SHOT Show."

So, what makes ACE Public Relations qualified to give advice here?

Over the past 20 years, we've attended, executed, and planned for THOUSANDS of shows and events.

We've seen good and bad. We've seen things work and things FAIL MISERABLY.

This information can be very valuable for future shows, and the good news is that they are easy enough to implement that there's really no excuse (except for the typical, "but my business is DIFFERENT," or "we don't have the budget," or "we thought about that but didn't think it would work...") to not do it.

10 Tips for Trade Show Success

1. As in ALL real estate, what really matters in LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

Where your booth is can be more important that what is in your booth. Try and choose a location that is near high traffic areas- the entrance, the presentation space… even near the restrooms are better than being on a middle of the outside row. (Avoid those unless it’s your only option.)

2. Buy and get access to any possible list of attendees prior to the event.

Those lists with contact information are well worth any money spent. You’ll need this list to “pre-market” your presence at the show. From this list, make your “Hit List.” This can be 10-20 or so people that you would happily attend the show if you only saw two of them. If you can’t get a list, you’ll have to work a little harder by contacting, at a minimum, your top prospects in your field to find out if they will be attending- then put them into the marketing plan.

3. Start marketing before, but not more than 2-2.5 weeks before, the trade show.

You want them to know you are there, that you know who they are, and that you want/expect to see them there. This is enough time to catch their attention, but not enough time for them to forget about you.

4. Limit yourself to something interesting and attention-getting,

...and only send one of them per week- which brings us to the next tip…

5. DON’T Overwhelm Them with communication.

SHOT Show and NRA are both notorious for this- as are a handful of companies and independent marketing agencies.
Once a week is good. Twice a week is better. 3 times or more is TOO MUCH and a great way to make them not only not visit you, but to possibly avoid you in the future.

6. Avoid “burning your list” by using multiple methods of communication to reach your prospect.

Don’t - and I mean DON’T- ever use only "email" as your way to solicit attendees.

If you send "generic" emails multiple times over a short period, some email servers will automatically flag you as spam, which is very hard to undo after it’s done.
You might not even know your emails aren’t getting through.
Send them a piece of “lumpy mail” in a padded envelope or a FedEx.
Never send a plain envelope for these correspondences, as they will typically be opened by someone else or thrown out. Make sure every one is HAND ADDRESSED in ink. Several days before the show, make 20 phone calls. If you don’t reach them the first time, call again. As a last resort, leave them a message that you have something for them at the booth. If you are restricted as to what you can give, make up a nice packet of your promotional materials in a high-quality, full-sized envelope.
I'm shocked at how lazy most companies in the gun world are these days- they send an email a day for a week and think that's actually EFFECTIVE.

7. Always have an event/hospitality suite/gathering off-site but near enough to the event that it’s easy to get to.

Everybody loves a party.

Make it classy. A nice dinner or a hospitality suite with an open bar are a good start. A celebrity speaker or attendee can help a LOT. Fun places like "Top Golf" or a local range to test out products are great choices. This past SHOT, we attended an event at the Palmyra Mansion, The Paris Resort, Top Golf and others.

8. Give your prospects an overwhelming and compelling reason to come and see you.

This goes for all your communications, your interactions, and your time on the floor. If you have promotional items, make them high-quality. If you can't give everyone something nice, at least have enough to give to your top 30% or so prospects, customers and MEDIA (yes, MEDIA.) Have a contest, a speaker/celebrity, or a unique experience or contest at your booth in order to draw attention. Make it fun.

I once saw a company that had a putting green contest with some awesome prizes that went on for the duration of the show. They had a “Leaderboard” and held wacky “interviews” that they ran on video with some basic (and funny) editing, people would gather around and watch, laugh and engage.
You might laugh at that, but they made money.

Most companies, and especially the larger ones, MISSED A HUGE OPPORTUNITY at the 2022 SHOT Show.

If ever there was a time to do something BIG, that was it. Rather than buy only cheap giveaways, you could have doubled your spend and ordered half as much. There was a distinct lack of swag this year, and, quite frankly, whomever came up with that bright idea should be FIRED. If it was you or you own the company, be better.

9. Design your booth for optimum space and flow.

People in the booth bring more people to the booth, as they are curious as to what is going on there. That being said, a bigger booth is almost always better than a smaller one. Don’t block the booth with a table. Don’t divide it so that people have to go out to see all of it. Make the carpet a dark or light color that matches the aisle. The division between a light and dark carpet line can have a psychological effect on people to not want to come to “your territory” and stay in theirs. Encourage socialization in your booth and meet in a separate area.

10. Have fun, but behave in the booth.

Everyone on your team should be dressed professionally (you are, after all, there to do business) as it is always better to be OVER rather than “under”-dressed. Make sure that you are always aware of what is going on near, in, and outside the booth. There are 51 OTHER weeks for you to party so hard that you're hung over the next day. Your trade show isn't the time for that. (that is, if you want to make money). If you are checking emails, looking at your phone, etc., make sure you glance up every few seconds so that you don’t miss an opportunity to see a prospect.

You owe it to yourself to make the most of the money you spend. It's worth it to spend a little more to DO IT RIGHT!

We're here to help if you need it. New Paragraph

The Best Way to Make Money During A Recession

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 15:45:00 GMT

It's looking more and more like this advice might be needed.

The Best Ways to Make More Money During A Recession

A recession is a period of time lasting more than a few months in which the economy suffers a substantial slowdown. By definition, it is a time when consumers and businesses spend less money. To make matters worse, the economic downturn can lead to a lot of unemployment and uncertainty. However, there are many ways to make more money during a recession. This article will briefly outline the benefits of freelancing and how you can use it to make more money, as well as cover some other methods you can use to make more money during a recession.

FREELANCE

The benefits of freelancing

During a recession, many people are forced to find new ways to make money. One of the best ways to do this is to freelance. Not only will you be able to make a decent amount of money, but you will also be able to gain a lot of experience and find your passion. If you are not sure what type of freelancing to do, you can always do something that you enjoy. For example, if you love writing, you can freelance as a blogger. If you enjoy painting, you can freelance as an artist. If you enjoy photography, you can freelance as a photographer.

START A BUSINESS

Did you know some of the most successful businesses in history were started during some of the worst financial times?

While there are plenty of things you can do to make more money during a recession, many of them require a large time investment. This means that you have to have the time and energy to devote to the task. However, there are some good ways to make more money throughout the day. For example, if you are good with a computer, you can create your own website and sell your work. If you are good with a camera, you can start taking pictures and selling them on websites like Facebook and Flickr. If you are good with a smartphone, you can start taking pictures and selling them on apps like Instagram. If you are good with a tablet, you can start selling your designs through websites like Etsy.

BE " RECESSION-PROOF "

Perhaps the best way to make more money during a recession is to work in a field that is recession-proof.

The outdoor and firearms industry is not necessarily the best one for that...

What you likely SHOULD do is find a job that does not rely on a particular industry, or one that is protected enough within a given industry in order to protect your cashflow. Many women choose to work in the field of childcare as a way to make additional money. This job is recession-proof because it does not rely on a particular industry. In the event of a recession, there will always be a need for childcare. Medicine and the medical industry are rather "recession-proof."

Food is another. I know some folks that moved to a small farmette in Wisconsin and make enough from the sale of their small amount of livestock and large vegetable garden for the wife to quit her job as a medical receptionist. Another farmer makes as much from their annual fall festival and "corn maze" to more that double the amount that that same field would be able to produce in crops. Personally, I have clients in several industries so that when one is slow, the others are usually up.

A recession can sometimes be one of the worst things to happen to someone, but there are things you can do to make the most out of of it.
If you have a business, you should overhaul your marketing plan while others are paring theirs down in order to steal customers from the competition. If that frightens you, then you might consider taking on a second job. If you don't have a business, you could consider starting one. However, the most important thing is making sure that you have a plan for your money.

You should always have multiple ways to make money, even if it is just a few dollars here and there. Remember- There are a lot of ways to make money out there and you should always look for new opportunities to do so.

Whatever you choose, you may want to choose quickly.

The future is not looking very bright these days.

No Matter What Your Current Marketing Is or What You're Currently Doing, You Can Do More and Do It Better

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 17:41:07 GMT

Remember- a good businessperson never, ever turns down money...

How to Increase Your Business When You're Already Doing Well

If you are already doing well in your business, it can be easy to think that you don't need to do anything differently. But, this doesn't mean that you should stop doing anything. The truth is, there are many ways that you can increase your business when you're already doing well. In this blog post we will share some of the ways that you can increase your business when you're already doing well.

1. What is the best way to increase your business?

The best way to increase your business is by engaging with your current client base. They will tell you what they want and what they don't want. By knowing what they want, you can tailor your business to suit their needs. Another way to increase your business is by finding new customers. You can try advertising your business through social media or through flyers. If you have a website, you should make sure that it is updated with the latest information. Not only will this make your business look more professional, but you will also be able to attract new customers. Lastly, you can increase your business by doing a better job of marketing. If you are already doing well, this may not be the best option.

2. How to increase your business with referrals

When you're already doing well, it can be difficult to know what to do to increase your business. What if you're doing well, but not as well as you want to be? What if you're not doing well at all? In these cases, you can follow a few simple strategies to increase your business. One of the easiest ways to increase your business is to get referrals. The best way to get referrals is to make sure your website is well designed. When people visit your website, they should see that it's easy to navigate. It's important to check the site analytics and see what people are doing when they visit your site. This will give you a better idea of what to do to improve your website. Another way to increase your business is to offer a product or service that you know your target audience will love. This can be done by creating a list of the top needs that your target audience has. The list should include the product or service you want to offer. This will help you get a better idea of what you should sell to your target audience. Lastly, you can offer a discount on your products or services. This will help you increase your business and get more sales.

3. How to increase your business with social media

One of the best ways to increase your business and to grow your company is to use social media. Social media is a great way to market your business and to build a community. Social media is also a great way to get in touch with potential clients and customers. With the help of social media, you can increase your business and grow your company. This comes with a HUGE warning, though...

NEVER put all of your eggs in one basket. WIth the push of a button, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and every other social media company out there can erase you from existence.

Don't believe me? Ask Donald Trump, AR15.com, Mike Lindell, and COUNTLESS others how their business was rocked by a social media cancel.

4. How to increase your business with advertising when you already have "plenty" of customers.

Regardless of any preconceived notions you might have, advertising WORKS.

When someone tells you that they "don't need" to market or advertise," what they USUALLY mean is, "I'm afraid," or, "I don't trust you," or, "I already spend more than I think I should."

The fact is, most people that are unhappy with the performance of their ads shoulder at least some of the blame for their ineffectiveness.

Most. Advertisements. Suck.

5 Things to Consider Before Working In the Firearms Industry

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 15:00:00 GMT

Use These 5 Tips for Evaluating What You Want and What is "Realistic..."

The firearms industry is a rapidly developing and lucrative field. More than fifty percent of Americans have a gun in their home, and the demand for guns is continuing to grow. With a number of benefits and opportunities available in the field, it seems like a perfect choice for anyone looking to pursue a career. But before you embark on your journey, there are some things to consider that may change your mind. Working in the firearms industry can be a rewarding and interesting career option, but you should make sure you’re comfortable with the following five things before you start your journey.

1. The requirements to work in the firearms industry

As someone that has been in and around the industry for 30 years and having my own business inside of it for almost 20, I have seen the following five things play a major role in the success of people that do well here.

It is important to put the following "requirements" into practice in order to have a successful firearms industry career.

1. Be a good listener

2. Be a good problem solver

3. Be a good communicator

4. Be a good planner/organizer

5. Be a good team player

6. Be FLEXIBLE

7. Be able to work really, really long hours and travel- a LOT

8. Know someone inside the industry- or get to know someone inside the industry.

2. The benefits of working in the firearms industry

Working in the firearms industry can be a very rewarding career. It can be a very challenging career as well, but there are a lot of benefits to be gained. Working in the firearms industry can be one of the most rewarding careers for someone who is passionate about firearms- but that passion can be easily overcome by "the Grind."

You get to meet and hang out with people that have the same interests as you. You will meet celebrities and politicians. You will be interested in a lot of things and a lot of other people.

While challenging, the benefits to be gained doing what you love can outweigh the challenges. While it is important to do your own research, there are a few things to consider before deciding to work in the firearms/outdoor industry.
- What type of work will I be doing?
- How much will my paychecks be?
- What are the benefits of working in the firearms industry?
- What type of work will I be doing?

-What are the "long term" prospects in this career path?

-What am I willing to give up to be happy?

3. The challenges of working in the firearms industry

The firearms industry is a unique industry because it is constantly changing and evolving. With many new innovations, products, and services, it can be a challenge to keep up with the trends. This can be overwhelming and difficult to manage. However, as mentioned previously, there are many benefits to working in this industry. If you are interested in working in the firearms industry, it is important to consider what it is that you REALLY want- because if you think you're just going to "Hunt and Shoot" for a living, you're in for a rude awakening.

5. Make your decision- then don't look back.

Content Marketing Works for Both Big and Small Business...

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 17:43:18 GMT

...and helps ALL of your marketing work BETTER!

Content marketing is the cornerstone of any marketing campaign. It’s not just the content, it’s the engagement it generates. Content marketing is perhaps the most effective marketing strategy for small businesses and big brands alike. It’s a strategy that requires patience, time, and of course, creativity. In this blog, we'll explore content marketing and how it applies to small business as well as big business.

1. What is "content marketing?"

Content marketing is a marketing strategy focused on creating and distributing valuable and engaging content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience. It's a great way to promote your business and also to grow your brand awareness. This is a complete guide to marketing your Ecommerce Website. It will help you find the best ways to market your website.

2. What is the difference between content marketing and other marketing strategies?

Content marketing is a marketing strategy that relies on creating and distributing valuable, consistent, and relevant content in order to build a business's brand awareness and attract and engage a desired audience. Content marketing is different from other marketing strategies, such as advertising, in that it is not usually focused on the purchase of a product or service. Content marketing can be used for a company's website, social media, email marketing, and more. Content marketing is different from other marketing strategies, such as advertising, in that it is not usually focused on the purchase of a product or service. Content marketing can be used for a company's website, social media, email marketing, and more.

3. How does content marketing affect small business?

Big businesses may have more resources to invest in content marketing, but smaller businesses can still benefit from a content marketing strategy. Small businesses are often more creative and can come up with unique ways to engage their target audience. Small businesses can also rely on their personal networks to generate content, which can be effective when done right. Small businesses can also share their content with their customers and create a relationship with them.

4. How does content marketing affect big business?

Content marketing is a marketing strategy that uses content to attract and retain a target audience. Content marketing helps big businesses to reach their target customers. Big businesses often use content marketing to increase their brand awareness and to keep their customers up-to-date with their latest products and services. Content marketing also helps big businesses in their business growth.

Whether you are a big or a small business, content marketing can add to your new customer acquisition, reinforce and increase the efficacy of all of your other marketing, and to add $$$$ to your bottom line.

The good news is, you don't have to do it alone. Ace Public Relations SPECIALIZES in content marketing and has worked with some of the biggest names and best producers of effective content marketing in the firearma nd outdoor industry.

How To Obtain A Career in the Outdoor/Firearm/Hunting/Fishing Industry

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 20:19:45 GMT

Or, the answer to the questions, "How do I take my skills in (sales, marketing, graphic design, etc) and merge them into my passion for (insert area of interest here-hunting, fishing, guns, etc.)

I certainly don't know how other people did it, and, with my experiences with some, even WHY they are still here.

I will never forget my first serious attempts to "get in" to the outdoor, hunting, and firearms world.

I had been the victim of the massive layoffs that hammered the pharmaceutical industry back in the early 2000's and was located in a rural area with not many other options. I had met several traveling "reps" that sold things like hunting gear, fishing rods, etc. and thought that as long as I was going to sell something, why couldn't I sell something that I really liked?

As with most things that I do, I jumped in not only with both feet, but with a "Ready, Fire, Aim" mentality and MASSIVE action-taking including flying out to Las Vegas on my own dime and attending my very first SHOT Show.

I spent a TON of money (in the realm of several thousand dollars) on drinks, dinners, and taxis-and made a large number of contacts.

I got some very good leads, chased down every single one of them, and basically went "one for 30."

The one?

A position as a "pro staffer" for a large rep group in the industry.

Things were a little different then as companies all paid pro staff a significant daily rate plus expenses and, usually, some gear as a "bonus." Because of this, they had high expectations and expected sales from their people.

I went after it with zeal and enthusiasm as well as implementing numerous different sales processes and skills.

I developed an inventory tracking sheet and customer questionnaire that is still being used in a revised for almost a decade later.

I thought that this would be a great "entry point" to being further along in the industry.

I was wrong.

Most of what I found was more opportunities to work events as a "pro staffer." No full time gigs.

So... I build a business around prostaffing- and it went from there.

By the time I decided to "go it alone" and build my own "niche" in the outdoor business, I had interviewed with approximately a dozen different companies while submitting my resume to sixty or seventy.

For the right opportunity, I will still entertain a conversation and I have even interviewed several times again over the past several years.

Several of those interviews stand out clearly in my mind if only for their unbelievable attitude towards experience and value.

Needless to say, it wasn't what I expected.

The first was for a sales position with a rather large retailer of apparel that crosses several markets in the outdoor and sporting goods industry.

I made it to the "final" interview only to lose to what turned out to be a much less experienced person that had worked in a retail store and then sold for a small rep group for several years.

I reached out to the hiring manager who was very amicable and asked him why they had chosen the other candidate and what I could do to further my chances for the next time.

His answer was rather shocking.

He said simply that "while we were impressed with your sales skills, your sales accomplishments, awards, and your personality and affect, you didn't have any experience selling apparel."

Oops.

Big mistake, and probably for the best for me, anyway.

At this time, I had worked for three different Fortune 10 to Fortune 50-level companies, winning numerous presidents club and other incentive awards, selling everything from marketing and advertising (and coming into that position with zero experience and going to the number one representative out over 1300+) to life saving medications to advanced external defibrillators and resuscitation medical devices – pieces of equipment that, literally, were used to stop and start peoples heartbeats after heart failure and/or cardiovascular surgical procedures.

I think I might have been able to figure out how to sell some jackets, shirts, and pants to retail store owners and management, don't you?

Never one to sit idle, over the past two decades I have also partnered with and received training from leading marketing experts and speakers like Dan Kennedy, Les Brown, Tony Robbins, and Steve Sipress, attained a "Mastery Certification" from SSS Marketing University, and built a network in the Hunting and Firearms industry numbering in the tens of thousands. Finally, in the last several years I have written two Amazon best-sellers in their category.

I advise that if you are looking for opportunities of any kind, you do the same.

Certification courses are readily available, online, full of useful skills, and will help you to attain an "expert level proficiency" in numerous things in a reasonably short time.

That being said...

A few years ago, I had another experience with an employer that did what seems to have become a typical thing in the outdoor world...

They hired for "cheap" rather than "value."

What do I mean by that?

The company was clearly interested in working with me as they proactively reached out, contacted, recruited, interviewed, and maintained their interest over the course of 8 or ten weeks. They then brought up a discussion regarding compensation and, specifically what I thought the job should be worth. .

This is always a touchy one.

You see, I am of the opinion that, regardless of your business (and your hunting equipment) you should always go with the best that you can possibly afford, plus some- because something so very important is usually not glaringly apparent until you really, really need it.

Think of a lower priced rifle scope with a "lifetime guarantee" and "free replacement" that fails on top of a mountain during the sheep hunt or even on a deer hunt in your back 40 where you can't see the big buck you've been waiting all season for as he steps out for 15 seconds at last light...

Yes it was less "expensive."

Yes, you will get another scope for free- but that isn't worth anything to you sitting on the side of the mountain trying to pick off a rocky mountain bighorn that, in many places, is a "once in a lifetime" tag.

This company was seeking over a million dollars worth of sales responsibility from me- but they only wanted to pay for $250,000.00 worth (and, by the way, if you ever want to absolutely GUARANTEE your salespeople won't sell anything, then don't pay them a lot of money or, worse, "cap" their earnings)

Suffice it to say, we were a significant amount of money apart in what we thought the position was worth and they were not open to a "performance based model"- so they wound up hiring the "other guy."

Then, when he burned out, they hired "another guy."

And, less than a year later, they hired "another guy," Who also became noticeably absent from company communications and emails less than one year later.

Did that company "save money?"

What do you suppose it cost them to interview and hire three new people in less than two years?

What do you suppose the business cost is having those relationships that are so hard to build "interrupted" three times in less than three years?

What do you suppose the difference might've been with a high-level professional that is used to closing deals in the 6-to-7-figure levels in that position instead of someone who had sold " outdoor related products" for a pittance?

They, and we, will now never know.

Finally, and one that really surprised me, was the company that had churned through several of my acquaintances in 18 months whose contracted recruiter called me and asked if I would be interested in the position for, not only a pay cut from my current compensation but SIGNIFICANTLY less money than either of them had made over the last 3 years!

Another HUGE "OOPS" by a company that should definitely have known better.

The lesson to take away is that getting "in the door" in the outdoor industry is not easy, and you need not only a plan of action, but a standard that you are willing to accept to get there.

Now-

How often does this come up every day in your life or business?

Do you buy the "cheap option," when a proven, high-quality option is available for not that much more in your gear? Your employees? Your business?

Do you "spray and pray" with your marketing and advertising, hoping that some of it works the way you want it to because you want to "do it yourself?"

It's a hard lesson on both sides of the equation sometimes- One that it pays to learn early.

Get in the Ring.

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 14:30:00 GMT

Being “in the ring,“ is an experience that I recommend for everyone.

Being a business owner in the firearms and outdoor world has a lot in common with being a fighter.

There's the work ethic, the discipline, and the "prize"- whether that's money, a medal or a trophy.

Then, there's the hours, days, weeks and months of work you put in before you see a single result...
So, what's my point?

Stay with me here.

I have bounced around several different industries, but have always performed among the very best in each of them.

Growing up, my family was in construction and restaurants. It was there that I learned both of value of a dollar and the rewards of working hard.

I got my first paper route at age 10 (I lied about my age), an I think I was about 12 years old when I realized that none of my friends ever had any money, and I had, literally, more than I could spend.

That money allowed me to have options.

I could drive the car I wanted. I could take girls out wherever I wanted. While most guys were taking dates to the movies and a fast food restaurant, I was going to 5-star restaurants and broadway plays.

The Price of "Success."

Being young and full of boundless energy, from the time I was 14 until my mid 20s I regularly worked 70, 80, and 90 hour weeks. I hustled on one, then two, then THREE paper routes.

My first “grown-up“ sales position started in the pharmaceutical industry in the 90s. I learned a ton from some of the best in the industry and the work ethic I had as a teenager and young adult carried over well to high-performance at that position.

From there, I moved into advertising and marketing, as well as commissioned sales, and wound up being ranked at the very top of a salesforce with over 3000 representatives. There, I was known as the guy that over-prepared and over-planned for every appointment. I would have several plans to present to a prospect or customer regardless of where they were at in their current advertising or marketing and my average customer dollar increase was well over the 50% mark.

Where I really honed my skills and discipline, though, was “in the ring.”

From age 9 through almost 30, I was a competitor in the pugilistic sports.

First with boxing, then wrestling and, finally, in the sport that I participated in the longest, Olympic taekwondo.

Being “in the ring,“ is an experience that I recommend for everyone.

I also recommend that everyone be punched in the face at least once, of only for the change in both attitude and confidence it gives.

Being "in the ring" is a lonely place- a lot like being a business owner.

Once you leave your corner, there is nobody to fall back on.

Nobody gives offense, nobody defense you but you.

The hours and days, weeks, and months spent perfecting every move, combination and technique are all that you have once you step in the ring.

Now- I was never a natural athlete – but I was a very, very hard worker.

I knew that I could not sit back and rely on a natural athletic ability to carry me through to the championship rounds of a tournament, so I took a different approach.

I worked.

I trained harder, longer, and more in-depth than anyone I knew.

In an era before smart phones and computers, I would set up cameras at tournaments and film other fighters in my weight class then go back to my room, watch and analyze them.

Then, there was the physical training. I trained four hours a day, six days a week, with only Sundays off of my physical training regimen.

I used that time to perfect every move that I planned to use against the fighters whose techniques I had observed and studied.

It worked well.

I won greater than 90% of my fights as a sanctioned competitor (over 100 of them)-and it was all due to the discipline I had in preparing.

I never took my foot off the gas, and I kept honing and perfecting my skills long past what most other people were doing.

That was the price of success- in everything.

I don't typically work 70-hour weeks anymore, but I do if I have to.

There are many ways to “get in the ring“ in your everyday and work life.

I would argue that every time you get up in front of a client, prospect or customer – and we can and do certainly talk to some of the very best and smartest people in the world in this business- that it is exactly like all those times I climbed through the ropes or stepped over the line and faced an opponent in combat sports.

By correctly preparing for those interactions, by learning the nuances and proper combinations of words, art, and language in your next advertising campaign, and by tracking and honing your results to the most specifically created campaigns and messages, you can do that with the most confidence and skill that is humanly possible.

Those customers, businesses, and competitors in your marketplace will also, on occasion, “punch you in the face.“

That may be in a poor business dealing, a rejection, lost client, contract or order... any number of "not so great" things.

We want you to be able to take that and step right back into the fray.

As a matter of fact, it's what we do with ALL of OUR customers and clients.

If you want to take the next step up in your business, reach new and different audiences, or just have some questions about how to sell more, make more or do more, give us a call.

Do You READ the News or MAKE the News?

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 18:05:14 GMT

Your Competitors are Doing it- so WHY Aren't YOU?

Many of my articles discuss the fact that the firearms industry and many of the players in it are reluctant and afraid because the industry and buying is “contracting.”

That is CLEARLY no longer the case.

The all important question is, "Were YOU in position to take advantage of the buying frenzy and HUGE sales boost after a 5-year drought?"

The truth is, "dominant" players LOVE contraction- but they LIKE expansion, too. They like it because they know that they are under constant assault from competition- be that big competition, medium competition or even start up and small competition.

They know that it's easy for them to survive a contraction by making a few cuts and staff, a few cuts in marketing, and perhaps some pullback of budgets – they can weather the storm.

Then, when they have a "boom" like now, they take everything that their smaller and equal competitors simply "let go" by not participating fully in the game.

The reason they can do that is because they have spent years – sometimes decades and, some, 10 decades or more, building up their business, their marketing, their market share, and, perhaps most importantly, their CONTENT and DOMINANCE.

They CONTROL the CONVERSATION.

In other words, t hey don't "Read the news…" They WRITE the news.

What do you do that mimics that in your business?

Typically, this is where most small and medium businesses throw out a slew of excuses (don't take that the wrong way, because there are only two things in business – "excuses" and "results." Pick one or the other. Yes, sometimes there are very, very good excuses. )

"We can't compete…"

"We don't have the budget…"

"I don't have 1000 people to handle every little thing that we need done – most of it falls on me."

And on… And on… And on…

So, how do you, as a business owner (or "Manager," or "marketing director," etc.) overcome these obstacles?

There are two phrases that I use often with my children that apply directly to business. One is that the journey of 1 or 10,000 miles begins with the same "first step."

The second is that the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

You can control the news-- at least YOUR news.

Are you writing a blog post every day?

Do you have a legion of raving fans that are willing to share your content and contact info?

Do you have hundreds of people that you can send something to and they will give you feedback on? How about 20?

10?

TWO?

The good news is that there is always somebody out there that has those things.

The BEST news is that you already know at least one of them…

Ace Public Relations is a company that specializes in helping companies in the firearms and outdoor space control the conversation, news, and views of their products, people, and services.

You're most likely right – you DON'T have the time to do every little thing. You DON'T have enough hours in the day to accomplish all of the things you need to not just COMPETE but DOMINATE even some of the big players in the marketplace.

Now you have someone that can, and they are at your service.

Click HERE to find out how you can take that off your plate.

The Outdoor Industry Is CHANGING AGAIN...

183:861317550 (Ace Luciano) — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 18:26:06 GMT

The Firearms and outdoor market and marketplace is DIFFERENT- AGAIN!

I first wrote this article 5 years ago.

Ironically, the industry is CHANGING- AGAIN.

What are you doing to take advantage? Did you and your business learn your lesson from the last go-around?

Will you simply "take the money?" How will you ensure longevity through the next "slowdown?" (It will happen)

WIll you take the opportunity to INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE by building content, looking at marketing options, and "build the fence" around your herd?

--------------------------------------------

The industry is changing.

Right now.

The question is, will you be AHEAD of the CURVE or BEHIND it?

Gone are the days of “panic buying,” of backordered AR-15s, Handguns with magazines greater than ten rounds, and .223 and 9mm ammo.

Ammunition prices are going DOWN almost weekly.

Yes, a Trump victory was good for the industry in the LONG RUN, but in the short term you’re going to see a lot of brutal wake-up calls. You’ll see people change companies, you’ll see some layoffs, and, yes, some decreases in business.

Can this be avoided?

The short answer is “yes,” provided the right steps are taken and taken QUICKLY.

Companies that have advertising budgets had better be increasing them and increasing the number of methods they use to push their brands. Those companies that have no or limited budgets had better decide whether they want to be in business very much longer.

You see, there are always companies ready to take YOUR customers.

They don’t care anout YOU. They care about THEM- and if they start running the marketing race before you do, you will have a lot of catching up to do, if you catch them at all.

Think it can’t happen to you?

Ask Harris Publications what they think.

That is, if you can track down anyone that used to work there.

Harris is no more.

Since 1977 Harris published a wide variety of special interest magazines over the years, including newsstand mainstream magazines SLAM, Guitar World, XXL, King, Revolver, and Woman. At the time of its closure, the company's portfolio also included Naturally, Danny Seo; Great Backyards; Celebrity Hairstyles; Juicy; Rides; Who's Who in Baseball; Guns & Weapons, Combat Handguns, Guns of the Old West, Knives... and several others.

At the end of April 2016, Harris released this statement:

“It is with great sadness that we are announcing the closing of Harris Publications. For nearly 40 years, Harris Publications has been a mainstay in enthusiast publishing.

We are extremely grateful for the tremendous contributions of our employees, past and present. The hard work and dedication of our creative, sales, circulation and operations teams and the talents of our freelance editors, writers, photographers and designers are what allowed us to continue delivering thoughtful and beautiful magazines to our readers.

The magazine publishing industry has been through turmoil in the face of the rapid ascendance of digital media, changing consumer content preferences, magazine wholesaler struggles and consolidation in the supply chain. We have tried mightily to persevere against these forces, but have been unable to overcome these challenges.”

This was a diversified, 40 year old, DOMINATING company for many, many years.

Based on this knowledge, I can’t help but ask- Do you believe that Harris Publications is the only publishing company to experience these challenges? Where have you invested YOUR marketing dollars?

I hope you have limited your exposure in print.

I have subscriptions to, at last count, 16 outdoor-related print publications. Most of them are in a pile they were placed in when they arrived in the mail- still unopened, many “special editions” still wrapped in plastic.

The subscription price for what most consider the “big four” outdoor publications is less than 50% of what it was 25 years ago- yet their advertising prices still fetch quite a premium.

When was the last time you bought a magazine from a “newsstand?” A book store?

…and that’s exactly the point.

Television isn’t that great a solution, either. One of the largest providers of outdoor television has begun running “old West” reruns on Friday nights.

I and many others know exactly why this is. Their “market” has gone digital!

I “cut the cord” on cable over a year ago. We watch local news occasionally free via an antenna and “stream” everything else.” Sometimes I stream hunting and fishing, but I am SHOCKED that many of the “big brands” out there don’t make their shows available on the web.

Some very smart entrepreneurs are taking their place.

So, what is a company in the outdoor/firearm/hunting/archery/fishing space to do?

The short answer is, you need to go digital…

…and you had better DIVERSIFY.

Think “Craigslist” and newspaper advertising.

Yellow Pages and Adwords.

This is not something that’s “coming.” It’s ALREADY HERE.

The good news is, we can help.

Ace Luciano is NOT a Black Rapper

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 17:45:18 GMT

...But sometimes one appears in search results.

Ace Luciano is not a black rapper.

He is also not an Italian soccer player, nor does he have the prefix "Yung" before his name anywhere, in anything he does.

Well...that's not exactly true.

If you search "Ace Luciano" in Google, You will find those people scattered throughout the first few pages here and there, but they likely aren't the ones you're looking for.

Those people also all go by the name "Ace Luciano."

The biggest difference between them and the one you're actually looking for?

One is found everywhere in most searches with that name, while the others are sporadically found.

(I actually felt a little bad about the "musician" that was trying to "make it happen"... until I actually listened to his music. Now, I feel like I performed a bit of community service!)

You may recall that in a previous post I discussed the difference between "writing the news" and "reading the news."

Which position would you prefer to be in?

I know where I want to be, and I do everything I can to be there.

One of the most important things you can do in business is to ensure that, certainly for your own name, that when people search for YOU they actually find… YOU!

They should also find you anywhere and everywhere they can and may look. That means you need to be on LinkedIn. You need to be on Instagram. You have to have a Facebook account and business page. You need to set up A website and blog.

Most importantly, you need to push out quality content and information that is relevant to who you are and what you do.

The biggest problem with this need?

Most business owners don't have time to do all of that themselves.

Sure, they might have all the social network profiles, but when the Choice is between taking an extra few minutes to have a meal, attend a child's event, or, basically, ANYTHING else not "business related," the vast majority of people in business will let what they believe to be "minor" things slide.

Choice is between taking an extra few minutes to have a meal, attend a child's event, or, basically, ANYTHING else not "business related," the vast majority of people in business will let what they believe to be "minor" things slide.

BIG mistake.

You want people to know you. You want people to find you everywhere. When the discussion is centering around what it is that you do, people should find you, your company, your website, and dozens of things like articles, posts, and social media likes to give them confidence in your business.

If you have a product, you want that product to dominate it's space in whatever media you can.

This can be somewhat challenging in the firearm and outdoor world as Facebook, Google, and YouTube already restrict (albeit somewhat arbitrarily) everything having to do with guns, handguns, and even accessories like optics and magazines.

I know several companies that put all their eggs in that basket and wound up holding an "empty basket" when YouTube decided to suspend their account. All that time, all that content now wasted and having to start over.

So, what's the SMART company in the firearm and outdoor space to do?

You need to find the right PARTNER to help your business write your story and your news.

You also need a partner that will do all of this at a level that allows you to obtain a significant ROI.

Let's Talk.

-Ace

Make the most of the season by following these simple guidelines

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:58:10 GMT

The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.

Make a list

Lists are great ways to stay on track. Write down some big things you want to accomplish and some smaller things, too.

Check the list regularly

Don’t forget to check in and see how you’re doing. Just because you don’t achieve the big goals right away doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

Reward yourself

When you succeed in achieving a goal, be it a big one or a small one, make sure to pat yourself on the back.

Think positively

Positive thinking is a major factor in success. So instead of mulling over things that didn’t go quite right, remind yourself of things that did.

Keep in touch with site visitors and boost loyalty

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:58:10 GMT

There are so many good reasons to communicate with site visitors. Tell them about sales and new products or update them with tips and information.

Here are some reasons to make blogging part of your regular routine.

Blogging is an easy way to engage with site visitors

Writing a blog post is easy once you get the hang of it. Posts don’t need to be long or complicated. Just write about what you know, and do your best to write well.

Show customers your personality

When you write a blog post, you can really let your personality shine through. This can be a great tool for showing your distinct personality.

Blogging is a terrific form of communication

Blogs are a great communication tool. They tend to be longer than social media posts, which gives you plenty of space for sharing insights, handy tips and more.

It’s a great way to support and boost SEO

Search engines like sites that regularly post fresh content, and a blog is a great way of doing this. With relevant metadata for every post so search engines can find your content.

Drive traffic to your site

Every time you add a new post, people who have subscribed to it will have a reason to come back to your site. If the post is a good read, they’ll share it with others, bringing even more traffic!

Blogging is free

Maintaining a blog on your site is absolutely free. You can hire bloggers if you like or assign regularly blogging tasks to everyone in your company.

A natural way to build your brand

A blog is a wonderful way to build your brand’s distinct voice. Write about issues that are related to your industry and your customers.

Tips for writing great posts that increase your site traffic

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:58:10 GMT

This is great advice for a "generic post."

-Ace

Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic that will interest your readers, invite an expert to write about it.

Speak to your audience

You know your audience better than anyone else, so keep them in mind as you write your blog posts. Write about things they care about. If you have a company Facebook page, look here to find topics to write about

Take a few moments to plan your post

Once you have a great idea for a post, write the first draft. Some people like to start with the title and then work on the paragraphs. Other people like to start with subtitles and go from there. Choose the method that works for you.

Don’t forget to add images

Be sure to include a few high-quality images in your blog. Images break up the text and make it more readable. They can also convey emotions or ideas that are hard to put into words.

Edit carefully before posting

Once you’re happy with the text, put it aside for a day or two, and then re-read it. You’ll probably find a few things you want to add, and a couple more that you want to remove. Have a friend or colleague look it over to make sure there are no mistakes. When your post is error-free, set it up in your blog and publish.

Ace Is Wild

Hits and Misses from the 2023 SHOT Show

This year's SHOT Show was another excellently produced and executed show by both show management and vendors, but there was still some room for improvement. ﻿

Hits

Push

Misses

Lessons From Sleazy Sales Tactics

Learning what "Not To Do" in your business can also be important.

How to Increase Your Business with Public Relations- A Multi-Step Guide

PR Can be Tricky, but with some discipline it doesn't have to be tedious or expensive.

VORTEX® ANNOUNCES SPAGHETTI SHOOTOUT SERIES

Check Out The New Podcast

Supreme Court Rules Against New York State Arbitrary "Proper Cause" Requirements 6-3

Decision will affect Multiple states' similar rules.

NWTF Announces Funding for New Wild Turkey Projects

Learn more by visiting the NWTF website

Wildlife Research Center Introduces the New Scent Killer Gold Bar Soap

This is a subtitle for your new post

Trade Shows are DEAD! (Or, are they?...)

You can not only gain new customers, but absolutely KILL your competitors by following this advice...

The Best Way to Make Money During A Recession

It's looking more and more like this advice might be needed.

No Matter What Your Current Marketing Is or What You're Currently Doing, You Can Do More and Do It Better

Remember- a good businessperson never, ever turns down money...

5 Things to Consider Before Working In the Firearms Industry

Use These 5 Tips for Evaluating What You Want and What is "Realistic..."

Content Marketing Works for Both Big and Small Business...

...and helps ALL of your marketing work BETTER!

How To Obtain A Career in the Outdoor/Firearm/Hunting/Fishing Industry

Or, the answer to the questions, "How do I take my skills in (sales, marketing, graphic design, etc) and merge them into my passion for (insert area of interest here-hunting, fishing, guns, etc.)

Get in the Ring.

Being “in the ring,“ is an experience that I recommend for everyone.

Do You READ the News or MAKE the News?

Your Competitors are Doing it- so WHY Aren't YOU?

The Outdoor Industry Is CHANGING AGAIN...

The Firearms and outdoor market and marketplace is DIFFERENT- AGAIN!

Ace Luciano is NOT a Black Rapper

...But sometimes one appears in search results.

Make the most of the season by following these simple guidelines

Keep in touch with site visitors and boost loyalty

Tips for writing great posts that increase your site traffic

This year's SHOT Show was another excellently produced and executed show by both show management and vendors, but there was still some room for improvement.