Defiance takes a new approach to SHOT

[Defiance Machine]

Defiance takes a new approach to SHOT

After 11 years, Defiance will not have a booth at SHOT 2022. We will still be in Las Vegas, however.

Our culture has always been about challenging the status quo. It’s why we continually look for ways to improve our products, processes, and customer service. We are always willing to take a fresh look at how we do things and what makes sense.

Despite the cancellation of SHOT 2021, we had our strongest year ever in production and sales.

SHOT takes a tremendous amount of time to prepare and execute: time away from production. Despite record manufacturing numbers, our surge of new orders has created longer-than-normal lead times. Eliminating the ramp-up to SHOT allows us to focus on filling orders.

However, the most valuable thing about SHOT has been that face-to-face time, meeting and catching up with great people. And Defiance representatives will be in Las Vegas to meet with you. Additionally, some of that SHOT budget is being reallocated to travel. We will be visiting customers and vendors in their shops and ranges, instead of on a busy convention floor.

We want to know how we can serve you better.

I hope this helps you understand our decision. We believe this is best for Defiance and probably most of our friends and partners in the industry. We are incredibly grateful for your continued support

Glen Harrison, CEO / Founder, and the entire Defiance Machine Team

 

[Supersubes]

Good for you!

 

[Rob01]

Was actually talking about this with some friends a month or so ago in that with the way the past year and a half has been SHOT Show might not need to be as big of a draw as it has been to get new stuff out or for product advertisement. Will save companies a lot of time and money. Hope you guys do well.

 

[alamo5000]

I have never been to SHOT Show but I can say that I don't really like it at all. The traditional attitudes about it to me typically have been akin to sitting at the cool kid's table at lunch. It doesn't come across as a very welcoming place or event at all.

I get it that industry people want to get together and collaborate but personally I think it's grown into a monster far from it's roots.

Hopefully more and more people (and companies) decide to take a different approach. it wouldn't hurt my feelings one bit if they ceased operation all together and got replaced with something better and much more focused.

 

[GenericBadGuy]

Thats okay, just dont let the massive influx of orders cut your quality. I can wait another 3 weeks to get my 46 week order as long as it ships with no problems.

 

[DownhillFromHere]

I understand that SHOT is where people start/place orders - $$$s change hands, in essence - it's not a public show.

But from everything I've heard from people who've attended over the last few years, it's gotten very expensive to do so - especially for smaller companies. And it got so huge that it was difficult for anyone to really see it all and have time to discuss potential deals with any degree of relaxation.

I'm all for National Shooting Sports Foundation being successful with SHOT - I remember the first show in 1979, when NSSF staff was four (4) guys supported by an office staff of half a dozen and there was no guarantee the show would have a good attendance. But when successful companies piggyback together to mitigate cost of attendance, something has gone off the tracks.

Hopefully Defiance Machine starts a trend, NSSF adapts to post-covid ways of doing business, and vendors and customers both benefit.

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

SHOT Show as a whole has outgrown itself.

The requirements of companies to get booth space 2-3 years before their product is finalized is just bad business; but as it stands companies are doing that just to be able to get a booth the year they are actually ready with releasable product(s).

The allowance of larger companies to have 2, 3, 4 and 5 different booth spaces makes no sense either when that space can be used for smaller (new) companies to exhibit their products instead.

The show really needs to be split (as in different schedule/venue/etc) into 3 or 4 different exhibitions.

Firearms, Optics and Ammunition
Soft Goods
Shooting and Hunting Accessories

Also with the move of companies going to as close to consumer direct as possible it makes the show a little pointless other than the annual meeting of friends and brothers.

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[jcmullis2]

Taking care of your customers first is a wise decision. I love my Defiance actions but the competition is close. I appreciate you looking out for us little guys and letting us know what’s going on throughout these shortages and things. Damn decent of you man

 

[Edds]

Will Defiance have any new product announcements this year?

 

[BuLLet]

You'll have to wait till shot show.

Will Defiance have any new product announcements this year?

 

[Earnhardt]

Is the wait time for an action at or about 40 weeks still?

 

[jcmullis2]

Is the wait time for an action at or about 40 weeks still?

That’s not bad for one their custom actions. However, that would be ridiculous for one of their production run actions.

 

[Earnhardt]

I was told 40 weeks for a Tenacity.

 

[tuckybill]

Good enough reason to skip it. Think outside the box. I just have two defiance actions but like them both.

Off topic. Why doesn't anyone make a 40x rimfire remington action? It can't be that hard to make, I mean remington made it for gosh sakes. A exact copy with the mid locking lugs. They don't look that expensive to make.

 

[Rob01]

Off topic. Why doesn't anyone make a 40x rimfire remington action? It can't be that hard to make, I mean remington made it for gosh sakes. A exact copy with the mid locking lugs. They don't look that expensive to make.

Have you looked at Vudoo Gun Works?

 

[Winny94]

Shot has devolved into an excuse for middle aged people to act like frat/sororities kids again.

 

[jcmullis2]

I was told 40 weeks for a Tenacity.

I had no idea it’s like that. I seen bugholes has a very limited selection and no nitride ones. I bet that’s why the origin has gained so much popularity. Yeah not a bad idea to skip Shot.

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

They did not say they were not attending SHOT Show; they are not exhibiting.

They said specifically that they were going to be there. They are just going to be there in a different fashion; a better one for them and the customers they book appointments, meetings, lunches and dinners with.

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[jcmullis2]

Hi,

They did not say they were not attending SHOT Show; they are not exhibiting.

They said specifically that they were going to be there. They are just going to be there in a different fashion; a better one for them and the customers they book appointments, meetings, lunches and dinners with.

Sincerely,
Theis

I need to slow down on my reading a little. I obviously read it wrong.
Nothing wrong with attending conventions, enjoying oneself, and hopefully all while writing it off on taxes. It’s important to network and see the direction that things are going. Getting to see what the competition is doing is important too. If you’re already 40 weeks behind then what difference is a few more days really gonna matter. Thanks for straightening me out on my reading.

 

[Jefe's Dope]

As a consumer, SHOT really hampered getting firearm associated goods during the lead up and while SHOT was happening. And also tended to force customers to wait until what came out at SHOT to make any substantial purchase. As a consumer I'd prefer to see those happen throughout the year and not just once a year where really good items get lost in the hype of some real piles of shit.

 

[dieselsmoke]

In a previous hobby, high-end audio, the big annual show in Vegas was the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). It became ENORMOUS. Many of high-end audio companies are small and ran into the same exact issue...the expense of having an "official" booth was retarded, and add on top all the union extortion bullshit to even get your stuff into/out of the building. They did the same thing....varying from just being there, to setting up displays "off campus" within walking distance, etc. I believe it helped them conserve cost, and their loyal customers showed up.

I think what they're doing makes total sense.

 

[Jefe's Dope]

A better method, IMO, and likely cheaper is to get a swanky suite and have a party or two. We attended one at the Hard Rock that had a bowling alley in the suite.

 

[jcmullis2]

Depending on the depth of one’s debauchery. A bottle of viagra and couple of working girls at a 6 is a possibility for me.

 

[Defiance Machine]

Will Defiance have any new product announcements this year?

We are always working to develop new products, and in the current market it is better to release a product once the product has been thoroughly tested and is ready to produce, rather than waiting until January. That said, our primary focus is now is taking care of existing orders to reduce the current lead time.

 

[Defiance Machine]

Is the wait time for an action at or about 40 weeks still?

Demand has been exceptional, and while we are working hard to push actions out the door while still maintaining the quality you expect, the lead time is currently about 37 weeks out. We do have dealers with existing standing orders however, and we are shipping to them routinely.

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

In my own experience, it seems the entire consumer firearms business shuts down just prior too, during and after shot show. If a lady or a fellow wants something firearms related (or a firearm for that matter) or needs some advice on a purchase, the people they need too talk to are gone, to the shot show.

Large conventions are not a bad thing, but when they get too large and too dominating, the consumer often gets lost in the process.