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| OCTOBER 2008 EDITION | ||||
 The NASGW Revolutionizes Wholesale Distribution Pipeline with ItemHQ On November 7, 2007 the NASGW launched ItemHQ, a comprehensive online Product Information Management System (PIMS) to expedite and streamline the transfer of product information between manufacturers and wholesalers. Over the past year, more than forty-five participating top industry manufacturers have been uploading item specs, photos and descriptions into the ItemHQ database. The system currently features thousands of items and continues to grow daily as new items and new manufacturers are added. Now, for the first time, wholesalers will have the opportunity to access this amazing cache of information and will have the opportunity to experience all the true benefits of the ItemHQ database. A folder has been sent out to all NASGW wholesaler members containing a current HELP GUIDE, which provides a step-by-step outline of how data is loaded into the system by manufacturers. This updated guide also features a detailed explanation and instructions on how wholesalers can now EXPORT product information as digital data and upload it to their own systems. There will be an ItemHQ booth at the upcoming NASGW Expo in Atlanta, staffed with ItemHQ support coordinators who will be on hand to answer any questions, assign logins and passwords and demonstrate the exporting features of the system. Support is always available by emailing support@ItemHQ.com or by visiting www.itemhq.com.
Returning for their 35th consecutive year as exhibitors at next months expo are Allen Company, Inc., ATK/Federal Cartridge, Birchwood Casey, Bushnell Outdoor Products Group, Hornady Manufacturing, KBI, Inc., Lyman Products Corporation/Pachmayr Gun Works, MTM Case-Gard, O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Savage Arms and Olin/Winchester Ammunition. In appreciation for their ongoing support, the NASGW will be issuing recognition awards to each organization at a special dinner. In addition NASGW will recognize those companies that exhibited at the first Hunting Show in 1974.
Coloseum Software provides software applications that allow users to inventory, track and manage firearms in a safe and secure environment. Designed especially for firearms marketers, Coloseum’s products are catered to comply with the latest BATF rules and regulations, without any variances. “Coloseum Software is fully committed to investing in the shooting sports industry,” says Paul Stevens, Public Relations Director for Coloseum Software. “We’re serious about improving record-keeping procedures for FFL dealers to ensure their ability to remain in business.” Red’s Trading Post Inc., Idaho’s oldest running gun shop, has been using Coloseum’s specially designed compliance software for more than four months. Red’s Trading Post has been servicing the Twin Falls, Idaho area for over seventy-two years. “Coloseum is truly an excellent company with dedicated software specifically designed for FFL dealers,” says Ryan Horsley, Marketing Director for Red’s Trading Post. “As dealers, we have our lives invested in these businesses, and the BATF does not allow for any margin of error. Coloseum’s software allows us to maintain the level of accuracy and compliance that is required, and thus remain in business for the long run.” For more information on Coloseum’s FFL dealer compliance software, including minimum requirements, pricing and technical support, visit www.coloseumsoftware.com.
Michael F. Golden, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "As we have discussed over the past several months, economic conditions and their impact on consumer discretionary spending have negatively impacted the hunting-related long gun portion of our business. As is the case in any manufacturing organization, reduced volumes create added pressure on our infrastructure, which has been built to service higher levels of operation. Until the market for these products strengthens, we remain focused on making sure that our factories operate efficiently. We have made the difficult decision to eliminate 80 production jobs in our New Hampshire manufacturing operations, a facility dedicated to the production of hunting rifles. At the same time, we have also acted to ensure that the sales and marketing functions throughout our company become increasingly streamlined, maximizing our responsiveness to the market conditions in which we operate. We are executing these changes in a manner that assures that we can continue to be responsive to the needs of our customers." As part of the revised management structure, Leland A. Nichols has been appointed to the newly created role of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Nichols, (46), joined Smith & Wesson in January 2005 and has served in a number of executive roles, including Vice President of Sales, and most recently President and Chief Operating Officer, for the firearms business. This change will allow Nichols to focus exclusively on the company's sales and marketing activities. He will continue to report directly to CEO, Michael Golden. Also now reporting to Golden will be Kenneth Chandler, Vice President of Manufacturing Operations. Thomas R. Kelly has been named Vice President of Marketing. Kelly recently joined Smith & Wesson as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Thomson/Center Arms. In his new role, Kelly's responsibilities will expand to include all of the Company's brands. He has amassed 19 years of experience in general management, sales, marketing and business development. Prior to Smith & Wesson, he served as Vice President, Channel Marketing for Newell Rubbermaid - LENOX Division. Kelly also served as Director of Marketing, Industrial Channel at Newell Rubbermaid. He received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing from the American International College in Springfield, MA and a master's degree in Business Administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Hartford, CT. Kelly will report directly to Leland Nichols. In conjunction with these changes, Thomas Taylor, former Vice President of Marketing, has left the company to pursue other interests. Golden concluded, "The management changes we are announcing today will sharpen our focus on the market and further streamline our decision-making processes. This new structure best utilizes the skills of those executives most suited to our sales and marketing functions, and provides us with the best opportunity to maximize our market potential. In conclusion, we remain committed to, and we are excited about, the future of our business. We are confident that these changes in structure and personnel will help us to further enhance the organizational strength that has allowed us to deliver substantial growth over the past several years." Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation’s financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2008 were mixed. Net product sales were $78.0 million, a $3.6 million, or 4.9%, increase over net product sales for the three months ended July 31, 2007. Firearms sales totaled $73.1 million, an increase of $3 million, or 4.2%, over the first quarter of last year. However, gross margins decreased to 32.3% from 36.4% for the comparable period last year. Net income was $2.3 million, or $0.05 per fully diluted share, compared with $4.7 million, or $0.11 per fully diluted share, for the comparable period last year. With regard to hunting products, specifically rifles and shotguns, ongoing economic weakness in consumer discretionary spending, combined with the channel inventory correction that began in mid-fiscal 2008, continued to affect revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Hunting product sales of $14.6 million represented a decline of $3.3 million, or 18.4%. Although all hunting product sales declined in the quarter, sales of black powder rifles were especially impacted, only partially offset by shipments of bolt-action rifles, which commenced late in fiscal 2008. Pistol sales grew 18.4%, driven by continued consumer market and law enforcement adoption of the M&P polymer pistol line. Sales of M&P pistols grew 27% in the first quarter. Walther products grew at a 19.9% rate based largely on the performance of the PPS sub-compact handgun, which was launched in mid-fiscal 2008. M&P tactical rifle sales grew by 11.0% in the first quarter as demand for this product remained strong in both the consumer and law enforcement channels. Revolver sales grew by 3.4% over the comparable quarter last year. Sales of non-firearms accessories, including handcuffs, totaled $4.9 million, a 15.1% increase over non-firearms accessories sales of $4.3 million in the first quarter last year.
“Millett enjoys a strong brand equity and customer loyalty for their rings, bases and recently expanded line of optics, particularly on the tactical and law enforcement side of the business, which will compliment and strengthen our existing lines,” Bushnell CEO Joe Messner said in a recent release. David Basto, a principal at MidOcean Partners, said in the release that the two companies share a reputation for quality and value and that the acquisition of Millett fits with the goal of expanding Bushnell through strategic acquisitions. MidOcean, with offices in New York and London, bought Bushnell in July 2007.
As a result of his pledge, Cav. Ugo Gussalli Beretta was inducted into the NRA’s Golden Ring of Freedom, the highest level of the Association’s comprehensive donor recognition society. This new pledge brings the Beretta Group’s gift commitments to the NRA to over $2 million. Previous gifts have benefited the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, NRA Youth Programs, Hunting and Wildlife Conservation, and the National Firearms Museum.
“The Beretta Group’s support could not come at a more critical time,” said Chris Cox, Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. “Cav. Beretta understands the immediate challenges to our shared values and has literally reached around the globe to strengthen our position in this fight.” ATK Component Thieves Plead Guilty Charles Dale Osborn, 46, and Timothy Duane Langevin, 36, admitted they participated in the conspiracy to steal specially fabricated copper component cups used to manufacture copper-jacketed 7.62mm bullets from the Lake City plant where they worked. They delivered the bullet cups, in a total quantity of approximately 16,528 pounds, to the Fusselman Salvage Co. in Moberly, MO. Osborn and Langevin were employed as machine repairmen by ATK. The U.S. Attorney handling the case said the amount of copper involved in the theft would otherwise have produced about 1-1/2 million rounds of ammunition, and amounts to more than two weeks' production of 7.62mm ammo. Osborn and Langevin shared about $45,362 in ill-gotten proceeds from salvaging the copper material, which was valued at $78,838. The two initially used five gallon buckets to transport the bullet cups from the plant to the salvage company. Later, they used a company forklift to move entire skids of bullet cups to a pickup truck for transport. Still later, the amounts of material they took became so large that the conspirators rented a U-Haul trailer to transport it. Under a plea agreement, the defendants are expected to be sentenced to at least two years in federal prison without parole. Dealer Sentenced in Recordkeeping Case Riffle was charged last April with one count of failure to maintain and make a proper entry on a firearms record by a federal firearms licensee and he pleaded guilty to that charge last May. The case evolved from the execution of a search warrant at Riffle's business, known as "Rif's Guns," in Greenville, OH in November when it was discovered Riffle had more than 1,200 firearms which were improperly documented, such as failures to make complete entries in his records regarding the person/business who provided firearms in his inventory and failure to record the complete mailing address and other identifying information to enable ATF to trace the firearms.
 ItemHQ Launches Online HELP GUIDE in Digital Flip Page Format The NASGW recently announced that ItemHQ now has its HELP GUIDE posted online in a Digital Flip Page format. With the ItemHQ database system now open for NASGW Wholesaler members to access, it is essential for manufacturers to take advantage of the valuable resources that the NASGW offers in its ItemHQ database system. The online HELP GUIDE may be accessed by clicking on the help guide image above.
In support of the NSSF, the NASGW has purchased a quantity of reference guides for its wholesaler members. The guides will be available for pick-up at the NASGW Expo registration booth, or will be mailed to each member not picking up their copy. ATF Post Rewards in Gun Shop Burglaries ATF is offering another $5,000 reward for information on those responsible for the theft of over 50 firearms Bullock's Guns N More Inc. of G-5302 Richfield Road in Flint, Michigan. The late night breaking and entering was perpetrated by at least four individuals as seen on the store's video surveillance system.  NASGW Endorses 3point5.com 3point5.com is an online campus that provides a rapidly expanding community of more than 95,000 registered retail sales professionals, manufacturers, retailers, distributors and other industry participants a fun, secure place to train, access information, interact and earn product discounts. 3point5.com has developed training and incentive programs for more than 250 leading brands in sporting goods and related consumer product industries. The online retail trainer currently works with NASGW members Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Thompson Center, Walther, Leupold & Stevens, Kershaw, Weatherby, FNH USA and Streamlight. Representatives of 3point5.com will be attending the upcoming NASGW Expo and will be meeting with many of the NASGW Manufacturer members on-site. Their representatives can help develop, implement and execute effective, proven training and employee purchase programs. For a free demo or more information, contact Andy Bown at 801-456-6924 or abown@3point5.com. ATK’s Second Qtr. Sales Rose by a Third Voss Joins FNH USA “Ben has worked with us as a firearms consultant for six years. We know what he has to offer FNH USA. His experience serving in the Marine Corps will be a huge asset to us from both a training and product development standpoint. As we design and develop new guns, there's nothing like practical field experience, such as Ben's, to help us pinpoint the key features that the serious operator must have,” noted Rick DeMilt, Senior Vice President for Law Enforcement and Commercial Division at FNH USA. AcuSport Distributing USFA Revolvers *** To subscribe to NASGW In-Sight click here.
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Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President remarked, “The Beretta Group is legendary in the industry and an important member of the NRA family. We are truly grateful for Cav. Beretta’s vision and leadership. The Beretta Group and the NRA are natural partners when it comes to protecting our Second Amendment freedoms and this gift will have great impact in the months and years ahead.” 
