The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the non-profit industry organization that owns the SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) Show, is marking its 50th anniversary this year and the 2011 SHOT Show promises to spearhead the organization’s celebration with a strong show in a renovated Sands convention center.

Last year, the Sands was widely criticized for its labyrinthine floor layout that required a GPS to get around… except neither a GPS nor a cell phone worked in the converted parking garage basement in which parts of the show were shoehorned.

According to Steve Sanetti, executive director of NSSF as quoted in Shooting Industry magazine, a number of upgrades have been made to the Sands including more restrooms, additional escalators between levels and more places to sit down and eat. There’s a new roof too, so if it rains like it did last year, at least the place won’t leak!

An estimated 1,400 exhibitors will be displaying everything from firearms to deer stands, while electronic show maps with "You Are Here" markers help befuddled attendees find their way.

NSSF will host its annual “State Of The Industry” dinner on Jan. 18, the first night of the four-day event. There’s also a series of educational seminars planned for retailers called SHOT Show University with informative programs on everything from how to comply with ATF regulations to figuring out cash flow and P&L statements, how to set up a gunsmithing operation, maximizing profits on used guns and other useful topics for retailers.