Acres of gift shopping at Wrangler National Finals RodeoAcres of gift shopping at Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Wow!  Nearly 18 acres of shopping for any and every conceivable item in the western lifestyle world — that’s what’s available for we rodeo fans who are attending the 50th National Finals Rodeo Dec. 4-13, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nev.! 
I’m having a blast joining the over 170,000 fans during this 10-day event as we “shop til we drop.” 
We’re elbow-to-elbow as we indulge ourselves at the three different gift show venues which are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Thursday, Dec. 4 through Saturday, Dec. 13 in Las Vegas.
The Cowboy Christmas Gift Show claims to be longest running and ONLY “Original” gift show of the NFR and is currently held in the 300,000 sq.ft. North Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, just a block east of the famous “Strip” will host 400 exhibitors showcasing their wares. 
When demand for booth space outpaced availability 15 years ago, Ariat Boot Company sponsored the opening of the Country Christmas Gift Show at the Sands Expo Center where about the same square feet is available for the same number of exhibitors.  Billed as “where the REAL cowboys and cowgirls shop,” this show also features the popular World Championship Dummy Roping for kids 5 and under to 11-years old who compete for prizes while the world champion cowboys who judge it include the top stars from the NFR. Prizes include tack, roping supply products and trophy saddles to the champions.
The most recent addition to the gift-show circuit was Ariat’s Cowboy Marketplace Western Lifestyle Expo held in the convention area of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino which will feature a little smaller area and number of exhibitors.  Although Mandalay Bay is located a little further south on the Strip, we have found it is well worth our time to check out the displays there. 
Western lifestyle enthusiasts and shoppers like us are finding anything from “soup to nuts” (probably Chile Queso and cinnamon roasted pecans) and everything in between.  Whether outfitting ourselves with the most fashionable apparel for the rodeo that night, buying ornaments for the tree, memorabilia to take home, gifts for family and friends, furniture for the home, we’re finding it all.  We’ll probably even find a top-of-the line horse trailer that costs more than our house back home!   We’ll ogle and awe over customized jewelry, western wear, boots and spurs, furniture, original art, handmade crafts and pottery, as well as finding the best source for the Official Wrangler NFR, PRCA, and RodeoVegas merchandise. There is free shuttle service from each site directly to the Thomas and Mack Center for each night’s rodeo performance — a special bonus!
With K.C. as a contestant to the National Finals Rodeo, you better believe that the 40 previous days we’ve spent in Vegas, hubby and I have visited every booth, nook and cranny of these fabulous gift shows.  This year we’re experiencing a totally different aspect of the gift show circuit — being a part of a vendor booth.  K.C. and wife Gayle will be manning a booth for RodeoVegas apparel for the gift-buying public.  As owners of the RodeoVegas business where K.C. and Gayle serve The Mirage Hotel as event planners for the nightly after-rodeo party, they’ve decided to expand into the apparel line with partner Chad Fairchild of Carroll Leather Products and will offer many items. 
Although you won’t see hubby and me selling merchandise at the booth, we did have a pretty large part getting it there.  Charlie built the 10 x 20 x 11.5’ (height) booth of 2 x 4s and cedar planks in his woodshop at the farm while my only task was to “hold” things while he nailed, stapled, sanded and glued, plus I painted the counter tops.  We disassembled the thing and hauled it here in the back of the horse trailer, re-assembling it while holding our breath that all would work!  It was quite a challenge, but we’re both the kind who seldom back down from a challenge, and all were pleased with the results!  Details like carpeting, electrical, cash registers and credit card machines along with the cartons of merchandise were left up to the owners, but interesting to observe as it all came into play — a whole new world to us.
We’ve joined friends who have manned booths at the WNFR for years like Brook Holstein, owner of Texas Trioin Amarillo, Texas whose logo of “Bringing Western Elegance to the high Plains” is exemplified by the furniture, décor, art work, jewelry and cowgirl couture she offers.  Brook says  the income from the booth doesn’t generate a large percentage of her yearly sales but certainly serves as a great marketing tool.  Brook begins buying inventory for the booth as early as June.  LuAnn’s Leathers from Vancouver, Wash., is a family owned and operated business begun as a hobby in 1994 that has morphed into a full-time four-employee business.  She creates tack and other leather goods that rodeo contestants favor such as crystal horse tack, handmade purses, belts, etc.  LuAnn whom we personally know from sharing a booth with K.C.’s Profantasy Rodeo business, says that three years ago 50 percent of her business was generated at the WNFR but only about one-third from last year’s income since she acquires most of her customers via word of mouth. LuAnn and crew work year around to hand-craft enough inventory for the WNFR booth. 
A vendor from the Arkansas Valley we like to frequent is Retro Rancho owned and operated by top WPRA barrel racer Shali Lord of Lamar and her mother Lesli Nichols. Their booth includes custom-made jewelry and tack including spur straps, halters, bronc halters to please every type of contestant are available along with an array of purses, belts, etc.  According to Shali, the revenue generated from the WNFR accounts for a significant amount of income to supplement what she earns from private parties and other marketing avenues in Eastern Colorado. 
So if you visit the Sands Expo, look for the large neon RodeoVegas sign atop our rustic looking bar-room look-alike booth and check out the caps, t-shirts, sweatshirts and the limited edition RodeoVegas leather jackets.  You can also check on your Profantasy Rodeo team on the computer available at the booth to see where your teams stands and how much you’re winning.
To here’s to you and yours and your shopping expeditions on the Rodeo Road.  E-mail me at Ruby@jonesmail.net.