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Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category

The Safariland Group Launches Interactive Customer-Centric E-Commerce Website

Tuesday, August 4th, 2020

Dynamic design, expansive holster finder tool and first-ever online Holster Education Center adds to customized user experience 
 

ONTARIO, California – The Safariland Group (“Safariland”), a leading global provider of safety products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets, today launched a dynamically redesigned customer-centric ecommerce website at www.safariland.com. The clean, modern and easy-to-navigate website provides a robust interactive experience that allows customers to match products with their profession and personal needs. The website features one of the most advanced holster finders available online, and an all-new Holster Education Center, equipping the viewer with all the information needed to select a holster.

“We created this new website with one goal in mind – to design a revolutionary digital experience that puts the customer first throughout the entire process,” said Shane Ruiz, director digital media for the Safariland Group.  “From our intuitive navigation to the all-new and interactive holster finder and in depth education center to so much more, this new site is truly a game changer in eCommerce.”

An exciting new resource – the Holster Education Center – is  a highly interactive series of relevant easy-to-understand educational resources where the visitor will be guided through various considerations for selecting a holster. Written in a conversational tone, topics range from information about holster retention and ride, to different ways to carry a concealed firearm, to different competition shooting disciplines and much more. Said Ruiz, “it’s like having a conversation with one of our subject matter experts rather than reading a website.”

Safariland’s Holster Finder takes the consumer through a series of visually enhanced questions to quickly get to a variety of holster options. Visitors always know where they are in the process and can easily change course in the middle of the activity.  For a more customized search, the user may select a holster one of three ways – by profession, carry method, or firearm type.

The Company’s time-honored SAVES CLUB® is presented in a “Lives Saved” section that includes incident stories of the more than 2080 individuals who have been saved by Safariland armor or other protective gear made by the Company.

Tim Drnec, vice president, marketing and eCommerce, The Safariland Group added,  “With this site we’re looking to revolutionize how the customer interacts with us as a manufacturer. This is not simply a static site; it’s a continuing conversation with our customer.  Interactive tools like our Holster Education Center is only the beginning. This website will feature an everchanging landscape as we continually update it with new customization and configuration opportunities.  We’re working on a couple of these updates even now.”

Safariland’s website provides product information on the company-wide array of leading brands and features an enhanced dealer locator to purchase products not available for sale on the site. Individuals shopping for forensic equipment will be pleased to know that in addition to locating products on Safariland.com, the Forensics Source™ distribution arm now has its own ecommerce site once again. Offering a wide selection of crime scene, identification and laboratory equipment, along with product from its four proprietary brands – EVI-PAQ®, Identicator®, Lightning Powder and NIK Public Safety – the user will be directed to a seamlessly linked website with a streamlined, simply categorized product layout that makes it easy to find, learn about, and shop forensic equipment.

Safariland’s new website is now live and can be accessed at Safariland.com. The site will be updated regularly with news of product launches and new features. Visitors are encouraged to explore the website and to stay informed by subscribing to Safariland’s e-newsletter.

SOLGW – Sage Dynamics 12.5 Workhorse

Monday, August 3rd, 2020

The Sage Dynamics 12.5 Workhorse. A properly tuned, over built, beautiful blaster…built by Sons of Liberty Gun Works.

The “A-Team” Is Back

Monday, August 3rd, 2020

Ann Arbor, Michigan – August 3, 2020 Effective today, EOTECH, manufacturer of the original Holographic Weapon Sight, officially separated from L3Harris, and will once again be an agile, independent business that is focused on high tech products and superior service. As part of this strategic new business model Elite Defense®, the powerhouse international distribution company, and HEL TechnologiesTM, developer of cutting-edge optical science, will also fall under the EOTECH umbrella.

To deliver on the promise of this new beginning, EOTECH has reassembled the critical team members that initially built the brand and were critical to EOTECH’s remarkable growth and success. “It was imperative to establish an “A-Team” to grow and restore the EOTECH brand and we were able to fill this team with highly successful industry veterans whose track records speak for themselves”. Said Matt Van Haaren, Chief Executive Officer. “I love it when a plan comes together.”

Some of the new A-Team members include:

Matt “Hannibal” Van Haaren – Chief Executive Officer

Currently Matt is responsible for executive management of Elite Defense, HEL Technologies and I2G Systems and has spent over 20 years in the national security sector. Those black leather gloves get in the way when he’s lighting his cigar, but Matt leaves them on to keep up appearances.

Dean “BA Baracus” Loebig – Chief Technical Officer

Dean joins the team with more than 20 years of experience developing and managing technology, project execution, marketing and product distribution for various cutting-edge brands including L-3 EOTECH and most recently Elite Defense and HEL Technologies. Dean pities the fool who tries to out-tech him.

Dennis “Howling Mad Murdock” Finnegan – President, International Business

Dennis is a US Army veteran and is a founding member of HEL Technologies and President of Elite Defense. Previously, Dennis managed international sales for L-3 EOTECH and brings 15 years experience in holographic technology markets. Dennis is “on permanent vacation” from the veterans hospital so that he can bring EOTech back to the international market.

Ed “Face” Schoppman – President, North American Business

Ed is a US Army veteran and has 20 years in the outdoor industry. Ed’s previous background as VP of Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service at L-3 EOTECH will prove invaluable in taking EOTECH to the next level. Mirrors have been installed throughout the facility so that Ed can check his hair on an ongoing basis.

John “General” Bailey – VP of Marketing

With over 15 of John’s 17 years in the outdoor industry spent at L-3 EOTECH with roles in sales, marketing and product development, John’s background and experience will be a major asset as he leads the marketing and product teams. John loves the smell of holography in the morning.

Lisa “Triple A” Kemp – Director of Branding and Marketing

Lisa brings 20 years of outdoor industry experience working at Freedom Group managing brands such as Remington, Marlin, Bushmaster and DPMS and more recently L-3 EOTECH as Marketing Communication- Brand Manager. Lisa denies that she blackmailed the team into letting her tag along, emphasizing that she’s forgotten more about marketing then the rest of the team knows put together.

Frank “Ashley” Moss – Business Development Manager – Asia and Americas

Frank is a Marine Corps Veteran, and has over 20 years of industry experience, including a highly successful track record in Government, Law Enforcement and Commercial sales within the US and overseas. He demonstrates an extensive knowledge in weapons systems and associated weapon accessories, when he is not narrating old, over-the- top TV shows.

Andy “Dishpan” Gann – Business Development Manager – Europe, Middle East, Africa

Andy has over 20 years of very successful industry experience, including executing sales growth plans through one of EOTECH’s largest European dealers. He has been with Elite Defense since 2016 and brings significant product and market expertise. Andy has a “side hustle” as a special effects expert, which is handy in getting the team out of trouble when they travel together.

Jon “Decker” Meyer – Business Development Manager – Government

Jon is a Marine Corps veteran, and has over 11 years working in the industry, with extensive experience developing products for US & Allied Governments. He has delivered numerous products currently in service with US Special Operations Forces. He refuses to update his uniform to something from this century.

Stay tuned as the new EOTECH disrupts the optics industry! We have big plans and will be delivering cool new products and great customer solutions in the near future.

www.EOTECHinc.com

Mission Ready Announces Appointment of James Marks as Interim CEO, Resignation of Jeffery Schwartz as President and CEO

Thursday, July 30th, 2020

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA – JULY 28, 2020 – Mission Ready Solutions Inc. (“Mission Ready” or the “Company”) (TSXV: MRS) announces that, effective August 7, 2020, James A. Marks will assume the role of interim Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company. To facilitate this change, Jeffery L. Schwartz has tendered his resignation as the Company’s President and CEO, effective August 7, 2020, but will remain a member of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”).

Mr. Schwartz has served as the Company’s President and CEO since March 2017, during which time he has led the Company to new heights and presided over impressive revenue growth, with 2019 revenues reaching CAD $21.19 million, a 588% increase over the previous year.

“We are forever grateful for Jeff’s devoted and faithful service to the Company and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” states James Marks, a Director of Mission Ready. “It’s now time to transition to a new leader with deep leadership and organizational skills to continue to build and to stabilize the platform.”

Jeffery Schwartz, President and CEO of Mission Ready, states “Its has been a pleasure and truly an honor to help build Mission Ready to the point its at today. It is with mixed emotions that I step aside as President and CEO. I will certainly miss the great folks I’ve had the pleasure of working so closely with during the past 3 years but I am also very much looking forward to spending more time with my immediate and extended family. As for the Company’s future, I have full confidence in my fellow directors to identify an excellent candidate to lead the Company forward at this exciting and opportune time.”

Since joining the Company’s Board in June 2018, Major General (Retired) James A. Marks has contributed immeasurable value to Mission Ready, lending extraordinary insights and expertise gained throughout 30 years of service with the United States Army. General Marks served in the United States Army holding every command position from infantry platoon leader to commanding general and was the senior intelligence officer during the LA Riots, in the Balkans, Korea, Iraq. He is an Honor Graduate of the US Army’s Ranger School and a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame. General Marks has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY and a Master of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia.

Additionally, the Company announces that it has granted incentive stock options (the “Options”), pursuant to its stock option plan (the “Plan”), for a total of 400,000 common shares of the Company, to a director and officer of the Company. The Options, subject to the terms of the Plan and the corresponding option agreement, are exercisable at a price of CAD $0.15 per share for a period of up to five years.

SOLGW – Origins

Thursday, July 30th, 2020

How we started… and how the hell did we get here?

www.SOLGW.com

McHenry Introduces Bipartisan American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act – Widens Berry Amendment Across Departments

Thursday, July 30th, 2020

Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10), joined Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) to introduce the American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act. This bipartisan legislation will help end the United States’ reliance on Chinese-made personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure that hospitals and frontline healthcare workers have access to a plentiful supply of high-quality American made PPE.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made it painfully clear that the United States has failed its hospitals and frontline healthcare workers because of our over-reliance on Chinese-made PPE,” said Congressman McHenry. “By returning production of PPE to the United States, we will address the concerns raised by the current crisis while also incentivizing future investments in high quality PPE made by American companies, ensuring the long-term protection of our hospitals and frontline healthcare workers. I am glad to partner with Representative Pascrell to introduce a bipartisan bill that does just that.”

“The ongoing pandemic has exposed America’s over-reliance on personal protective equipment made in other countries. In a cruel twist of irony we are especially dependent on medical supplies made in China, where COVID-19 originated and whose totalitarian secrecy deepened the world crisis,” said Congressman Pascrell. “Our reliance on non-American-made PPE has crippled our response to COVID from the start. Even as we continue to fight the virus, we must use this painful lesson to change our behavior now. Our bipartisan American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act will ensure we are investing in the best tools in the world at our disposal by making our own PPE right here in America. Encouraging production of medical supplies within our borders will ultimately help our economy, create jobs, ensure higher-grade equipment, and most important save American lives. This cannot wait until the next pandemic.”

“The U.S. textile industry would like to sincerely thank Congressman McHenry and Congressman Pascrell for introducing the American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act, a bill we believe will create strong domestic procurement rules to incentivize investment and the onshoring of critical medical textiles,” said National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas. “Re-creating the successful domestic purchasing rules found in the Berry Amendment for all federal PPE purchases will not only help our country reduce its overreliance on China for PPE but also provide longer term support for our domestic supply chain that has supplied hundreds of millions of urgently needed items including face masks, isolation gowns and other needed PPE to frontline health care workers.”

“The American manufacturers who comprise the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC) applaud the leadership of Congressman McHenry and Congressman Pascrell, demonstrated by their introduction of the American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act,” said David Costello, Executive Director of the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC). “This thoughtful legislation recognizes that a 100% American PPE supply chain is a matter of our national security and that ending reliance on unreliable, foreign made products is essential to ensure the health and safety of our nation. Our members are already investing their time and energy bolstering their domestic PPE capability and we look forward to working with Mr. McHenry and Mr. Pascrell to see this bill become law. “ 

Background: The American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act implements the Berry Amendment standard of “100 percent of a product that is grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States” for the purchas of personal protective equipment (PPE) by Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It also resets the contract level for the Berry Amendment from $250,000 to $150,000 to ensure more PPE is made in America.

NDIA Joins Associations in Call for Funding, Extension of Section 3610 in CARES Act

Wednesday, July 29th, 2020

ARLINGTON, VA – The National Defense Industrial Association, along with seven industry associations representing thousands of government contractors, sent a letter July 24 to congressional leadership that urges funding and an extension to Section 3610 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

Section 3610 authorized reimbursement of extraordinary and unanticipated government contractor costs arising from COVID-19. The authority for this provision is set to expire on Sept. 30, and funding has yet to be provided. As contractors continue to face the “ready state” workforce sustainment challenges that justified the enactment of 3610, the signing associations maintain that an extension and appropriation is necessary to support the continuity of government operations in the new fiscal year.

As companies across the defense industrial base continue adjusting to the changes brought on by the global pandemic, extending and funding 3610 is needed to support readiness and modernization across the Defense Department. The complete letter is available here.

Chris Carlberg Joins Everest.com as Vice President of Business Development

Friday, July 24th, 2020

Company Hires Walther Arms Vice President of Sales to Lead Business Development for Emerging Digital Marketplace

The Woodlands, Texas – July 27, 2020 – Everest.com, the shooting sports and outdoor gear industry’s first customer-centric, community-driven, multi-merchant marketplace today announced the hiring of Chris Carlberg as Vice President of Business Development.

As Vice President of Sales at Walther Arms, Chris dramatically increased stocking dealer and helped create the industry-first “Try Before You Buy” 30-day money back guarantee, which produced significant category growth. Prior to Walther, he was the Chief Operating Officer at Guns.com, and held the post of Director of Business Development at Bill Hicks & Co. LTD.

Bill Voss, CEO and founder of Everest.com, states, “Chris’ experience and relationships across the firearms and outdoor sporting goods industries are top-notch and we believe he will be an incredible resource in our efforts to broaden the Everest marketplace and best serve our customers.”

With Carlberg’s expertise in pioneering new revenue sources and his adaptability in changing markets, Chris will lead the business development efforts for the new e-commerce marketplace including engaging brands, manufacturers and retail partners, forming new synergistic relationships across all Everest programs and managing the company’s internal sales team.

“The culture here at Everest is face-paced, modern, and definitely FUN,” says Carlberg. “I feel truly blessed to lead the team towards building our community of like-minded retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and consumers across our great country. I am ecstatic for what Everest has in store for our industry.”

For more information on Everest, visit the website at www.everest.com.