Mayflower Research & Consulting, LLC is seeking your “Mayflower Gear In-Action” photos for their Facebook page. All new photo posters will receive a free Mayflower t-shirt.
The rules are:
1. one per individual, NOT one per photo.
2. Must be an action photo, not a picture of the kit fresh out of the box.
3. Be creative!
Here is a great example:
www.facebook.com/pages/Mayflower-Research-Consulting-LLC
Protective Products Enterprises, Inc. (PPE) has completed the purchase of Paraclete from Mine Safety Appliances (MSA). MSA purchased the company from Tim D’Anunzio in 2006. D’Anunzio himself has recently come back to the industry, launching XPX Armor & Equipment last month.
“This sale of our ballistic vest business is something we have seriously considered for some time,” said Joseph A. Bigler, President of MSA North America in a press release. “The decision to move in this direction came down to two factors: alignment with MSA’s long-term business strategy to focus on those products that provide us with the greatest growth opportunities; and pursuing a course of action that we believe provides Paraclete Armor with the best opportunity for future success.”
It is important to note that the sale does not include MSA’s lucrative helmet business purchased from CGF Gallet in 2001.
Recently Aramark sold Galls to CI Capital Partners, a North American private investment firm. Galls is a major player in outfitting LE and First Responders featuring an online presence, a great catalog and six retail outlets.
In a press release, Joseph Neubauer, Chairman and CEO of ARAMARK had this to say about the deal, “Galls has earned its excellent reputation of providing public safety and emergency medical personnel with quality equipment and apparel and outstanding service. It has succeeded by continually anticipating the needs of customers and clients and by being dedicated to their success. This opportunity with CI Capital Partners enables Galls to pursue accelerated expansion and better positioning on which to grow and build its brand.â€
Additionally, Galls President Larry Dismukes commented, “We are very thrilled to complete a transaction that will provide Galls with the ability to continue its internal growth as well as pursue attractive acquisition opportunities. CI Capital has a long track record of growing distribution businesses and we are excited to build significant value at Galls.”
Galls has been outfitting LE and First Responders for 40 years. Congratulations to CI Capital Partners. You’ve picked a great company.
Blue Force Gear has announced that they are joining The Spirit of Blue Foundation as a Safety Grant Sponsor. The Spirit of Blue Foundation raises money to help upgrade the equipment of our nation’s LE community.
“The Spirit of Blue Foundation captured our attention from the moment that we heard about their mission to support the Law Enforcement professionals who protect our communities. We have been looking for ways to help raise awareness about training and equipment needs of the Law Enforcement community and Spirit of Blue seems to be the perfect avenue to accomplish that goal,” said Ashley Burnsed, President of Blue Force Gear, Inc. “As Blue Force Gear has seen great success with its product among the ranks of the military, it is a natural extension for that same gear to find its way to the street with law enforcement.”
“SWAT, Tactical and Emergency Response teams are in ever increasing demand nationwide,” stated Ryan T. Smith, Vice Chairman of the Spirit of Blue Foundation. “For these teams to operate at their peak and stay safe in the process they need the right gear. More and more, patrol officers and deputies also need access to this same equipment as the risks they face grow. We are excited about the unique solutions that Blue Force Gear has created and that agencies will be able to use their Safety Grant funds to purchase this equipment.”
Five non-profit organizations actively supporting the law enforcement community have already teamed up with the Spirit of Blue Foundation for the 2011 holiday campaign that launched in October. Those organizations – The National Troopers Coalition, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Sheriff’s Association, Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and the Jeffrey S. Parola Foundation – represent roughly 125,000 officers, deputies and agents nationwide.
As partners they are promoting the sale of the Spirit of Blue’s blue ribbon holiday wreath honoring and benefiting the law enforcement community. Consumers who purchase the product during the Campaign will be allowed to select which non-profit they would like to see benefited from the sale and the Foundation will donate a portion of the proceeds accordingly. At the same time, consumers will be asked to nominate a law enforcement agency that they would like to be considered to receive a Safety Grant award. At the end of the Campaign, the Spirit of Blue Safety Grant Program randomly selects nominated law enforcement agencies to receive a safety grant award. The safety grants will be redeemable exclusively through the consortium of Safety Grant Partners made up of law enforcement equipment brands such as Blue Force Gear.
Preliminary statistics through October 2011 released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, in conjunction with Concerns of Police Survivors, revealed the number of U.S. law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty rose 21% percent over the same period in 2010. Firearm-related deaths reached 53, an increase of 29% from the same period in 2010. The reality of these statistics and the increasing number of underfunded law enforcement agencies across the country fueled the safety grant initiative.
The Spirit of Blue Foundation, along with Blue Force Gear, is asking consumers to ‘get in the Spirit of Blue’ this holiday season by purchasing the Spirit of Blue Wreath and giving back to the law enforcement community. The wreaths are available for purchase through December 19th and winners of safety grants will be announced in early February 2012. To learn more about the Spirit of Blue campaign, or to order a Spirit of Blue Wreath, visit www.spiritofblue.com.
This video gives you an inside look at the manufacture of SmartWool socks at their factory in the US. It’s a cool video that shows you the machinery at work and gives you a good idea of how the socks are made.
However, please remember, not all SmartWool products are manufactured here and although there are Merino sheep here in the US, Merino Wool is a product of New Zealand.
In an Op-Ed published in last Friday’s Wall Street Journal Rep Buck McKeon discusses looming cuts to the US Defense budget. You may recall the worst case scenario document prepared for his use by committee staffers which we recently published.
In the piece written for WSJ, he makes the case that DoD has already made a great deal of cuts and that in fielding the professional force we currently have, we take on a moral obligation to provide quality training and equipment for our troops. What he doesn’t come out and say, but hints at, is that deep cuts may well mean the end of the volunteer force. It’s a viable argument and it’s about time that this country had a serious discussion about alternatives. I’ve long felt that the US military no longer resembles the country it defends. Perhaps those that oppose a strong US military would reconsider their position if they thought that they and theirs might have to participate in the process rather than just criticize it. And, the American taxpayer might not feel so bad about the costs associated with the military if the quality of training and equipment was tied directly to the well being of their sons and daughters.
Ironically, the real budget crisis will come next month if the so-called super committee will be unable to agree on equitable spending cuts. The debt ceiling compromise that was reached during this summer’s kabuki theater created a looming situation which will result in $500 Billion in automatic cuts to defense if they cannot work out a deal. Gridlock is now the norm. If you have an opinion one way or another, let your elected representatives know how you feel and why.
Here is a preview of the Op-ed. Ironically, you have to be a subscriber to read the piece written by a US Congressman.
Buck McKeon (R-CA) is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a champion of the US service member.
UK-based Intelligent Armour has informed us that they have launched a new French language website to better serve their Franophone customers. In a statement, Intelligent Armour CEO Alex Bomberg told us, “I am very happy that the website launch has gone very well with no technical issues. It has taken nine months of planning and work and over 9000 technical translations to be able to provide our French speaking clients with their own website.” He went on to add, “Having been selling to mainland Europe for the past number of years, and although we have French nationals as part of our sales and management team, this new website enables us to provide a far higher level of service.”
