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Hiller Ignite Presents 2013 Ignite Awards to The Travis Manion Foundation and InfraScan

Thursday, July 11th, 2013

The Ignite Warrior for Warriors Award and the Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award Recognize Their Outstanding Work in Support of Our Active Duty Military, Veterans and Their Families

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA July 11, 2013 Hillier Ignite, an organization dedicated to promoting democracy and freedom by creating economic opportunity, today announced the recipients of the Ignite Warrior for Warriors Award and the Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award for 2013.

The Ignite award annually recognizes and rewards outstanding achievements tied to each of Hillier Ignite’s core focus areas: entrepreneurs/innovation, youth, and active duty military and their families. The Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award recognizes the company responsible for creating and introducing a product that Hillier Ignite has judged to be the year’s most significant lifesaving innovation; the Ignite Youth Award recognizes a person or organization that has taught and inspired disadvantaged youth; and the Ignite Warrior for Warriors Award recognizes a person or organization that has provided significant support to veterans in overcoming the challenges related to the transition to civilian life or the challenges faced by military families. The Ignite Warrior for Warriors Award and Ignite Youth Award both include an unrestricted grant of $25,000. The Ignite Youth Award will be presented later in 2013.

An important goal of Hillier Ignite is to encourage greater entrepreneurship and innovation towards initiatives that can save lives – particularly those of our warfighters. The Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award is part of the organization’s effort to ignite this movement, by recognizing an outstanding product and the people behind it. The inaugural Hillier Ignite Lifesaving Innovation award was presented to InfraScan, for its Infrascanner 2000, a portable screening device that uses Near-Infrared (NIR) technology to screen patients for intracranial bleeding.

“Traumatic brain injury touches many veterans and military families. For those injured far from the diagnostic machines available in hospitals, fast and accurate assessment of the impact of head trauma can be the difference between life and death, said Luke Hillier, Founder and President of Hillier Ignite. “The Infrascanner 2000 is the lifesaving innovation that makes this possible, within minutes, and as with many great innovations, it has both military and civilian applications.”

“InfraScan is honored to receive the Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award for the Infrascanner Model 2000,” said Dr. Baruch Ben Dor, Chief Executive Officer of InfraScan. “The Infrascanner is a result of a hard work of a team of entrepreneurs in collaboration with local universities, the state of Pennsylvania and the US Navy and Marines. Entrepreneurship is not only driving the economy and creating businesses, but it is also the means to move lifesaving innovations from laboratory bench to patient bedside.”

www.hillierignite.org

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What I’ve Been Doing All Morning

Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

Thanks to FirstSpear, Oakley, SIG Sauer, Zero Point and Wilcox Industries…look for a full report soon.

Tags: FirstSpear, Oakley, Sig Sauer, Wilcox Industries, Zero Point
Posted in Industry | 16 Comments »

NSSF Chooses ConvExx as SHOT Show Management Partner

Monday, July 8th, 2013

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has issued this press release announcing their new SHOT Show management partner, ConvExx. Earlier this year, NSSF ended its three decades long relationship with UK-based Reed Exhibitions after they restricted the sale of Modern Sporting Rifles at a large industry show unrelated to SHOT Show.

NEWTOWN, Conn. — After an extensive national search involving the trade show industry’s top management companies, the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) has selected ConvExx as its new SHOT Show® management partner. ConvExx replaces longtime NSSF partner Reed Exhibitions.

Based in Las Vegas, ConvExx is privately held and has produced more than 200 shows and events, working with more than a million exhibitors and attendees. ConvExx produces the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, which at nearly 1 million net square feet and 135,000 attendees is ranked as the fourth largest trade show in America by Trade Show Executive magazine (SHOT Show is ranked 16th).

“We’re excited to have ConvExx on board as our new management partner,” said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “ConvExx offers a unique combination of extensive large-show and Las Vegas experience, which will serve our exhibitors and attendees well.”

“We’re thrilled to be selected to help NSSF manage the SHOT Show,” said ConvExx Chairman Chuck Schwartz. “The SHOT Show is one of the premier trade show events, and we are proud to be associated with NSSF and the shooting sports industry.”

The SHOT Show — the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show — is owned and sponsored by NSSF. It is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for all professionals involved with the shooting sports, hunting and law enforcement industries. The 2014 SHOT Show will be held Jan. 14-17 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Tags: National Shooting Sports Foundation
Posted in Industry, SHOT Show | 1 Comment »

RockTape Partners With 5.11 to Launch New Tactical Line

Friday, July 5th, 2013

Not that long ago we told you that kinesiology tape makes RockTape had brought Chris Costa on board as spokesman. The tape is used to treat a wide variety of sports injuries or increase performance by increasing blood flow to applies areas.

Things certainly seem to be looking up for the brand as they’ve just announced the launch of a new line with 5.11 Tactical. For 5.11 it seems like a great natural progression following their new 5.11 Recon line of training products that include shirts, shorts and footwear.

Costa certainly has a lot of great things to say about RockTape saying in a recent press release, “Pain is a distraction, and you absolutely can’t allow it to affect your focus. You can apply RockTape yourself and it stays on through intense physical activity. You’re not bothered by muscle pain or soreness — you don’t even think about it anymore.”

RockTape weighed in on the deal as well. “We’re committed to helping tactical athletes and first responders with a product that solves the pain problem and a means to improve their performance. RockTape is effective, versatile and affordable. It’s the perfect product to fit in a rucksack or go-bag, which is why we’ve partnered with 5.11 tactical,” said Greg van den dries, CEO of RockTape. “We both believe in providing customers with high quality, effective product that stands up to the requirements of field work.”

And naturally, 5.11 shared their thoughts. “We are like-minded in how we serve this industry says Guy Burgstahler, CMO of 5.11 Tactical. “No doubt, reliable gear and a pain-free experience helps performance which is why we’re glad to partner with RockTape. We know we’re providing customers with the best, most-reliable, useful product that enables them to have a safe, effective outcome.”

This looks to be a pretty big deal for Tony Blauer, RockTape consultant, renowned hand to hand trainer, CEO of BTS Inc and founder of The S.P.E.A.R. System. He commented, “I don’t know of any serious combative athlete that is free of pain. We train hard and our bodies pay the price. RockTape offers structural or muscle support when applied correctly and this can help alleviate many distractions during training — and while training without distractions is vital for every athlete, it’s especially important for an individual in the tactical community.”

All in all, this sounds great, but I wonder how Costa or Blauer will fit into the deal with 5.11 Tactical as it would seem odd for RockTape to continue to market a tactical line concurrent with this new licensing deal.

Tags: 5.11 Tactical, RockTape
Posted in Industry | 1 Comment »

Statement From “New” Ares Armor CEO

Thursday, July 4th, 2013

Ares Armor posted this letter to their customers on their website earlier today. I’ve known Dmitri for several years now and he is one solid dude. I didn’t realize that for a time someone else was at the helm at Ares Armor but its good o see that he taken back the reins to assume position as CEO and that he is taking full responsibility for what is going on there regarding their 80% products. That is what I want to see in American business.

Ares Armor Customers,

For those of you who don’t know who I am. My name is Dimitri and as of about two weeks ago I took back my position as the CEO and am in full control of Ares Armor. I am going to start this letter off with a promise; I will take zero compensation in the form of a paycheck, bonus or any other workaround from Ares Armor until every single order for 80% products has been completed.

I would like to personally apologize for several things that we as a company have clearly done wrong.

Our communication with our customers has been atrocious and there is absolutely no excuse for that. Being busy is not a good reason to ignore the customers that support you. This is completely inexcusable behavior. We took in far too many orders than we were set up to handle. We have fallen far behind. Bill Gates once said, “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” I have spent the last few nights awake scouring the internet reading every negative review I could find. There was plenty to learn.

My focus and the foremost of my attention will be directed at cleaning up our customer service. We have been making some very serious changes in the way we operate.

1. We will no longer take back orders through our website for 80% products.

2. We have set up an online live inventory system for all products that are not made to order items such as Tactical Nylon and Custom Kydex.

3. We have launched a new customer support system that will allow us to organize and respond to inquiries in a timely manner. If you want to get a hold of us please send an email to support@aresarmor.com or go to support.aresarmor.com and submit a ticket directly into our customer support system.

4. We have hired additional staff to ensure that we have someone answering the phones and returning calls.

In life, a man is judged by not only his own words and actions but by the company he keeps. Some of our partners that have acted as suppliers have been poor company indeed. We have received dates, times, quantities, and promises that have all been false. We are to blame for allowing this to happen.

We have secured alternate supply chains and will work nonstop to ensure that we fill orders as fast as we possibly can.

For those of you that have open orders with us. I will not rest until your order is filled.

Dimitri Karras, CEO

Tags: Ares Armor
Posted in Industry | 12 Comments »

Eleven-10 Updates Website

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013

Eleven-10 LLC has updated their website making it much easier to navigate. You may recall Eleven-10 from their Kydex Tourniquet Cases.

www.1110gear.com

Tags: Eleven 10 LLC
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Grey Ghost Gear and Tactical Tailor Announce Strategic Partnership

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013

This Just In…

“We have gotten into the fashion of talking of cavalry tactics, artillery tactics, and infantry tactics. This distinction is nothing but a mere abstraction. There is but one art, and that is the tactics of the combined arms.”
— Maj. Gerald Gilbert, The Evolution of Tactics, 1907

“Shit, it’s the Blues Brothers!”
— Matt Murphy, 1980

ALCON: Bring it in, take a knee, listen up. Tactical Tailor is joining Grey Ghost Gear in a strategic alliance the likes of which hasn’t been seen since Jake got out of prison and rejoined Elwood Blue.
Tactical Tailor is a Tacoma WA based manufacturer of US-made, Berry Amendment compliant tactical gear. Grey Ghost Gear is a ‘boutique’ manufacturer of bad ass niche kit headquartered in Dalton, ID. Both companies are Veteran owned, and GGG is Service Connected Disables Veteran classified company. Like the Blues Brothers, both can do big things by themselves…but it’s when they get together that things get epic.

“The two companies have done some work together before, but not like this,” says CEO (and former 2/75 Ranger) Casey Ingels. “Tac Tailor will be working with Grey Ghost much more consistently. We’ll leverage the unique strengths of both companies to increase our offering to the end users that will let us put some things in the field that will change everything.”

Neither company releases a new piece of gear until it’s been deployed and evaluated downrange—true story, no bullshit. Ingels recently spent time on the ground in Afghanistan handing stuff out to guys on the sharp end so they’d have it to try out (for instance 3RD Group has a lot of it downrange now). They receive feedback daily via e-mail and frequent social media traffic. It isn’t just tested by guys on the ground either. Members of JSOC and SOCOM test it all, as do a cross-selection of line Soldiers and Marines so the conventional voice isn’t left out.

In addition to the brand gear it builds, Tactical Tailor constructs kit for many other companies. It is an expansive list that includes H&K, Benchmade, Gerber, Leupold, Crimson Trace, Knights Armament…virtually a who’s who in the industry. Grey Ghost Gear set the tactical community on its ass over the last year when it demonstrated its quick turnaround, rapid prototyping and overall agility—this is a company that received a call from a Tier One unit with a need, prototyped it, modified it and had the finished product in their hands helping kill Muj in a week.

“Tactical Tailor brings production muscle to Grey Ghost. Grey Ghost is dexterous and responsive,” Ingels says, waxing serious. “Though its operations base is in Idaho, its relationship with manufacturers in the UK and elsewhere offer domestic and foreign options that TT just won’t have on its own. TT has a couple decades of combat proven equipment to speak for its quality. Tailor equipment will remain Made in the USA. The two companies will remain extant as separate companies, working jointly.”

“We’ll put the band back together, do a few gigs, we get some bread,” chuckles Tactical Tailor Director of Sales (and retired Army SNCO) GW Ayers. “No, in all seriousness, this is going to let us do some great things for the warfighter. CALL [Center for Army Lessons Learned] defines joint synergy as having the strengths of each service combine to overcome the limitations of the others, or to reinforce the good effects. That’s what we’re going to be doing, and it’s the guys on the ground that will benefit.”

www.GreyGhostGear.com

www.TacticalTailor.com

Tags: Grey Ghost Gear, Tactical Tailor
Posted in Industry | 4 Comments »

Camo Form Sponsors the Only Tactical Hunting Show

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013

Camo Form which is a reusable camouflage self-adhesive wrap by McNett Tactical, recently sponsored the only tactical hunting television show, “Survive the Hunt,” in an episode titled “Operation Camo Form.”

Look for Camo Form on “Survive the Hunt,” which airs on the Pursuit Channel.

www.reaperoutdoors.com/events/op-camoform-final-air

Hunting mule deer is one thing; hunting mule deer using a bow with howling winds in the Sandhills of Nebraska is something entirely different. Luckily for active duty Navy SEAL, Master Chief Ron Bellan and the rest of the Reaper Outdoors team they had Camo Form® to help them accomplish their mission.

Reaper Outdoors is the team behind the hit television series, “Survive The Hunt,” the first tactical/ hunting show. Recently Camo Form by McNett® Tactical sponsored a mule deer hunt with the Reaper Team on an episode titled, “Operation Camo Form.” Despite cold, harsh and windy conditions, they managed to land a mule deer with the help of Camo Form.

“We’re wrapping anything and everything we can think of,” said Bellan. “We’re using it and have been using it for a long time. We believe in this product. It’s Reaper tested, Reaper approved.”

Camo Form is the only reusable camouflage wrap that will not leave a sticky residue when removed. Unlike camouflage tapes, Camo Form adheres to itself as it is wrapped around the object. Camo Form helps conceal weapons, blinds and outdoor gear, adds grip, quiets clanking objects and helps with noise dampening. In addition, the heavy-duty fabric can be washed and re-used many times over. With 14 traditional and digital camo patterns, Camo Form offers on-the-fly concealment no matter what the environment.

Tags: McNett Tactical, Reaper Outdoors
Posted in Camo, Industry, Media, Off-Duty | 6 Comments »