Military input needed

[Ares Armor]

Lets say that you are about to get out of the military and you started a business that caters to the military/ law enforcement, WHERE DO YOU ADVERTISE? Could you fellow Vets let me know of places that would be good to increase our company visibility. Forums ect.

Thanks,
Ares Armor
aaron@aresarmor.com
760-650-ARES(2737)

https://www.aresarmor.com

[Unit74]

Networking is the key. Advertising isn't gonna to squat when it comes to your target sales goals.

If you don't have a strong network now, either build it up or shift your focus.

[Massan]

Depends on what business but Unit74 has the gist down. Maybe find some other MIL/LEO businesses and see if you can have them give you references/split ad space and vice versa.

[johnthomas]

Networking is the key. Advertising isn't gonna to squat when it comes to your target sales goals.

If you don't have a strong network now, either build it up or shift your focus.

It seems to work for the vendors on Calguns, does it not?
Give a fair price, don't play the big shot. Follow through and stay in touch with your customers. Store fronts are great, but the internet gets more exposure. When first starting out, you start off small and grow, not start off big and shrink because of things bought that won't sell.

[Unit74]

It seems to work for the vendors on Calguns, does it not?
Give a fair price, don't play the big shot. Follow through and stay in touch with your customers. Store fronts are great, but the internet gets more exposure. When first starting out, you start off small and grow, not start off big and shrink because of things bought that won't sell.

From the sound of it your painfully unaware of how government business is run. I spent 11+ years in the Corps, have worked for local government and done some military contracting work as well. I'm telling you straight up. If you don't have a network, the chances of you surviving are slim to none.

The cliche of it's not what you know, it's who you know is almost a prerequisite for doing any business with the government.

What products is he trying to introduce? Is it the bags and such on that website? If so, good luck. I'm not diggin' on the products but your only going to see onsie-twosie sales from individuals on that stuff. There are well dug in suppliers for tactical gear and there is no possible way for you as a start up to edge that out.

Look boss, I'm not trying to tell you not to go for your dreams. All I am saying is that if you think your walk in the ring with big dawgs and survive, your gonna get chewed up unless you have contacts who are going to lift the ropes for you first. No network = no sale in the grand scheme of things.

[develown]

I don't know much about government contracting. But do remember when i was in Germany they had a big expo for contractors in Heidelberg every 2 years to sell things to the military (I had the misfortune of guarding this expo). Every thing from cookies to body armor was on sale. I guess you need to find a way into an expo like that.

Hope that helps

[Ares Armor]

I don't know much about government contracting. But do remember when i was in Germany they had a big expo for contractors in Heidelberg every 2 years to sell things to the military (I had the misfortune of guarding this expo). Every thing from cookies to body armor was on sale. I guess you need to find a way into an expo like that.

Hope that helps

A military Expo, that sound like a good place to network. Thanks for the ideas and input. I think networking is great but how do I get the bomb squad in texas to order something from us? I don't think networking alone will get our company visibility to were I want it to be.

[joedogboy]

Military Times newspapers seem likely.

A large enough business can become a "partner" at the AAFES online virtual shopping mall.

As to "the bomb squad in Texas" - they'll probably talk to guys on "the bomb squad in Los Angeles", and "the bomb squad in San Francisco" - EOD are a smaller group, and they meet each other at training and conferences, and share information about operations. Special Ops is often described as a "community" because they also do a lot of intermixing during training and share information about operations.

If you want to reach the "common soldier",you could pick a training base where they conduct MOS training in the area where you think your target market is, and open a shop near the gate. If you sell to a few dozen of the hundreds that graduate each week, word of mouth will circulate through the service fairly quickly, as other people see your products in the hands of their buddies.

[Fat_Rat]

Lets say that you are about to get out of the military and you started a business that caters to the military/ law enforcement, WHERE DO YOU ADVERTISE? Could you fellow Vets let me know of places that would be good to increase our company visibility. Forums ect.

Thanks,
Ares Armor
aaron@aresarmor.com
760-650-ARES(2737)
www.aresarmor.com

PLAYBOY Magazine

[Beagle]

You should apply to be a GSA vendor so people in the gov can buy from you both military and LE agencies

[Ares Armor]

PLAYBOY Magazine

HA HA!! That sounds like the best answer so far! BUT, I think it would cost more than the net worth of the business to advertise with them.

[freds4]

If your gear is unique, of very high quality, stands out from the rest, then your best route is to get it into the hands of those invloved in special operations. A friend of mine is fond of saying: "When Recon sneezes, the rest of the Marine Corps catches a cold." Meaning that if the Recon guys are using something today, the rest of the Corps will be using it tomorrow. Why? Because if it isn't good and/or doesn't work well then Recon, Snipers, MARSOC will not use it.

[Ares Armor]

If your gear is unique, of very high quality, stands out from the rest, then your best route is to get it into the hands of those invloved in special operations. A friend of mine is fond of saying: "When Recon sneezes, the rest of the Marine Corps catches a cold." Meaning that if the Recon guys are using something today, the rest of the Corps will be using it tomorrow. Why? Because if it isn't good and/or doesn't work well then Recon, Snipers, MARSOC will not use it.

These are some of our best customers. Not to mention that Ares Armor is 100% veteran owned and operated with ties to those communities. So from what you are saying, I guess we are on the right path locally.

[Rem1492]

Vet status is a one up. Contracts are prefferred to vets, minorities, disabled, in that order.

You should have all that info from VA and small business admin already.
Find local base contract bids and submit for them, as a Vet you get preferred status over non vet owned businesses. Most businesses outside a base gate operate on this premise and rake in the profits.

Trade shows, expos, good ideas.
Get GSA's and get NSN numbers for your gear to get them in the supply sytem so they CAN be ordered.

many units buy their own gear through the chain of supply using the NSN number, but just as many buy their own stuff using a VISA (impac) card on the open market, these are the guys you need to cater to. Taht supply officer needs to know your product exists.

The base AAFES/NEX/BX is also sometihng to start, if even just to have it on a shelf so people see it.

Get it on Amazon too. I know my unit had to buy stuff, we looked for user reviews of gear all over the internet and that was our biggest decision maker. We then went right to the MFG with the best reviews and asked for a gov price list and contract and made it happen.

[Ares Armor]

Thanks for all the input and ideas. BALLS IN OUR COURT NOW!!