Take us back to April 2024 when you received the opportunity to purchase Thompson/Center back from Smith & Wesson.
I was shocked and overwhelmed, it was such a big dream to have this chance again and to be honest at first I was in denial. You rarely receive an opportunity like this twice in life. Once the shock wore off, it was time to go get to work.
What are some of the most notable differences between owning T/C Arms now than when you did back in 2005?
How you go to market now and communicate with the customer is probably biggest difference. Customers demand access to companies now through online platforms and have the ability to communicate on a one on one basis and everything is more visible now. They also want very specialized products that meets their needs, ambitions and personal profiles. In terms of manufacturing, the technology, materials and processes have changed drastically in the last 15 years which allow you to design products that you couldn’t back then.
Describe a day in your life of rebuilding a gun company. What are some routines that you have?
Ideally, I train early prior to work to set the tone for the day. It’s great for stress relief and the one hour that I can control.
Normally, each day starts with an engineering meeting with the team to discuss any production challenges, timelines, etc. and we wind up the meeting talking about new products to ensure we are always working towards improving current designs and launching new innovations in the marketplace. Three days out of the month we film for T/C Youtube produced by Full Bore and I also travel for industry events. I always spend time on the shop floor and see how production is progressing. And in between it is basically calls and meeting all day with vendors, staff, interviews, suppliers, the media and industry partners. On weekends I catch up on DM’s and try to get to the range to test product and evaluate competitive products in the marketplace. Three days out of the month we film for Youtube and I also travel for industry events. I also have a calendar of hunts scheduled each season to film for Hunt Masters on Outdoor Channel. And even though my 3 daughters are older and living their own lives now, I try to squeeze in as much Dad time as possible.
Did the former T/C owners or management impart any words of wisdom to you?
Bob Gustafson, former T/C President always said: Your employees are your greatest asset and the culture of the company should always come first.
Remain committed to your customers. Never waiver on quality.
If you could let the customers know one thing about Thompson/Center during this rebuilding process, what would it be?
It is 100% because of our loyal T/C customers that we are able to resurrect the brand and I can’t thank them enough for their excitement and patience.
Aside from Experience & Work History, what do you look for in applicants applying to positions at T/C?
You can teach skills, but you can’t teach passion and ethics. It is an art in and of itself to recognize those qualities in someone during the interview process and an instinct that I think develops internally in hiring talent over the years.
Do you plan on using AI in any of the manufacturing functions?
Whether you like it or not, AI is here and making an impact in manufacturing and marketing. I think it is going to help the firearm industry with the way we deliver and consume information as well as with automation.
Fast forward to 2030. What does T/C look like?
We’ve regained our dominance in the marketplace and expanded our userbase to include a new generation of muzzleloader enthusiasts.
We have a portfolio of products that touch all hunters and shooters across the world.
Personally what is your favorite T/C firearm:
The ENCORE platform because it was the breakout product that T/C needed to revive the company after the devasting fire in 1997. We’ll elaborate more on that in the next blog.
Piece of advice for entrepreneurs:
If you’re the smartest or most successful person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Always be learning and stay curious.
