Category Archives: Podcast

About This Episode In today’s episode of Tactical Business, host Wade Skalsky sits down with Tom Denniston of Fort Thompson Sporting Goods. From humble beginnings to a thriving sporting goods empire—Tom Denniston shares the incredible journey of building a store with good people, smart business moves, and a deep passion for hunting. From the riseContinue reading “Building A Sporting Goods Store With Good People – Tom Denniston”

About This Episode In today’s episode of Tactical Business, host Wade Skalsky sits down with Keenan Allemond of Lateral Limits Works to talk about the challenges and triumphs of starting and running a firearms business. He shares his journey of finding a location, securing an FFL, and navigating inventory shortages during COVID. Keenan also divesContinue reading “Building an FFL Business Fast! – Keenan Allemond”

About This Episode In today’s episode of Tactical Business, host Wade Skalsky sits down with Toby Leary of Cape Gun Works. Toby shares the journey of building a firearms training and retail facility from the ground up. He discusses the challenges of location, financing, and industry competition while emphasizing customer service, community engagement, and persistence.Continue reading “Building a 2A Business in Phases – Toby Leary”

About This Episode In today’s episode of Tactical Business, host Wade Skalsky sits down with David Dorsey from D’Boss Firearms. David shares his journey of navigating FFL licensing, dealing with the ATF, and growing a YouTube channel to 100K+ subscribers. He discusses the challenges of fingerprinting, audits, and firearm sales, along with the impact ofContinue reading “Using YouTube To Grow A Firearms Business – David Dorsey”

About This Episode In today’s episode of Tactical Business, host Wade Skalsky sits down with Mark Barham from Galco Holsters. Mike shares his journey from working various jobs to finding his passion in the firearms industry. Starting in customer service at a firearms importer, he later joined Galco Gunleather, where he worked his way upContinue reading “Mike Barham From Galco Holsters:  Building An Enduring Brand From The Ground Up”

About This Episode In today’s episode of Tactical Business, host Wade Skalsky sits down with Rich Bruno from RAB Firearms. Rich dives deep into the challenges of firearms training for law enforcement and civilians. He discusses the lack of hands-on training in agencies, the rise of private firearms coaching, and the dedication of civilians whoContinue reading “Rich Bruno: Building A Firearms Training Business One Client At A Time”

About This Episode In today’s episode of Tactical Business, host Wade Skalsky sits down with Scott Howard and Aaron Welsh of Howards Premium Ammo. Scott and Aaron dive deep into their journey of building a top-tier ammunition business. From custom loading for law enforcement to mastering precision for hunters and competitive shooters, they share theirContinue reading “Howards Premium Ammo:  The Journey From Manual Reloading To A Full-Service Manufacturing Facility”

About This Episode In today’s episode of Tactical Business, host Wade Skalsky sits down with Blaine Painter of Unknown Munitions. Blaine shares the growth journey of his precision rifle company, from expanding their machinery to becoming the Director of Operations. He delves into the meticulous process of load development, emphasizing the importance of systematic approachesContinue reading “Blaine Painter of Unknown Munitions: Precision Hunting, Load Development, and Bootstrapping Manufacturing Growth”

About This Episode In today’s episode of Tactical Business, host Wade Skalsky sits down with Mitch Barrie of Mesa Tactical. Mitch dives into the distinct challenges and perspectives of small businesses, especially in niche markets. He shares insights from his company’s journey in the tactical shotgun accessory industry, emphasizing the importance of quality over priceContinue reading “Mitch Barrie of Mesa Tactical: Niching down, the halo effect, and building a 2A manufacturing business”