Success Story: SilencerCo
The Challenge
Years after starting their humble business in their home garage, the founders of SilencerCo are proud to be the leaders in suppressor technology and supporters of sport-shooters and hunters all over the world with their innovative products.
A few years ago, as Andrew Herbst took on the role to lead product management and their e-commerce rejuvenation, he discovered that their current 3PL partner was intentionally underperforming and deprioritizing their shipments. “At first, it seemed accidental, Andrew shared, “but over time, it was obvious that they were getting to our inventory last, which was crippling our e-commerce support and customer experience.” What was even more surprising than the poor experience and their dismissive attitude toward his requests to meet their service level agreements, was their new ownership’s policy to not work with any clients in the firearms and firearms accessory industries.
“It became clear to me that they didn’t want our business, so I asked them if it would be better if we found a new fulfillment partner,” Andrew said. And to his surprise, they told him it would be better that way.
“What’s crazy is that shortly before this, our website platform company also shut down our e-commerce website, because they were changing their policies to discriminate against firearm and firearm accessory manufacturers as well,” Andrew shared. “We felt like a lot of our peers in the firearms industry—that we were under attack.”
Bias and discrimination toward firearms manufacturers from equity, financial, and political activist groups has been common for many years. But these quick changes to 3PL and even web hosting services companies’ policies caught SilencerCo and many others in their industry a bit flat footed. This also left him in a lurch to find a new partner that would be willing to help him scale their e-commerce business at SilencerCo, so he could begin the arduous process of relocating his inventory and fixing his now-broken shipping fulfillment.
Finding the Right Partner
Andrew engaged several notable shipping and 3PL companies to evaluate their ability to help SilencerCo scale. Again, to his surprise he found that a few of them wouldn’t work with them because of their industry.
After a few bad experiences, he reached out to the LastMile Logistix company, and had a completely different experience. “The team at LastMile was immediately different,” Andrew said. “They cared about our success, they were aligned with our industry – working with a few other major players in the firearms industry. And they rolled up their sleeves and got to work with us.”
Having worked with several firearms accessory manufacturers already, they understood the e-commerce tools Andrew and his team used. They helped him quickly transition his inventory and stand up their web store, getting things back on track. As a result of this partnership change and some strategy adjustments at SilencerCo, their e-commerce business has doubled, their fulfillment times and visibility have never been better, and their successful shipment rates are at all-time highs. “Working with LastMile Logistix has been an absolute game changer for us,” Andrew shared. “Their customer service, their responsiveness to our changing needs, and their accountability to adapt and improve as we grow has been remarkable. We couldn’t be happier with our partnership.” SilencerCo was born and bred in the mountains of the American West and started life when two men in a garage machined, welded, and shaped their dreams into reality.
They had one core belief: Guns don’t have to be loud. Since their beginning in 2008, SilencerCo has grown to produce more silencers than anyone else in the market. Their secret is simple—they care. They care about each silencer leaving our facility. They care about the shooters and their hearing. They care about their employees, and they care about their role in the American economy.
To learn more about SilencerCo, please visit https://silencerco.com/
Andrew Herbst
Product Manager
SilencerCo
“Working with LastMile Logistix has been an absolute game changer for us. Their customer service, their responsiveness to our changing needs, and their accountability to adapt and improve as we grow has been remarkable. We couldn’t be happier with our partnership.”
LastMile is the leader in customer success, 3PL and fulfillment services for growing and established firearms, off-road, manufacturing, apparel, and pet service companies. To learn how our team can help you improve your fulfillment times, shipping efficiency, and manage your online customer experience contact us today.