Observation from the Weekend Gun Show: Customer Loyalty

Vanguard Belts had a good sales weekend at the Crown Point Gun & Knife Show with 15 belts sold. While that number may not seem astronomical, it's just a tad above average for the typical gun show.

As with many shows past, a significant portion of my sales came from prior customers who simply wanted additional belts or belts in the brown color that was introduced last year.

That kind of customer loyalty should tell you something about the product. Mind you, I typically market these belts as a "lifetime" belt -- a belt that you should likely never need to replace. I'm often confused why prior customers come by to purchase additional belts when there is nothing wrong with their first one. I think the answer is simple: they truly like the product. This instills me with faith that I'm onto something here.

I'm not the only beltmaker selling synthetic belts made from the same TPU-coated webbing material. There are others out there, some doing it better, and some maybe doing it about the same as me.

My niche is that in my region, few people have ever heard of this synthetic belt material. I am able to introduce people to a solid product that, for some, can be surprising. For some who struggle to find a reliable, durable, long-lasting belt (and who may really need one), a Vanguard Belt can be somewhat life-changing. The in-person testimonies that I get from face-to-face interactions with prior customers are very consistent and very positive.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: if you're on the fence about trying a Vanguard Belt, pull the trigger and get one. I am confident you will not be disappointed. And as I tell my customers upon purchase, if a Vanguard Belt should ever fail you in any way, I stand behind the product with a warranty: I will replace the belt in its entirety up to two times if it ever becomes necessary due to a physical integrity issue or even a cosmetic issue. I often say, "I'll replace the belt up to twice if you find a way to screw it up!" Okay, so that's not a challenge to destroy belts for fun, but you get the idea. Sometimes unforeseen things happen and a belt may take damage or unusual stress or wear. In those cases, Vanguard Belts has you covered. Twice.

I still have free shipping online if you decide to order one. Please make sure to consult the Sizing page to ensure you are ordering the correct size. Belt sizing is a bit of a science of its own, so don't rely on your pant size to guide you. Your belt size is never the same as your pant size. In fact, it may be as much as 4-5 inches bigger, but even that's not consistent. The Sizing page on the website gives a simple method to get an accurate measurement.

To my new customers that took a chance on my product, thank you for doing so. Welcome to the club. I'm confident you'll love the belt. To my faithful prior customers, thank you so much for giving me your continued support and your continued business. I can't tell you how much I truly appreciate it.