Interview with Brandi, Owner of ChicShooter.com
I first stumbled across the site, ChicShooter.com, a little while ago thanks to a comment on one of my articles. It didn’t take long for me to realize this site’s owner really knew what she was doing. The design and organization were great, the products were well thought out and it fixed a problem that I’ve been seeing constantly since I started GunNoob: it provided gear for women, by women. This wasn’t a group of guys saying “well, we think women want this…” (which usually results in lots of men’s gear painted pink). After looking through the site, I immediately showed it to Mrs. Noob who then put together a list of everything she wants for her birthday. I should rephrase that: what she wants for her birthday is everything on the site (that noise you hear is my bank account screaming). It’s safe to say this businesswoman is on to something.
I was so impressed that I got in touch with the owner of ChicShooter, Brandi, and talked a bit about her and her site.
1) Before we get specifically to your site, I want to know about about yourself first. When did you first get interested in firearms and how did your first time shooting go?
I remember shooting at soda cans with my dad’s rifle when I was young and shooting my mom’s Glock 38 when I was older, but both had a kick that felt like they would fly out of my hands. I didn’t care for the feeling of not being in control of the gun, so I wasn’t really interested in firearms until I went to college. Being on my own, with real stories about men following women home late at night, and frequent armed robberies within a block of my dorm, I became more aware of how easily life-threatening crime could happen to me. I also realized that while mace would be a great deterrent for an unarmed assailant, an armed one’s response would likely be to harm me. And finally, as a resident assistant, I had reason to call the police on multiple occasions, so I knew exactly how long it would take for them to arrive if my life was ever in imminent danger. Although I lived only 4 blocks from the police station, that response time was much longer than I was comfortable with. That’s when I knew I wanted to concealed carry. Not just for my own safety, but also for the safety of the people I love.
2) So, it’s no secret that carry options for women are limited. Tell us about your site and what made you say, “I’m going to do something about that”?
When I was 21, my parents gave me my Taurus 738 TCP. In less than a week, I was looking into concealed carry holster options. At the time, those options were not only ultra limited (black, nude, unisex, etc), but I also didn’t like how they were being presented. The message I received was that I would have to change my wardrobe if I wanted to carry concealed. Phrases like “wear loose shirts” or “wear loose jeans” came up frequently, but “wear a cover garment or vest” was almost always at the top of the suggestions. I soon learned this meant adding layers to my outfits; in 97 degree Louisiana heat, that wasn’t going to happen. Nor was I in such a good financial position, or such a bad “fashion” position, that I had any intent to “change my wardrobe”. I decided there had to be something I could do.
By the time I was ready to start a business, several companies had come out with holsters that were made with women in mind, and some of those options were even colorful and lacey! As I experimented with which of my own outfits would work with each holster, I realized that there was a holster to go with every single outfit in my closet. It just took more than one holster.
That’s when I realized there was no need for women to change their wardrobes to carry concealed. Instead of asking, “What can I wear with this holster?”, we needed to ask, “Which holster do I wear with this outfit?” At Chic Shooter, I make it easy for women to find the answer. I’ve already done the leg work for them, so they simply pick a category: Business, Casual, or Formal. After they choose which clothing pieces comprise their intended outfit, they will be shown the holsters that work with it. For example, if you choose “business”, you will then see which holsters would work with knee length skirts, long skirts, slacks, low cut blouses, or blouses that are loose or have an empire waist.
Each of the holsters on ChicShooter.com were made just for women and several of them even come in colors and lace. In addition, we recognize that women also need to practice their shooting at the range, so we carry a line of girly range gear (black lace, zebra print, leopard print and tortoiseshell) to make the experience more fun.
3) When did ChicShooter.com go live? Has it been well received?
ChicShooter.com went live in September of 2013 and, though it hasn’t been up long, the most common response I get is from women who have been thinking about concealed carrying for a while, but just haven’t made that first move yet. They say they just didn’t know how to get started and that Chic Shooter makes it so easy to do so. Then they tell me they’re ready to (if you’ll excuse the pun) “pull the trigger”. For me, that has been the most rewarding aspect of Chic Shooter.
4) What is the most popular item you sell?
Chic Shooter’s most popular item thus far is the Femme Fatale Corset Holster. It’s essentially a six-inch wide band that wraps around a woman’s torso, just under her bra. The closure is three rows of bra hooks for easy customization, and there is a padded pocket in the front for her gun. The gun is accessed by reaching in from the neckline. I’ve been amazed again and again with how well this holster conceals my gun under even the most snug dresses and shirts. It goes with most outfits, as long as the neckline is fairly relaxed (I recommend the Ava, Betty, Femme Fatale Thigh Holster, or Femme Fatale ankle holster as alternatives when wearing traditional high neck t-shirts and turtleneck sweaters). The corset holster is unique; I can wear it with a tank top on Friday morning and with a sexy cocktail dress on Friday night. In addition, it comes in 6 colors, all with a lace overlay: blush (pink), noir (black), au natural (tan), blanc (white), risqué (tan with black lace), and lipstick (black with red lace).
5) Somewhat related to the previous question: I guess it’s safe to assume you actively use your own products. What’s your personal favorite?
That’s a tricky question. The holster I wear most is the Ava, an in- waistband holster. It’s lined with purple suede, so it is very comfortable with jeans or shorts and the clips are super strong, so it stays put all day long. The gun hides really well in the small of my back and I like how easy it is to draw without flashing myself. My favorite holster, however, is probably the Femme Fatale Garter Holster. It has the same material on the inside as a strapless bra, so I’m never concerned about it falling down. It’s also made with six-inch-wide, lace-covered elastic, which means that if someone catches a small glimpse of it at the hem of my skirt, the last thing they’ll think is that it’s a holster. It comes in Risque (tan with black lace), Noir (Black), Au Natural (Tan), and Lipstick black with red lace).
6) Without going into specifics (trade secrets and all), do you have any plans in the works for new products in the near future?
Haha, yes, I have a few ideas in the works, but right now I’m excited to be focusing on starting to appear at some gun shows within the next months. Anyone who would like to stay up to date with which shows we will be appearing at and new products we will be carrying can sign up for our newsletter at ChicShooter.com. We also include a weekly gun news segment and an article of the week, so you can stay current on what’s happening in the gun world. [Noob note! Just before this article went live, I received the following message from Brandi: “Just wanted to update you on something exciting: Within the next week, we will be adding concealment purses to Chic Shooter’s repertoire! It wasn’t in stone last week, so I couldn’t include it in the interview questions, but I wanted to let you know.”]
7) Have you thought about moving beyond holsters and into carry accommodating clothing design (like 5.11 stuff but for women)?
Women’s clothing has some unique attributes; besides the basics of sizing and fit, there are also the individual’s style and the fashion industry’s trends to keep in mind. It’s not an impossibility, but because Chic Shooter is built on the idea that a woman doesn’t have to change her style or wardrobe to concealed carry, I would want to make certain that we weren’t compromising. That said, it would likely be a few years into the future. However, I am currently working on some logo apparel options, so women who would like to tell the world that they are “Chic Shooters” can do so.
8) I see on your site that you donate a portion of your sales to charity. Would you like to tell us more about that?
When I was about 16 years old, I asked God how my future business could be used to glorify Him, even if the business had nothing to do with the church. Almost immediately, he impressed on me the importance of giving to those less fortunate. Although I was planning another business at the time, I have carried that same mission through to Chic Shooter. I chose Compassion International because of the great work they do to take care of children around the world, focusing on all aspects of their growth (spiritual, economic, social and physical needs). Compassion International also scores a whopping 65.35 out of 70 on Charity Navigator for financial health, accountability, and transparency, so we know the money given really does get to the children.
9) Is there anything you think the shooting industry itself could do to get more women interested?
With the rise of colored guns and holsters made just for us, the gun industry is moving in the right direction. I recently saw a video on the Shoot Like a Girl trailer, which has a simulator that allows women to try shooting (recoil and all) without actually having lethal force involved. Opportunities like that are excellent for introducing women to shooting.
For getting women interested in concealed carrying, eradicating the misconceptions about concealed carry is something we need to work on. As mentioned previously, women do not have to give up their style to concealed carry. Plain and simple. It also isn’t enough to just buy a gun and a holster. Practicing drawing from your holster (with a dummy or empty gun) and practicing firing at the range are both absolutely critical. I wouldn’t be nearly as comfortable with concealed carrying as I am, if I hadn’t already put hundreds of rounds through my handgun, with plenty of practice clearing jams and misfeeds.
10) What would you say to a woman who’s on the fence about getting and/or carrying a gun?
I would first ask what her reservations were. Some women just aren’t knowledgeable about guns, holsters, or getting a concealed handgun license, so their apprehension lies in being unsure about the whole process. Some have heard the story about “having to change your wardrobe to concealed carry”, so they hesitate, because they don’t know there are holsters that will work with what’s currently in their closet. Other women hesitate because they have small children grabbing their clothes or digging through their purse all the time, so they’re not sure what options will be safe in that regard. (Aside: The Femme Fatale Corset Holster is great for this purpose.) So for these ladies who are interested, but have reservations about the details, I say, feel free to ask me. (My phone number and email are both on the site and I check them multiple times a day.) I’ve gone through all of those questions myself, and helped a number of other ladies do the same, so I’d be happy to pass on what I’ve learned.
There is another set of ladies who aren’t sure about concealed carrying because “I’m not sure how I’d respond in a situation like that” or “I’m not sure I could actually shoot someone”. To those ladies I say that you really must have a solid answer to your questions before you buy a gun. The last thing you want is to hesitate in a moment of crisis and have your gun end up in the hands of a criminal.
When I first contemplated those questions, I didn’t think I could shoot another human being. As I considered some possible scenarios though, two things became very clear to me. First, if myself, my husband, or my future children were being threatened with their lives, I would not hesitate to shoot an offending party. I would probably need some serious therapy afterwards, but my loved ones would be there to greet me when I got home. Second, is a line from one of my favorite movies, The Lord of the Rings: “The women of this country learned long ago, those without swords can still die upon them”. Whether or not I have a gun in my possession doesn’t change my likelihood of needing one someday. It does, however, increase my chances of survival. Of being there for my brother’s college graduation. Of being there for my 50th wedding anniversary. Of getting to be a mom one day. That is why I chose to concealed carry, but again, you have to answer those questions for yourself.
Thank you Brandi for chatting with us and we wish you the best in your business!
if you’re looking for a fresh take on women’s concealed carry options, you need to check out her site http://www.ChicShooter.com/ and tell them The Noob sent you!
Also, give their Facebook page a like: https://www.facebook.com/ChicShooter
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