Hello, everyone, my name is Elio Jants. I am 23 years old and from the USA. This year, I made about $500,000. How did I do it? By starting an online store that sells tactical gear. I do not own a factory. All the products are made by a tactical gear factory for me.
Why did I start an online store for tactical gear?
I am an outdoor enthusiast with a strong passion for tactical gear. I often discuss various tactical gear with people on Reddit.
One day, it suddenly occurred to me—why not turn this passion into a business? So I decided to give it a try and quickly set up an online store using Shopify. In the beginning, I wanted to do bag dropshipping, but then I decided to sell tactical gear of my own design.
What tactical products do I mainly sell?
I sell a wide range of tactical products, including tactical backpacks, vests, hydration packs, waist packs, gloves, and more.
I am not a product designer, so at first, I was not sure what kind of products my customers would like. Then I came up with an idea. For example, if I wanted to design my own tactical backpack, I would start by browsing the top 10 bestselling tactical backpacks on Amazon. This way, I could see which backpacks are popular.
Next, I would look at the customer critical reviews for those backpacks. You know, even the best backpacks have flaws. I would gather these negative comments and work with a tactical gear factory to address those issues. For example, replacing regular fabric with Cordura fabric, or adding a MOLLE system / hydration system to the backpack.
And that is how my own innovative yet popular products were created.
Where do I sell my tactical gear?
Although I have an online store, at first, I was not sure which channels to use to sell my products. So, I took some online marketing courses and learned about various strategies. Below are the effective sales channels I’ve used:
1.My Shopify Website
I optimized my Shopify store using SEO and content marketing. Because I was not an expert in these areas, I outsourced the work on Fiverr. This saved me time while achieving good marketing results.
2.Social Media Platforms
Instagram Shopping: I set up an Instagram shop to showcase and sell my tactical gear directly through posts and stories.
Facebook Marketplace and Shop: I listed my products on Facebook Marketplace and created a Facebook Shop to reach local buyers and use targeted ads.
Pinterest: I used Pinterest’s shopping feature to drive traffic to my website by pinning images of my tactical gear with links to purchase.
3.Google Shopping
I ran Google Shopping ads to list my tactical products, making them appear in search results when potential customers were looking for tactical gear.
4.Tactical and Outdoor Forums
I posted my products on community forums like AR15.com and Reddit, which helped attract buyers.
5.Affiliate Marketing
I collaborated with tactical gear influencers and outdoor bloggers to review and promote my products. I also created an affiliate program on my store, allowing partners to earn commissions by driving sales.
6.Email Marketing
I built and nurtured an email list through my store, sending newsletters, promotions, and product updates to subscribers interested in tactical gear.
By combining these channels, I expanded my reach, attracted different customer groups, and grew my tactical gear business effectively.
If you do not work with enough money, you can start by focusing on a few sales channels first.
How to find a good tactical gear factory?
I believe that finding a reliable tactical gear factory to produce my products has been crucial to my success. It took me a long time and several setbacks to finally find a good tactical gear supplier. Here are 8 tips I’d like to share for finding the right tactical gear factory:
1.If possible, start by looking for local factories. However, the reality is that 80% of tactical gear is made in China, so I recommend considering a Chinese tactical gear manufacturer.
2. Avoid looking for suppliers on Alibaba. Many sellers on Alibaba are actually trading companies (you can often spot them by the words “Trade” or “Trading” in their names). They do not have their own factories, so their prices are higher, and they can’t control product quality.
3. Use social media to find potential suppliers. For example, you can search for hashtags #tacticalgearmanufacturer,#tacticalgearsupplier on LinkedIn or Instagram. This is a quick and free way to find military gear manufacturers.
4. My three criteria for choosing a military gear supplier: The company should have been in business for at least 20 years; you should be able to find their company website through a Google search; and they should have experience working with well-known brands.
5. Find a balance between price and quality. The factory with the lowest price might not provide the best quality, so do not automatically go with the cheapest option. Similarly, the highest-priced factory is not necessarily the best either.
6. If possible, visit the supplier’s factory in person. This will give you a clear understanding of their materials, quality control processes, and production capacity.

7. Before placing a large order, ask for samples. This can help you catch potential issues early on and avoid costly mistakes. You know, Samples allow you to assess the actual quality of the product, including materials, craftsmanship, and durability.
What is more, a sample gives you the chance to verify that the product matches your specifications, such as size, color, design, and functionality. This reduces the risk of receiving a bulk order that doesn't meet your requirements.
8. Maintain regular communication with your supplier. Staying in touch will keep you updated on production and shipping progress. If any problems arise, you can quickly address them and minimize potential losses.
Now that you have learned Elio Jants’ story and how to spot opportunities and run your own business, maybe one day you will follow in his footsteps, starting an online store and making $50,000 in your first year. Keep pushing forward!