Smith & Wesson Security Solutions
Smith & Wesson recently announced that will sell off its perimeter security business to focus on its core firearm business. This just goes to show you, just because you make great firearms doesn’t mean you can make great security systems, installers or for that matter dealer programs. I mean really… just because you make cool guns qualifies you to start a perimeter security business? Come on Smith, if you really want to get in the home security business why don’t you design a 9 millimeter that attaches to an alarm keypad? When an intruder is detected you could load the gun and have the keypad say, “Well do you feel lucky? Do you punk?”
Through the years all these big wanna-be security companies who get local licensed alarm companies to do their dirty work have lived by the proverbial sword of name recognition and have died by it. To name just a few, remember Edison Security? Brinks? Well, they are now just another footnote in a long history of big dumb companies gobbling up small alarm companies and turning the great wine in vinegar. In their self indulgent ego of recurring bliss they forgot that with high volume alarm installations comes service. Oops! Now I know that this number doesn’t show up on the pencil pushing geeks paper, but homeowners and business owners are REAL people who sometimes have real security issues, and getting back to them in two weeks just doesn’t work.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. will sell off its perimeter security business to focus on its core firearm business, the company announced.
The company purchased Nashville, Tenn.-based Universal Safety Response (renamed Smith & Wesson Security Solutions) in 2009. The unit provides security solutions in the defense, transportation, petroleum and chemical industries, as well as airports and corporate facilities. However, as government spending declined, Smith & Wesson has seen a large drop in the perimeter security business.
“We believe its strengths could be better maximized as an independent company,” Smith & Wesson President and CEO James Debney said. “Or it could be part of a group of companies, focused entirely on the security solutions market.”
With 125 employees, the security solutions unit brought in 13 percent of Smith & Wesson’s revenues for its last fiscal year, Tennessean.com reports.
Effective Oct. 31, Smith & Wesson will report the unit as a discontinued operation in financial reports. Additionally, the company will omit the division in the financial results of continuing operations. However, it will continue to operate until it is sold, according to the company.
So the next time you’re looking for a security system for your home or business, don’t buy into cute little security commercials or slick adds offering FREE installation from so called authorized dealers, you know better. Find a local independent alarm company that offers superior service, warranties, false alarm reimbursement and has several local references. Also, make sure that if your alarm contract is sold to a acquisition firm or another alarm company that you have the right to terminate your agreement without penalty.
