Guns Plus

By: Mike Emmons

uns P lus is a full-service

gun shop in Spring Lake, North Carolina, with a large variety of firearms in stock, an indoor range, offering basic pistol classes, concealed carry classes and much more. Owner Chris Hatley started Guns Plus 20 years ago, and along with his retail only shop, Guns Plus Too in Fayetteville, North Carolina, has been providing Spring Lake, Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, and surrounding communities with sales, service and support for all of their firearms needs.

Chris built his business with an eye towards customer service which he feels is a cornerstone to success in the firearms industry. Quality customer service is an essential part of any organization, with each having its own unique criteria by which their service is structured. The firearms industry is no exception, and providing customers with knowledgeable, professional and friendly service is crucial for any gun shop owner.

Our nation has, what Chris calls, a love/hate relationship

with firearms and Guns Plus, strives not only to provide professional and friendly service, but also to reach out and educate its clients on the the 2nd Amendment and its importance in preserving our freedoms and our way of life.

As with any industry, trends are ever evolving, and businesses must keep an eye on these changes in order to continue to provide their customers with quality products and service.

Chris has closely followed trends in the firearms industry over the last 20 years and has identified two major trends that have emerged. The first is a shift from a focus on sport shooting to a focus on home defense and tactical firearms and tactical firearms training. The second is an increase in women shooters, with women shooters taking particular interest in tactical shooting over the last three years. While hunting and target shooting remain staples of American firearms culture, newer firearms platforms, optics and accessories have expanded the ways in which shooters can enjoy their interests.

Owning a business is a challenging endeavor. Chris and the folks from Guns Plus are no strangers to challenges. Hurricane Florence in 2018 caused widespread damage across

North Carolina and Guns Plus was directly affected when it was flooded after the Lower Little River overflowed its banks. It took several months before they could reopen. The current situation with COVID-19 is providing its own unique set of challenges. Businesses across the state are closing, or at the

very least curtailing hours and modifying procedures to ensure the safety of their employees and customers while remaining operational. Guns Plus has taken steps to comply with all necessary procedures to ensure the safety of its employees and customers during this difficult time.

In discussing challenges faced by business owners, Chris related the importance of adopting a people first attitude, “employees are king”. He leveraged personal assets after the 2018 flooding to ensure his employees were taken care of until they reopened. With the effects of COVID-19 being felt, and likely to be felt for some time, care of employees will likely present a challenge for any business. When asked what one piece of advice he could offer a business owner would be, Chris stressed the need to strive for the ability to pay employees for up to six months in time of crisis. Caring for the people most important to operating your business builds loyalty in an organization and that cohesion pays off later.

While the nation struggles with COVID-19 and its effects, there has been a surge in firearms purchases across the country. Chris noticed a large upward trend of first time buyers, some of whom have never touched a firearm. He sees this as a good thing, an opportunity to change minds and educate, and as Chris says, “Sell freedom, one gun at a time.”