Company Name: 221b Tactical Headquarters: New York, New York Signature Product: Maxx-Dri Vest Website: http://www.221btactical.com/
221b Tactical was founded on the principle that quality products, utilized by those who put their lives on the line every day for the sake of others, should not come with a high price tag. That is why we are committed to providing quality products that are durable and innovative at an affordable price.
Where did your company name originate from? 221b Tactical gets its name from Scottish author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. 221b Baker Street was Holmes’ address in London, as written by Doyle. One of the things Sherlock Holmes was most famous for was his “logistical and scientific reasoning” and uncanny intuition when solving crimes. One of Sherlock Holmes’ most famous quotes is the foundation of our motto here at 221b Tactical: “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of the Four.
- Ventilation/airflow between body and armor
- Creates a layer of space for heat and perspiration to get out
What was the inspiration behind starting your company? Officer Madhavan got so uncomfortable wearing his ballistic vest in the warmer months that he wished he could leave it in his locker. But he’d made a promise to always wear it on duty and wasn’t about to break it, so he created a solution.
We recognized that Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS and Military Professionals need the right attire and gear to get the job done right and get home safely. That is why all of our products are developed for, and field-tested by those who are actually on the front lines. We assessed that providing products specifically designed for those who use them is…well…elementary!
Why do you believe your products are essential to the public safety and security community? The Maxx-Dri Vest undergarment (TM) helps keep law enforcement officers drier, more comfortable and less constricted while wearing their ballistic vest. This makes it less likely to remove the vest while on duty which keeps an officer safer. This increases his or her effectiveness which keeps everybody in the community safer.
What has been the biggest challenge your company has faced? Keeping up with demand! Immediately after our launch the orders rushed in and we frankly were not prepared for that. We’ve definitely identified a concern all officers have and have created a market for our product. We’ve finally replenished our stock and can resume shipping.
What makes your company unique? Officer Suresh Madhavan is an active-duty patrol officer in Wall Township, NJ. He “lives” the concerns all officers face which takes the guess-work out of creating products from which he knows officers will benefit. His business partner has 30 years of experience in the textile and garment industries. That allows for Officer Madhavan’s innovative ideas to go from the conceptual to the practical in a relatively short amount of time.
What do your customers like best about you and your products? They like that our products are designed “by a cop and for cops.” They are coming to know they can rely upon 221B Tactical for offering products which take care of real life concerns that are fundamental to comfort, safety, and ultimately and most importantly, survival.
What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder community? Helping police officers be prepared to think and act effectively while on the job helps to ensure the safety of everyone in the community in conjunction with the officers themselves. Everybody benefits and that’s rewarding!
Do you support any charitable organizations within public safety? Yes. We donate a portion of our proceeds to charities which aid families of fallen officers and military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice while on duty.
Is there any fun fact or trivia that you’d like to share with our users about you or your company? Yes. Suresh and his business partner Brad met while enrolled at a business-learning conference organized by The Aji Network just outside of San Francisco, CA. Both were studying innovative and uncommon business principles and practices and this spawned the creation of 221B Tactical.
What’s next for your company? Any upcoming new projects or initiatives? We are currently designing some great, new innovations related to cold-weather gear which we think officers will really enjoy. Again, the emphasis will be to help officers be comfortable, and to enable them to think and act effectively while on the job. We start from there and work backwards, so-to-speak. Stay tuned for announcements about our new offers coming soon!
